Rumor: Next Xbox 360 chipsets are Opus, Valhalla

by Justin McElroy { Feb 15th 2008 at 10:00AM }

We know it's a little weird to be pumped for Xbox 360 chipsets, but we here at Joystiq HQ are all pretty excited about "Jasper". When we see each other in the halls we'll often exchange a look and we don't even need to speak it, we just know: It's Jasper. Now, if Jacob Metcalf (the guy who broke the Bungie/Microsoft split story) is right, we'll have to start exchanging an additional two looks for the upcoming "Opus" and "Valhalla".

The first, "Opus" is basically a third-generation ("Falcon") board built to fit first generation ("Xenon") cases, primarily for the recycling of red-ringed systems, giving them cooler, more dependable guts (though no HDMI). The second, "Valhalla", is rumored to combine the 65nm CPU and 65nm GPU into one awesome super chip. It would only require one cooling system, meaning Valhalla would be quieter and (one would hope) more dependable. It would also be considerably cheaper.

Both chips (again, if Metcalf is on the money) are a ways off, with Opus coming in 2008 or 2009 and Valhalla following a year later. As excited as we are for the new builds (even though our eyes are getting sore from exchanged looks) we'll be happiest if this news means Microsoft won't euthanize the 360 as quickly as its predecessor.

Tags: chipsets, falcon, jasper, opus, valhalla, xbox360, xenon

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Scott @ Feb 15th 2008 10:12AM

They're already doing Opus in a way. Some people are returning their Xenon 360s and getting newly manufactured 360s in return but without HDMI. I think some in the Xbox.com have reported that they are getting Falcon motherboards in them.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 15th 2008 11:26AM

Well, that's great for Microsoft, because Falcons don't red ring.

And by that I mean, it's programmed out of them, they signal fatal errors through different means. And since the 3-year warranty extension only covers the red ring, that means that once they send you one of these Xbox 360s, they never have to repair your box again for free, even if it fails.

I know Falcon is more reliable, but this also means they're wriggling out of the obligations they made in order to regain our trust. Are they showing themselves to be trustworthy by doing this?

Trev @ Feb 15th 2008 11:28AM

@LS
That sounds too dastardly even for Microsft, but then they are the company that bought Giant Antispyware and then tweaked it to not detect the very spyware like software they distributed via Windows Update.

Maybe it DOESN'T sound too dastardly. Can you provide any proof of this?

Co @ Feb 15th 2008 11:50AM

We don't nned proof Trev, I believe LS 100% simply because it's Microsoft.

Rususeruru @ Feb 15th 2008 1:17PM

Co I also believe that Sony has a vested interest in hardware failures (as a consumer electronics company), does that make it true?

luckycharms711 @ Feb 15th 2008 5:23PM

I have heard of an error 91 people have been getting in place of the three rings. Not exactly proof but if you look around the internet that is what people are saying.

Korova @ Feb 15th 2008 10:44PM

wow, LS, if that's true, that is whyly f'd up stuff

License to ill @ Feb 15th 2008 10:12AM

"we'll be happiest if this news means Microsoft won't euthanize the 360 as quickly as its predecessor".

It would be a big mistake if they did...

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 15th 2008 10:22AM

i seriously doubt they would abruptly abandon it like they did with the Xbox considering the 360 is actually doing damn good in the console race as opposed to it's older sibling.

Trev @ Feb 15th 2008 11:00AM

I, for one, think Sony's 10 year plan (as ridiculous as THEY made it sound) is a good idea.

Game consoles are more expensive, more powerful, and there's so much you can do with them that I don't think anything will need replacing in 2 years.

Maybe 10 years is too long, but the ps2 will probably make it 8 and no one can feel bad getting a new console after 8 years. After 4? Maybe.

Trev @ Feb 15th 2008 11:05AM

Which is to say, as I didn't make it clear and only realized it after I hit submit, that I want ALL the consoles to be around for a damn long time before they roll out new ones. It will make for a bigger improvement in technology AND less wallet-disemboweling.

FidliousWong @ Feb 15th 2008 12:04PM

I doubt PS2 will even be dead in 2009...

