The second Xbox 360 revealed: codename Zephyr

Ever wonder why Microsoft hasn't released an HDMI cable for the Xbox 360, or whether the AV port was really capable of digital out? Well, here's your answer: we landed pictures of what appears to be the second Xbox 360 -- the Xbox 360 v2, if you will -- codenamed Zephyr. (The original Xbox 360, if you recall, was codenamed Xenon.) The long rumored about and awaited update to the console won't just feature a new, cooler 65nm processor, it's also finally added an HDMI port for full digital 1080p pleasure, as well as a 120GB drive, just what the doctor ordered. The 120GB drive may or may not come bundled with the kit, we don't yet know, just as we also don't yet know how much a Zephyr 360 is going to run (we imagine it'll go for the same price as currently so they can keep up a little on their expanding margin). But our very kind Xbox insider seemed happy to let us know we'd be able to get them "soon."

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 9th 2007 4:53PM]

From WiredBlogs:

So why isn't there a built-in HD-DVD drive inside that new Xbox 360 redesign? Because apparently Microsoft isn't entirely confident in it, either. Says Microsoft game technology group product manager Scott Henson:

"We don't want to charge customers $200 extra for something that may be the next Betamax."

So no HD-DVD in your revanped 360s...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 9th 2007 7:35PM]

guys, i`m from argentina, and would like to get a xbox 360 premium, what do u recommend me to do?? buy it right now, or wait until the zephir is released?


(i hope u can understand my question)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 9th 2007 10:10PM]

I don't know if I believe this, but I do think there will be a second version 360. Likely a Halo 3 special edition box, or some such. Of course, I'll buy one for a second system and let my wife have my current one (for Viva Pinata). I win either way.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 10th 2007 6:14AM]

This picture is a fake anyway, the HDMI port is too close to the other port and both connectors on the end of each lead would get in each others way. Probably made by some sad & bitter ps3 fanboy

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2007 7:58PM]

this sucks it took me a year to get enough money to buy my xbox 360 and now microsoft goes and upgrades it after i alreadt bought mine and i love to have the best hardware when it comes to gaming and now i won't so when microsoft does release this upgraded version and does not give the people who paid for the original xbox 360 anything for ripping us off i will be mighty pissed

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 10th 2007 7:01PM]

Ha ha. It's too bad those 10 million people out there just helped line Bill Gate's pockets. Even this new version with a fancy new HDMI connection and bigger hard drive is OLD!. If I owned a 360 I wouldn't even bother with a new one that produces 1080p(BS the xbox native res is 1080i). It still doesn't have a HD/DVD drive intregrated. They are just trying to catch-up untill they release there new system. PS3 has an upgradable hard Drive, so if 60 gig's isn't enought, Im sure the 200 gig that has been rumored for the Ps3 should hold you for a while. Seriously don't bother spending another $400 for the system and $200 for the HD/DVD add on just spend the $600 on the 60 gig PS3 and realize that there games are on BLu-ray not DVD's so the system will actually be usable in 4 years. Remeber all you 360 guy's if they start putting games on HD/DVD for the 360 you'll have to upgrade.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 11th 2007 4:03PM]

I feel totally and utterly betrayed just like the rest of you. And personally microsoft just screwed itself out of a large sum of profits by manufacturing a prototype made console. Beacuse they could've waited and realeased a full fledged gaming powerhouse when sony realeased its PS3.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 12th 2007 1:42AM]

Hmm, there is a highly possible chance that they will include a HDDVD drive. Although the PS3 sells for 499.99 for 20GB, it is possible that they will include it as the new premium pack, probably going anywhere from 499-599, with 599 being the more likely pricepoint. Here are some of the features that I would like to see if they were going to release such a package

-120GB HDD
-HDDVD drive
-Wireless
-HDMI

I don't have either system yet, but when I do get one, I want it to be like PS3 where it will be future proofed. When I do buy a 1080p TV, I want to be able to use it in HDMI mode for full video quality, not any of that washed out VGA nonsense.

Since I didn't buy a Xbox 360, I'm not too pissed about the news. But I can see where this does alienate current owners. Those that wanted the best did not get the best. They got a rushed product that may/may not crash. Just when you think you got lucky, you find out that a year later your console dies on you. Well, from my point of view, after getting one of these new ones, I shouldn't have a problem because it's going to be a cooler CPU.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 12th 2007 7:39PM]

It's funny how you kids come to these forums only to speak your mind and only few you read the comments which preceded your own. I actually cleared this story up in a post a few days ago.

