Xbox 360v2 with HDMI ports?
by Ken Weeks 
{ Jul 9th 2006 at 1:00AM }
Xbox-Scene obtained leaked pics of what they say is an Xbox360 motherboard with an HDMI-port:
Our source has seen 3 of these motherboards already, so it looks like Microsoft might be working on a new Xbox 360 version with a HDMI-port. However it's totally unknown when/if it'll be released to the public and if this will be included with all packages or only on the Premium. Or, who-knows, maybe a it'll be for a 3rd package ... maybe even with an internal HD-DVD drive after all, to compete with the high-end PS3? (but that's pure speculation and MS PR recently denied working on an internal HD-DVD).
My guess is this is some sort of dev kit that will never see the light of day. If the denials regarding the internal HD-DVD drive are to be believed, Microsoft just doesn't think hardware upgrades are worth pissing off the early adopters and confusing everybody else. Then again, the 360 could use an HDMI port. Who are we to stand in the way of progress?
[Thanks GP2S et. al.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Arjun @ Jul 9th 2006 1:08AM
Darn, I wanted to use this as my article for the application. But anyway, I'm going to say this is fake/false. It is a mirror image of the 360 motherboard. The ports are switched, and well, so is everything else if you look at the heatsink in the back.
Josh @ Jul 9th 2006 2:18AM
Speculation on something like this will only lead to distain and rumor mongering amongst us early adopters and fuel the fires of PS3 fanboys.
I propose we bury our heads in the sand and pretend we never saw it.
djphatjive @ Jul 9th 2006 2:41AM
Compete with the high end sony unit? Why would making an Xbox that cost the same as the high end sony unit be competing with it. That would be loosing to it. What they have right now is competing with it and winning!
They don't even need a HDMI port anyway, not untill 2010. By then we will have the Xbox 720.
Johnny @ Jul 9th 2006 3:09AM
I really dont even know what HDMI is.
But wouldnt be cheaper and more likely for them to develop the option as somthing that could attach to the units theyve already shipped and sold?
again, I dunno what HDMI even is, so sorry If i sound like an idiot.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jul 9th 2006 3:25AM
Probably legit, but seems like it would be really easy to fake as well.
SlyEcho @ Jul 9th 2006 5:36AM
It is not possible to make an HDMI cable that would go into the AV port on the current 360-s. Which leaves us with three possibilities:
1. No HDMI ever.
2. HDMI on the HD-DVD addon, or
3. A new version of the 360 with HDMI.
GhostDoggy @ Jul 9th 2006 8:22AM
Regardless of the authenticity of the present image, let's talk about this for a minute. I see nothing wrong with Microsoft offering up a mid-generation revision or special-run 360 console in addition to their already offered 360 console.
In fact, it would be entirely amusing if they did offer a special edition, HDMI and HD-DVD equipped 360 console and release it the same day or week that its biggest competition releases its new unit, and include Halo3 with it.
Drew @ Jul 9th 2006 8:32AM
@ 7
I'd buy that, even though I already have a premium.
Puh_Fifer @ Jul 9th 2006 10:40AM
#2's out sly, everyone who saw it at E3 etc. said all it had was USB2.0 to connect to the 360. Your dead on with #1 and I pray #3 isn't true because then I'd have to buy a newer 360.
DA360 @ Jul 10th 2006 11:55AM
I just consider this as a closed doors Microsoft experiment to see how current games would work with HDMI output and whatnot. So I am guessing its just like what they said, a test dev-kit that won't see the light of day. Because MS don't like making hardware changes, especially since they know it will only upset customers. The only company that has is Sony and they only make one reversion (such as the PStwo and PSone).
Also, I see HDMI is totally unnecessary. Because the video quality difference between Component and HDMI are extremely small, despite the analog and digital difference. The only convenience is that audio and video are in the same cable, but that might also be a problem for people who have a Dolby Digital sound system, especially one that doesn't have a HDMI passthrough.
The only reason companies care so much about HDMI is that it can have copy protection tokens sent though it. Since they might use these on Blu-Ray (as well as HD-DVD), that's pretty much why the PS3 has a HDMI port.
Robert Burnett @ Jul 12th 2006 2:11PM
There is no doubt that Microsoft will have an Xbox360 with HDMI the only question is when! A HD-DVD drive without HDMI is junk because the signal will be converted from digital to analog to use the component interface then converted back to digital to be processed by the TV. Every conversion degrades the signal. HDMI is the only way to go to get the best picture and audio over a single cable.
In the United States, the FCC Code of Federal Regulations, Section 15.123 has mandated that all HDTVs include either a DVI/HDCP or HDMI/HDCP interface. Most manufactures have opted for the smaller HDMI interface. This is a phased implementation the main difference between DVI and HDMI is that HDMI can carry both the digital video and audio over a single cable while DVI is video only.
After July 1, 2005 all HDTVs Greater Than 36” must have DVI or HDMI
After July 1, 2006 all HDTVs Greater Than 25” must have DVI or HDMI
After July 1, 2007 all HDTVs Greater than 13” must have DVI or HDMI