I mean, hell... Madden 2005 is available on Playstation...

ThornedVenom @ Feb 15th 2008 10:13AM

Multiple SKUs are so last-gen, multiple chipsets FTW

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 15th 2008 10:25AM

We've always had multiple chipsets, we've just never had the news of the multiple chipsets before.

FidliousWong @ Feb 15th 2008 12:08PM

We haven't? I could have sworn Sony always advertised which chipset the system had. After all, I can tell you what version of PS2 and PSX I have just by looking at the number after the SCPH- part on my SN sticker of the console.

In fact, I'd prefer MS do this. After all, your average consumer doesn't know, doesn't care about the revisions. But I'm not rebuying until I can get a Jasper.

JonFitt @ Feb 15th 2008 10:16AM

Quieter would be nice, but sounds like they're mainly cost saving redesigns. Yawn.

dsub @ Feb 15th 2008 10:24AM

I'd say a smaller form factor would be nice, but I don't know how I feel about reducing the ventilation on an XBOX 360.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Feb 15th 2008 10:31AM

Valhalla Microsoft? Do you really want to name a chip after something associated with death?

dsub @ Feb 15th 2008 11:15AM

It could be called Valhalla as a reference to the XBOX 360's final hardware redesign. Sort of a final resting place for the hardware. If these guys expect it to be out in 2010, there is a very good possibility that Valhalla will be the final revision of the 360 hardware.

rTwelve @ Feb 15th 2008 11:26AM

Sounds like Halo 3's Valhalla, which was a cool, airy map.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 15th 2008 11:27AM

yeah, they should have totally called it "Ragnarok" instead.

Trev @ Feb 15th 2008 11:44AM

Chipset names need more umlauts.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Feb 15th 2008 12:27PM

"yeah, they should have totally called it "Ragnarok" instead."

Fanboy or no, I would have bought something with a "Ragnarök" chipset.

Xelloss @ Feb 15th 2008 10:35AM

They should think about sound of the DVD drive, easy fix for the fans is produce or buy some quieter fans.

Neon Jebus @ Feb 15th 2008 10:50AM

You got that right. The fans don't bother me...my DVD on the other hand...

I have a new Elite and it was just as bad if not worse than my original Premium.

Booxatron @ Feb 15th 2008 4:35PM

I just picked up Seaman for DC off of Ebay the other day and started playing through it again. Man, even with the volume all the way up on my TV I could just barely hear Leonard Nimoy over the constant whirring of the GD-ROM drive. God that thing is loud. Not that the 360 noise is acceptable, just by comparison, it was way, way worse back in the day.

StrangeBum @ Feb 15th 2008 10:35AM

Does anybody else feel like being a gamer these days promotes a more broad knowledge of computer technology, if not even slightly requiring it. It's not a huge deal for me, I delve into these things anyway, but systems of yesteryear never had these sort of discussions about their chipsets.

Again, I'm not complaining, I enjoy having the knowledge. But I find it strange how technical it has all become lately.

Burritoclock @ Feb 15th 2008 10:46AM

I get your point, however I think that is more a symptom of the internet then of the consoles themselves.

FOXHOUND @ Feb 15th 2008 10:42AM

...soooo, no chance of restocking the ELITEs, eh? :\ I'd gladly get rid of my current premium for that.

BananaPoo @ Feb 15th 2008 11:02AM

Way to little way to late I am done with MS and there shit system...

Sadly it was not all shit just the hardware...

with that said.. I am a very disappointed consumer and I have taken my money elsewhere...

I will never buy hardware from MS again... it is just not worth the chance...

Trev @ Feb 15th 2008 11:05AM

Dude. Be less of a bitch.

If the Valhalla motherboard ends up being a 360 slim, that would be hot.

Syb @ Feb 15th 2008 11:18AM

BananaPoo has a point

1) 360 games are good
2) XBL is good
3) 360 hardware specs design are crap

I've been burned more than once by MS (Vista, Original Xbox) and I've decided to take my money elsewhere.