-KD

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 13th 2007 7:52PM]

I didn't get screwed when I bought my Betamax player, then afterward everything went VHS. MY Betamax player still worked and I could still watch MY Betamax movies, so I didn't care. I had The Towering Inferno on Beta so I could care less about that stupid VHS stuff... who needs it anyway is how I felt about it. Hmmph.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 13th 2007 10:17PM]

all of yall are fuckin idiots this is a fake stupid fucks some sony fan boy post this to get xbox360 fans upset and you know what its working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2007 8:03PM]

this could be why they extened the warranty ,this could be better , but they should have had this at launch not after like alot people have them

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2007 8:04PM]

The reason why the new console has a larger HD is because it is going to be able to receive IPTV. They are turning it into a tivo.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 20th 2007 12:40PM]

Grrrrr. NO WAY I CAN AFFORD THIS CURSE YOU MS! But...maybe....by the time I can something else will be out and then everyone with the Zephyr will be writing this. :)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2007 11:29PM]

the people that are going to be pissed off is Best Buy with everyone putting a box over the 360 and leaving it on until it overheats and getting the service exchange. I can tell you I am going to be one of the first ones to do that so I don't run into problems lets say after 1,000 people do it at each store and they start sending them in for service.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 15th 2007 7:39PM]

Ok everone think about nintendo and the gba the changed that to the sp, (the folding one). As well as the ds and the ds light. As for the xbox 360 it still has to update so the hard core teckies dazzaled with all the new thing it can do so they buy another xbox 360 v2 rather than a ps3. As for me I have yet to buy the xbox 360 and I am waiting for the new v2 xbox 360 of halo3. For now I keep my xboxlive going and the halo 2 disk running.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2007 11:28PM]

the Zephyr version should have the freezing problem fixed coz if it doesn't i'm never buying a 360 and its my fav console ( i tried lifting the power supply of the ground it didn't work so hope v2 is better)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2007 8:38PM]

So, why do you want a HDMI connection? The 360 is the only HD-DVD player that does NOT require HDMI. HDMI does not increase the resolution of the display, it does not provide better sound. All it does is lock the signal and enforce copy protection.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 28th 2007 12:21PM]

Ummm are you kidding me? Umm first off, if you want lossless audio then you'll need the capabilities of HDMI.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 22nd 2007 9:44PM]

Seriously I do not understand why people would sue because they bought a 360 without HDMI or a larger harddisk. It was and is SO inevitable that that there would be a refresh of the hardware. I guarantee that in another 12 months after the 360 V2 comes out there will be some new wizzbang reason for everyone to whine about why the V2 isn't cutting the mustard.

The XBOX 360 was cutting edge a year ago and HDMI was very new back then. It's the same with all gaming hardware now-a-days. 12 months is a lifetime.

PC Gamers know this VERY well.

Look at Video Cards for example! You need to buy one every 12 months to keep up with the Shader Model this or Direct X that or to run new game whatever.

Or plasma TV's - 2 and a 1/2 years ago our $6000 plasma would now be worth $2000 and it doesn't have HDMI!

And don't get me started on Mobile phones!

I'm just glad MS is actually bringing out a much needed update so that the competition between the PS3 and the 360 will be much closer.

Early adopters always make the tradeoff between having it NOW and missing out on the "refresh" or the "cheaper" version. That is the price you pay for being an early adopter.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 24th 2007 8:40PM]

I must say Sony have done a great job not to piss off their customers, they gave customers the choice of 2 versions and so they dont feel screwed if they bought the cheaper version. Yet, Sony will be releasing a new version of the ps3, called the 'Multimedia Centre' (http://hardware.gotfrag.com/portal/story/36024/), however, i dont think many ps3 consumers will feel screwed since: 1. The updgrades are not 100% neccessary, 2. the ps3 v3 will only be only an option for the reasonably rich (priced at $2500?).

