Rumor: All Xbox 360 models will include HDMI

by Christopher Grant { Aug 8th 2007 at 11:45AM }

Though Ars Technica is quick to label this a rumor, what they heard from an "inside source" sounds awfully similar to what Engadget's otherwise reliable tipster told them last March, though a bit more specific. Ars says, "a new version of the Core and Premium [Xbox 360] hardware in late August or September ... will include an HDMI port." Microsoft has never said that the Elite would be alone in having an HDMI port – in fact, the Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 will come packed with an HDMI port this September though, notably, no HDMI cable.

Of course, it's presumed that this hardware revision would also include the 65nm chips we've all been waiting for, as well as quieter DVD drives (quieter than the BenQ VAD6038?). But how will prospective purchasers discern which retail box includes the new hardware? There will apparently be a small "call out" on the packaging so savvy buyers can take their pick and casual shoppers can drain the existing inventory. C'est la vie.

Tags: HDMI

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

DarthDavid @ Aug 8th 2007 11:50AM

First!!!!!!! I might get one now.....maybe =)

hvnlysoldr @ Aug 8th 2007 11:55AM

Second. Friggin' don't post that you're first. I still have 10 year old CRT's lying around at home so HDMI has no meaning to me now.

Jerk Face @ Aug 8th 2007 11:53AM

As soon as those smaller chips and quieter drives drop I am in. I've been holding out for all of these things and this news makes my loins quiver with joy.

Add to that the price drop? Hells yeah.

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 8th 2007 11:53AM

I just sold my Premium 360 for $300 dlls. last Sunday to a friend that I dont like (hope he get the Red Ring of Death this Christmas)

Im waiting for an Elite with a 65nm procesor. Hope it worth the waiting.

Danger @ Aug 8th 2007 12:43PM

How is he your friend if you don't like him..

In either case its a brilliant move!

Mad @ Aug 8th 2007 11:54AM

("First" comments are lame)

Seriously, who didn't see this coming? Yo think Microsoft wants to continue producing two different motherboards? That's two manufacturing lines, that's twice the headache when it comes down to it. This just makes sense in terms of cost cutting, getting people who buy a Core or Premium HDMI is just a plus.

David Costin @ Aug 8th 2007 3:33PM

Microsoft, what a bunch of morons.

I wish they'd quit simply taking peoples money and advantage of their customers and just come out with a true next-gen XBOX360 with HDMI, HD-DVD Drive, Wi-Fi and a sufficient HD Drive already!

Instead of inching, every six months, towards the XBOX360 they SHOULD be selling already.

I really think, Microsoft is playing catch-up. And in hind-sight it seems Microsoft was hit over the head by Sony's true, next-gen PS3. Did Microsoft think Sony didn't have the balls to include Blu-Ray and other killer features with their system from the start?

AirIntake @ Aug 8th 2007 3:48PM

You own a 3DO, don't you?

Sidepocket @ Aug 9th 2007 2:32AM

The problem is you add all those already expensive and some unproven features and the new 360's will be a billion dollars.

Then 360 will be happy in PS3 boat...with the other 5 gamers playing the console. XD

GKTheGreat @ Aug 8th 2007 7:06PM

yeah im going to pass till the 65nm 2 and another price drop maybe not 2 down with xbox shhhhhh kind of sucksss

ForceUnleashed @ Aug 8th 2007 12:00PM

MS has been dropping a lot of good news lately...

Me likey!

Anyways I hope the Core disappears forever (and that all existing Core owners get a Hard Drive) and then MS can continue on making great games that won't be limited by the lack of a hard drive.

But either way the good times keep rolling...the Eternal Sonata demo is awesome btw!

James @ Aug 8th 2007 12:01PM

I worry for the people who didn't see this happening. It's not exactly needed (1080p available over both Component and VGA) but it's nice to see some more options.

Still it's VGA for me. Upscaled DVDs are holding me back from getting the HD-DVD drive.

Ian @ Aug 8th 2007 12:18PM

I like my VGA cable. Works fantastic on my 42" LCD.

Crono @ Aug 8th 2007 12:03PM

I will sell/trade in my current 360 for the HDMI model. That, combined with this http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=4174
Will allow me to upscale and digitize all my VG sources with one switch. Woot!

