Xbox 2 specifications now officially available

[Eug]

Xbox Next

Xenon - Three 3 GHz PowerPC cores, with 64 KB L1 per core and 1 MB shared L2.

GPU is new gen 500 MHz with Shader 3.0

256 MB RAM

DVD drive

P.S. The description of Xenon sounds like Cell's PPE unit times three, but with no SPE units and at a lower clock speed. (I'm thinking the VPU unit for each core in the diagram is Altivec, not SPE, but I dunno for sure.) Anyways, it's definitely not a 3-core G5.

EDIT (May 9, 2005)

http://www.activewin.com/xbox/articles/2005/2.shtml

360 Hardware:
1. Support for DVD-video, DVD-Rom, DVD-R/RW, CD-DA, CD-Rom, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 cd, JPEG photo CD
2. All games supported at 16:9, 720p and 1080i, anti-aliasing
3. Customizable face plates to change appearance
4. 3 USB 2.0 ports
5. Support for 4 wireless controllers
6. Detachable 20GB drive
7. Wi-Fi ready

Custom IBM PowerPC-based CPU
- 3 symmetrical cores at 3.2 GHz each
- 2 hardware threads per core
- 1 VMX-128 vector unit per core
- 1 MB L2 cache

CPU Game Math Performance
- 9 billion dots per second

Custom ATI Graphics Processor
- 500 MNz
- 10 MB embedded DRAM
- 48-way parallel floating-point shader pipelines
- unified shader architecture

Memory
-512 MB GDDR3 RAM
- 700 MNz DDR

Memory Bandwidth
- 22.4 GB/s memory interface bus bandwidth
- 256 GB/s memory bandwidth to EDRAM
- 21.6 GB/s frontside bus

Audio
- Mulitchannel surround sond output
- Supports 48khz 16-bit audio
- 320 independent decompression channels
- 32 bit processing
- 256+ audio channels

2 types of Xbox Live:
Xbox Live Silver (no subscription required)
Xbox Live Gold (subscription benefits)

Features for Gold service
* Also for Silver
# Also for Offline

- Seamless transition to Xbox Live account from Xbox to Xbox 360
- Access to MMOs (additional fees may apply) *
- Free Xbox Live weekends *
- Multiplayer online gameplay
- Avatar for gamer profile * #
- Motto for gamer profile * #
- Personalized look for Xbox System Guide * #
- Offline achievments * #
- Online achievements *
- Access to other players' Gamer cards via Live *
- Cumulative gamer score * #
- Location/language profile * #
- Reputation *
- Enahnced matchmaking using above
- Skill level matchmaking
- Gameplay style profile (casual, competitive, etc.)
- Recent players list *
- Free and premium download game content *
- Free and premium downloadable movies, music, tv *
- Downloadable demos/trailers *
- Microtransactions *
- Custom playlist in every game * #
- Play music from portable devices * #
- View images from digital camera * #
- Strem media from Windows XP * #
- Interactive screen savers * #
- Track info for CDs * #
- Communication with voice, video or text *

EDIT May 12:

So it looks like the above is right, with this added spec:

* VMX-128 vector unit per core; three total
* 128 VMX-128 registers per hardware thread

As people have been postulating, this is not the normal Altivec. So what the heck is it?

 

[Acanthus]

LMAO even microsoft dropped directsound

Optional HD :disgust: but thank the good lord we all get our USB2.0 video camera :roll:

 

[fuzzynavel]

thrilling!!

Will just have to wait and see which parts of this speculation make it to the final box!

 

[rikadik]

I CANNOT WAIT!

 

[Zucarita9000]

Wow, I didn't know that MS was dropping Intel/Nvidia for the Xbox 2...

 

[ribbon13]

this is old... enjoy.
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=231928

 

[dguy6789]

Heh. So it is set in stone, Xenon is faster than PS3.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Heh. So it is set in stone, Xenon is faster than PS3.

xbox is faster than ps2, but i dont see a racing game on the xbox that looks as impressive as GT4. the PS2 is still a mighty powerful machine, just 90% of devs could never tap into its true potential

ill probably buy the sony, for the GT4 regardless which is better, my bro will buy the xbox anyway so im not gonna lose out

 

[Tiamat]

Hmm i doubt thats gonna be sold for 300$.