Alas, im buying the Zephyr when it comes out, because it comes with all the features/games i want, and i just want to rub it in to all my mates who bought the current 360 :-)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 25th 2007 11:20AM]

this is bullsiht,I bought a 500$ console that over heats and makes too much noise and now their coming out with a new version.
I`m pissed

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 25th 2007 11:24AM]

500$ wasted on an xbox 360

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 31st 2007 6:42PM]

If you all really want to twist your panties in a knot trying chewing on this..

i was at a microsoft launch event yesterday that was focusing on Windows Presentation Foundation, vista, and office 07 and a discussion came up about DirectX 10. The guy goes into a big spill about how dont even ask him if it runs on xp because it doesnt(which i was aware of) and then
MS guy said something that threw me off
"You may be seeing it (directx10) on your favorite at home gaming console real soon... *cough XBOX 360 Mark II cough*".

I hadnt heard of this at all(Mark II) and wondered how my roomamate who got a 360 just recently would feel about an update to the system that shows his up so i gave a search for mark II and found this article.

makes me glad ive stuck it out this long because honestly I saw a side by side comps of a machine running DX9 and DX10 and 10 blows it away.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 2nd 2007 5:09AM]

Good call, J Allard.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2007 8:53AM]

well thats pissed me off! i only bought my xbox before christmas and now i see this! they'd better replace mine with this one. i also bought the hd dvd player so it better not have that in either!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2007 1:29AM]

I agree MS needs to be sued for their sheer lack of customer loyalty. Like myself many others made the mistake of paying 400.00 to beta test the 360 and now this.

Don’t bother trying to sue MS because you will not win. Just report them to the BBB. True power lies within numbers :)

Also
If you are truly pissed at MS then hack the firmware of your 360’s DVD Drive and don’t give MS another cent of your money. Don’t worry all games still work on Live :). I’m not normally one to spout off such things but MS has dicked too many people over with the x360 now it’s our turn.

Tutorial
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=514944

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2007 1:44AM]

In my opinion game developers such as EA and Ubisoft are the ones who need to sue Microsoft as I’m sure MS used the great “unshakable” security of the 360 as a huge selling point. MS has no loyalty to its developers or its customers.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 12th 2007 9:49PM]

oh, boo-hoo, MS made some improvements to the 360. Suck it up, things change, especially with technology. When you buy a car and the manufacturer makes improvements for the next model year, do you feel entitled to a new car too? Let's sue all the car makers cause they should have given us better performance, MPG or stereo in the 2006 model instead of the 2007....

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 14th 2007 1:26PM]

Welcome 2 the world of video games people. But heres the good news it's only gonna get better wait 2 see 3 yrs from now!!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 16th 2007 11:26AM]

The question is... Is it worth buying a PS3 on release date or wait until April time when we'll know if the Xbox 360 v2 will be coming out. I wouldn't fancy spending £425 on a PS3 to watch the price drop to £325 two months later.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2007 3:28PM]

You have no idea why this pisses me off. I just bought a 360, and i've been complaining about no HDMI and no large hard drive, but I knew i'd be even more pissed if they made one that had them. So here I am, with a 360, and once they release this, I'll have fun with my standard 1080i max games and 5 cables just to get the same picture a single cable could.

Oh, I also forgot, while people are playing 20 game demos, i'll be stuck with a max of somewhere around 10. OH YEAH -> Microsoft wants to release HD Movies and HD TV Shows to buy wiht Microsoft points, how the **** can I download them with only 14gb of space? Each show would be like 6 gigs..

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 19th 2007 3:14PM]

dude. will u people shut the fuck up!!!! always gotta have everything AND the kichen sink to make u happy huh. hdmi doesnt mean shit. component and composite look identicle to hdmi unless we r talkin a 150" screen. and if u dont have an hdtv it doesnt matter anyway. the 360 in native 720p and u cant tell it from 1080i. just cause the bestbuy fuckers throw numbers at u and make u feel inferioir if u dont have 1080i with hdmi ur worthless. compsite in 720p LOOKS THE SAME!

and microsoft designed the detachable hard drive on purpose. they DO think ahead and dont fuck people over like u think they do. so just get the 120g hard drive when it come out. if u cant be happy go play gaystation and have half the memory for $200 more dollars with ONE game worth playing.

wtf does it take to make u shut ur selfish childish mouths and stop asking for more more more like spoiled brats. fucking noobs. know ur shit before u cry about how microsft is screwing you. its a free country. when u can make a game console that plays 1000000000p high definition and converts to a spaceship i suggest u do it. till then either shut the fuck up or buy something else and regret it later.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 20th 2007 2:29AM]

ok see i have an "first gen" 360 with no problems so far so im happy. however, this doesnt bother me too much, know why? WHO FUCKING CARES WHEN YOUR RUNNING AN EVGA 680i mobo with 8800gts gpu and a qx6700 quad core cpu...fuck consoles pc noobs.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2007 10:19AM]

