New Xbox One Hardware In The Works

[MEC-777]

So it seems AMD has performed a die-shrink on the APU used in the Xbox One from 28nm down to 20nm for a new "slim" version of their current bulky, brick-like like console. TSMC will be producing the new chips and could deliver up to 25% improved power efficiency.

 

 

Performance improvements could also potentially come out of this upgrade as Microsoft is possibly exploring some alternate memory options. Currently the Xbox One uses 2133mhz DDR3 modules. 

 

I was very unimpressed with the Xbox One for a number of reasons. Not necessarily because of it's somewhat lacking graphical prowess, but it's mammoth size and the fact that it still requires the use of an external power brick, when the PS4 is both physically smaller and boasts an internal PSU. There's no doubt an external PSU will be necessary with a slim version, but at least the console itself will be smaller and easier to deal with.

 

All in all, I say good on MS for doing this and I REALLY hope they change up the memory to DDR4 so they can at least match the performance of the PS4. Even if it costs a bit more, if this makes it a stronger platform that actually can run [some] games at 1080p/60fps, that's enough to justify the higher price, IMO. Wishful thinking, I know. :rolleyes:

 

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-smaller-cheaper-cooler-xbox-one-processor-in-development

[Bogica]

Good for them, but they need a serious performance jump to catch up to the PS4. I don't know how they are going to work it out if it's a performance increase? The Xbox One gets 900p and the Xbox One Slim gets 1080p? Wonder how the owners of the original Xbox One would react...

[OlekKing]

So now there are going to be versions of the same console with different performance?

[ShadowCaptain]

So now there are going to be versions of the same console with different performance?

 

I was thinking the same

 

this is not good for people who bought the XboxONE already, they will be pretty angry

[Guest]

@

MEC-777

They can't change the memory to increase performance. As all the 1st gen xbox ones would not have this. People would be pissed. think about it 

[Puddleuk]

So now there are going to be versions of the same console with different performance?

 

Not quite. It will be more power efficient so run cooler and quieter but its unlikely to see any performance increase game wise since developers will still be using the basic Xbox One dev kits.

 

Its just like the Xbox 360, throughout its life the hardware did change to become smaller but it didn't affect performance.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_technical_specifications#List_of_revisions

[ACatWithThumbs]

There won't be any performance changes at all because the games wouldn't run on older XboxOnes.
They always do die shrinks on the slimmer versions that's totally normal.

[terrytek]

Let's hope Ubisoft doesn't come in and starts fucking shit up.

[Spongy141]

Does this mean 20nm APU's are coming to desktop?

[MEC-777]

Yeah, to be honest, I think they will stick with the current DDR3 memory, as many of you have stated. That's why I said "wishful thinking".

[ltguy]

So now there are going to be versions of the same console with different performance?

This is not unusual. The xbox 360 had like 4 or 5 different versions and the last xbox 360 used significantly less power than the orginal.

[ChrisxIxCross]

-snip-

A PS4 Slim w/ better hardware is apparently in the works as well - http://www.franchiseherald.com/articles/9725/20141014/playstation-ps4-slim-release-date.htm

[RH00D]

They've always done this. They modified the Xbox 360 CPU/GPU 7 times from its original release. It started at 90nm with isolated CPU and GPU and ended up at 45 nm with CPU/GPU combined on one chip.

 

It would be interesting if they do put more powerful hardware in, but if they do they'll still have to make all games playable on the original release hardware. Then the only benefits to the more powerful consoles would be higher framerate or they could run it at a higher resolution based on what Xbox One is detected, etc.

[Krytopsy]

PS4 use GDDR5 not 3 or 4.

[dalekphalm]

Does this mean 20nm APU's are coming to desktop?

Probably, yes. The XBox One APU is a modified Jaguar APU module at it's core. The process shrink will trickle down to their retail products sooner or later.

[Victorious Secret]

They've always done this. They modified the Xbox 360 CPU/GPU 7 times from its original release. It started at 90nm with isolated CPU and GPU and ended up at 45 nm with CPU/GPU combined on one chip.

