Xbox 360 65nm chips out there, 45nm chips in the future

According to reports, contract chipmaker Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing has begun work on a 45-nanometer CPU designed specifically for a video game console, and the word on the street is that Microsoft is the company placing the order. The Singapore-based chip company, which produces the current Xbox 360 CPU, is set to begin work on the new design in late 2008 or early 2009. The smaller chip would mean lowered production costs, smaller power requirements, and a cooler operating temperature -- which would address a handful of problems the current Xbox design has. The newer 65nm chip which the company produces for Microsoft went into production over the last two quarters, and Chia Song Hwee, Chartered's president and CEO, said that "you would expect 45nm to come on stream about 18 months from that timeframe." So, expect to pass some time before any major changes beyond the 65nm come... perhaps Halo 3 will make the wait more bearable?

[Via Joystiq]

[Mark @ Aug 1st 2007 3:44PM]

So when you say 65nm are out there... does that mean if I buy one right now it'll be 65nm? when are they gonna be available?

[chris @ Aug 1st 2007 7:19PM]

if it goes like all the other hardware releases it will be out in Christmas of 2009, just in time for halo 4

even if Microsoft comes out with it next week still is not gonna be better than sonys cell processor in the PWNstation3

[CobraRob @ Aug 1st 2007 3:44PM]

HAHA good luck with that, Applied is have a HARD time getting the 45nm process to work at chartered for CMP. Their yield is horribly bad right now and reliability is quite low.

[Tim @ Aug 1st 2007 3:50PM]

So, it's on par with the quality builds of current X360s?

[Revrant2394 @ Aug 1st 2007 4:12PM]

And the usefulness of the PS3 as a gaming console, Tim.

[CobraRob @ Aug 1st 2007 4:19PM]

No what I was saying is the timeframe is probably off since Chartered can not achieve an acceptable yield rate at this time for 45mn... They have nothing to do with the actual design on the device only the fabing of it which in this case has nothing to do with the quality of the chip since that is not where the problem lies.

[Mitch R. @ Aug 1st 2007 3:50PM]

Yeah, where are the 65nm Xboxes? I'm waiting for that one.

[Chris @ Aug 1st 2007 3:51PM]

the 65nm are currently available, but considering theirs no marketing point to a smaller die, theirs no way to really tell that you got a 90 or 65 version, and since most stores will have stock left and the dealerships will have some in the warehouses as well, so who knows lol

[Mike Holzapfel @ Aug 1st 2007 3:55PM]

No doubt, Engadget! Do a little follow thru and tell us how to determine which consoles have the 65nm chip?

[EM @ Aug 1st 2007 4:04PM]

Meh, call me when it's a 5nm chip.

[Neebs @ Feb 7th 2008 3:32PM]

See you in a few years.

[MRCUR @ Aug 1st 2007 4:08PM]

Everyone should take a look this this thread on the Official Xbox forums: http://forums.xbox.com/13882627/ShowPost.aspx

The "Falcon" motherboards began production last month. The July manufactured consoles (with 65nm chips) should be in most stores within 2 weeks.

[lysernix @ Aug 1st 2007 4:32PM]

Thanks MRCUR... I just read about 5 pages of that thread. You've been busy over there...! but the information is appreciated.
Elite/Black + $30 price drop + Halo 3 release + 65nm (finally) = Finally time to buy.

[Frankenstein Black @ Aug 1st 2007 4:38PM]

How is there not a revolt of villagers at the Redmond gates threatening to take proactive actions here? The Xbox 360 WAS RUSHED and a 3 year warranty shouldn’t cut it with those villagers. MS (with a sort of admittance of a MAJOR design flaw) should be handing out discount coupons for those saddled with the current red ringed abomination.

How did you let them convince you that this heat prone, crashing, disc scratching, disc error reading box was ok?! And anyone that buys one knowing about these problems is, well, a fool. If I was an Xbox 360 owner I would be demanding a discount coupon for the Box that should have been made from the start! And if they say NO, well bring on the WAREZ! One way or another I would “get my pound of flesh” back for the Beta Warez’ish box that they sold me! Fortunately I don’t own an Xbox 360. Get Pissed people!

[Maestro @ Aug 1st 2007 4:44PM]

That's an easy one. While many people have had issues with their 360, many, many, many, many, many more have not.