I've been waiting on the PS3 to come out proper to decide what to buy. The news of the new xbox 360 has won me over.

xbox pros:
- separate HD dvd drive means if it breaks(which will happen in a few years if u play lots of films) you can buy another drive and not another console. Also if blue ray win the war then MS could bring out a blue ray device to plug into usb.
- pc connectivity with xbox is great and will get even better with upgrades. All music, photos etc on pc and streamed to xbox means pc can be backed up with raid setup and hold all pics, movies, music. there will be no pc con with ps3.
- the GPU of xbox has better performance than the ps3 and thus will have better games than ps3 also since they are easier to develop on xbox. It will take developers years to get the best out of 8 SPU and even then they need to compromise on textures compared with xbox. (all due to GPU memory of xbox)

Don't get too stressed out of the new xbox if u have a current one because HDMI only matters if u have a 1080p TV. Even then it's hard to see any difference in games between 720p and 1080p. The 120gig HD doesn't matter too much since you should use the pc for storing content and the 120gig of xbox should just be there for game demos, OS, and saved game positions.

MS will proba release another version of xbox in the future with more stuff to compete with PS3 and to continue to offer more.

...or ebay your current xbox and buy new one if you want the latest.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2007 6:00PM]

BFD
So what, there are not even any games that are made for 1080p yet. I think two were anounced, but are not even available yet.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 23rd 2007 11:15AM]

Great news! I wanted an Xbox 360, but I was not happy with the noise of the original unit (as I also want to use it to replace my media PC in the lounge). Hopefully the 65nm version will be a lot quieter (and maybe they'll revise the cooling mechanism too?) I don't care so much about the HDMI, but I'm glad Microsoft have chosen to implement it on the new revision. They will have to support HD content on YPbPr for all old Xbox 360 owners though, but I would not be surprised if they disable HD over Component on the newly-revved boxes.

Personally, I almost never buy the first release of anything - it usually pays to wait for the next version to come out. I broke my own rule when I dropped 600 euros on a SkyHD box, but I wouldn't dream of lambasting Sky if they came out with a 750GB version in six months time for the same price, and as an HDTV owner I really wanted HD. That's just how things are with technology - if you want the latest, you have to pay in the knowledge that you'll eventually be eclipsed. Besides, for when that day happens, there's always eBay.

Microsoft is actually going to club Sony to death, I think. They've just made the Xbox 360 more compelling, and people like me who have been waiting on the sidelines for an upgrade such as this will now open our wallets and splash out the cash.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 26th 2007 1:20PM]

I'd better be able to trade in my OldBox 360 when this sucker's released. Maybe trade it in and pay, at most, $100 (hopefully less) for six times the HDD, HDMI (which I won't use), and quieter system altogether. That'd be okay, as far as I'm concerned. It's just MS bringing the 360 up to par with the PS3's HDMI output and 60Gb HDD.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2007 9:40AM]

Well I don't know what to think. I wasn't even planning on getting a 360 anytime soon, until Microcenter had a $100 rebate on all XBOX 360's after Thanksgiving. So I finally broke down and got the premium for effectively $299. (Had to wait forever for the rebate check though). I like the console, but I think the HD is too small. I probably WON'T be getting this new system, but I would like to get a HD upgrade.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2007 7:48PM]

If it has built in HD-DVD, HDMI, and Wi-Fi, I will buy one.
Otherwise I won't bother.
The add-on HD-DVD drive just makes your gear setup look cheap and messy, it needs to be built in!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 13th 2007 12:04AM]

haha you guys are dumb. just because a site says something you believe it. all sources but this one say that its fake. you guys got played.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2007 5:55PM]

1st i would like to say that this is typical of M$.. THEY ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO SUCKER PEOPLE INTO BUYING OUT DATED CRAP...i bought ps3 and i can tell you x-360 will never trully have what it takes to have full 1080...unless they release the 360 ..v3...and might i say all us ps3 buyers have to do is upgrade the hdd..thats it ...thats what they get for pushing the console out so quick ..yeah they have good game titles..but they lack the next gen. gaming ability....can i say more ..yeah i can ..you are all trying to sqeeze orange juice out of a lemon ...ps3 all the way ..killa4blood ..RKZ

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 24th 2007 8:01PM]