360.png

 

It would be interesting if they do put more powerful hardware in, but if they do they'll still have to make all games playable on the original release hardware. Then the only benefits to the more powerful consoles would be higher framerate or they could run it at a higher resolution based on what Xbox One is detected, etc.

 

Thank you, I don't know why people seem to think smaller chips automatically mean more power. This is nothing new with consoles, especially for MS. They do die shrinks when they are available and make sense, and as shown in that image they did them a lot just to improve efficiency. 

 

The whole point of consoles is being the same in horsepower from start to finish. Developers don't need to worry about some consoles being "worse" than others. They are all the same. Some might run cooler due to die shrinks and be more wallet friendly, but none of that directly impacts what a developers can extract from the hardware. 

 

Neither the PS4 or XBO are getting better hardware. That defeats the point. If its new hardware, its a new series of consoles entirely...

[Linusinium]

Slim versions are coming but no performance gains attached because games are tied to 1.0 versions.

What they could have done is allowed consoles to be daisy chained for better performance but that would have probably caused riots just as much as a better performing version would.

[Krytopsy]

If Microsoft change the memory used in the Xbox One, it will give a worse experience for loyal Xbox fans that bought their consoles the first year because if game devs use the advantage of better memory performance, the first year Xbox One will see more lags because the game will be optimised for the upgraded Xbox One and not the old one.

[CommandMan7]

Does this mean 20nm APU's are coming to desktop?

All I can find are 20nm ARM processors for phones in early 2015, Intel is skipping from 22nm to 14nm and all I could find for AMD is this on their wikipedia entry:

 

 

Fab 8, located in Luther Forest Technology Campus, Saratoga County, New York, USA is a new 300 mm Fab. This fabrication plant was previously named Fab 4x when it was still part of AMD. It is a new 20 nm wafer plant. The plant's construction began in July 2009 and the company started mass production in 2012.^[4][8] It has a maximum full capacity of 60,000 of 300mm wafers/month. 

But I'm just bad at looking. 

[Common_Courtesy]

I kinda doubt that there is going to be any real difference in performance, just power efficiency. 

[dalekphalm]

PS4 use GDDR5 not 3 or 4.

FYI, GDDR5 is based on DDR3 memory. They're very similar in terms of the basic design. GDDR5 is generally a lot faster though, so moving to DDR4 could in theory close the performance gap of the memory.

 

Though, as others have stated, the odds of them increasing performance are not that good, since it would create disparity between XBox One users.

[MEC-777]

Does this mean 20nm APU's are coming to desktop?

 

They are. I believe Carrizo will be the new 20nm desktop APUs due later this year (I think).

[patrickjp93]

Does this mean 20nm APU's are coming to desktop?

They are. I believe Carrizo will be the new 20nm desktop APUs due later this year (I think).

 

 

After Carrizo. Carrizo went into production long before TSMC had its 20nm issues sorted out.

[MEC-777]

Thank you, I don't know why people seem to think smaller chips automatically mean more power. This is nothing new with consoles, especially for MS. They do die shrinks when they are available and make sense, and as shown in that image they did them a lot just to improve efficiency. 

 

The whole point of consoles is being the same in horsepower from start to finish. Developers don't need to worry about some consoles being "worse" than others. They are all the same. Some might run cooler due to die shrinks and be more wallet friendly, but none of that directly impacts what a developers can extract from the hardware. 

 

Neither the PS4 or XBO are getting better hardware. That defeats the point. If its new hardware, its a new series of consoles entirely...

 

Just to clarify, I agree die shrinks do not necessarily = better performance. The only performance increase I alluded to in my OP was due to a possible memory upgrade.

 

They could very well get "better" hardware. Better does not necessarily mean higher performance. A chip that delivers the same performance but at lower power consumption I would consider better hardware. It depends on how you define "better" or "worse". A little context goes a long way.

[MEC-777]

After Carrizo. Carrizo went into production long before TSMC had its 20nm issues sorted out.

 

So Carrizo will be on 28nm? Didn't know that, thanks for clarifying.