Analyst blames Xbox RRoD on MS-designed graphics chip
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jun 11th 2008 at 1:30PM }
Speaking at the Design Automation Conference, Lewis said Microsoft tried to save a few million dollars by designing the Xbox 360's GPU in-house, rather than farming the design out to an experienced, approved application-specific integrated circuit vendor. Lewis chalked the high failure rate to Microsoft's inexperience designing such chips. "How many ASICs per year does Microsoft design? Not many.," Lewis said. "The ASIC vendor could have been able to design a graphics processor that dissipates much less power."
The irony is that Microsoft is widely believed to have gone to experienced ASIC-designer ATI for a redesigned Xbox 360 graphics chip in the middle of 2007. So, in addition to spending over a billion dollars on a warranty extension, Microsoft probably still ended up having to spend the few million dollars they were trying to avoid in the first place. Smooth move, ex-lax.
[Thanks copa.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 1:35PM
Oh damn, everyone get your hard hats on! Its about to rain bull-sh*t.
zkey14 @ Jun 11th 2008 1:36PM
How many RRoDs have you gone through now?
samfish @ Jun 11th 2008 1:57PM
MICROSOFT DEFENSE FORCE! – GO!
RED TYRANNOSAURUS!
Korova *Pyro aspect* @ Jun 11th 2008 2:01PM
Joystiq
Please warn people to bring their asbestos suits before posting the truth about rrod.
Korova is prepared, but think of all the tender noobs.
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 11th 2008 2:06PM
Zkey14
5 for me so far, but 360 number 6 has been with me since last november and seen hundreds of hours of gametime so I think they may have finally given me a capable system.
Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 2:09PM
My fifth occured three days before Halo 3... irony (since I still have the sealed copy). Sold the repaired console to a friend with a whole "fuck this" attitude until the Jaspers shipped. My friend, meanwhile, has had two more breakdowns.
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 2:14PM
zkey14, I had one on a launch unit. It was back in business after a few weeks though. I really am not that bent out of shape about it.
xFenixKnightx @ Jun 11th 2008 2:17PM
Technically speaking it isn't really a "ring" is it? You know, because its only 3/4 of a ring...
:P
PRRoD FTW!!!
dark_inchworm @ Jun 11th 2008 2:21PM
Mine was manufactured in January '06 and still works like a charm.
*shrug*
xFenixKnightx @ Jun 11th 2008 2:25PM
I've never had one. 3 of my buddies have. One time each, which got fixed and have never had one again. Nor did they go out and buy a PS3 or form an anti-M$ 360 cult. If it ever happens to me then I guess it'll just give me some more time with my PS3.
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 11th 2008 3:11PM
Its OK Nato we all know your just a Microsoft apologist anyway ... Heaven forbid someone tell it like it is in regards to your precious 360 ... I have had a total of 5 console failures with my 360 ... I haven't turned it on since I beat Army Of Two ... Thats sad considering I have a sealed copy if Ninja Gaiden II still sitting at home ... It will certainly stay that way after I pick up my favorite series of all time MGS 4 and its final game ...
Its funny nato because you were so hard on noshino yesterday for defending Metal Gear and going as far to call him a Sony company man ... The truth is you come on here and try to give an impression of being unbiased towards any particular console when the truth is that everyone can see you are a 360 Shill through and through ... So save the raining bullshit comments when I know your the Queen of Bullshit ... I have more respect for Premature Asshat ... At least he does not pretend to be something he is not like you ...
Gartner Research Vice President and Chief Analyst Bryan Lewis thinks he's honed in on the real reason behind the system failures: cheap, Microsoft-designed graphics processors.
Lewis said Microsoft tried to save a few million dollars by designing the Xbox 360's GPU in-house, rather than farming the design out to an experienced, approved application-specific integrated circuit vendor. Lewis chalked the high failure rate to Microsoft's inexperience designing such chips. "How many ASICs per year does Microsoft design? Not many.," Lewis said. "The ASIC vendor could have been able to design a graphics processor that dissipates much less power."
