Microsoft Xbox Reveal Event - May 21, 2013

Yes, the console looks as if it had lots of high-quality D/A and power circuitry in there for powerful analog outputs..

And then there's only digital outputs, and the SoC is only 100W, so what gives?

I don't care much for box design but that is really... design-less? Not a deal-breaker though.



BTW, anyone else noticed the HDMI-in connector in the back?

 

Those memory traces... this does sorta explain why MS PR were so incredulous about Sony not showing off the PS4 box. It must require a forklift.

Or not, Billy Idol's pic makes it look quite reasonable in size.

 

It looks smaller in these pictures.. very nice kit

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/05/xbox-one-development-photos/#slideid-138497

AND BEHOLD THE PSU IS INTEGRATED!

 

Not really.

Some hardcore fans get into that, but not enough that you would try and sell a console to them.

 

Wired is saying they're on 40nm.

 

Rough guess... SoC BGA is ~50 mm x 30 mm, assume laminate / PCB inside with 2 dies (DRAM / ESRAM and CPU/GPU combo like the Wii U. AMD Trinity GPU in 32nm is ~250 mm2 => SQRT (250) = ~15 mm x ~15 mm. Add some secret sauce, so maybe it's even 300 mm2 in 32nm ? From the WiiU it seems like 32 MB eDRAM is 2-3 mm2.

So should fit.

However, I can't imagine Microsoft went with 32nm. Should be 28 nm TSMC, which probably doesn't give much for die size (??), but lowers power.

PS: guess the second IC on the left (another large BGA) is the south bridge or I/O chip (= SATA, audio out, PCIe)

PS2: 10 DRAM chips ???? Maybe they are using two seperate DRAM controllers, but why 6 chips on one side and 4 on the other ?

 

You think the used game policy is why they are getting exclusive support from EA?

 

Why would they, when for the most part they can simply and legally gamble on the sport?

 

Agreed. They pulled an Apple pretty much, who tends to concentrate on features versus tech. With E3 around the corner, there isn't much need to show a ton of games.

Want to see how much actual hardware information comes out of Major Nelson.

Todd Holmdahl, Corp. Vice President, IEB Hardware
Nick Baker, Distinguished Engineer, Console Architecture
Boyd Multerer , Director of Development
Dan Greenawalt , Creative Director Turn 10 Studios

If we don't get a more intimate look at the hardware from these guys, then MS is obviously hiding the specs.

 

How many cable boxes actually have HDMI CEC. This is a huge issue for TV functionality to work as advertised

 

It's definitely not some social group event I'm aware of. The US sports bar concept is also alien. Sure, people might go to a bar/restaurant/home to watch some football game between friends, drink some beer and eat some snacks but that's it.

 

40nm. No wonder the box is huge.

 

You mean you will keep saying it until someone bans you. It's not the channel changing, it's the fact that because you're not on another input, you can do all the other stuff like voice control and snapping and Skype.

 

Don't count on UPC here in Europe with its crappy settop boxes. They can't even get HDCP working.

 

With the ability to switch between movies, internet, Tv and games, how much of that 8GB RAM can the games use?

 

I don't even...

 

Forgive me this probably dumb question, does transistor solely refer to the APU or could memory be included and all other chips?

 

It has an IR blaster port. Depending on the attached DVR they can use IP control, HDMI-CEC or IR to control the channel.

Interestingly, they only showed live television watching. How well can it control the guide and DVR functions? No one just watches whatever is on CBS at the moment. Does it us it's own guide or can it control the cable box one?

I think the fantasy sports stuff is also a pretty weak feature. It replicates the functionality of a smartphone or tablet people already use while watching games. Shrinking your view on the TV to get the same real time stats is not an improvement.

 

28nm ... im guessing that 40nm was a typo

http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/21/...utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget