Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

'Jasper' 360 sporting new 65nm GPU

Author of The Xbox 360 Uncloaked says Microsoft will move to cheaper, cooler graphics chips next August.

As the writer of The Xbox 360 Uncloaked and Opening the Xbox, San Jose Mercury News tech writer Dean Takahashi already knows what's inside Microsoft's gaming machines. He also has some insight into what's around the bend for the console, and consequently Takahashi has reported that the next planned hardware revision for the system is codenamed "Jasper," and will debut next August.

The Xbox 360 has already undergone a handful of hardware revisions, first with the HDMI-enabled "Zephyr" motherboard that debuted with the Xbox 360 Elite (and has since found its way into standard Xbox 360s as well). Earlier this year, Takahashi also reported on "Falcon" 360 motherboards that sport cooler-running 65-nanometer CPUs under the hood, which reduces the risk of the console's now-infamous hardware failures.

Takahashi said that for "Jasper," Microsoft is giving the system a matching 65nm graphics chip and smaller memory chips. Like the 65nm CPU, the 65nm GPU will be smaller, cooler, more energy efficient, and be cheaper to produce than the 90nm chip used in previous Xbox 360 revisions. Takahashi said it is currently scheduled to roll out in new systems starting in August 2008.

A Microsoft representative told GameSpot, "We are constantly updating internal components on our consoles and therefore will not comment on details of specific components or manufacturing processes."

242 Comments

  • yukinaze

    Posted Sep 28, 2010 1:30 am GMT

    great..

  • DYSTOPIAN_BITE

    Posted May 23, 2009 1:08 pm GMT

    FAULTLESS??!! HAHAHA. What do you, work for Microsoft? Being that mine died two days ago, I beg to differ with your vast ignorance. Sad, sad consumers we all are. What's up lemmings? See that cliff over there? Hey, bring your 360 with you! Don't worry, Jasper will catch us!

  • mcjakeqcool

    Posted Mar 4, 2009 12:49 pm GMT

    Now will everybody stop complaing about the RROD? It's down in black and white, the 360 is FAULTLESS.

  • MrGordons

    Posted Nov 30, 2008 1:16 am GMT

    wow, this article is a year old...

  • WarGrad

    Posted Mar 23, 2008 2:50 pm GMT

    Total crap shoot after August '08, they could write it on the box, or you could open it up and compare then void the warranty. Best bet, wait a few months to get into supply. I don't plan on waiting much longer myself. A cooler cpu has reduced the risk enough to be satisfied but "Jasper" would take it a few steps further with the cooler gpu and memory.

  • biggy887766

    Posted Mar 22, 2008 2:02 pm GMT

    As for the issue at hand, i had my console from Feb 2006----> around Apr 2007, in that month my console got the RROD. I decided that since i didnt plan on spending a single dollar to have MS fix it, i blew it up and started waiting until MS sucked up their dignity and fixed the dam problem. After 1 year they have only given half assed efforts using the halo 3 launch to sell even more faulty consoles before attempting to fix the problem one piece at a time. In the mean time i bought a computer which is a way better investment than a console atm

  • biggy887766

    Posted Mar 22, 2008 1:56 pm GMT

    ---->Melenat.....gamertag recovery, or use your old hardrive. Not that big of a problem.

  • badevil

    Posted Feb 14, 2008 10:13 pm GMT

    it's not as many versions as PS 1 and PS 2 ... yet but not for the same reasons, I'm speaking of Bios here.

  • Melenat

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 9:01 am GMT

    So if I end up having to get a new xbox 360, or decide to, because of it's new jasper technology, then how in the world will I transfer all of my gamerscore, accomplishments, and saved game data to the new system???

  • CS_fanatik

    Posted Nov 17, 2007 8:12 pm GMT

    The problem is they will still have to get rid of the old 90nm xbox's as well so you wont know which type you'll get. hopefully uninformed people will buy all the 90nm xbox's at christmas so that we can get the 65nm's

  • lilromeo0606

    Posted Oct 17, 2007 10:54 pm GMT

    im assuming that a lot of you guys are playing halo 3 in your bedroom for hours on end where its very small and placing it in a corner where it doesn't have air circulation. I had my 360 for almost two years, the first original ones and i sold it and got the new one with HDMI. some tips that i could give you is think of it as a computer. don't pace on carpet, keep in a cool ventilated place and it will be running for a long time. if you have a computer thats fully overclocked and its still running, your 360 should be doing the same.

  • jesus_markii

    Posted Oct 13, 2007 4:13 pm GMT

    FFS more ways for companies to make money its expensive enough as it is i live in the UK and we have to pay double the price of US gamers for consoles and games im getting fed up of this

  • norabbitnofun

    Posted Oct 13, 2007 5:00 am GMT

    Any chance they would downsize the power supply unit too?

