Premium Xbox 360s get HDMI port

[Seboist]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6176397...stnews;title;0

Earlier today, Shacknews reported that one of its readers had purchased the freshly cheapened Xbox 360 system (commonly known as the Xbox 360 Pro or Xbox 360 Premium system) and found that the system featured an high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port. Previously, HDMI output had been exclusive to the pricier Xbox 360 Elite and the forthcoming Halo 3-themed 360.

A Microsoft representative confirmed the report for GameSpot, saying that HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s are starting to roll out in stores now.

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience," the representative said. "Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Gamers can identify which consoles have the HDMI port before purchasing because the system will have an HDMI logo on the external packaging. Don't bother looking for the logo on Core systems just yet, however; the representative told GameSpot, "We have not announced any plans to add HDMI to the Xbox 360 Core System."

As for whether or not the new HDMI-equipped Xbox 360 systems include the anticipated 65nm chips, the representative wouldn't say.

"We are constantly updating the console's more than 1,700 internal components and therefore will not comment on details of specific components or manufacturing processes," he said.

First announced last year, the 65nm chips run cooler than the 90nm chips in the original design of the Xbox 360. Those chips' heat output remains the prime suspect in the widely reported Xbox 360 failures which prompted Microsoft to extend the console's warranty to three years, costing it $1.08 billion last quarter alone.

[theknub]

hdmi isn't needed huh?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by theknub

hdmi isn't needed huh?

Funny how that works, isn't it?

I wonder what they'll backpedal on next?...

[WickyWoo]

It's not a backpedal

It's not needed

It's simply cheaper to produce 1 board than 2

Definately sounds like the core is going byebye

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's not a backpedal

It's not needed

It is if you want 1080p and don't have VGA
It is if you want upscaled DVD
It should be if you want HD audio (but this one probably still can't do that)

It may not be needed for gaming, but what the heck is the movie rental and add-on stuff about if that's all the XBox 360 is?

Gary

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by theknub

hdmi isn't needed huh?

Isn't for me, my LNS4696 accepts 1080p over component

but that pesky DVD forum restricts HDDUD output to 1080i over component

Maybe costco will allow me another exchange!

[phil]

If you do PC Hookup's HDMI is very much needed because DVI is the same equilivence to HDMI.

[JTK]

http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=13636

http://gamepolitics.com/2007/07/06/x...e-do-the-math/

http://www.dailytech.com/Retailers+E...rticle7892.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/p...s%20Release s

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40933

^^ So are these "new" 360's that are finally going to be past all of this mess?

[WickyWoo]

It is if you want 1080p and don't have VGA

Since virtually no games will support 1080p....

It is if you want upscaled DVD

You buy an upscaling player, instead of wearing out your $350 game system

It should be if you want HD audio (but this one probably still can't do that)

Nope it can't


The new HDMI 360s are the 65nm chips and have the additional heatsink that should solve all the problems

[JTK]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

The new HDMI 360s are the 65nm chips and have the additional heatsink that should solve all the problems

Unreadable disc errors and discs being physically scratched by the drive itself have nothing to do with the heatsink.

The Red Light of Death...weren't their several causes for that?

[inaz4sun]

or you stop throwing money down the drain on the crappy toy and get a real machine that has been able to do all of that and do it better and faster and without having 1/3 of them breakdown. Its called a PS3. Get one. Stopping hanging on to MS teat and last generation crap.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Since virtually no games will support 1080p....

You buy an upscaling player, instead of wearing out your $350 game system

The new HDMI 360s are the 65nm chips and have the additional heatsink that should solve all the problems

The Xbox 360 is too loud to be a HT device, so I do see your point. But, the company of "choice" sure took their time giving the consumer the choice, right?

re: Won't do HD audio. They redesigned the motherboard (65nm) and still didn't allow for HD audio? I assumed this was the Elite's MB (which isn't 65nm, right?).

Any word on the loudness of this incarnation?

[WickyWoo]

Unreadable disc errors and discs being physically scratched by the drive itself have nothing to do with the heatsink

That was a defective run of drives, which I might add have mountains of the same issues on PS1 and 2

The Red Light of Death...weren't their several causes for that?

There were several, however the only one that didn't involve end users being stupid and blocking vents, buying those horrible intercoolers, not putting power bricks on carpets and such was the poor cooling of the GPU (or as near as anyone can figure out since MS won't admit anything)

re: Won't do HD audio. They redesigned the motherboard (65nm) and still didn't allow for HD audio? I assumed this was the Elite's MB (which isn't 65nm, right?).

It'll pass it out the HDMI yeah, but the games are all DD

The Xbox 360 is too loud to be a HT device, so I do see your point. But, the company of "choice" sure took their time giving the consumer the choice, right?

Any machine spinning discs at 12x is going to be loud, that's what, 6000rpm?
In fact, that's why so many PS3 games require an install, because the BR drive is what, 2x? There's a happy medium in there between disc spinning and HD caching that neither system hits for various reasons. I don't think it was ever about "choice", simply a $5 part that they underestimated how many people would want to use (especially when they have the perfectly serviceable VGA hookup)

or you stop throwing money down the drain on the crappy toy and get a real machine that has been able to do all of that and do it better and faster and without having 1/3 of them breakdown. Its called a PS3. Get one. Stopping hanging on to MS teat and last generation crap.

*sigh* fanboys

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It'll pass it out the HDMI yeah, but the games are all DD

Presumably there is hope for the add-on owner who gets this MB as a warranty fix?

[theknub]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's not a backpedal

It's not needed

It's simply cheaper to produce 1 board than 2

Definately sounds like the core is going byebye

even if the core goes bye bye, it doesn't mean anything to developers. they still have to write code anticipating no hard drive.

[WickyWoo]

even if the core goes bye bye, it doesn't mean anything to developers. they still have to write code anticipating no hard drive.

Actually apparently that's going to change with the 2008 games

They are going to start allowing "hard drive required", which is probably going to be simultaneous with a drastic reduction in the cost of the 20GB drive. Since anyone can snap on an HD, and if they'll sell you one for $60. The 15% of the customer base that might not have a HD is going to pony up for a drive I think.

It was an absolute mistake not to have it standard from the get-go, and I believe that not making it easily end-user replaceable is also a mistake

[WickyWoo]

Presumably there is hope for the add-on owner who gets this MB as a warranty fix?

Microsoft has been adding the heatsink in all the systems they've been refurbishing since the spring that will hypothetically solve the problem

[theknub]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Actually apparently that's going to change with the 2008 games

They are going to start allowing "hard drive required", which is probably going to be simultaneous with a drastic reduction in the cost of the 20GB drive. Since anyone can snap on an HD, and if they'll sell you one for $60. The 15% of the customer base that might not have a HD is going to pony up for a drive I think.

It was an absolute mistake not to have it standard from the get-go, and I believe that not making it easily end-user replaceable is also a mistake

if true, this could possibly be the worst move ever by any gaming or CE company

[Footloose301]

Originally Posted by theknub

if true, this could possibly be the worst move ever by any gaming or CE company

They had HD's in the original Xbox.... why wouldn't they just stay on the same course.... tisk tisk.

I agree that the HDMI should be on the xbox, it allows for a much easier setup along with better audio and video.

[WickyWoo]

They had HD's in the original Xbox.... why wouldn't they just stay on the same course.... tisk tisk.

Because it saves about $50 a unit at manufacture, and they wanted to be able to say they launched at $299