When the
Jasper motherboards started showing up in Xbox 360 consoles late last year there was reason for excitement -- quieter fans, more efficient design, and 256MB of internal storage to set gamers free of overpriced memory cards. Now the systems are receiving an unannounced storage boost, with an
XboxHacker forum member braza noticing that his Japanese Arcade model sported a
4GB 4Gb Samsung NAND chip. That's twice the size of the old one, giving the equivalent of a 512MB internal memory unit. That first system was manufactured in April, and they're starting to hit US Arcade units as well. As of now we're not sure if there's a way to tell from outside the box whether you have this beefier revision of Jasper, but we're sure your local retailer wouldn't mind if you just bought their entire stock of consoles and ripped them all open to see.
Update: Oops, that's a 4Gb (giga
bits) NAND chip, allowing for roughly 512MB (mega
bytes) of internal storage.
posted Jun 17th 2009 8:03AM
What's Microsoft done to result in a 4GB chip providing 512MB storage?
My guess would be the NXE os.
"quieter fans" ?! what is this
there should be no fans in 2009 again flawed design crap
A carefully chosen and calibrated 12cm fan generates very little noise (checkout quality computer PSUs for example), however I agree the cooling system in the x360 is shamefully pathetic and ridiculously noisy.
512MB.
What the hell is this, 2002?
NXE is flashed to the firmware it doesn't require storage. Check the lower posts bit vs. byte.
GB != Gb
The chip is a 4 Gb chip. That's 4 gigabits.
4 gigabits is 4/8 gigabytes. Half a gigabyte. 512 megabytes.
Ah, sorry. I assumed as engadget wrote it GB not Gb they meant gigabyte.
NXE is NOT flashed into the firmware. It's stored into a memory device (HD or memory unit)
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/nxe-requires-128mb-space-ms-to-offer-storage-solutions/
@SewerShark
My old system would beg to differ with that statement. After I purchased a new console just for the lulz I tried the towel trick on my RRoD Xbox. With no hard drive to speak of attached and no internal memory like what comes on the Arcades the NXE booted right up. It is either flashed into firmware or their is a flash chip on the motherboard solely designed for OS storage. That 128MB is only for "certain features" check it out for yourself if you have a pre-256MB internal console take out your hard drive or memory card. The NXE will still boot it just may not be "the full experience", but it most certainly is stored on the motherboard. That space is probably only required to download it.
@Bobby: What? Come on, this is a fairly high-powered triple-core CPU and still a reasonably fast GPU as well. Neither are top of the line, but let's put it this way, it's a hell of a lot faster than an Atom-based netbook with shitty Intel integrated graphics...
...and THOSE still have fans in!
Let's first sort it out in lower-power devices like netbooks (or if you're talking game consoles, then Wii) before we move onto high-power devices like 360s...
Eventually I'd love to see everything fanless. Bigger, quieter fans are an improvement but the real step that's needed is to reduce power consumption so that we can get rid of the things altogether. That has huge benefits - environmental (less power used by the cooler device, oh and we save a little bit by not spinning a fan too), manufacturing cost (fans don't cost much but it's not nothing), design (don't need to restrict design to include a fan that has to be a certain size), and reliability (fans don't break very often but they are still moving parts and I've had them break on me before). So, yes, eventually, no fans would be fantastic (no pun intended). But um, high-powered game consoles aren't the place to start.
My own 360 died on me here a couple of months ago and I had it serviced, it came back with a note saying the motherboard had been replaced. Now I haven't used the 360 much lately since I had it repaired and I can't say I've noticed anything different with it, so how do I find out if it has this flash storage and how big it is?
@Cheng: Just go to the meory section of the settings. If it shows an MU (when there isn't one attached) then you have on-board flash. It shows up as a separaete storage device from the HDD and actual MUs (so the max you can have on the list is 3 MUs and a HDD)
Its 4 Gigabit. Which is the same as 512 MegaBytes
Yeah Engadget you gadget bloggers should know the difference between b and B. 4000/8 for those who are uninformed. Makes sense though you can't edit your comments so why would someone edit an actual story.
Thank you.
4096/8 geeze - if you're going to correct someone....
Yeah engadget, you should also know the difference between a Gigabit and Gibibit, hence the correct definition would be 4 Gib.