I dont see children'ts parents buying their children a 800+$ xbox for christmas.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Hmm i doubt thats gonna be sold for 300$.

I dont see children'ts parents buying their children a 800+$ xbox for christmas.

good job ill be making a couple of k this summer then isnt it

 

[dhoytw]

Wow, sounds badass. The fact that all game title will be made to play at 720p with digital 5.1 is awesome. I don't see how they can sell this for under $750 based on the GPU & CPU offerings. I also expect the games to probably debut with an average price of around $70, this is not very encouraging, unless you are a hardcore gamer, if you are hardcore then living in a cardboard box because your broke won't seem so bad when you are playing HALO3 (speculation) on this bad boy

 

[ribbon13]

Remeber the Neo Geo? It's games rocked, but the $$$ was very high so it failed.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
this is old... enjoy.
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=231928

Those specs are not the same. Almost the same, but not quite. The biggest change is the specs are now for a 3 GHz triple core CPU. The initial specs were for a 3.5 GHz triple core CPU. Gamespy's new article also adds a few new details.

 

[MrControversial]

These specs are no different from the ones on the "leaked" block diagram. Therefore it's old news.

 

[MrControversial]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Heh. So it is set in stone, Xenon is faster than PS3.

xbox is faster than ps2, but i dont see a racing game on the xbox that looks as impressive as GT4.

You're on PS2 crack if you actually believe that. PGR2 and Forza Motorsport sports four times the geometry of GT4 respectively. They also have real 3D backgrounds unlike GT4's fake 2D bitmaps. You sound like a PS2 fanboy still in denial. Most PS2 fans dropped the graphics argument in 2002. Face it, PS2 is a dud graphically. Even the GameCube spanks it. You'll NEVER see a game on the PS2 that even comes close to Ninja Gaiden and Resident Evil 4. NEVER!

Don't think that the price will be over $300 because it won't. Releasing a console above that sweet spot is suicide and Microsoft knows that. Console manufacturers aren't out to make a profit on the hardware, they make their money off the games. It's the razorblade business model. Why do you think razors are so cheap and the blades are so expensive?

 

[imported_Reck]

Why will people upgrade their computer though when the xb2 has vga output? that will be so damn sweet I cannot wait.

 

[rikadik]

If that comes out for ~$300, then I'll be getting one.

Does anyone get the feeling that one day people just won't bother with PCs for gaming? I'm close to it you know, because it just makes financial sense. With a console you don't get caught up with the constantly improving technologies, like a new better GPU every 3 months. And you also KNOW that anything you buy for a console will work beautifully, unless its broken. The next few years will be very interesting.

What's everyone think?

 

[MrControversial]

I'm waiting a year before I get one because the first generation of games are rather blase.

 

[dguy6789]

Xenon WILL be sold at an affordable price point. As much as many of you hate MS, they are not stupid. Microsoft makes money off of the games that get sold to be played on Xbox, not the Xbox itself. MS's strategy is to make a supremely powerful console at their expense, sell it for a competitive price, and then when developers use that superior technology, they make better games(graphically at least) and that is what they rely on to roll in the cash.

The time of making a profit on the console hardware itself is gone. They lose money on the console, but hope to make it up with the $$$ made from the games being sold.

The money is in the games.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: MrControversial

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: dguy6789
Heh. So it is set in stone, Xenon is faster than PS3.

xbox is faster than ps2, but i dont see a racing game on the xbox that looks as impressive as GT4.

You're on PS2 crack if you actually believe that. PGR2 and Forza Motorsport sports four times the geometry of GT4 respectively. They also have real 3D backgrounds unlike GT4's fake 2D bitmaps. You sound like a PS2 fanboy still in denial. Most PS2 fans dropped the graphics argument in 2002. Face it, PS2 is a dud graphically. Even the GameCube spanks it. You'll NEVER see a game on the PS2 that even comes close to Ninja Gaiden and Resident Evil 4. NEVER!