[michael @ Aug 1st 2007 4:48PM]

I think you should get the facts better:

"I don't own an Xbox 360" - Exactly. You don't know how great it is (when there's no problems)as a game console. You can play video games, surf Marketplace and buy TV shows/movies (even in HD), has pretty great graphics, easy to use, you can watch HD-DVD's, you can do tons of stuff that you can't do on the PS3 or the Wii. Xbox 360 is your great overall game console there is. PS3 I admit though, is better in specs.

Overheating, crashing, disc scratching - I'll give you the first 2, but disc scratching is a non-issue if you don't move the Xbox 360 while it's playing.

And note, not all Xbox 360's are having problems. Mine has been working quite well since I got it. I'm not saying there aren't many people with problems, but the fact is, not all Xbox 360's are in the state of chaos you describe.

3 year warranty is a big plus for us all. Microsoft stepped up, finally admitted there was a design flaw, and took care of it properly. Their tech support has always been good too. So what's the problem here?

I think the Xbox 360 platform is one of Microsoft's better products, and lots of people like it. Maybe you don't, but lots of us do.

[james @ Aug 1st 2007 4:53PM]

"If I was an Xbox 360 owner ..."

key phrase there, buddy. That means:

a. you don't own any next-gen systems and so you're not a real gamer and so YOU SHOULD SHUT THE FCUK UP!

or

b. you own a PS3 and just sit around playing Resistance all day, cause every other playable game is a 360 game (Oblivion) or an Xbox game (Ninja Gaiden).


or

c. you own ONLY a Wii and you're 12 yrs old. refer to point a. for what to do if this is the case. (hint: starts with Y and ends with OU SHOULD SHUT THE FCUK UP)



either way, just curl up and die. i own a 360 (and soon to be PS3 owener once ONE good exclusive game comes out for it) and its simply great. i got the red rings once (last May) and within 7 days it was back in my house fixed for no charge. and considering ive owned it for over a year and played the hell out of it (that's what happens when you have games to play on your system) its not surprising it broke. and now its got the extra sink and so it will never die.


Microsoft doesnt owe anyone anything. They extended the warranty and made service FREE.


im a big PS3 fan (love the features, waiting for the games) and a big 360 fan. both great systems with pluses and minuses. you need to just die you sick fanboy.

[MC @ Aug 2nd 2007 11:03AM]

@James,if YOU were a real gamer, and not a fanboy yourself, you would know that there are a
number of great games out already and/or coming out soon for all of
the current systems, even the Wii. Try not to make your own fanboy comments and put down anyone (even other fanboys) who might enjoy games that you are
too afraid to try or admit that you might like also.

[KSB @ Aug 1st 2007 4:46PM]

MRCUR: so they say about 2 weeks the first 65nm version should arrive? if so, will the white Premium get the update too? I prefer the white over the black version, hope they'll put HDMI in it too.

[MRCUR @ Aug 1st 2007 5:10PM]

Yes, that's what I have been told. Also, don't expect HDMI in all of the consoles.

[DEEZNUTZ @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:30PM]

@ KSB
"I prefer the white over the black version"

You're a racist

[KSB @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:43PM]

lol ah shit you got me! ;)

[Dave @ Aug 1st 2007 6:00PM]

Word on the streets (well from an insider at Flex), is that 65nm will be hitting the stores, post holiday season, as Microsoft have excess stock to clear first.

Sounds plausible, it would be very unwise to launch a 65nm part, as people will be searching for those, leaving the 90nm parts gathering dust. I doubt Microsoft fancy writing off 3 million consoles in the supply chain.

[jge @ Aug 1st 2007 6:49PM]

Hence, the impending price drop... clear out the old inventory to make room for the new stuff.

[LJKelley @ Aug 1st 2007 7:03PM]

This is great news! I'll wait until they become widespread and pick me up another 360 for use as an Media Center Extender (and spare incase my current breaks).

[Michael P @ Aug 1st 2007 7:17PM]

If it's cheaper to produce 360s with the 65nm chip, why didn't they use those right off the bat?

I mean they could have charged the same at launch and the profit margin would have been ridiculous and then they could have dropped the price (like they are now) and sustained growth.

It also could have possibly eliminated all the "ring of death" crap that's been plaguing the 360 since launch and all the resulting bad press and money spent on repairing faulty consoles. If the 360 were more reliable I would have bought one a long time ago.

[SimbaDogg @ Aug 1st 2007 8:07PM]

why they didn't....research and development, thats all. In the same sense pentium didn't go from the celeron to the core2duo overnight.