GRANTED @ Aug 8th 2007 12:09PM

wow. welcome to next gen.
but, to be fair, was hdmi a consumer technology when 360 came out?

Crono @ Aug 8th 2007 12:14PM

I think HDMI 1.0 or 1.1 was finalized at 360 launch. This HDMI is 1.2, I think.

BPM @ Aug 8th 2007 12:13PM

It makes sense they'd add HDMI to all models. This way, they only have to manufacture one motherboard for all models. This should save a bit on manufacturing costs.

At this point, the only difference between the models will be accessories (controller: wired or wireless, headset: yes or no, HDD: none or 20GB or 120GB, etc) and appearance (chrome disc drive or not, and black or white).

megaStryke @ Aug 8th 2007 12:14PM

I will finally buy a 360 when I know for certain that I won't be bricked.

ForceUnleashed @ Aug 8th 2007 12:24PM

Your loss then.

My 360 Elite hasn't broken down at all or suffered any minor setbacks and I don't believe it will in the future either.

No system is 100% hardware failure proof.

So you might as well wait forever if thats what you're waiting for.

Meanwhile the rest of us will enjoy the great games coming out for a great system.

Ethan @ Aug 8th 2007 12:32PM

Like ForceUnleashed said, plus why wait, when if it does get bricked, you can send it in for up to 3 yrs of free repair?

marcandrer @ Aug 8th 2007 12:33PM

no system is 100% hardward failure proof.
you're right on that one but no system should have a 33%+ failure rate either.

Bloo @ Aug 8th 2007 12:37PM

Wii's are bricking from WiiConnect24 left and right (note to self: turn off WiiConnect24) but that didn't stop you eh?

Martin @ Aug 8th 2007 12:44PM

marcandrer: Where do you get 33%+ from? Did you just make that up? I think you did, and I'm calling you out.

ForceUnleashed @ Aug 8th 2007 1:00PM

I don't know about Wiis bricking left and right.

And I also don't know if this 33% failure busines is true or not.

BUT even if the 33% is a valid statistic it still doesn't matter. Theres a warranty. Theres the greater chance that yours won't break down at all.

And then theres the fact that both systems have awesome games both out right now and for the fall/winter seasons.

So again you're the one whos missing out by not buying this great system.

megaStryke @ Aug 8th 2007 1:31PM

I am not going to pay $350+ for a device that is going to be in the shop half the time. Imagine if people did that with their cars.

And Wii's bricking left and right? Yeah. Show me the story where a consumer has gone through seven or eight or nine Wiis and I'll show you my surprised face.

megaStryke @ Aug 8th 2007 1:36PM

Oh, and proof of the 360's failure rate:

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Home/D3Q7G8S2?page=1
http://www.ripten.com/2007/07/03/failure-rate-xbox-360-high-as-33-sony-ps3-less-than-1/
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160603

I can go on.

Bloo @ Aug 8th 2007 1:43PM

YOU said YOU don't want a console that bricks. I said the Wii bricks too. OBVIOUSLY it doesn't brick as much as the 360. BUT YOU didn't say I don't want a console that bricks 7-9 times. NOW YOU are changing everything and coming off as an @$$. I enjoy playing games while you enjoy playing a console - that is the difference...

megaStryke @ Aug 8th 2007 1:57PM

God damn.

Some people just don't understand.

EVERY PRODUCT on the planet has a failure rate. The closer to zero that rate is, the more reliable that product is. NO PRODUCT is perfect, but if the failure rate is close to zero, it is safe to say that it most likely won't crap out on you.

The Xbox 360 has a high failure rate. SO high, in fact, that a lot of consumers are going through multiple machines. There is a high chance that I'll spend a lot of time waiting for a bricked machine to be replaced.

I DO NOT CARE how many fantastic games are on the 360, I'm not buying one unless I know that it won't break 1 in 3 times as a result of a design error. A certain model of car may have the most comfortable leather interior on the planet, but if 1 in 3 dies on the road, that's not cool, more so because a car that dies on a busy street can cause a major accident. Thankfully, 360s don't cause serious injury (to the best of my knowledge), but I want to know that I am putting down good money on RELIABLE CRAFTMANSHIP.

