HDMI confirmed in new 360 Premiums

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 8th 2007 at 7:00PM }

It don't get much more official than this folks. It seems someone purchased an Xbox 360 Premium system from an Atlanta Target today, only to find out that it includes an HDMI port (confirming the rumor we posted just today). Shacknews has confirmed with Microsoft that Xbox 360 consoles will now include HDMI ports and that are gradually finding their way into retail outlets. Microsoft is currently mum on whether or not the HDMI port will make it into the Core System (then again, why would it be if the Core is on the way out, right?). Also unknown is if the inclusion of HDMI also means users can expect the new 360s to have the smaller, cooler 65nm chips. Considering the magnitude of the addition of HDMI, the 65nm chips would definitely make sense. If the above image is any indication, the port should appear on consoles manufactured on July 4th or later. If anyone out there is willing to check for the 65nm processor, be sure and send the proof our way.

[Via Joystiq. Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Tags: 360redesign, 65nm, falcon, hdmi

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

russny @ Aug 8th 2007 7:08PM

I would love to know if these new 360's will have the 65nm chips. Someone please confirm :D

gRiN.of.AH @ Aug 9th 2007 9:14AM

The elite is nothing now.

WTangoFoxtrot @ Aug 8th 2007 7:09PM

good to hear !

Project Ekim @ Aug 8th 2007 7:11PM

if your 360 3 red lights on ya will ya get this back.

russny @ Aug 8th 2007 7:22PM

#3,

(from Anchorman)

"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure"
"You are electric"
"That wasn't a question..."
"....You are ELECTRIC?"

:D

Deezul @ Aug 8th 2007 7:30PM

A friend who bought a BB extended warranty went to return it due to RROD. Best Buy said they are not taking those returns anymore. He had to say his hard drive was bad. He didn't have anything on it he didn't mind losing though. So it looks like extended warranties from BB are worthless, since the most likely problem you're gonna have is a RROD. And I was gonna take my old school Premium back say it's broken to get one of the new hotness.

Nixon @ Aug 9th 2007 3:10PM

Everyone knew this day would happen soon. Why make 2 different boards when its easier to make one.

Knight Marquise @ Aug 8th 2007 7:37PM

Deezul~

I just figured out BB was worthless. I purchased a motorola smart phone from them, and considering the damn thing cost over $500.00, I bought the 3 year extended warrenty. Well, windows mobile keeps crashing, and the phone quits picking up calls, so I took it back. NO CAN DO. I have to call their 800 number send it in, and wait for a refurb replacement.

Needless to say, I'm rather sorry I purchased my Elite from them, as well as the extended warrenty on it. Best Buy is off my list now.

vash429 @ Aug 8th 2007 7:46PM

I got my console day one. After Christmas I had problems and went through 7 different consoles. The new one has started giving me the E74 error, but it goes away after turning it off. I would love to send it and grab the new one, especially because when my console is on it sounds like a chopper is lifting off. Anyone got any advice?

boomh4u3r @ Aug 8th 2007 8:07PM

put a pillow over it? RRoD and take it back?

russny @ Aug 8th 2007 8:08PM

@7,

Turn on the AC if you have one in the room; it's just barely loud enough to drown out the 360. That's what I do :D

Alex @ Aug 8th 2007 8:35PM

so anyone that gets a replacement console from Microsoft (increasingly common instead of repaired) getting one with an HDMI port in it? I assumed the replacements are older refurbs since that is probably faster than fixing a console for a waiting customer.

mikey @ Aug 8th 2007 8:45PM

so will there ever be an hdmi adapter for those (like me) who bought the older version with n hdmi port. also, would it be possible to take mine back to say, best buy, say it's broken and get a new one like this?

tobin92 @ Aug 8th 2007 8:51PM

So, If my Xbox 360 is being sent in for repair a day or two from now.....What are the chances of me getting the HDMI Xbox 360 with the lovely 65nm core if I asked the supervisor if the tech support for the newest console possible.

Chris @ Aug 8th 2007 8:54PM

Great now all I have to do is wait for my 360 to give the red light of death and sue MS for an new 360 (hopefully with HDMI), no I joke, suing others doesn't tend to do much.

But I am annoyed they couldnt include this in the first wave of 360s =(. This is as bad as the DS lite.

Tony @ Aug 8th 2007 8:55PM

I actually got a replacement made on July 17th and it doesn't have that port at all... so I don't know.

nacho @ Aug 9th 2007 8:11AM

I just a system back from repair today with a 7/24 date. No HDMI for me though.

russny @ Aug 8th 2007 9:01PM

Microsoft's official statement:

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

(via Engadget)

No word on the 65nm chips though.