I am in full support of what Trev said earlier though - I'm hoping that this gen of consoles stay around for at least 6-7 years before the next ones are released. If a company has to release a new console every 3-4 years, then I would say that they haven't thought their design through properly. True technology upgrades seem to be coming out at a quicker rate than they did back in the 90's but still, an electronics company should be able to determine trends for at least 8 years out. If you can't do that, then you don't belong in the business.

Co @ Feb 15th 2008 11:52AM

BananaPoo, after reading your comment you're cool with me man. I don't care what they say about ya!

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 15th 2008 11:57AM

Oh jeez, you know you're off the deep end if co is trying to be your best friend.

Co @ Feb 15th 2008 1:39PM

Sheesh! You fellow Nintendo guys are harsh!!

bender @ Feb 15th 2008 4:13PM

As a Nintendo guy myself, I feel quite embarrassed with you.

A-Troll-Named-Slickback (Yes the A Troll Named part, and yes every time!) @ Feb 15th 2008 11:07AM

Gee I wonder what type of disc the next x-Box will use, He-He!

Trev @ Feb 15th 2008 11:14AM

If it really does come out in a couple years, I imagine an exasperated sigh from MS as they bend over to take it from "the blu-rayz". If it works out more like I would want and its somewhere around 2014, it might be worth using digital distribution.

Neon Jebus @ Feb 15th 2008 11:20AM

Trev,

You mean like the Phantom?

Also, dig the name there Slickback. I love the Boondocks.

Trev @ Feb 15th 2008 11:26AM

Nothing like the phantom. See, it would /exist/.

Also, I said "might". Its a possibility that DD might be worth using in six years, but I don't see it happening in two. Steam is working, so it will probably come to consoles eventually.

Shape @ Feb 15th 2008 11:33AM

There is already Microsoft technology in Blu-Ray in the form of VC-1 video compression.

HD-DVD had that, too.

HD-DVD also used HDi interactivity (developed by MS) instead of Java, like Blu-Ray does. From what I've seen HDi was a bit better.

But MS really didn't have that big of a stake in HD-DVD that they wouldn't consider putting a BD drive in the next XBox. It was Toshiba's format, not Microsoft's. MS is more about the digital download than discs at this point.

AwesomeStuff @ Feb 15th 2008 12:28PM

@ Neon Jebus

Its "A Pimp Named Slickback" to you, nugh-gah!! xD

j/k, j/k

why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 15th 2008 11:22AM

This is ridiculous. I want to play games, not sort out chipsets. The very fact that MS has to talk about what's inside their console shows just how wrong they've gone.

Let's return gaming to being about gaming.

Neon Jebus @ Feb 15th 2008 11:30AM

But Sony plays that game too. Think of all the talk about Cell and the crap back in the PS2 days.

Nintendo I must say doesn't play the chip game but they do speak to it.

Vidikron (FU) @ Feb 15th 2008 11:40AM

I'm not sure I agree with that. There's no doubt the original design was faulty, but we would likely have these same revisions even if it wasn't. Moving to smaller chips more efficient chips is a cost cutting measure that would be taken in either case. And this really isn't MS talking about it. Most of the time this news is leaked or simply speculation. Rarely does it come on the form of public press releases. Anyway, all the consoles go through these revisions... just as they have previous generations. I think the 360 just gets more attention because of the initial bad design.

Co @ Feb 15th 2008 11:27AM

lol stupid microsoft. I can't wait until PS3 starts getting all the games 360 gets and Microsoft is back outside looking in. They don't belong. Where's the next Sega??

Neon Jebus @ Feb 15th 2008 11:35AM

The PS3 is getting the games. It's just it comes out after six months or later. That has to improve. I wonder how well Lost Planet is going to do when it makes it out on the PS3.

Xbox had those days with the GTA series, so some of us know what it's like. And we are getting that taste again with Universe at War and World in Conflict both being on PC long before coming to the Xbox.

Co @ Feb 15th 2008 11:42AM

Yea I meant more like TAKING THE GAMES from 360.

Neon Jebus @ Feb 15th 2008 11:53AM

Oh I know what you were saying. I don't think that's going to happen much any longer. Exclusives just aren't the money maker they used to be.

That and it keeps me from needing to own multiple consoles. But it is Twisted Metal that will get me to buy a PS3.