Bloo @ Aug 8th 2007 2:08PM

"Some people just don't understand"

Yep. You don't understand that YOU said you won't buy a machine until YOU know for certain it won't be bricked. End of story. YOU don't understand that MY response was that Wiis brick too. Again, I own and enjoy them all (and none have bricked).

megaStryke @ Aug 8th 2007 2:20PM

I understand that there are people who own 360s that are in pristine condition. I also know that there are people who drive drunk and don't wear seat belts and never get into accidents. Since they don't get in accidents, that must mean I won't either, regardless of the risk, right? WRONG.

Bloo, you seem hung up on what I said in my first comment. You've built up this straw man, thinking that since I said I want to be sure my future 360 doesn't brick then I will NEVER, EVER, EVER buy ANY product that has even the most miniscule chance of failing. Would you have preferred I said "I will finally buy a 360 when I am 99% certain that I won't be bricked"? Alright then. Stop hanging on those words and READ what I've followed up with. A 1% fail rate (Wii, PS3) is preferable to a 33% fail rate (Xbox 360). Boom. There's the argument. THAT'S what you should attack, not some opening statement that you've taken so damn literally.

Crono @ Aug 8th 2007 4:19PM

megaStrike, I've had 2 wii's break on me. To be fair, I have never heard of a wii getting "bricked" as in not turning on/useless as anything but a doorstop. But I've had 2 wiis get the weird green blocks on graphics and fog, and I'm waiting for my 3rd wii to come back from nintendo.

megaStryke @ Aug 8th 2007 4:30PM

What a shame. You were one of the really unlucky ones. Doesn't make the hardware any less reliable.

brimnac @ Aug 9th 2007 1:32AM

I'm afraid to get a new one, to be honest.

I have a modified DVD drive, so I can backup my legit games (sorry guys, I'm a poster boy as to why you should be able to modify), I had the 3RoD but I was able to fix that with some super glue and a gummy eraser, and a VGA kit hooked up to my 1080p TV.

And it all works. I want a second one to hook up to my computer monitor (as nice as the big TV is the opportunity to actually *USE* it is limited... girlfriend + gigantic movie collection != lots of screen time), but I am afraid I won't be able to do the same stuff with it that I currently can. And that's a bummer.

blooh @ Aug 8th 2007 12:35PM

what's hdmi?

and i've been wondering for a while, are the 65nm chips not as good as the original ones?

Crono @ Aug 8th 2007 1:22PM

HDMI is a unified digital standard for transmitting high definition audio and video (in 1 cable) from your HDMI device to your TV. It also supports all sorts of DRM, so that if your TV isn't HDMI compliant with its DRM, it won't display its content in HD.

The 65 nm chips are the die size each chip is made on. It means smaller physical size, meaning there is less resistance for the electrons to flow, meaning there is less heat generated for the same amount of processing work done. They also can make alot more of them per manufacturing run, because they can fit more on a single silicon wafer.

Short answer: HDMI is digital and good, 65nm chips are good and cool.

cbroz91 @ Aug 8th 2007 12:41PM

While this is great news for those of us who haven't gotten a 360 yet, doesn't this make the Elite LESS attractive? Unless you plan on doing a lot of downloading, there is now really no reason to get an Elite over a Premium. (Unless you really like the black color)

ForceUnleashed @ Aug 8th 2007 1:03PM

The color is nice.

Plus its a way bigger HD like you mentioned.

I think that is a big benefit.

Now if they made a black premium then the Elite would lose a lot of value.

However I have an Eilte and I'm very pleased with it so far. I've got DOA4, Gears of War, and I'm enjoying those two A LOT.

Can't wait for BioShock to kick off Fall. My only problem is school taking up too much of my time...:(

Hudson922 @ Aug 8th 2007 12:40PM

Well if these have the 65nm chips then my Best Buy extended warranty is going to get a little more use. I've already replaced 2 360's on it, though the first one did not RRoD, the second one did.

Martin @ Aug 8th 2007 12:45PM

That would explain why the warranties are so damned expensive. "Duh, my Xbox is broken. Please sir, may I have some more?"