That sure sounds like a huge line of bullshit to me ... Doesn't sound like the guy is even qualified to give his opinion about pop tarts ...
Keep pretending Nato
Sir Fidlious Wong (Justin T. McElroy Memorial Burn of the Day Award) @ Jun 11th 2008 3:19PM
John McPoop, our resident clown shoe...
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 3:25PM
John McPoop - Dude, screw you with your SDF bullshit. My comment wasn't about the guy in the article - it was about the flame wars that the story would start.
Am I supposed to be pissed over an rrod because you tell me to be? That makes no damn sense. It happened, I moved on. Further, I say plenty of pro Sony crap too around here, though it’s not my favorite console. Ignore that fact if you want - who gives a damn. Noshino on the other hand acts like all non-Sony is the friggin devil and brings up anti-MS junk every chance he gets.
Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think of me or want me to feel about a product.
E.J. @ Jun 11th 2008 3:30PM
2 RRODs so far and 3 send-backs, but I'm still playing my console.
To sell it would be rather foolish as the only thing worth playing on my PS3 is MLB 08 the Show and on my Wii, Mario Kart and Smash Bros (with other people).
Noshino @ Jun 11th 2008 3:33PM
How the hell do I get involved on this?...
And for the record, I do point out when Sony is wrong...
Hey Nato, Im not using caps anymore, thanks for pointing out that I was belittling people by typing words in caps
ThePerfectCompanion @ Jun 11th 2008 3:35PM
BLUE ANKYLOSAURUS!!!!!!
Lol at the John and the SDF...
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 3:35PM
Oh, John, you are also mistaken about MG - I like the games and am getting the game this week. That's also evidenced in my posts.
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 3:36PM
Ah, Noshino, actually, I think you're an ok guy.
GearSecond! (a.k.a AwesomeStuff) @ Jun 11th 2008 3:40PM
PK STARSTORM!!!!
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 11th 2008 3:46PM
@Nato
I never told you to be pissed about your RROD ... I have no idea where that even came from ... Go ahead and chalk it up to my "SDF bullshit" ... Again this has nothing to do with how your "supposed" to feel about a product ... Your like Faux News ... You put that fair and balanced image out there when the truth is anything but ...
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 11th 2008 3:55PM
@Noshino
I am sorry for bringing your name up here ... I was just referencing Nato's tyrade against you yesterday
xFenixKnightx @ Jun 11th 2008 3:55PM
YES, I ADMIT IT!!! I LOVE MY XBOX360!! AND YES, I PLAY IT WAAAAAAY MORE THAN MY PS3! AND WHAT?!!!!!!!
Oh...
You were talking to Nato....my bad.
:P
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 11th 2008 4:01PM
@Fenix
LOL the thing about you man is we are very similar just with the consoles switched out ...
Me = PS3 Kids = Wii60
You= 360 Kids = PSWii
I have never been mistaken for one second where your loyalties stand as I am sure you haven't been with mine ... Thats all I was saying to Nato - Stop always fronting that your not a 360 slave when its obvious ...
xFenixKnightx @ Jun 11th 2008 4:06PM
Yo Mcpoopers UFC Bedlam was off the hook. Did you catch it? I was going for Alves all the way and Bisbing was insane. All great fights (and bloody as hell) except for Vera. They should'nt have stopped that fight. I hate that ref.
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 4:06PM
My tirade of a two sentence post in the MGS4 thread where I said to let something slide? Yeah, you got me there. I'm one mean s.o.b.
iag25 @ Jun 11th 2008 4:06PM
PURPLE STAGGASAURUS !!
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 4:08PM
"Stop always fronting that your not a 360 slave when its obvious ..."
Cause you say so it must be true.
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 11th 2008 4:28PM
@Fenix
Actually I did catch Bedlam ... Even though the card was super weak most of the fights were pretty damn good ... The one fight I thought was BS was the Marquardt fight ... getting that point taken away for an elbow to the back of the head when it was obviously the side of the head was just horrible ... Matt Hughes needs to call it quits because he got his ass whooped ... The Faber vs Pulver fight last week was incredible unlike the kimbo fight ... The biggest suprise of Bedlam was Marcus Davis getting owned by Mike Swick ... The Vera fight was stopped way to early ... It was a solid card but nowhere near as good is Lidell and Rua did not get hurt and canceled ...
