Galactus
Devourer of Worlds
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Monday 9-Jul-2007 12:44 PM
Report says Microsoft to reduce 360 production costs with new processors this year
Microsoft is to roll out a revised version of the Xbox 360 soon as part of a cost-cutting initiative codenamed 'Falcon', it's been reported.
According to Mercury News, 'Falcon' is the code name given to the new innards of a revised 360, which is said to feature new central and graphics processors that are manufactured in a 65-nanometer production process (as opposed to the older 90-nanometer processors in current models).
For the non-techie readers out there, this basically means that the chips are smaller which brings with it a range of benefits: cheaper production cost; cooler running temperature; increased reliability and increased space within the console.
Decreased productions cost normally lead to a retail price drop.
It is no surprise that the console's hardware is to be revised - Sony has reduced the production cost of PS2 to under a quarter the original cost, and 360 itself has had new quieter DVD drives slapped in them.
But these 'Falcon' machines are expected to resolve the reliability issues that forced Microsoft to extend 360 warranties to three years, promising to "retroactively" reimburse customers who have previously paid for repairs related to the three red lights of death.
"We have a bunch of different projects that cost reduce and improve quality as you find issues, as does our competition," said Microsoft boss Peter Moore. "Once you get millions in the field, you learn about the box under all kinds of different circumstances, you can adjust and tweak what you do accordingly."
If true, the introduction of these 'new' consoles could spell the end of the dreaded Three Red Lights of Death syndrome that's wiped out many Xbox 360s already
Report says Microsoft to reduce 360 production costs with new processors this year
Microsoft is to roll out a revised version of the Xbox 360 soon as part of a cost-cutting initiative codenamed 'Falcon', it's been reported.
According to Mercury News, 'Falcon' is the code name given to the new innards of a revised 360, which is said to feature new central and graphics processors that are manufactured in a 65-nanometer production process (as opposed to the older 90-nanometer processors in current models).
For the non-techie readers out there, this basically means that the chips are smaller which brings with it a range of benefits: cheaper production cost; cooler running temperature; increased reliability and increased space within the console.
Decreased productions cost normally lead to a retail price drop.
It is no surprise that the console's hardware is to be revised - Sony has reduced the production cost of PS2 to under a quarter the original cost, and 360 itself has had new quieter DVD drives slapped in them.
But these 'Falcon' machines are expected to resolve the reliability issues that forced Microsoft to extend 360 warranties to three years, promising to "retroactively" reimburse customers who have previously paid for repairs related to the three red lights of death.
"We have a bunch of different projects that cost reduce and improve quality as you find issues, as does our competition," said Microsoft boss Peter Moore. "Once you get millions in the field, you learn about the box under all kinds of different circumstances, you can adjust and tweak what you do accordingly."
If true, the introduction of these 'new' consoles could spell the end of the dreaded Three Red Lights of Death syndrome that's wiped out many Xbox 360s already