  • eViL_kA

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 2:58 pm GMT

    TranClan: "they can't release the Jasper now because its not fully completed and tested yet."

    Is that a joke? Last time i checked, being "not fully completed and tested" didn't stop them from launching the first time around. Besides, they obviouly knew they were putting out a faulty product (how could they not being in the 30% range); MS just decided to launch anyway to get ahead of the competion. It worked of course but for how long is yet to be seen.

  • mooseman721

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 11:41 am GMT

    I'm fed up with MS now, who's to say these won't be as unreliable as the outgoing systems? My third has just broke (Always the dvd drive, never rrod, funny thats not covered in your three year waranty MS), and thats enough for me. I shall miss the new Ninja Gaiden, and thats a shame, but I just can't stand to have their frustratingly bad quality system breaking all the time. Three times in ten months is too much.

  • darkride66

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 8:40 am GMT

    starfoxmcleoud. Good question, but I wouldn't count on it. I just received my 4th console on Wed and they sent me a console that was older than the one I sent in for repairs. Hopefully this one will finally be one of the "good" ones. I think I'm about due.

  • jmartin1016

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 7:40 am GMT

    wow it only takes microsoft 2.5 years to fix a problem that should have been taken care of before it launched.

  • Poshkidney

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 6:16 am GMT

    good sorting problems doing things

  • kineticman_a13

    Posted Oct 12, 2007 5:29 am GMT

    @ starfoxmcleoud
    Amen to that

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:13 pm GMT

    This is the kind of thing that pisses me off. It worse than Nintendo with it's handheld revisions.

  • starfoxmcleoud

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:12 pm GMT

    So, when an older console goes RRoD will this be the replacement? And I haven't heard a Jaguar reference in forever! Break out the Alien vs Predator!

  • DrKill09

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:13 pm GMT

    If Microsoft would've just held off the 360's initial launch til 06, this "too little too late" revision would not be needed. The system was obviously rushed out the door, and we are all paying for it. What is the point of achievements when all your friends gain 1000 points on you while your console is in repairs?!

  • TranClan

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 7:11 pm GMT

    ---n00b_kid--- they can't release the Jasper now because its not fully completed and tested yet. Its like saying you want an early copy of Gears of War 2 and it has the graphics of a Jaguar. For you people who don't know, the Jaguar was I think the first 64 bit console released

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 6:23 pm GMT

    '"Azhar85 that's great news....more and more peoples will get a Xbox 360...

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 3:09 pm CT "'

    This IS great news not only will more people buy 360's but they be able to continue to hold their price drops to the console and actually profit more cause they''ll be losing less money on cheaper more efficient chips.

  • hrah

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 2:41 pm GMT

    Barrett_rob
    you are the one that doesn't seem to understand, THIS is a revision to the hardware not a new SKU !!!

  • Canitbe

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 2:09 pm GMT

    Barrett_rob, this is a new chip that will replace an old chip. They aren't fully replacing a console. More then likely, it will attach to the same spot and require no re-working of the motherboard.

    Before you call someone an idiot, make sure your statement isn't moronic in itself.

  • barrett_rob

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 1:58 pm GMT

    um why did they release the elite and the halo 3 one and then make this one? idiots you idiots.

  • Azhar85

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 1:09 pm GMT

    that's great news....more and more peoples will get a Xbox 360...

  • nintendokid

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 12:34 pm GMT

    ---n00b_kid--- "Zephyr, Falcon, Jasper ...... what's next ??
    why cant they just release the Jasper now ?"

    Because you touch yourself at night.

  • ---n00b_kid---

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 11:23 am GMT

    Zephyr, Falcon, Jasper ...... what's next ??
    why cant they just release the Jasper now ?

  • LordGamer0001

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 11:10 am GMT

    wow i really hope my 360 lasts until i can get one with a new falcon... man that would suck if it didnt.

  • nintendokid

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 11:00 am GMT

    Sheiko: "Falcons have been in production since July."

    No. Zephyrs have been in production before July and have been in circulation since July. Falcons are slowing being produced and are currently being soft launched in very, very, very low quantities. There never was, never is, and never will be a way to actively look and search for a Falcon when purchasing...until next year when pretty much all of the Zephyrs have been phased and bought.

    dougo1807 - http://forums.xbox.com/15804553/ShowPost.aspx

  • Constant-Ra1n

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:57 am GMT

    Each next gen console has a fault, 360's crappy hardware, ps3's non existent games and the last gen-next gen gimmick wii.