The biggest fight in recent memory is coming in July when Affliction has its first MMA event ... Fedor Emelinanko vs Tim Sylvia and Arlovski vs Rothwell among others ... If you are not familiar with Fedor he is the #1 ranked heavyweight and pound per pound fighter int he world ... Go to the gowamma website and they have world rankings ... You can pick up some old Pride DVDs and see some of Fedors battles with Mirko Cro Cop and Gary Goodridge ... Amazing stuff ... I love the 2003 Grand Prix video where Rampage beats the shit out of the Iceman ... Pride was the best fighitng otganization in the world ... All of MMAs top fighters were from pride ... Wanderli, Rampage, Bj Penn, Fedor, Cro-Cop and many many more ... I like the card previous to Bedlam that had Silva knocking out Jardine, Penn beating up Sherk and Machida beating Ortiz
Korova *Pyro aspect* @ Jun 11th 2008 4:33PM
*breaths in deeply
I love the smell of Joystiq in the morning. It smells like ... bickering.
xFenixKnightx @ Jun 11th 2008 4:45PM
Oh and Mcpoop, cut Nato_Duke some slack, thats my buddy right there. Hes a cool cat :P and actually comes here to talk videogames instead of talking out of his ass like a lot of posters on here ususally do.
I agree the card was very weak at a glance, but I ordered it anyway with some buddies over and some beeeeeeeeerrrrr :) The fights turned out pretty damn good in the end right? Swick murderedI Davis and opned his nose and face up, nice! I felt I got my monies worth. Well mine and my buddies since we all pitched in.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Jun 11th 2008 5:03PM
Black Mastodon!
(They call me 'The Mastodon' 'cause I got the trunk in the front)
Knight Marquise @ Jun 11th 2008 5:22PM
LOL!!
SDF Mcpoop is at it again. Don't worry Nato, according to McPoop I'm an arrogant prick, that doubles as a MS schill, and evidently I "shit $$$". Hopefully the wife never discovers that.
samfish @ Jun 11th 2008 5:34PM
OK, now we just need something yellow or possibly green or pink.
good, unused Dinosaurs include Pterodactyl, Dilophosaurus, Velociraptor, Triceratops or those little things like the size of chickens in Jurassic Park.
Kye - M-Kart Wii 0817-4620-2062 @ Jun 11th 2008 5:36PM
360 sisnce xmas gone.
Works fine.
Green Stegosaurus!
Mikeymike @ Jun 11th 2008 5:49PM
GREEN VELOCIRAPTOR!!!!
ahhaha Sam Fish you crack me up
Zertoss @ Jun 11th 2008 5:50PM
PINK SUPERVISOR!
The Internet has put me in despair.
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 11th 2008 6:05PM
@Knight Marquise
Do I need to file for a restraining order against you?
You railed on me buddy not the other way around! Don't try to play the innocent card here ... I may have called Nato out but that has nothing to do with the venom you spew on a daily basis ...
@nato
Tell me where I am wrong.
Take Fenix for an example. He owns all of the consoles, talks shit about Sony, says good things from time to time but has never once tried to deny that he prefers the 360. It seems to me that you try to act unbiased but you obviously are not. I know I am not the first person to bring this up in regards to your online persona.
Please tell me if I am wrong.
Its like faux news saying they are fair and balanced. In actuality they have their own agenda they spread. It was probably stupid on my part to call you out in a thread about the RROD because obviously I will be the villian.
I find it amusing that you call others out but from what I see you are just as bad ...
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 6:21PM
I understand you think you are are clever with the faux news bit, but lets finalize this.
