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Slim 360
- Thread starter thop
- Start date
Makes sense that they have merged the GPU and CPU, since it is such a long time since the CPU or the GPU of the 360 went through a die shrink. They were saving up to a major change. I wonder if it will ever go through another die shrink I doubt it, as the 720 will probably show up within the next 2-3 years.
Shame that we don´t have a picture of the other side of the motherboard and that it isn´t possible to read what memory units that are used. I am kind of curious what road they have chosen with regard to the memory. Maybe they just switched to 1 Gbit GDDR3 units.
It would also be neat if the heat plate was removed to reveal if the EDRAM is still a separate chip.
Shame that we don´t have a picture of the other side of the motherboard and that it isn´t possible to read what memory units that are used. I am kind of curious what road they have chosen with regard to the memory. Maybe they just switched to 1 Gbit GDDR3 units.
It would also be neat if the heat plate was removed to reveal if the EDRAM is still a separate chip.
Were the memory units readable on the original giant images?
I'm talking about the ones you see when you click the thumbnails. I meant giant in terms of hotlinking to the forum.
They've used GDDR3 1Gbit chips before btw. Was a different supplier at the time IIRC, so that's why there may be inconsistencies with other units.
They've used GDDR3 1Gbit chips before btw. Was a different supplier at the time IIRC, so that's why there may be inconsistencies with other units.
OK,
Do you have a link to support that? I´ve only seen pictures of Jasper motherboards with 512 Mbit units [link]. Are there multiple versions of the Jasper motherboard?
Is there actually information available about the internal components of the dev kit? I remember they announced that the total memory size was upped but nothing more.
I wouldn´t be a bit surprised if the dev kit announced at last years GDC contained the new merged GPU/CPU chip. The chip has probably been in the making for many years and if it is about to go into test series console production right now. The chip probably went into mass production in the middle of 2009, meaning that evaluation chips have probably been around from the beginning of 2009. If I remember correctly Microsoft promised deliveries of the new dev kit in the second half of 2009.
edit: read your edit, I guess that means there are two versions of the Jasper motherboard.
Found the link: http://benheck.com/08-06-2008/inside-a-60-gig-xbox-360 
It's not really 2 versions of the jasper board. They just don't solder chips to those wire traces. Well, for the 1GB dev kit, just consider the amount of space on the motherboard for the number of RAM chips. You won't find space for 8 more chips, let alone considering the wiring issues.
It's not really 2 versions of the jasper board. They just don't solder chips to those wire traces. Well, for the 1GB dev kit, just consider the amount of space on the motherboard for the number of RAM chips. You won't find space for 8 more chips, let alone considering the wiring issues. This has been strongly rumored, wouldn't surprise me.
MS is going all out with Natal. Natal+Reach+Slim+price drops?
But why would they have a brand name cooler on it?
A lot of people on Neogaf seem to think this means a internal HDD, I guess because of the size. I dont get it, an internal HDD would be both non-upgradeable, and would mean the end of the Arcade?
The non-upgradeable part is sort of believable, with the standard HDD now at 120GB and rising, if a step back. I definitely dont see the Arcade going away judging those latest NPD figures.
Unless I guess, they're thinking MS is going to sell an proprietary HDD that just fits in internally? In which case, you've sort of cut off all the owners of the old HDD form factor (and current form factor Arcade owners without a HDD)? I'm sure MS isn't interested in continually producing two hdd form factors.
MS is going all out with Natal. Natal+Reach+Slim+price drops?
But why would they have a brand name cooler on it?
A lot of people on Neogaf seem to think this means a internal HDD, I guess because of the size. I dont get it, an internal HDD would be both non-upgradeable, and would mean the end of the Arcade?
The non-upgradeable part is sort of believable, with the standard HDD now at 120GB and rising, if a step back. I definitely dont see the Arcade going away judging those latest NPD figures.
Unless I guess, they're thinking MS is going to sell an proprietary HDD that just fits in internally? In which case, you've sort of cut off all the owners of the old HDD form factor (and current form factor Arcade owners without a HDD)? I'm sure MS isn't interested in continually producing two hdd form factors.
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DuckThor Evil
Legend
Has anyone calculated the size of board yet? Is it significantly smaller than the Jasper board?
Found the link: http://benheck.com/08-06-2008/inside-a-60-gig-xbox-360
Makes sense.
Pre-production unit.
I don't get it either. Can´t see how people can draw any conclusion about the mounting of the hard drive from those pics.
This actually looks like all that space above the board on the left hand side is still reserved for a PC-sized DVD drive. Might be a drop-in for the same old shell. They'll call it the non-slim Xbox 360.
edit: scratch that, the screw holes don't line up. Previous boards also were wider and had one edge with a cut-out.
For reference: http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EkkZlFAyyZZXEKjatA.php
edit: scratch that, the screw holes don't line up. Previous boards also were wider and had one edge with a cut-out.
For reference: http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EkkZlFAyyZZXEKjatA.php
INdeed some guy in the "core" forum are crazy good at that they could easily guesstimate the size of the mobo based on the display/network/etc. ports
EDIT
By the way I hope Ms really put a lot of effort in this slim. Something like both 40/45nm chips respectively for the cpu and the gpu and 65nm for the Edram along, GDDR5 mem controler allowing for a 64bits bus and with a "slim"/laptop like dvd player.
They really need to be cheap and have a "sexy" system if they are serious about establishing them-self as a leader in the console realm for both core and casual gamers.
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What exactly is it you don't 'get'? What is there to not get anyway?
Look, you CAN'T really make a 360-slim with the current HDD implementation, due to the gigantic plastic bathtub enclosure MS chose to use for some inexplicable reason. Chances are the old tub wouldn't fit with the styling of a new case either (as if it ever really fit with the old for that matter). All you could do is shorten the height of the 360 when vertical somewhat; up to 40% or so I suppose but there'd obviously have to be enough room on the front panel for the disc tray, buttons, connectors etc without things getting too bunched up and crowded. It wouldn't really be any 'slimmer' though.
To me, the external HDD never was anything but an ugly wart sticking out of the 360, with its tacky, tasteless american chrome "decorations" and all of that crap. Only thing it missed was fake wood panelling, and I'm sure MS sells that as an accessory...
If they do go with an internal HDD - perhaps in a much smaller custom enclosure if they absolutely have to stick to their proprietary overpriced peripheral shit strategy they have so far - then I'd be a happy clam, as it would allow for a smaller, more elegant main unit. The current external HDD solution offers no genuine advantage anyhow, seeing as MS does things as difficult as humanly possible with their draconian DRM to move stuff around.
Screwing with the memory subsystem on such a fundamental level could impact game performance. I don't think MS would go that far. Besides, would it really be a cost saving? GDDR5 isn't exactly the cheapest type of memory out there.
AMEN to that however!