Rumor: Xbox 360 'Slim' Motherboard Photos Leaked
Is Microsoft trimming the fat off its console?
March 17, 2010 - Is a new Xbox 360 console on its way?Images appeared on Chinese tech forum A9VG last night showing what looks to be a trimmed down Xbox 360 motherboard. Is it real? Well, there are a number of factors to consider.
With the launch of Natal this fall, Microsoft has the perfect opportunity to re-launch the Xbox 360 brand with a all-new look to its console. The company also probably wants to get rid of the console's dreaded "three red lights" error as it looks to penetrate the casual market. There has also been loose talk from Microsoft executives before about a "new Xbox 360" coming in 2010.
The pictures below indicate that both the CPU and GPU processors have been combined into one chip, allowing for less heat to be generated and, of course, a nice cost reduction for Microsoft.
Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but Microsoft is also hiring for a Motherboard Design Engineer for the Xbox console, which is responsible for "aggressive cost reduction of the console throughout the life of the product."
Microsoft, as usual, said it doesn't comment on rumors or speculation. If there is a Xbox 360 Slim in the works, you can probably guess we'll hear about it this summer, perhaps even at E3.
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Originally posted by S_D_J
[b]Rumor: Xbox 360 'Slim' Motherboard Photos Leaked
Is Microsoft trimming the fat off its console?🙄 [/B]
ROFLMAO! haermm
Did they do anything about the RRoD?
Well, might happen but highly unlikely.
Considering Intel shut down their GPU project and there must be serious restructuring of the companies to do this.
Unless AMD makes one I can't really see a combined CPU/GPU in the PC realm especially considering the amount of power the chip would need to replace what we have now.
Originally posted by Phanteros
Fail, they took off the fan.
they took off the fan (and heatsink) to show the new CPU/GPU unit
Originally posted by Smasandian
I assume that's a comparison between the old and the new?If so, then the second picture has 4 screws near the CPU which holds the heatsink plus fan.
Also, the thermal paste.
both pictures are of the same MOBO.
here's how the old mobo look like (I think it's a Falcon mobo)
Notice the big heatsinks and both the CPU and the GPU are apart from each other
For comparison's sake:
The new MOBO looks smaller and so does the heatsink. Also its shape is diferent
I have yet to see how the PS3 slim mobo looks like, I might look it up later
Sorry for the double post, but there are new rumors:
Rumor: USB Storage Support Coming To Xbox 360
Owners can install full games to external drive, report says.
March 18, 2010 - An internal Microsoft document obtained by Joystiq says a system update for the Xbox 360 due this Spring will allow owners to load and save data from a USB storage device.Owners will be allowed to download Xbox Live Arcade games, Xbox Live Indie games, Games on Demand, DLC and Title Updates directly to the USB hard drive. The document also notes full Xbox 360 game titles can be installed directly to the USB drive, but will still require the game disc to be inserted into the Xbox 360 console drive so authentication can occur.
According to the report, USB storage devices must be at least 1GB in size, and will only partition a maximum of 16GB in space per drive. "The system partition occupies 512 MB of space, and by default the consumer partition occupies the remainder of the device capacity, or 16 GB, whichever is smaller," says the report. Owners will be allowed to hook up two USB drives for a maximum of 32GB.
With rumors of a new Xbox 360 slim coming, Microsoft may be doing away with memory cards entirely, with the slots being removed from the new console. IGN has contacted Microsoft for comment. We'll update this story when we hear back.
Update: Microsoft said it does not comment on rumor or speculation.
I hope this is true.
that way I won't have to upgrade my HDD and just save stuff in my PC...
EDIT: 😄
this is funny:
Sony Move Advertisement Takes Shots At Wii, Natal
TV spot drops possible November release for the Move controller.
March 18, 2010 - Sony's latest TV commercial again features actor Jerry Lambert reprising his role as Kevin Butler, a fictional, high-ranking SCEA executive. This 90-second spot is supposed to highlight the many gameplay advantages the PlayStation Move controller has over the competition. Sony, however, takes the opportunity to fling a little mud at both Nintendo and Microsoft.In the ad, Butler is acting as VP of Realistic Movement and is coming from the future "all the way from November 2010," he said, possibly hinting at the month the Move controller will be released.
Speaking of the Move's accuracy, Butler demonstrates the controller's wide range of movement, throwing a punch and extending his arm forward. He then takes a jab at Nintendo saying "...because real boxers don't hit like this" and then waves his hands in front his body almost uncontrollably.