I have said consistantly that I play my 360 most, then the PS3, then the Wii. Thats how it goes in my house. Which console do I like most, well, look at that list right there. That doesn't mean I am anti one or the other, means I see more shortcomings in the ones I use less than I do in the ones I use more. All are good pieces of hardware and none are perfect. (What have I slammed the PS3 for other than the controllers being uncomfortable to me due to hand size and Home not being the great white hope many claim it is?)
Its basic isn't it? If you actually weren't trying so hard to think you nailed me on something you would accept that and move along.
whistlepig @ Jun 11th 2008 6:23PM
dont care what system or how good a warranty is .if im paying 300-600 for a system it shouldnt have those issues and as frequent
NATO_Duke @ Jun 11th 2008 6:26PM
Oh, almost forgot - I have all the consoles from this generation and many of the past ones down to the 2600, so unlike you - I'm not a slave to one console company. Enjoy your Sony microcosm that you defend so much.
As far as pointing out where you were wrong, I think if you read the above posts you can see that I did.
Knight Marquise @ Jun 11th 2008 6:26PM
Yes...yes Mcpoop, I can't control all the "venom" I spew on a daily basis, it's a medical condition, one which my doctors have slavishly worked on for years. I can't help myself....so what's your excuse?
Quite honestly, your monumental hyperbole is truly astounding. If I may make an observation; you appear to be that which you claim to hate.
Co @ Jun 11th 2008 6:46PM
My god Poop.
I don't think you go 3 comments without mentioning somewhere somehow that the Wii is for your kids. We get it dude. If you had kids the Wii would be for them cuz you think it's a kiddy system. Lay off Nato too. He keeps it realz.
Fenix,
My boy Faber is crushin shit in the WEC.
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 12th 2008 2:02AM
Actually nato I was just calling you out ... Nothing more and nothing less ... Guess what I also have all of the consoles so save your fanboy rhetoric for someone else ... Having all of the consoles proves nothing except maybe the fact you have disposable income
John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 12th 2008 2:21AM
@Co
I never said the Wii is for kids (in this thread) ... I said my kids play the Wii & 360 ... Just to clarify
Now Urijah Faber is your boy?
Frontrunner!
@Nato
You see thr problem I have with you is your fake. Plain and simple. Thats just the way I see it and I am not the first to call you on it. If I had to bet I would say you are an attorney because you are very good at skewing the facts. You are very skilled at throwing out disinformation and I think its a good attribute for someone like you to have.
@Knight Marquise
The difference between us is I am usually pretty positive. Today I felt the need to call another man on his bullshit. You are outward with bravado and arrogance in terms of what I say Nato hides. I may not like you but I do have a certain amount of respect for you because I know what I get with you. You may be a hateful prick but your not a snake in the grass.
Do me a favor and take 10 or 15 minutes to look back at the last 3 or 4 post you have sent my way in various threads. Its always negativity and hate out of your mouth especially towards me. How do you expect me to view you if all you ever do is act like a complete asshole?
NATO_Duke @ Jun 13th 2008 4:47PM
And John, I think you're just a prick. You make a lot of personal attacks on people that you know nothing about.
What you say isn't true just because you smear me around here. I don't care that someone else has called me biased before around here as you keep bringing up. The user comments around here generally support that I am not as blind and venom filled as you.
arrrgh @ Jun 11th 2008 1:36PM
oh noes!!! this news will obviously reshape the planet as we know it!!!!
Huey2k2 @ Jun 11th 2008 1:41PM
This just in: Random analyst who knows nothing about circuitry engineering blames hardware that he knows nothing about for RROD.
Arttemis @ Jun 11th 2008 2:04PM
"Bryan Lewis, research vice president and chief analyst at Gartner"
-spoke at-
"The Design Automation Conference (DAC) [...] the premier event for the design of electronic circuits and systems, and for EDA and silicon solutions. DAC features a wide array of technical presentations plus over 250 of the leading electronics design suppliers."
Yes, he's definitely just some random analyst who clearly wouldn't know anything about electronic circuitry.
Co @ Jun 11th 2008 6:59PM
Arttemis,
He's Canadian. Please forgive.
PojoMofo @ Jun 11th 2008 1:41PM
Now my fried motherboard makes sense