Hudson922 @ Aug 8th 2007 1:01PM

That $45 was well worth it. Just being able to have the previous two back up and running the same day as opposed to the 2-3 week wait for MS to get mine fixed or replaced. Now the one that RRoD'd on me last week I knew was going to kick the bucket and was hoping it would last until the 65nm chips hit but it didn't. The new one looks good so far but I will replace it before my warranty expires just to make sure that I get one I don't have to worry about pooping out on me some time down the line.

Badboy1979 @ Aug 8th 2007 1:07PM

When I got my Elite from my local BestBuy, the saleswoman almost whooped my ass because I didn't want to purchase the extended warranty from them. So far the launch 360 console and "launch" elite console I've gotten from that BestBuy are doing fine. But it helps to know that MS extended the warranties.

jadnice @ Aug 9th 2007 8:23AM

Hmmm so thats the lesson learned here when it comes to Microsoft (mainly) and Sony... it doesn't pay to be early adopters. If this is true all those peeps that bought these systems at the beginning got f*ck in the ass. Thats just poor customer service relations.

Nintendo this time around is not going with power but you can rest easy that then they release a system, it will be one system for all. Not 1 then 2 then 3 then 2.5 all at different price point.

When the hell did this become the norm. Geez... Microsoft and Sony need to stop trying to best each other in the hardware department at the consumers expense and focus and great gaming which is the #1 reason we pick which system to get.

Badboy1979 @ Aug 8th 2007 1:11PM

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I got my Elite mainly because it was black and match my bedroom electronics perfectly. I was in the market for a second 360 console and the Elite popped up just in time. The 120GB hard drive and HDMI was just a bonus to me (although my bedroom HDTV only supports 720p).

I think the importance of the larger harddrive is still there for most people looking in the Elite... especially if they're avid users of the Video Marketplace or like to keep every demo/video they download or store lots of music on their 360.

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Aug 8th 2007 1:24PM

It would be surprising if these units were available in August or September. Look at MS production of 360s this year. They only sold 1.5M in the first half of the year. That's just over 1 month's production.

MS surely has current Premiums stacked up like cordwood. Don't expect to see these HDMI Premiums until just before the holiday shopping season.

Also, these units likely don't "have 65nm chips", they have one 65nm chip, the CPU. The GPU is still 90nm.

Crono @ Aug 8th 2007 1:43PM

You sure? I thought both chips were getting the die shrink.

Ihya @ Aug 8th 2007 1:59PM

I haven't sent my broken 360 back yet in the hope I'll get a more improved replacement. What an odd situation I find myself in.

deaftly @ Aug 8th 2007 2:29PM

ive had my 360 premium since feb. 2006, still running like a champ and ive been playing it for roughly 2-5 hours a day since, call me lucky i guess

Bloo @ Aug 8th 2007 2:29PM

"Bloo, you seem hung up on what I said in my first comment"

And you are hung up on my reply to that first comment and using stuff you said after said reply to base your argument on. Pot? Meet kettle.

You claim the 33% failure rate, which is pure conjecture, as law and then make up your own Wii 1% failure rate when it is obviously higher. 1% PS3 failure rate I would believe even if there is no true documentation of it.

Again you are a fan of consoles, I am a fan of games.

megaStryke @ Aug 8th 2007 2:56PM

You know what? I know I am right and I know you are wrong. I've given you just a droplet of the links that support what I have said, links to articles that I found within five seconds of a Google search. There are many more. I did not make up those 1% failure rates, by the way:

http://www.ripten.com/2007/07/03/failure-rate-xbox-360-high-as-33-sony-ps3-less-than-1/

There is probably more literature on the matter, but the rates might a LITTLE bit higher, like maybe 5%. Still acceptable.

You seem to think I'm not a fan of games. Why? Because I like to buy hardware that doesn't have a billion-dollar defect? LINK:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/xbox-360-warranty-extended-to-three-years/

I'm not a crack addict. I don't NEED to buy the 360 on pain of death because, as you said, all the systems have great games. I've got great games on more reliable machines to tie me over. So I won't play the 360 until late this year. What ever shall I do until then? Oh, woe is me!