Butler also takes a shot at Project Natal, Microsoft's upcoming motion camera, which is to be released during the same time as the Move this fall.
"PlayStation Move is not only crazy precise, it also has buttons, which turn out to be pretty important to those handful of millions of people who enjoy playing shooters, platformers or, well, anything that doesn't involve catching a big red ball," laughs Butler, referring to Microsoft's E3 presentation from last year.
"I mean, c'mon, who wants to pretend their hand is a gun? What is this? Third grade?"
Sony has yet to officially announced the price of the Move controller, only saying the standard SKU, which also includes the PlayStation Eye and one game, will retail for less than $100. The company said it currently has 36 developers and publishers creating titles for the controller, with 20 additional first-party titles scheduled for release before the end of next year.
The full advertisement can be seen on YouTube
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Originally posted by S_D_J
Sorry for the double post, but there are new rumors:[b] Rumor: USB Storage Support Coming To Xbox 360
Owners can install full games to external drive, report says.I hope this is true.
that way I won't have to upgrade my HDD and just save stuff in my PC...
[/B]
That would be awesome. I still have a 20GB HDD on my 360, and don't particularly feel like upgrading it, especially since flash drives are cheap as dirt now. Not that I really download stuff much, but even so. Would be nice.
Standalone 250GB Hard Drive Confirmed For North America
120GB now available "while supplies last."
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/107/1079268p1.html
March 23, 2010 - Microsoft has confirmed the launch of a standalone 250GB hard drive for the Xbox 360 in North America. The drive is on sale starting today, according to the company. The upgraded hard drive will retail for $129.99.Microsoft would not confirm the discontinuation of the 120GB hard drive, only saying the price has been reduced to $99.99 "while supplies last." Reports of short supply seem to suggest it may not be around much longer, however.
The upgraded hard drive was originally an exclusive pack-in for the Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 bundle. Japan was the first region to receive the standalone 250GB drive.
and I will never buy one of them
Additional 3DS Details Surface
Newspapers hint at rumble, analogue control stick and more for upcoming hardware.
http://ds.ign.com/articles/107/1079262p1.html
March 23, 2010 - Nintendo's surprise announcement of the 3DS hardware yesterday lacked details. In fact, aside from promising 3D visuals and backwards compatibility with the current DS line, Nintendo didn't say much at all.That didn't stop some of Japan's biggest newspapers from digging in a bit deeper. It's unclear what's educated speculation and what was heard from Nintendo itself, but we'll pass along the info anyway.
Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest paper, reported on some possible 3D technology for the system. The paper says "it is believed" that the system will make use of a Sharp 3D LCD panel. The system will have a film attached to the screen, separated form the screen by a tiny space. This setup makes the image look slightly different for the two eyes, giving the game visuals a 3D look.
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the paper that usually breaks Nintendo hardware stories, reported on some of the additional tech that could go into the system. Nintendo plans on using a control stick for controlling characters in 3D; while the paper does not use the term "analogue stick," this is presumably what's being referred to. The system will also include rumble. Nintendo acquired patents for this control technology last year, the paper reports.
The paper also repors that the system will have expanded battery life and greater wireless range over the current DS. Its screen won't be as large as the DSi XL screen, though. Nintendo is also looking into including an accelerometer, which would allow you to tilt the system to control the action.
The papers didn't list any sources for their information. However, this is typical for larger mainstream Japanese publications, so even if the above is speculation, there's probably some good foundation behind it.
All should be clarified when Nintendo 3DS is fully unveiled at this year's E3 in June.
I will be buying one of those ✅
$130 for a HDD that you can only use for the 360? No thanks.
When you can buy a 1TB HDD for less than that, you just know Microsoft is price gouging. What do you pay for really? A HDD that will only attach to the 360 and nothing else.
And Nintendo should have save their 3D technology for a completely new handheld with updated graphics. All they are doing is rehashing the DS over and over.
DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL, 3DS
Quit double-dipping!
Originally posted by LanceWindu
$130 for a HDD that you can only use for the 360? No thanks.When you can buy a 1TB HDD for less than that, you just know Microsoft is price gouging. What do you pay for really? A HDD that will only attach to the 360 and nothing else.
And Nintendo should have save their 3D technology for a completely new handheld with updated graphics. All they are doing is rehashing the DS over and over.
DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL, 3DS
Quit double-dipping!