The chips, which are a sizable difference than the current 90nm chips, are being planned for a new motherboard codenamed Falcon (if you recall, Microsoft's previous motherboard upgrade that included an HDMI port was called Zephyr). The upgrade will still have 90nm graphics chips from ATI -- that upgrade is for later. And there is no guarantee that the smaller chips, though theoretically will require less energy, will alleviate the Xbox 360's Red Ring of Death.
And so how will you tell if the console has the Falcon? You can't -- not at first, anyways. "Microsoft has no intention of telling you which box has 65-nanometer chips on the inside," he said. All Falcon-equipped Xbox 360s have HDMI ports, but not all HDMI-enabled 360s have Falcons. "I really don't know how you're going to be able to tell the difference. If you're buying an Xbox 360 without HDMI, then for sure you aren't getting Falcon," he said.
This Christmas, if you're hoping for a more reliable Xbox 360, there is a chance you could nab one. From what Takahashi has said, however, you might have to increase your Luck stat before you try to pick up one. Check out Takahashi's article for more details.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
The falcon chip does NOT guarantee that your 360 won't RROD on you.
So good luck with that. I wonder what you'll say if your "5th" 360 breaks.
Yes, it's been a valid criticism, but it won't be forever. Heck, I fixed my own 360 (google x-clamp issue) and it's been fine ever since.
Reply
My first x360 died that way, It started to overheat and scratch my Dead Rising Disc again Thank you Skip DR for saving it from Dead (no pun intended).Weird but my x360 died without a RRoD.
When I got my Second x360 one day I turn it on to play Darkness when I saw it, the RRoD. When I saw the RRoD I was like “No F**ing Way" Then I just realized it wasn’t connected properly :P.
M Second x360 is flawless and I have treated worst than my first x360.
Its a change for someone to mention overheating of XBox 360's? What internet have you been using?
As the poster above mentioned, however, the new heat sink goes a VERY long way to fixing this issue since the average temperature inside is much lower (you can tell because you can feel a lot more hot air coming out of the 360's with the new heat sink (hot air coming out is GOOD; means there is less hot air inside, which is what you want)). To be honest, I'm not sure how much the new CPU's will go to fixing this issue as I think the heat sink will do a much better job then a console with no new heat sink and the new 65 cpu. It's especially not a huge issues since it is the GPU primarily that puts out the most heat, and not the CPU; so a change for the CPU will do little good.
The good news in all of this is that if you purchase a console that was made after April/May of this year (the elits on store shelves that I have seen everywhere, for instance, are all made after this) do have this new heatsink. I have a launch day console that's still going (somehow still works without any problems), and I just bought an Elite (gave old premium to brother) that was manufactured in June of this year. I can tell you the new elite runs much much cooler than my old premium and its DVD drive is very quiet. I am much more confident in the reliability of this new elite then I was of my old system.
If you were thinking of getting a 360, I wouldn't wait to get one since the new heat sink will fix the overheating issue. Just make sure you look at the manufactured date on the back of the 360 (you can find this by pushing in a tab on the top of the box that lets you look at the back of the XBOX) and you will be fine. It's not worth missing out on the 360 (if you don't have one already) just because of this annoying issue.
Reply
Reply
That said, my launch day (stood in line for 10 hours) box still runs fine.
Reply
Reply
Assuming MS has perfected the 90nm process for their current CPU, the new NEW 65 chips won't be a whole lot better at first. Look at Intel/AMD's first 65nm chips, they used a tad bit less energy, and were maybe like 5 degrees C cooler.
If all that stands between the 360 core and destruction is 5 degrees, then they have bigger problems at hand.
Reply
Assuming MS has perfected the 90nm process for their current CPU, the new NEW 65 chips won't be a whole lot better at first. Look at Intel/AMD's first 65nm chips, they used a tad bit less energy, and were maybe like 5 degrees C cooler.
If all that stands between the 360 core and destruction is 5 degrees, then they have bigger problems at hand.
Reply
Reply
Reply
I'm on my 9th 360 since launch and actually bought a Core system to play during the downtime between repairs... so I can't wait for more reliable units.
Reply
And yet, people still complain about the PS3's price.
How much open space do you have around your 360? Is it tucked away in your entertainment center? Is it sitting on a carpeted floor? Do you live in a humid climate?
I'm just curious, as I've never had any problems with mine.
And yet, people still complain about the PS3's price."
That's probably because you don't own one. If you did, you'd understand. And most people's problem with the PS3 is not the price, it's the fact that that 5 or 600 bucks is being spent on a system with NO DAMN GAMES. Sure, this'll change soon...but as of now R:FOM, Motorstorm, and a few downloadables do not justify the difference in price between the PS3 and the 360.
Do you live inside a volcano?
Reply
Microsoft will not say when the Falcon chip ships for no other reason than if they did, they would be stuck with every single one of these older 360's.
Makes sense to me. With the Playsations 1,2 and 3, the model number changes, maybe the 360 is the same way?
Reply
I love the 360, and have no interest in the PS3 (not because of price - I just hate the controllers). Can't wait for the 65nm chips.
Reply
I've never had any problems with my 360 which I have had for about a year now. It has plenty of room to breathe; I really think most of the people having issues are related to there not being enough airflow around their boxes.
I haven't heard any of the newer units with the extra heat sync ever having a RROD problem. Microsoft already seems to have fixed the issue, so there's really no reason to wait for the new chips to come out.
Reply
I've had 1 killed by the fall update, 1 go through a fire in the UPS truck on the way to my house, 1 arrive with a bad GPU, and 3 red ring.
Thats it, RROD over. The only people still complaining about it are the people who are having their old systems break now or the sony fans. If you went out and bought a new 360 console today (hdmi version for premium) or any elite, it would be 100% cured of RROD. There is no reason at all this issue needs to be discussed anymore. The falcon will mearly make your xbox 360 a fraction cooler and save you 10 cents a year in energy bills, its not gonna solve the RROD issue because its already been solved. I find it funny that people are still waiting for the falcons before they buy a 360, like they are completely unaware of the new heatsink.
Reply
And the people who have a right to bitch about their broken 360's are the people who have broken 360's. It's pathetic that'd you'd defend a poorly made piece of equipment. You're worse than the sony fanboys who make the xbox look bad. At least they make a good case, because the 360's clearly not in top shape, but the fact that you're defending a corporation selling lemons is pathetic. They proved the accusations the day they offered three year warranty's to consumers who had already purchased the system.
not just two months.
Also you don't know for sure that the RROD is over so stop saying it is.
Also don't say RROD is over because that has not been proven. M$ still wants people to but the remaining stock of faulty xbox360s before they release a new model.
Like you can vouch for every 360 and say they are 100% cured, because of what? "heatsinks have been in elites for over 2 months, and the premiums for over 1 month"
WOW, a WHOLE 2 MONTHS, thats like, an eternity!
And why should you care if people choose to be extra safe and make sure they make a good decision? they didn't say they didn't want a 360, they just want to be careful and get a product they can have faith in.
I hope bill Gates dick is worth it.