  • Franzkill

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:52 am GMT

    I'm sorry Microsoft but next August just isn't good enough. When it comes to console reliability you can't keep rolling 'prone to crash' units off the shelf. Release these newer models NOW not later.

  • Sheiko

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:51 am GMT

    Falcons have been in production since July. Ironic how Jasper won't come in until a year later. Probably means the cost of shrinking won't equal or exceed profit made due to discount. Oh well... Halo 3 can wait alil longer.

  • dougo1807

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:45 am GMT

    What date did they start making the Falcon versions of the 360? I sent in my 360 to Microsoft a couple weeks ago and I just got it back. They gave me a new one. Its manufacture date is September 16, 2007. Is it a Falcon?

  • NaitoTheShinobi

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:14 am GMT

    To those that warned me about the intercooling fan, thanks! I just got done reading over some forums where people have been reporting some weird things that the fans are doing, like frying the power plug input and causing strange error messages on the 360. Good thing I still have the receipt for it. I just hope my newer 360's improved heatsinks and whatnot can handle the heat by themselves. I keep my room's airflow pretty good and I gave plenty of space to my console laying flat, so it should last awhile even if it does inevitably break. Thanks again for the heads up on those fans.

  • Megavideogamer

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 10:09 am GMT

    When the new 65nm chip arrives I most likely will upgrade to a new Xbox 360 Elite. Jasper/Falcon. My 360 hasn't gone belly up yet. Maybe it will hopefully not. Odds seem to be that it will kick one day. MS has the 3 year warranty now. but...

  • ---n00b_kid---

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 9:52 am GMT

    Jasper 360 >>> Falcon 360
    I will wait for the Jasper 360 and recover my XBL Gamertag.

  • dan123collins

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 9:47 am GMT

    very good microsoft

  • darkride66

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 9:15 am GMT

    Yuck_Too. I know where you're coming from on this. I hope I'm one of the lucky 70% majority who now has a console with no problems this time out. My problem is with posters like MrSickVisionz who assume that the 360 is all hunky dorey and that people who are having problems are abusing their consoles. I love my 360 as I love my PS3 (mixed emotions about my Wii). I finally received my 4th unit just yesterday and my wife and I dove right in to Halo 3. It rocks. I just want people to go into a new console purchase with their eyes open. There are serious hardware problems with the 360 and it's getting better but still. Buyer beware.

  • READTHIS101

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 9:13 am GMT

    MICRSOFT IS MAKING WAY TOO MANY VERSIONS OF THE 360!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • terrabreak13

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:54 am GMT

    I think alot of the comments on forums about RRoD were lies. Maybe it was just the cool thing to do at the time to get attention.

  • eViL_kA

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:53 am GMT

    Yuck_Too:"That's the flip side to your coin and why every time you tell us about the 4 you have gone though a dozen people say they have not had any problems."
    Gamespot:"Of the 49,934 respondents who said they owned a 360, 27,579 (55.2 percent) claimed to have had no problems at all. However, a startling 22,355 respondents--44.7 percent--claimed to have had at least one 360 fail. Some 13,858 respondents (27.8 percent) said they had one console die: of those, 10,012 (20.0 percent) said their console was replaced for free and 3,846 (7.7 percent) attested they had to pay. Others were even less lucky, with 3,619 (7.2 percent) saying they had suffered two dead 360s, and 4,878 (9.7 percent) reporting over two instances of hardware failure. (The initial percentages were slightly inaccurate--GameSpot regrets the error.)"

    44.7%!! wow, even if that is 10% off that's insane! Yeah, that makes no sense to me Yuck_Too. Twelve people have working 360's but it only takes 4 people with 3 broken ones to even out. If you really wanted to be fair you would compare the same amount of people not 12 people to one person. In other words, let's say you have those twelve people with working 360s, then you have 12 other people with at least 2 broken 360s; well, that's twice as many broken 360s. What happens when you have 12 people with at least 3 broken 360s? You need 36 people with working 360s to match the broken ones. I've gone thru 3 360s. That means that darkride66 and i almost match up to those 12 people with functional 360s and thats just 2 of us.

  • kappachan

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:43 am GMT

    I guess I know when I'm going to be buying my 360. I thought I would never buy one!

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:38 am GMT

    Well Now I will just get an Elite

  • eViL_kA

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:38 am GMT

    The search for a complete Xbox360 continues...

  • bourne2083

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:31 am GMT

    yeah a new chip but thankfally i just got my xbox replaced for free and quickly by microsoft so hopefally i wont need another one

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Oct 11, 2007 8:22 am GMT

    Code name jasper. What is it a not so friendly Ghost!!!

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!