Microsoft knows how 2 fight back, and its easy when u have millions dollars in your bank like Bill Gates have!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 22nd 2007 11:29AM]

I agree. this seems to me like a very good Sony trick to freeze XBox 360 sales for a couple of months till PS3 is out. Since last year taht people are hearing this, everybody is thinking to wait for the new xbox to make a choice, while the only choice at that point would be xbox 360 (and Wii of course). This skepticism makes you wait and wait, and at some point, PS3 is out. Still no Xbox V2. At least some people then will buy PS3. This is a gain for Sony. Would you really think MS wouldn't anounce the V2 (officially, with release dates, prices, editions etc) to shock at least some of the people who are waiting for the PS3 and know its advandages to the xbox 360 (actually the HDMI)..?
I really believe this is the case..
Or maybe Bill and his partners at MS are so stupid afterall..

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2007 4:21AM]

It's absolutely soooooooooooooooo Microsoft to do this... reminds me SEGA (can anyone spell S-E-G-A C-D)...I have been such a supporter of MS products for better than 15 years...I recently had to return my 360, because it was ONE (of the MILLION?) with hardware defects...sure they sent me a new one (THREE WEEKS LATER!!), but the inherrent problems were well known and did nothing to deter the rush to market...now it seems like the ENTIRE 360 project is a SCAM!!! I AM p.o'd and will definitely be watching to see if Mr. Gates, et al make any attempt to right those of us who've be wronged by this situation...I can tell you that if he doesn't...well, let's just say that I haven't purchased ANY of the last TEN Maddens...nor ANY game with the name SEGA associated with it...guess I should look into buying an APPLE now...

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 5th 2007 6:33AM]

in response to steve st, xbox 360 IS better in all tests than the PS3. go to ign.com, then shut up. I am not biased to any console but whats so dam annoying is when people go on about PS3 being better because THEY want it to and the hype they have heard. PS3 has more raw power. xbox 360, applies everything it has better to the game. THEREFORE on screen the xbox 360 is marginally better. heres analogy: fast car with 500bhp but shit tyres on a track will be slower than a car with 450bhp, wit better tyres and chassis.

xbox 360 DOES have 1080p out via HD VGA, BUT it depends if your tv will accept the 1080p signal through analogue. many do not accept it.

miscrosoft have not commented on the HDMI pictures = they are considering it/ are in the stages of development. them commenting on it now would obviously effect sales. if they were not, they would say so - what do they have to loose. infact only to gain from people thinking "i might as well buy it now".

they have made too many HD-DVD players for it to be inbuilt on the next model. its upto them to decide if they want to make a loss, by not selling all the HD-DVDs they have built. watch this space.

For the people saying they wait for a while after consoles are released because they get upgraded - when do things not get upgraded?! for the guy that said he always waits a year before he buys - youve just lost a years worth of gameing. whos the sucker?! why not wait another 5-10 years for the next console. fool.

for playing games, xbox 360 = winner in this battle, but only JUST. but bear in mind it came out over a year ago and enough said. watching movies, and on looks of the console, PS3 wins. u decide if you want a HD movie player or the better gaming machine.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 11th 2007 3:32PM]

Not very cool MS. This is like getting kicked in the teeth! I waited to buy the 360 till Christmas 06' for the kiddies. Should have known better. I was really thinking about the PS3 as there was a stack of them right next to the 360's, but stayed with MS due to great deling with my 1st X-Box. A trade up should be in order, no way will I buy another 399 machine to get the HDMI that should have come with the rig to begin with. All this time I've been waiting for an adaptor.
If it comes to this I may just have to join the Sony brothers.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2007 1:52PM]

I went to target a couple of days ago, looking at there premium 360's and i looked on one side of the box with where the contents were and it said HDMI port, then i looked on the other side and there was a label, which had the word "Zephyr" on it. So is it true that the Zephyr ones have the 65nm chip? or just the HDMI? ive read lots of different things. Ive asked the Employees of different store's and they dont know much about it.

Thanks.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 8th 2007 6:23AM]

First off I nNEVER buy a console on release day!
I wait at least a year for the bugs to be fixed and version two to be released and buying my xbox 360 was no different.

In the past this has ensured my consoles work smoothley and last just as my previous xbox and playstation did (neither were version 1).

So as I bought my xbox 360 yesterday with halo 3 and Forza 2 I have the fixed zephyr version.

If you can't be patient then don't wine!!!!