Xbox 360 to get a smaller case revision in 2009?

We think we've already got a handle on the various chipset revisions planned for Microsoft's too-beautiful-for-this-world Xbox 360*, but it looks like that planned 45nm "Valhalla" combined CPU / GPU motherboard design we've been hearing about might also come in a redesigned, smaller case. That's certainly news to us, but TG Daily has the refresh happening on the same fall-2009 timeline we've been hearing about, so at least all these sketchy rumors line up. We'll see when we see -- it sounds like the 65nm Jasper units are coming off the line for that August release in the meantime to keep us all warm at night.

*Guess which Engadget ed had his 360 go RRoD over the weekend? You only get one try.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

[MMaster23 @ May 13th 2008 7:31AM]

Nilay Patel ... did I win? did I win?

[Ed @ May 13th 2008 7:37AM]

Yeah, and the prize is his old 360.

[Andir3.0 @ May 13th 2008 7:50AM]

I'm voting for Ryan. He got bored of WiiFit and was playing some GTA4 on the 360 and it crapped out on him.

[Marc @ May 13th 2008 1:29PM]

It's karma. That's what he gets for playing GTA on 360

[Richy @ May 13th 2008 7:34AM]

Now if they could just apply some of that downsizing technology to the power brick too...

[guerilla779 @ May 13th 2008 8:30AM]

or maybe just outsource the downsizing to Sony........ :)


Sony is a master is reducing components and downsizing . psOne ps2

[tom @ May 13th 2008 9:18AM]

It will definitely happen cause the power requirement will be reduced.

Fewer parts, better for the environment

[WHAT @ May 13th 2008 8:03PM]

I don' get this redesign. If the old Xbox 360 gets super hot, wouldn't the new one (even with the new GPU/CPU) get on fire spontaneously?

[Quix @ May 13th 2008 9:53AM]

The downsizing is all about shipping costs. Paying for all those repair returns is killing them!

Must..make..Xbox..more..easily..shippable.

[kal326 @ May 13th 2008 1:50PM]

@guerilla779
The Sony Style shrink won't work for the 360, there aren't any "extra" parts to remove because "people" won't need them.

[ssuk @ May 13th 2008 3:16PM]

I know Quix is joking, but I would SO laugh if that was the true reason... Other than the obvious size-reduction the motherboard can have from the new smaller chips.

[jdbeitz @ May 13th 2008 3:07PM]

15x10x5 isnt small?!

[Vault @ May 13th 2008 5:12PM]

not with a footlong power brick it isn't

[w00t @ May 13th 2008 7:41AM]

Instead of making it smaller why not make the power supply internal?
I'd much rather get rid of another brick!

[GenBanks @ May 13th 2008 8:16AM]

Because then they wouldn't be able to market it as a huge innovation... Although I don't mind them making it smaller, maybe that will mean they can make it as quiet as the PS3 as well. I sold my xbox 360 because I play games on my computer monitor and it was too noisy to have right next to me.

[Zeus.:God @ May 13th 2008 9:16AM]

WTF is with people complaining about the POWER SUPPLY? Is it that much of a hassle having a foot long box behind your TV?

Seriously, people complain about the most minescule things for PS3 AND Xbox.

[Abuzar @ May 13th 2008 9:32AM]

I'll show you a foot long... tube.

[Andrew @ May 13th 2008 8:52PM]

Actually, the reason they aren't putting the power supply inside (and why other companies don't either) is because if they did, they would be subject to certain specifications of the .....some department of the government.

[TravisO @ May 13th 2008 11:33AM]

The power supply is external to reduce heating issues, and as others have mentioned, because it allows for a much smaller console, which was a bit of a war between PS3 and 360 before the release of both units.

[Pulp @ May 13th 2008 7:43AM]

Fall of 2009?? Wow, that's pretty late in the life span of the 360. I would think that 2010 or 2011 the next gen platforms would be coming out. Why waste the effort....

[TimeyWimeyStuff @ May 13th 2008 8:01AM]

The PS2 Slim wasn't a waste of effort, it appeared in Nov 2004, only 2 years behind the PS3 in Nov 2006

[ugg.tryptophan @ May 13th 2008 3:51PM]

already, nobody even won the console 'wars', man, time flies when your playing videogames

[David @ May 13th 2008 7:44AM]

I myself would rather have it (the 360) the size of the Xbox if they would just put the power supply inside, the PS3 is just the right size and you do not have to lug around that big power brick, I would rather it was all just self-contained.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ May 13th 2008 9:01AM]

Sell your 360 and get a ps3.

[Dale @ May 13th 2008 10:04AM]

SOOPER is right. Sell your Xbox 360 - who needs good games when you have an internal power supply, right?

[John Giotta @ May 13th 2008 1:35PM]

Honestly, keep 360 for the enjoyment of RRoD.

[Concura @ May 13th 2008 2:13PM]

@Dale
or have good games plus an internal power supply. No RRoD a bonus.

