Falcon 360s already out in stores?

[Queasy]

Engadget link who links to Shacknews.

Frys.com

Amazon

Update 3: Link

Over on the NeoGAF forums, forum member wonderkins posted pictures of his freshly cracked open HDMI featured Xbox 360 Premium console to see if it had the new heatsink or the new 65nm chips. His findings were that the latest 360s rolling off the assembly lines do feature an extra heatsink, but they do not include any new 65nm "Falcon" technology just yet. We know that some of our fellow fanboys are huge tech buffs and will be sad to hear that news, because all they've wanted for their mid-August Christmas has been Xbox 360 65nm tech. But keep your chin up eager 65nm hopefuls, because the technology is guaranteed to be rolling out within' a few months, so you'll just have to wait a little bit longer.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

sweet.

still tho, 350 for premium 360 w/ hdmi vs. the 350 deal for ps3 with hdmi and blu ray....cant decide.

i already have a 360...but it doesnt work with my projector, becuase it needs hdmi....dont know which sys to get for the theater room...

 

[randay]

anyone tear one apart yet?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: randay
anyone tear one apart yet?

That's what I'm waiting to hear as well. I imagine the guys over at xbox-scene will be one of the first.

 

[Adn4n]

I am so irritated right now, I just bought my xbox 360 less than a month ago. I wouldn't mind a cooler, quieter console.

 

[blurredvision]

Hmmm, my Gamestop store were getting 10 Premium systems in today for the price drop, I might have to stop by there tomorrow and see if any of them are of special variety....

EDIT: Aren't those cooling holes on the back unusually large as well? I'm too lazy to go look at mine .

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
EDIT: Aren't those cooling holes on the back unusually large as well? I'm too lazy to go look at mine .

Possibly. They might have enlarged those to help with airflow.

 

[Queasy]

CONFIRMED

Microsoft has just confirmed that HDMI is now standard with the Premium version of the Xbox 360, now priced at $350. The retooled Premium 360, sporting the fancy HDMI, will sport an HDMI logo on the outside of the box, a Microsoft rep told Kotaku.

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Big kudos to Opposable Thumbs for being the first to get their teeth into this story and Shack News who got their hands on the first picture proof.

So, a $50 price drop with HDMI added in doesn't sound too bad now I think. If the HDMI wasn't added it definitely would have been a downer of a price drop.

It sounds like Top Spin is going to be bundled in with 360s starting this Sunday as well.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

i'll give someone 200 for a used 90nm premium

 

[Gooberlx2]

I want pictures of how to tell via the packaging. Like I said in another thread, mine (2nd one) is about ready to die and will likely be taking a trip back to Costco in the near future when it does.

Maybe it says HDMI on the box or something?

edit: Doh....read above link. According to it, the box will have a HDMI logo. Hopefully the Costco bundles will have the updated units shortly.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

How do you spot a 65nm Elite?

 

[bucwylde23]

I really really want an HDMI 360, and a pS3 with that new deal. So much crap coming out right now. Good bye savings..

 

[Imported]

Oh man.. today is the last day I can return my 360. I hate doing things like this but so tempted

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

I've been wanting an Elite, but it's just not worth it when the only thing you get is another 100 gigs for $100. If MS doesn't do something to make the Elite more appealing from a $$ standpoint I'll probably end up with another Premium.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Queasy
CONFIRMED

Microsoft has just confirmed that HDMI is now standard with the Premium version of the Xbox 360, now priced at $350. The retooled Premium 360, sporting the fancy HDMI, will sport an HDMI logo on the outside of the box, a Microsoft rep told Kotaku.

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Big kudos to Opposable Thumbs for being the first to get their teeth into this story and Shack News who got their hands on the first picture proof.

So, a $50 price drop with HDMI added in doesn't sound too bad now I think. If the HDMI wasn't added it definitely would have been a downer of a price drop.

It sounds like Top Spin is going to be bundled in with 360s starting this Sunday as well.

