Jasper to replace Falcon tech next year
by Dustin Burg 
{ Oct 10th 2007 at 2:00PM }
Dean Takahashi over at The Mercury News blog is reporting that Microsoft already has plans in place to replace the newly release 65nm CPU Falcon technology in their Xbox 360s and it's called Jasper.Jasper is the codename for the newest of the new Xbox 360 motherboard technology that is scheduled to release next year in August 2008 and will incorporate not only Falcon's 65nm CPU tech, but will also sport a smaller 65nm GPU and smaller memory chips. This Jasper revision will further increase the reliability of the Xbox 360 hardware, further bring down the manufacturing costs and further the Xbox 360's longevity in the marketplace. Our only question to Microsoft is why not bring out Jasper sooner? Don't get us wrong, the Falcon technology is good times, but now we want Jasper. Bring on the Jasper!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
xenocidic @ Oct 10th 2007 2:16PM
aka FROSTILLICUS
itsburnsie @ Oct 10th 2007 2:20PM
No Jasper till 'o8?
That's a paddlin'...
ben w @ Oct 10th 2007 2:24PM
Is it worth waiting 8 months for this?
How unreliable is falcon? Unreliable enough to justify 8 months without a 360?:(
I really want one!
AfroCelt @ Oct 10th 2007 2:25PM
Falcon should be just fine...at worst you send yours in with issues when Jasper hits?
of course this is coming from a bloke who went out and bought a second 360 when his launch one died right before Halo released...
nerrrrrrd @ Oct 10th 2007 2:30PM
pretty much all the red ring of death problems are related to overheating of the GPU. that's why people experience freezing or artifacts or basically screen screwing up in general prior to the red ring appearing. people waiting for the smaller CPU were retarded as it's the GPU that's the problem.
mike @ Oct 10th 2007 2:37PM
I own a July Elite console. Thats not even falcon, but has the new heatsink. I bought this because my launch console, and 2nd console (brand new from store jully 2006) died. But my july 2007 elite has been running non stop almsot since halo 3 came out (I leave it on heh) + I got my hdtv so I use my 360 for media streaming and media center. Its pretty much on all the time.
I feel confident im safe however with the new heatsink. There truly is no need to wait for jasper, and if you do, im sure they will announce code name bill gates which is better then jasper and coming out in 8 more months. There will always be improvments, but the RROD issues are finished, fixed, over with. Im sure its still possible to get them, but now its like 0.5% who get it, instead of 40% like it was before.
So go buy one.
kineticonline @ Oct 10th 2007 2:39PM
And just after Jasper is released there will be another version, and another after that.
Seriously, maybe waiting a month or 2 makes sence jsut before an update console is release but it will still play the same games and still has the same warrenty. Just buy it, stap playing and start enjoying.
If you constantly wait for the latest version that they are working on you'll be buying the xbox 360 when they've started selling the next generation of consoles
Mauricio @ Oct 10th 2007 3:01PM
dude, itsburnsie, that made me snort cup o'noodles out my nose. +1 for itsburnsie
nerrrrrrd @ Oct 10th 2007 3:04PM
lol @ #2, i totally missed that comment the first time.
Kamizar @ Oct 10th 2007 3:05PM
Seriously, "Our only question to Microsoft is why not bring out Jasper sooner? Don't get us wrong, the Falcon technology is good times, but now we want Jasper. Bring on the Jasper!" this bothers me, not Microsoft taking sometime to perfect something but the content of the article, obviously its not out yet cause it needs to be refined and play tested properly plus mass manufactured and shipped, they obviously just set a date they know they can reach...
Scott @ Oct 10th 2007 3:20PM
This is another consequence of the original design of the 360 resulting in the all the RRODs and the $1billion charge on extending warranties. Fixing the problem short-term caused them to push back the long-term solution of "Jasper".
Falcon still should be good enough. Ars did a comparison between a Halo edition Falcon and an Elite Zephyr and found that the Falcon consumed significantly less power and generated much less heat. Falcon also fixed problems with the motherboard like the clamp on the GPU.
CPickler @ Oct 10th 2007 3:34PM
@11 would you post a link to that article, I missed that one
Chuck @ Oct 10th 2007 3:42PM
How do you figure Scott? This is driven by reducing cost, the extra benefits of lower power consumption and thus lower heat are added bonuses of the die shrinks.
Scott @ Oct 10th 2007 3:46PM
@12 - I couldn't find the Ars link but here is the same thing from xbox-scene - http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEAEpkkAAAMVvEPvrj.php
Scott @ Oct 10th 2007 3:49PM
Right Chuck. But they had to delay the efforts of the die shrink because they had to concentrate on fixing the various problems with the original 360s...from the clamp, to the heatsink, to the motherboard, etc. This took away resources from doing the die-shrink design. Otherwise, we'd probably already have the Jasper version.
I believe Takahashi covered this in one of his articles previously.
Brian @ Oct 10th 2007 4:33PM
You shot who in the what now?
jimy @ Oct 10th 2007 4:34PM
'that's a paddlin' comment
lmfao. brilliant.
h0mi @ Oct 10th 2007 4:46PM
Coping with Senility.
SoxFan13 @ Oct 10th 2007 8:16PM
"Moon pies! What an age we live in!"
stirlo @ Oct 10th 2007 8:36PM
I'd seriously buy a 360 if i knew it wouldn't cark it on me, but there's no way i'd get one until I knew for sure it's not gonna do any of the (i wont mention) myriad problems...
I know it's "only" a 33% chance or so, but I really don't like those odds!
Kamizar @ Oct 10th 2007 9:46PM
Stirlo, by now, its probably much less...
gtpunch @ Oct 11th 2007 5:25PM
> 3. Is it worth waiting 8 months for this?
>
> How unreliable is falcon? Unreliable enough to > justify 8 months without a 360?:(
>
> I really want one!
If you want one, buy one- the 360 at least has a great warranty now. Even if your machine does crap out, the worst that could happen is that you're without it for a couple of weeks- still better than being without it for 8 months because you didn't buy one.
I've have an original Premium for almost a year- no problems so far :)
360 @ Nov 10th 2007 10:31PM
Does the elite have the falcon chip? And is it worth waiting till August for the 65 gpu chip? And also, if my elite breaks after August will they send me a new one with the new additions?