[o29 @ Aug 1st 2007 8:35PM]

Probably the same reason that they aren't already using 45nm chips.

[stephen @ Aug 1st 2007 7:32PM]

The move to 65nm cpu is pretty much what i've been waiting for. I'm glad to hear the wait is almost over.

Now I'm waiting until I have $300+ sitting around i can throw at something other than my bills. :(

[James Sonne @ Aug 1st 2007 8:11PM]

Lot number 0728 will have the 65nm hardware.

[paffinity @ Aug 18th 2007 1:42AM]

I bought an elite combo from Sam's Club today and its lot number is 0731. So does that mean its 65nm?

[RAD Moose @ Aug 1st 2007 10:04PM]

While I like playing with my Wii =P

I am looking forward to picking up an Xbox360Elite later this year.... so this is good news. Hopefully other issues with the hardware have also been resolved.

Now we just need someone to "unbox" it and see what is different.

[fraeone @ Aug 1st 2007 10:14PM]

Why is this news story acting like the 65nm chips are available? Any 360 you buy in the store is 90nm, including Elites.

[MRCUR @ Aug 1st 2007 11:54PM]

Not true. Some stores (like Wal-Mart) are already getting July consoles, which are 65nm.

[chaostheory @ Aug 26th 2007 6:25PM]

sorry MRCUR, but I don't think the 65nm xboxes are being sold yet. I've been hearing around Nov - Dec is when they'll be released; unless you can prove me wrong. The only thing released now is that HDMI is standard and that nice price drop.

[Fred @ Aug 2nd 2007 3:40AM]

So, what with the Elite coming out in Europe later this month.. Does this mean that all European Elites will be 65nm?

[Ryan @ Aug 2nd 2007 4:00AM]

does anyone have an idea when the elite and the 65nm chips will be available in australia. i want to get the elite with the falcon chipset or watever but im not sure if that will be in like 2 years because usually everything in australia is late here lol.

[endless @ Aug 2nd 2007 1:29PM]

the question is:

are the new 65nm 360s less hot / quieter?

or is there no noticeable difference?

[Sniper07LHS @ Aug 16th 2007 2:42AM]

ok i just bought the xbox 360 elite today from GameCrazy and i think they just got the xbox 360 elite last week, i want to know if i would have the 65nm thingy in it and if i dont is it possible to upgrade the system? and is it possible to open up the 360 to check and i know that voids the warrenty

[Sporaktu @ Sep 6th 2007 4:59PM]

I for one love the 360. It is truly a great piece of hardware, if rather flawed in the design. I went out and purchased one for myself on my birthday as a bit of a treat b/c of my pay raise, and i have been loving it for more than a year now. I have found most of the music and movie services rather useless, but the game play is awesome. Now i don't even own anything that i can easily (without modification)use to view my games in HD, so i don't really care about the HDMI output port, also i could care less about the color. I just want to be able to play BioShock for more than 5 minutes, and no I'm not exaggerating, without my xbox shutting down. I was told that BioShock is demanding, but i was not expecting it to break my xbox for me, as it only boots when it is in a good mood (usually after a day or two of not even being on). I would just like one that stays cool , as that seems to be the problem, especially since I purchased two (2) extra fans, it has it's own air conditioner, and the PSU is in it's own little gale. I don't know maybe it is normal to be able to fry an egg on a piece of hardware running full bore in a cat 2 hurricane environment. Now to top it all off, it won't even turn on for more than 20 sec, doesn't even make it past the BIOS launch before it shuts down, I can't get the Red rings of death, so i can't send it in for a free repair as it is out of warranty, i just wish that Microsoft would really consider me a valued member of their customer community and help out a poor devoted Microsoft user, i just may be weird though.

[brett @ Oct 9th 2007 4:33PM]

yep xbox's are crap i got one i dnt even play with it even tho i have halo 3 i find warhawk to be more playable online two fingers to microsoft i say im selling my xbox to buy more games for my ps3 skate and haze wicked game and some others

[JJ @ Oct 13th 2007 12:04AM]

All lots before 734 are not guarenteed to be 65 nm, all after 734 are 65nm for sure. Yes they run quieter but it is still not proven to have fixed the red ring issue yet. You open it your screwed, just ask for the lot number before purchase, so what if you bug the clerk its their job better to be safe than sorry.
PS3 has no games a crappy controller and all sony is pushing is home, a lame second life rip that will very quickly become a product placement warehouse and sony is putting strict rules on your space, so how is a ps3 worth anything?