Don't think that the price will be over $300 because it won't. Releasing a console above that sweet spot is suicide and Microsoft knows that. Console manufacturers aren't out to make a profit on the hardware, they make their money off the games. It's the razorblade business model. Why do you think razors are so cheap and the blades are so expensive?

each to his own, i have played prject gotham 2 and to be honest i didnt find it all that good to look at, i prefere the GT series, and i prefer the PS2 controller over the xbox's. sure i know all the crap bits to the ps2, hell its not even built very well, and the aliasing it terrible and its colour reproduction is naff in 90% of games ive played.

but i do still like the PS2 for what it is, its quirky. my bro has a game cube, its pretty good , metroid prime is an excellent game, but the reworked metal gear solid is terrible, the backgrounds to some of the cinematics look like 8bit colour. no doubt the xbox is most powerful machine, but i still think the ps2 is under estimated at times. Gamecube isnt really all that with its fixed function T and L, they do a good job to make quality looking games on it, props to them

i was only having an opinion on a piece of hardware, i did not expect to be flamed to hell and back by some one who is definately a fan boy.

man i hate people that think everyones opinion doesnt mean a thing but theirs. lighten up and appreciate what others are saying, if u dont agree dont hound them will fanboy drivel.

i think GT3 and GT4 have been the best racers ive played on a console, again thats my preference as i like that type of driving, PGR is more about sliding and style. you seriously cant deny that GT4 doesnt look good.

your right on the price, if it were over the 300 mark its looking bleak. if it was higher id probably settle for a new graphics card instead. and i dont think everyones parents will be spending over 300 on a box that plays games for christmas either

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: rikadik
If that comes out for ~$300, then I'll be getting one.

Does anyone get the feeling that one day people just won't bother with PCs for gaming? I'm close to it you know, because it just makes financial sense. With a console you don't get caught up with the constantly improving technologies, like a new better GPU every 3 months. And you also KNOW that anything you buy for a console will work beautifully, unless its broken. The next few years will be very interesting.

What's everyone think?

What are you on? Consoles are becoming more PC-like every generation - hence why their capabilities are improving. Eventually, no, PCs really won't be needed for gaming because consoles will all offer USB connectivity for peripherals and VGA/DVI outputs, along with some way to connect them to proper surround sound.

I game on the PC because it offers things consoles can't - the best games for one, but also high resolution graphics, up to 7.1 surround - you just can't be as immersed using a console and television as you can a PC.

However, when you can plug your console into a HD Plasma TV, or a 20 inch LCD screen, and hook up whatever controller you prefer, then where's the barrier? Assuming the games are just as good, of course.

It's probably going to happen sooner than most people think. I'm not opposed to it, but I'm certainly not making the transition until the games on console can consistently match the game quality on PC - which hasn't happened yet. Plus, controllers suck for many gametypes (shooters, anyone? RTS?), so I need to be able to jack a KB and mouse into that thing.

 

[imported_X]

Is anyone else wary of the 256MB of RAM? How can they get away with this when you need 1GB in the pc world? Does the operating system have such a lean overhead that you can get away with that kind of difference?

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: X
Is anyone else wary of the 256MB of RAM? How can they get away with this when you need 1GB in the pc world? Does the operating system have such a lean overhead that you can get away with that kind of difference?

console is a dedicated gaming machine, the xbox only had 64mb, and look how good that is, i think 256mb will be sufficient

 

[Eug]

Yes, 256 MB will be more than sufficient. Xbox 2 will be running a lean/mean OS. None of the extra garbage present to eat up memory.

Originally posted by: MrControversial
These specs are no different from the ones on the "leaked" block diagram. Therefore it's old news.

The "leaked" block diagram had a 3.5 GHz spec for Xenon. The revised Gamespy spec has a 3.0 GHz spec.

In any case, the Gamespy article does provide further evidence that the original "leaked" block diagram is otherwise pretty much true. (There were a lot of doubters when that diagram initially hit the net.)

I do wonder what's with that USB 2.0 camera though...

 

[kextyn]

I'd really like to see them release a triple 3.0GHz core CPU and modern high end graphics technology for $300. I really don't see it happening. When have consoles (at least hardware) ever been BETTER than PC's and cost less? Anyone? yea...thats what I thought.