Smaller 360 CPU delayed until mid 2007
by Dustin Burg 
{ Dec 26th 2006 at 3:30PM }
Microsoft has been planning on reducing the chip size of the 360's CPU since inception, but it looks like it's going to be a while longer before that actually happens. Digitimes reports that the large 90nm chip that's currently in the 360 will be shrunk down to a nicer 65nm, but not until mid 2007 because of a delay. The benefits of shrinking a CPU are not only cost reduction, but less power consumption, and less heat is generated. When a gaming console's innards get smaller and cost less, that can only mean good things for consumers and a possible price reduction may be in the distant future. And since the new smaller chip will need less power maybe we can finally reduce the size of that huge power brick.[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MightyHealthy @ Dec 26th 2006 10:50PM
Is it bad to be disappointed by this news?
I'm on my second 360 right now.
It's one which gives me a "Please insert this game into an Xbox 360 Console" error.
I was hoping my third would be the last one I'd eventually have to replace. Darn.
Tonicboy @ Dec 26th 2006 4:11PM
Power brick? Who cares about the stupid power brick? Maybe we can turn down those fans a bit, yeah baby!
ruiner @ Dec 27th 2006 9:25AM
this could also mean an small uptick in the number of consoles leaving the factory as chip yields should be far better than before with the smaller footprint
DeadPlasmaCell @ Dec 26th 2006 9:03PM
I don't really mind the powerbrick.. and the fans are near silent. The DVD drive is the actual noise maker.
Tyler @ Dec 27th 2006 8:35PM
Darn, I was hoping to get some price drop coming soon :( Oh well.
asurroca @ Dec 27th 2006 10:58AM
Yeah, the problem is the DVD drive, and IIRC the newer DVD drives aren't nearly as loud as the ones on the older models. I've got a launch model and it's basically silent when there's no game in the tray, but pop in a DVD and it's like a jet firing its engines.
If the changes are significant enough, I could be on my second 360 by this time next year. We all know folks who upgraded their Xboxs over the years, so I'm sure the 360 will be no different.