Oh boy. This is seriously tempting me. My original Xbox just crapped the bed last weekend and I'm jonesing for some gaming....

I might have to go out and scour some sales racks this Sunday.

 

[Queasy]

Heh. I wonder how long it will be until we start hearing about people sending their 360 in for repair and getting a Falcon version back?

 

[blurredvision]

I'll head to Gamestop tomorrow after work to see if the new units we got in today say anything about HDMI. If they do, I'll snap a couple of pics and post them here. However, if the units are already in stores, I'm sure there will already be talk of them before I'm able to report anything back.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

I won't be happy until someone cracks one open. Although it doesn't make sense for MS to design a new HDMI enabled 360 around the 90nm processors when they are being phased out.

 

[blurredvision]

So can anyone confirm yet that these new premium systems with HDMI do, in fact, contain the 65nm Falcon shrink? We need some kind of model number that has been confirmed by someone who wants to open one of these up. The link in the OP just states, "we present the first of many you'll be seeing with the much-discussed, built-in HDMI port (and obviously the cooler 65nm chips onboard)." I'm just not sure exactly how the 65nm chips being on board is obvious.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
So can anyone confirm yet that these new premium systems with HDMI do, in fact, contain the 65nm Falcon shrink? We need some kind of model number that has been confirmed by someone who wants to open one of these up. The link in the OP just states, "we present the first of many you'll be seeing with the much-discussed, built-in HDMI port (and obviously the cooler 65nm chips onboard)." I'm just not sure exactly how the 65nm chips being on board is obvious.

2 possiblilities:

1: It's a new board rev. designed with 65nm and HDMI

or

2. They're gearing up for the 65nm release and are trying to clear inventory of old Elite boards by throwing them in Premiums. This will hold them over until they get to (1).

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Heh. I wonder how long it will be until we start hearing about people sending their 360 in for repair and getting a Falcon version back?

As soon as that happens I'll be praying that mine fails. hopefully way before Halo 3 and all the other good games start rolling out!

 

[hans030390]

I'm still thinking the 65nm CPU chip won't solve every red-ring problem, even if it does run cooler. I could be wrong...perhaps it will cure the problem, but I think it's bigger than a cooler running CPU.

I'll (maybe) get a 360 when the price is low and the problems are gone, officially.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

Originally posted by: hans030390
I'm still thinking the 65nm CPU chip won't solve every red-ring problem, even if it does run cooler. I could be wrong...perhaps it will cure the problem, but I think it's bigger than a cooler running CPU.

I'll (maybe) get a 360 when the price is low and the problems are gone, officially.

Obviously no one can know what effect the 65nm revision will have on the 360 until several months after it's launched, but it does address the biggest problem with the design; Heat. There is a CPU right next to a GPU, and I don't think I have to tell anyone here just how hot GPUs can get.

Cooler chips coupled with the extra heatsinks should be enough to get the failure rate back down to manageable levels IMO, but like I said we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Farmer]

I'm tempted to pick one of these new HDMI Premiums up. I've been considering a 360 for a while; the lack of HDMI out was a concern for me. That has been addressed, and the price has decreased by $50. I don't know (but I don't think) they are of the new 65nm process.

I wouldn't jump head first into the first batch of 65nm boxes either; any way you look at it, it is new equipment. I honestly put the blame on whoever thought up the pincushioned design of the 360 enclosure; make it a normal box, give yourself some more space; it's not worth having your products burn up just to look a little cooler.

ObscureCaucasian:

Your #2 is very observant; I would lean towards that possibility. Perhaps MS was expecting higher sales of the Elites. But you never know; that's the thing with consoles, you don't ever really know what you're getting, it's still very much a 'consumer' product.

 

[opticalmace]

Is there any confirmation of 65nm yet? So far all I see is an HDMI port. MS didn't announce 65nm, just HDMI... I say they're still 90nm until someone can prove me wrong.