60GB Xbox 360 has minor heat-related changes, no need to worry

While some may understandably be concerned that Microsoft may have taken its cost-cutting measures a bit too far with its new 60GB Xbox 360, our pal Ben Heck has cracked one of the new models open and found that there's apparently nothing to be worried about. In fact, while the console packs the same 65nm CPU and heatsink seen in the most recent SKUs, and the same old "super" GPU heatsink, it ditches the bottom-mounted memory chips that have been commonplace until now, which some claim to have been the source of a few heat problems. Ben Heck also notes that if you want to make sure you have a 65nm CPU, you can just check out the power supply, which should be marked 175 watts, while any future model with a 65nm GPU would likely be 140 or 150 watts.

[Kiwi616 @ Aug 7th 2008 1:40PM]

first! a$$hole of course!

[rawd @ Aug 7th 2008 1:41PM]

No need to worry... Hey I think we got it right this time guys... all the prev gen adopters get the choda

[Dustin Frazier @ Aug 7th 2008 3:04PM]

Make it mota and you got a deal!

[The Dude @ Aug 7th 2008 4:12PM]

Choda as in "chowda" as in chowder as in clam chowder. They're going to get soup with clams in it. That's a raw deal for early adopters indeed.



But srsly.
"Chode" is infinitely more common than "choda."

[Dragod @ Aug 7th 2008 1:41PM]

"heat-releated"

[Lars @ Aug 7th 2008 7:55PM]

I prefer hyphenated mash-ups like that too. Even though officially the English language is moving away from hyphens.

Which one is correct is only determined by the publication's manual of style.

If you really want to be technical then 'heat-related', 'heat related', and even 'heatrelated' are all acceptable (though 'heatrelated' is less so, because compounds with no separation or punctuation is generally reserved for a select few and very common compounds).

[DRock067 @ Aug 7th 2008 1:41PM]

come on MS get the new GPUs out now!

[Vanillacide @ Aug 7th 2008 5:21PM]

Roll on 'Jasper' with 65nm GPU as well as CPU -- availability of this new chipset should coincide with September price decreases (or soon after).

[David @ Aug 7th 2008 3:08PM]

Well see if that helps, I just ordered my 60GB version from Dell Canada on Aug.1 and it "ships" on the 20th - lol. Kinda sucks cause I was told the xbox will be shipping on the 8th. MICROSOFT SEND THOSE XBOX 360S OUT NOW! xD

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Aug 7th 2008 1:57PM]

He's got the matching name and avatar.

I love it!

[MRCUR @ Aug 7th 2008 2:00PM]

Although the RAM chips being moved is new (and smart), the PSU wattage info isn't anything new...

[Lori @ Aug 7th 2008 2:05PM]

"Ben Heck also notes that if you want to make sure you have a 65nm CPU, you can just check out the power supply, which should be marked 175 watts, while any future model with a 65nm GPU would likely be 140 or 150 watts."

... so 65nm should be 175 or should it be 140/150?

[Carl M @ Aug 7th 2008 2:10PM]

Note the words "CPU" and "GPU" above (ie, the current GPU is > 65 nm).

[Ray-- @ Aug 7th 2008 2:28PM]

Yes its very confusing the way the author switched between the 2 chips in the same sentence.

[Lori @ Aug 7th 2008 2:29PM]

this is what i get for being a smartass after only a quick browse. thanks. ;)

[teej @ Aug 7th 2008 5:25PM]

seemed like a valid question. the sentence isn't being consistent because you're comparing a CPU to a GPU, instead of a CPU to a CPU, which is what i was looking for. i'm not exactly up-to-date on the planned upgrades for the 360, but i thought new CPU's would be running a 45-nm core??

[Bob @ Aug 7th 2008 2:06PM]

That's actually pretty funny Firster. Good effort with the avatar and such. I like it.

[Daniel @ Aug 7th 2008 2:34PM]

The only thing worse then the idiot who posts "first" are the assholes who have to make smartass comments pointing out this fact.

[eilegz @ Aug 7th 2008 2:47PM]

90nm gpu = RROD capable :S

lets wait for jasper and valhalla.

plus the new liteon dvd drives are crud.

[Castaa @ Aug 7th 2008 2:53PM]

Agreed. The DVD-ROMs in the Arcade Edition Xbox 360 are ridiculously loud. Louded DVD drive I've ever heard. Very disappointing.

[Castaa @ Aug 7th 2008 2:57PM]

Agreed. My DVD-ROM in my Xbox 360 (Arcade edition) is ridiculously loud when in operation which is at all times when playing a game off the disc. Shame on MS for offering such an inferior DVD drive.

[Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Aug 7th 2008 3:10PM]

The drive in my Arcade is loud as well, isn't it in all 360s? Only loud when playing a game, not DVD movies.

Its especially loud when coming from a PS3 (mine broke), but I suppose one benefit of the loud drive is no required installs like on many PS3 games, especially multiplat games.

[BluesK1d @ Aug 7th 2008 3:03PM]

But does it still sound like a leafblower?

[vcx @ Aug 7th 2008 6:16PM]

No. But does it sound like a blender?