-C

[L.M.L.Y.P @ May 13th 2008 3:47PM]

EVEN BETTER IDEA!
Sell your 360 ( you people should sell your ps3 too) and build a PC, and enjoy BC and native resolutions above 1080p ( NOT UPSCALED 640 :D)

On a sad note, my friends 360 Red Runged this weekend too :( but hes already saving up to build a new PC and shipping his 360 to function as a door stop.

[David @ May 13th 2008 4:03PM]

I already have a PS3 in the house, and I have fixed one of our xbox's red ring replacing the x-clamps with bolts nuts and washers, and I have a laptop that can play most games, sure not super well, so all I was saying is that if there was any improvements to be made that is what I would like to have happen. The reason that I bought a 360 was to Xbox live with my brothers and sisters and father and freinds.

[Richard Lai @ May 13th 2008 7:44AM]

Still no sign of Blu-ray... I would so buy it if it does come with one, just to keep my shelf tidy.

[Bobby D @ May 13th 2008 7:46AM]

"Microsoft catches word that Sony is developing slimmed down PS3 for holiday season" It might be even worse for 360 this holiday season if these rumors pick up

[TFArchive @ May 13th 2008 7:49AM]

A slimmer 360 would be great if it can keep cool, but we really need a smaller power supply, that thing is half the size of the box already and weighs as much.

[LT73 @ May 13th 2008 3:19PM]

I'd sell my PS3 in an instant, for one that looks like a Sony Blu-Ray player.

(The PS3 does not look good on my TV stand with my other shiny components)

[iptydafu @ May 13th 2008 7:48AM]

Power-brick, power-schmick--quiet the damn thing down! As great a device as it is, it's like sitting next to a bunch of weight-watchers after a 10k.

[nxtiak @ May 13th 2008 7:57AM]

Yes make it smaller and less room for air to move around in there and overheat faster w00h00!

[tekdroid @ May 13th 2008 8:13AM]

RRoD ftw.

[Blaine @ May 13th 2008 8:15AM]

Was it me? mine died this weekend, Oh wait im not an engadget employee.

[teej @ May 13th 2008 11:25AM]

you could be with those editing skills!

[Clasifyd @ May 13th 2008 8:16AM]

45nm chips = significantly less heat (in theory anyway)

[Maestro @ May 13th 2008 8:33AM]

This story brought to you by the people who insist bluray is coming to the 360.

[Alexander @ May 13th 2008 8:36AM]

Ooh! Can I make up random bits of conjexture and be a blogger too?

Okay... Here it goes. Umm... As time goes on, things are going to get smaller and cheaper!

Non-news. Move along.

[DrXym @ May 13th 2008 8:36AM]

The PS3 seems likely to get a slim and it makes sense for the 360 to as well.

[Zeus.:God @ May 13th 2008 9:19AM]

I would guess the Apple fanboy managed to make his 360 RRoD- err, had the unfortunate condition of the RRoD murder his family and permenantly incapacitate him. DAMN MICROSOFT.

[fieldcar @ May 13th 2008 9:37AM]

My xbox blew up 2 days ago (freezing first, now RRoD'ing), and they inform me that my warranty kissed its self goodbye with my last replacement. Now they want $99.95 or whatever to repair it. Guess what? PS3 can still kiss my ass and I will fix it myself and refrain from being a complete winy bitch about it.

[JKooL @ May 13th 2008 9:59AM]

Yes, all those people complaining of their faulty systems and damaged products are whining. It's their fault, after all, that Microsoft ships defective products.

You Microsoft apologists are very much the useful idiots, are you not?

[fieldcar @ May 13th 2008 10:36AM]

If your under the impression that wining will get you places, life will knock you on your ass and keep on running. Life is not fair, the second you realize that, you will become an adult.

I'm angry, but calling me an apologist is so typical. If you ran a business maybe you'd understand that they can't operate that way and still be profitable. These days the entitlement mentality of most Americans is disgusting. Is it fair? NO, But what do they owe me if I declined the warranty extension? NOTHING!

Hope you get your pessimism in check and have a great day.

[Elijah @ May 13th 2008 2:43PM]

if you bitch and complain and ask to talk to a supervisor almost ALWAYS they'll replace it... I voided my warranty and sent it in, and got a replacement

[Mobile Phone Diva @ May 13th 2008 3:05PM]

Well, they owe you an item that works though. If you had a replacement blow up(meaning the first one must have blown up too), you have a right to complain IMO!!

Unless you did something you're not telling us, two Xboxes going bad isn't good. How long did you have them before they went out? If less than a year, that's either bad luck or bad quality control. And the RRoD seems to appear a lot, so I'm thinking the latter.

[cit9 @ May 13th 2008 6:23PM]

"define: wine = An alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of unmodified grape juice."

"define: whine = to complain"

capisce?

[fieldcar @ May 14th 2008 10:30AM]

Yeah, I guess its worth trying to call and "WHINE" about it. My brother ran into the same situation and just ended up repairing it himself. But it wont hurt to try calling one more time to see what they can do.

Thanks cit9, my keyboard is overjoyed for the lesson of how the H is hard to press, besides that, I feel no need to actually proofread something as comments are inconsequential on a tech site.