Jared @ Aug 8th 2007 9:01PM

@ Alex and tobin92: I'm in this boat as well. On Monday I tried to confirm the 65nm AND new heat sink in my replacement (which will be #5) before this news came out today (it was just speculation before the photographic evidence).
My normal agent was off until Wednesday (today) so I had to pose the question to her back-up who told me that since I was getting essentially a brand new build that everything that is being put in the new 360's will go in mine. That's all he could confirm.
NOW, I just left a message with my Agent to see if she can tell me if I'm getting the HDMI out or not (I'll re-post here if she can confirm or deny). If she can't tell me yay or nay, I should be getting the box back on Friday or Saturday (I live about 5 hours drive-time from the repair facility) so I'll post on whatever comes back.

Sorry for the scatter-brained nature of the message.

russny @ Aug 8th 2007 9:02PM

Also:

"How do you know if your new $350 Xbox 360 will have HDMI out? Simple enough: according to Microsoft PR, the applicable systems will now sport an HDMI logo, so keep an eye out for that and you'll be all set."

(via Engadget)

Eric @ Aug 8th 2007 9:19PM

I'm guessing it doesn't come with the HDMI cable? Hmmm?

MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Aug 8th 2007 9:20PM

meh ill be happy when the say new 360 will be bug free. HDMI meh.

Tim @ Aug 8th 2007 9:24PM

This is the first thing that makes me (slightly) regret early adopting. My tv does sport an HDMI port that is unused for now and I just bought the HD DVD drive. But then I realize I wouldn't trade all that wonderful 2 years of gaming experience for a mere HDMI port.

Launch console still running perfectly for roughly 6 hours every day btw.

david_rlt@hotmail.com @ Aug 9th 2007 7:31AM

Mine started giving me a bunch of problems today...never got the RRoD, but it kept freezing on me...first on a CD, then on two seperate games, not to mention it had been running louder and hotter recently...fortunately I'm still under warranty, but it sucks sooooo much...fortunately it happened now rather then later, don't wanna miss out on any Halo action!

Mine was manufactured in november of 2006

Adam @ Aug 8th 2007 10:39PM

Yeah I'm with Tim...I don't mind early adopter the console because there's no way I would trade an HDMI port for all that time playing awesome games.

Even sending in my console twice I think is worth the early adoption.

tobin92 @ Aug 8th 2007 10:40PM

Jared....How did you get the same one agent?

How can I get in contact with them?
You have a phone number or something?

I call 1-800-4MY-Xbox and get different agents every time or a supervisor who knows nothing.

I am in the US BTW.

PLEASE PLEASE keep me updated

J.L.Jones @ Aug 8th 2007 10:54PM

And the people who bought their systems a month ago now get the shaft. Awesome. Thanks Microsoft.

Joel Purvis @ Aug 8th 2007 11:23PM

@ J.L. Jones: They didn't "get the shaft", they got exactly what they paid for. True, now there's a better & cheaper model, but that's true of all technology. No matter what improved phone/console/laptop ever comes out, there's always going to be someone that bought the old version a month before. The only alternative is to never improve and never cut the price.

Luke Valentine @ Aug 9th 2007 3:13AM

well, i feel like i have an incomplete 360 now. it was all well and good using VGA since i got it launch day, but now i know that people out there in the world can be enjoying HDMI...it makes me cry a little inside.

my console has never given me any hassle, not once seen these red lights, and i loved it, but still, it doesnt have HDMI, and the bond i had with it is broken now.

as far as im concerned, its inferior to other peoples 360, and the picture quality, in light of the new HDMI 360's, is awful (i know its not, im just trying to make a point), and i dont like that.

GregA @ Aug 9th 2007 4:17AM

@#25

Have you tried drugs? No I don't mean the street variety(although if you are on LSD you should take a break from it for a little while). The kind the psychologists prescribe for the delusional, depressed and schizophrenic. Because, I think the problem you are suffering from can't be solved with just an Xbox 360 with a hdmi port on it.

KR @ Aug 9th 2007 4:24AM

You guys sending in consoles to MS will NOT get one back with an HDMI port. They have tons of refurbs sitting around - you'll either get the console back you sent in, or you'll get someone else's formerly broken console.

GregA @ Aug 9th 2007 5:30AM

With a three year waranty on the rrod, at some point it will become cheaper to simply give you a new xbox 360 than try and repair the old one. With the refurbs breaking a short time after they are retuned, the people who have been having repeated rrod issues will be getting brand spanking new xboxes in the next few months.

However I think microsoft will manage it in such a way to try and prevent the abuses that happend with the generosity of free points and games this spring when people were toweling their xboxs and sending it in so they got free stuff.

Toph @ Aug 9th 2007 6:15AM

Best solution to get an HDMI-enabled unit? Buy one in stores this fall.