[sabrewulf @ Aug 7th 2008 3:07PM]

When can we expect the better systems (jasper, etc) to release? Will it still use Lite-On drives?

[Osopimpish @ Aug 7th 2008 6:40PM]

There already is a better system. It's called PS3.

[schmitty338 @ Aug 7th 2008 3:12PM]

@Daniel

...like you?

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Aug 7th 2008 3:18PM]

Well Daniel....

....by that logic... what does your comment make you?

And what does this comment make me?

It's like a Campbell's soup can with a picture of a Campbell's soup can on it with a picture of a Campbell's soup can on it with a.....

[cheater @ Aug 7th 2008 3:34PM]

Hey guys, I just found this really awesome game & the resolution is off the charts. It's called 'going outside'! It never requires any installs or updates. Whenever I'm playing, i don't get a blue screen or ring of death!

[Kurian @ Aug 7th 2008 3:45PM]

You also get bitch slapped by everyone you hit on and fail at because you're a cheater.

[Chesbro @ Aug 7th 2008 4:07PM]

I tried that game once. I started a fight with a random character, but my hadoken had no effect.

[7 @ Aug 7th 2008 4:41PM]

I hear that game is having heat-related issues too, but on a slightly larger scale.

[teej @ Aug 7th 2008 5:27PM]

too many expansion packs for that game, and the vanilla version is pretty boring. i mean, if you want to upgrade from the base version, you pretty much have to loot and spending years in training to be eligible for other aspects of the game.

i've been outside, it's pretty overrated.

[Ian @ Aug 7th 2008 3:38PM]

all right i guess ill have to bring it out again.. every time i see your posts i will have to think up a new way for you to die. you are downloading a huge movie file onto your 1st gen x-box360 and it bursts into flames engulfing you in your sleep. you wake up and realize your on fire and jump out the window forgetting your on the 20th floor of your apartment building. then when you think all hope is gone you realize your falling into a pool.. but theres a pool cover on it.

[Dillon @ Aug 7th 2008 3:49PM]

Do those two steel X's make it an Xbox 362 now?

[Samboini @ Aug 7th 2008 4:08PM]

No. X2Box 360 would make more sense.

[The Dude @ Aug 7th 2008 4:04PM]

...picture of Cup Noodles?

[Wwhat @ Aug 7th 2008 4:52PM]

How about populating these slots and doubling the internal RAM and calling it 'xbox360 the second coming' and put an option in games for 'supermode'?
I know it goes against convention to not have an equal platform but I think console-makers have broken several such conventions lately with firmware updates and new versions with small changes anyway, and the new controllers and addons also make things non-standard, like that wii-sensor enhancement thingy and the rumblepad for ps3 etcetera.

And it'll shame PS3 even more, although that's more a blu-ray player rather than a console of course.

[CosterMonger @ Aug 7th 2008 6:39PM]

N64 had a "high quality" mode in which you pop in 4MB of ram expansion cartrige and certain games would look slightly better.

I think memory expansion would benefit the PS3 more (OS features)

[Wwhat @ Aug 8th 2008 8:48AM]

Probably the PS3 would indeed benefit more, but it doesn't have those empty spots for RAM on the PCB I think.
I just think it's odd in this time when PC's all have 4GB and graphics cards all have at least 512MB that consoles have to do with so little RAM, what was it again? 512MB for both graphics and CPU use combined?
Now that RAM has gotten cheap enough it's really time to up the ante for consoles IMHO, why only increase the internal HD size?

[Jake @ Aug 7th 2008 5:00PM]

There is everything to worry about. It turns out the 60GB is still Falcon based, and Falcons are still faulty.

Save your cash, wait for Jasper, or buy a PS3.

[cheater @ Aug 7th 2008 6:04PM]

Did you know that for the price of a 360 you could buy a real rifle... Think of the possabilities!

Chicks dig gun crime records.

[CosterMonger @ Aug 7th 2008 6:35PM]

excellent just check the Power Supply!

still going to wait until these new one go through some serious torture testing but it could be the end of Ring!

[sabrewulf @ Aug 7th 2008 8:16PM]

When can we expect the Jasper systems? People keep mentioning them, but no reference to ETA on them. Thanks.

[Daza @ Aug 8th 2008 1:18AM]

According to a previous post (one of the first):

"Vanillacide @ Aug 7th 2008 5:21PM

Roll on 'Jasper' with 65nm GPU as well as CPU -- availability of this new chipset should coincide with September price decreases (or soon after)."

[xValentine @ Aug 8th 2008 12:21AM]

I hate these "Heat-Related" issues on a console..

[Tazkaza @ Aug 12th 2008 11:32PM]

Well, lucky me! I got my 60gb Xbox 360 for my birthday on August 5th, and I've happened upon those evil three lights! I used to just have to turn it on and off about 3 or 4 times but now that doesn't work! I guess I'll have to make the call...

[Darkproject @ Aug 14th 2008 5:28AM]

I'm getting my paycheck somewhere in end september begin october, so i think i'll get the new 65nm GPU/CPU, but the question is, will it also come out in europe, and will it be the same release date, or do i have to wait a year for it to hit EU ?