Jeez, talk about skimping out... Microsoft honestly couldn't afford 2-3GB at least of flash for the Xbox?
Mother F@#%^&* my old premium system finally red ringed after years of services last week. I went and bought me an arcade to replace it and granted I probably won't use the internal storage that still pisses me off that they do that kinda stuff unannounced. I would have rather had the model with the memory card at least that way I could take my live profile with me. Grr...
May I suggest a PS3?
Meh don't feel like spending $200 bucks more than a replacement arcade console for a system I don't already have a bunch of games for. I loved my 360 up until the day she died now I love my new 360 and all her HDMI glory. We are in a recession you know. Plus I still prefer the line up of games being released for the 360 over da PS3 in the near future.
2 new Halo titles
Crackdown 2
Mass Effect 2
Red Dead Redemption
plus a bunch of other ones I forgot to mention not including the ones that are out that I don't have the funds for Ghostbusters, Prototype, and Red Faction.
So you see why no PS3 by the time I purchased a PS3 the replacement Xbox plus 3-4 games and my current library of games is just a better deal. Not to say anything bad about the PS3 Infamous makes me very jealous as do a few others just can't afford one right now.
yeah, thanks but no one cares. Don't start another lame-ass PS3 vs 360 flame war. It's soooooo played.
Maybe instead of buying a new system, you could have gotten it repaired by Microsoft. Free repair, free shipping, one week and it's back. Much better than $300 for a new Arcade system.
@freehunter
LOL.
Try half that. Where do you get your information? Fire them. "You're Fired". There, did it for you.
@rock99rock. I'm confused why this is funny? I had a 1.5yo Elite red ring two weeks ago. I sent it in and they repaired it and had it back to me in 7 days with no charge.
Any news on the RROD, Have they finally fixed it?
I am pretty sure the jasper 65nm chips in the newer ones are unaffected. If not just use the towel trick it will keep your old one going. :)
Yes, the main problem now is the E74 error, but that's pretty easily fixable with some machine screws and nylon washers.
Imagine if you bought a new TV and had to keep it working with towels, machine screws and nylon washers. Would anyone just accept that?
Pretty f ' ed up MicroSoft.
Last time I checked my TV cost a lot more too. Does anyone remember the old percussive maintenance on the old Apple ][ I think it was.
PS3 for parts or repair Blu Ray drive doesn't work there have been a bunch. ebay go check it out.
@ Tarnation
"Last time I checked my TV cost a lot more too. "
So a device should be more reliable if it costs more? An iPhone is a few hundred dollars. Should we use towels and machine screws to keep iPhones operating too? How about a NetBook?
I've only heard of one Jasper motherboard (on Xbox-Scene) that has ever gotten the RROD. BTW the RROD and E74 are both caused by the same problem. Broken solder joints connecting the GPU to the motherboard. So if one of the problems are fixed, they both are.
@Tarnation: I've never heard of the towel trick lasting longer than a week. Last time I tried it, it lasted 3 days.
Stop complaining Why should I have all the fun? also Tarnation: I got told the towel trick does more damage to your 360 rather than fix it.
Have they fixed it? Who knows... if it's not red ring it's E74. If It's not E74 it's DVD hardware scratching up your discs, or breaking down completely. A 66% failure rate isn't wholly red ring related, but a fairly good size to be sure.
Since its already caused a little confusion, could you make the distinction between Bytes and Bits that there should be?
To illustrate, it should read 4Gb or 4Gbits and 512MB or 512MBytes. If you want to be really clear about it, then stick Gigabits and Megabytes in brackets after the numbers.
That would then mean that you dont get people confused about where their other 3.5GB have gone...
whee
>May I suggest a PS3?
You may not.
And now I suppose you'll blame Engadget's commenting system for your comment ending up here instead of under Tarnation's comment as a reply to Nineteen88.
Anyway, PC gaming FTEW!
Too little too late IMHO. They already have a huge installed customer base using the old faulty technology. That will falter as the technology continues to fail. Hell, we really don't know if this new iteration won't be faulty either. That and the fact they only have one exclusive release a year (PC releases aren't "exclusive" for the morons out there) means it makes no sense for future purchasers of consoles to take the plunge. I've been tempted to buy one for Too Human (huge Silicon Knights fan), but faulty hardware scares me since all the BS I went thru with past Playstations. It took Sony 3 generations to get it right.