Think about the PS2 iterations. There were small, yet significant changes over the one console's life. I think there were a total of seven PS2 configurations in it's life.

Same thing with the DS, PSP, hell..think back to even the original NES; it eventually became a top-loader! This sort of thing happens. If you want airbags in your car, sell the 1985 Gremlin and get a new Civic or something. You get my point. There's no point in griping; just save up more $$ for a replacement 360 if HDMI is that integral to you.

I have a Premium but i'm not exactly missing out on HDMI for now. With that said, I'm working on trying to save up to get an Elite as soon as those smaller nanometer chips hit shelves. I like the black, and I want the larger HD drive.
I assume my existing 360 will either go to a friend, be sold to Gamestop, or collect dust in the closet.

Nathan @ Aug 9th 2007 6:29AM

This stinks... I would like to have HDMI but I have a launch system. Thankfully no death either! But having HDMI for a future setup would make things MUCH easier.
The question now, do the premiums with HDMI have the audio connector, or does MS expect customers to use the AV cable for audio?

Patrick @ Aug 9th 2007 6:41AM

Was it Joystiq or EngadgetHD who said they "could hardly tell a damn difference" between component and HDMI on the 360? I bought my 360 and 42" plasma this past spring and I don't regret the decision at all. (But then again, I don't have a home theatre hooked up either.)

Digitalspirit @ Aug 9th 2007 7:08AM

Get a grip people. The difference in image quality between HDMI and component is negligible, it's certainly not worth the grief some of you are making it out to be.

Boff @ Aug 9th 2007 7:51AM

@32: Thankyou! Glad to see someone on here with a bit of common sense.

Do any of the people on here EVEN KNOW why they need HDMI so badly or is it just because it's new and everyone else wants it? If you've got a half decent display you will hardly notice a difference between component and HDMI. One is an analouge signal and one is a digital signal (so it'll be a little more crisper) that's about it.

The bigger hard drive and smaller CPU is what you should be concerned with.

Iliad Force @ Aug 9th 2007 11:24AM

@35: What do you mean "with a 7/24 date." Is that the manufacture date? (I doubt it.)

@27: You're mistaken. People are already receiving brand-new, July-manufactured consoles from the repair center.

Michael Paul @ Aug 9th 2007 12:36PM

Heck, MY refurb (received 8/6) was made in 2006, so I wonder what random piles they dig through to send something back?...

xenocidic @ Aug 9th 2007 9:03AM

@14 & @35 , what about the YEAR?
July , but July 2007?

it's surprising they're sending out brand new consoles - you'd think they would have loads of refurbs they would sent first.

Bravo6 @ Aug 9th 2007 9:25AM

This reminds me of the time I bought a computer and not even a month later a new model came out that was faster. And once I bought a car, then then a new model came out with more features. There was this other time I bought a TV, and they had the nerve to come out with an even newer model that had more features. Oh and my cellphone, I bought one of those chocolate Verizon phones, and now there is a newer version of it with guess what - new features.

I can't believe technology has the nerve to change and not stay with exactly what I bought in the past, those bastards :(

Tony @ Aug 9th 2007 9:46AM

@37 - If it wasn't 2007 I (and I'm sure the other poster) wouldn't have bothered mentioning it lol. It was delivered in early August, manufactured July 17, 2007.

I don't know how it could be anything but brand new considering that, honestly.

@37 The elite still does come with a larger HD that's $180 otherwise. People seem to forget that.

Eric @ Aug 9th 2007 9:49AM

@36

Yea it's 7/24/2007, which is pretty good considering my broke console was from launch.

xenocidic @ Aug 9th 2007 10:57AM

yea, i figured as much, but i've learned to assume nothing ~

xenocidic @ Aug 9th 2007 10:58AM

...when i sent mine in repair the one I got back was older than the one I sent in ...

you guys are lucky =)

MDJ2010 @ Aug 9th 2007 11:04AM

Its good that theyve finally added the hdmi as standard to shut the PS3 owners up but as far as it improving picture and sound quality I say MEH!

mattclarkie @ Aug 9th 2007 11:13AM

Microsoft aren't making minor changes. A new processor and heatsink to conteract the "Every 360 made for the first 19 months is Thermally Insufficient".

And a new port that gives you better game and HD-DVD playback. Ignore the minor difference in picture quality, but DD over HDMI and most likely your only ability to get 1080p make it a more valuable device to me, I have a theatre rig.

Sony and Nintendo made small changes. Take te PS2 built in infra-red, but you could still get a remote with an adapter, built in ethernet, but you could still get the network adapter.

The launch 360s are flawed design wise. I love my 360, but Microsoft cutting corners to save time and money is an insult.

Can't wait for Halo3.