With a PS3, Wii and high end PC you can play 99% of all the best games. That's the best combination. Sorry Microsoft your bad rep loses out as a result.
If you can afford those three, then surely you can afford a 360.
Anyway, PC > all.
You absolutely don't need a Wii to play the best games out there.
That said, while I believe a good PC will trash a PS3 or 360 any day, there are a few PS3 titles that look very tempting.
@ superhobo - I could buy a 360. I just don't want the headache of dealing with faulty hardware.
@ Corin - I must be stupid because I was unaware Wii versions of Metroid, Zelda, Mario, Smash Bros., No More Heroes, Madworld were multi-platform.
My Arcade 360 is still kicking it.
$200 + $60 for a 120GB drive and I got a great deal.
XS-cargo in Canada was selling one for $179 CDN including a 20Gig HD. I still didn't buy it because I don't trust the hardware. Some do stay strong like yours and 1 friend of mine's. Another friend redringed the day of purchase. He got a replacement which scratched up his DVDs. He also didn't want to spend $100 on a wifi adaptor. He sold it and got a PS3 and loves it. That's exactly how the market will change. Considering the failure rate of 66% it's not worth the hassle for me. It's not only the Xbox... MS has a shoddy reputation with pretty much any hardware it's ever put out from reading up keyboard and mouse reviews. I would spend the money if there was no headache.
@ godmoney
objection: heresay.
You paid $60 for a 120GB hard drive?
@casey - and considered it a great deal. Pretty much anything that plug extra onto a 360 is over priced, but its' all propriety crap.
@Casey
Microsoft wants something like $200 for a 160GB hard drive.
It's a very good deal.
Does it play RRoD? :3
Ha! Sony should publish a game called "The Red Ring of Death".
I just purchased an Arcade from Dell last week and I have 384 meg of internal memory free. just thought it was a fluke but i guess i got one with the new 512 meg of ram.. :-D
snap, altho i have 323mb free =/ got it last weekend from argos lol (in uk btw)
I wish NXE would just come in ROM. I HATE using HDD space for all that goop.
Nice use of the <strike> rather than making it all disappear
Sigh, should be < strike > I guess, lack of spaces confuse the handling it seems
Now it just needs the wifi and it'll really be kicking the wii in the value department.
So how much quieter is this thing?
I don't know why they wouldn't just make a larger bump. I mean be a little proactive people. I mean you know at this day an age it prob cost them more to use the smaller chips. They prob just keep the smaller chips so when it's time to move to the next console you will have to because of limitations of the old console.
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I have an Elite with a Zephyr board, based on the power rating sticker on the back of the unit. Are there numbers out there for the failure rate of these models?
512 MB isn't a lot...
Damn..just bought a new 360 about a week ago :(
It's amusing that my cell phone has more memory then an xbox 360....
Your cell phone has more than 120gb of storage? That's pretty damned impressive.
This is stupid to get rid of the memory cards. The whole point of the memory card was to save your game saves AND your xbox live profile to it so you can travel with it and take it to friends houses to use your own account without having to recover your gamertag on their console. Stupid.
They'll still keep memory card's this is just a bit of internal storage.
I bought an arcade about a week ago and noticed that the internal memory had over 300MB unused, which I thought was quite odd since it was supposed to have 256MB total. I might have one of these new units, but the box definitely said 256MB.
Be caution, Jasper is not RROD free.
Now it have the same memory than the Wii nice...
I'm not sure how internal storage will "set gamers free of overpriced memory cards" when the system already comes with a free memory card in the box.
In my opinion, Microsoft is attempting to do the exact opposite here, forcing you to buy an overpriced memory card to get the data portability that you used to get for free, while offering you nothing new in return.
Question is, is there a definitive way to identify a Jasper 360 at retail without the store clerks staring at you?
I just got a new Arcade Xbox 360 and it has 512MB internal storage. Manufactured in Apr 09
RadioShack has xbox360 Arcade for $149 + tax. Where did you buy yours at?
4 * 1024 = 4096 Megabits
4096 / 8 = 512 Megabytes