Xbox 360 technical specifications
The Xbox 360 technical specifications describe the various components of the Xbox 360 video game console.
The console features a port on the top when vertical (left side when horizontal) to which a custom-housed
Central processing unit
Xbox 360 took a different approach to hardware compared to its predecessor. The XCPU, named
CPU data streaming
During read streaming into the CPU, a custom prefetch instruction, extended data cache block touch (xDCBT) prefetches data directly to the L1 data cache of the intended core, which skips putting the data in the L2 cache to avoid thrashing the L2 cache. Writes streaming from each core skip the L1 cache, due to its no-write allocation (avoids thrashing of high-bandwidth, transient, write-only data streams on the L1 cache), and goes directly to the L2 cache. The system allows for the GPU to directly read data produced by the CPU without going to main memory. In this specific case of data streaming, called Xbox procedural synthesis (XPS), the CPU is effectively a data decompressor, generating geometry on-the-fly for consumption by the GPU 3D core.[10]
Graphics processing unit
While the first Xbox's
Memory and system bandwidth
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/XBox_360_bandwidth_and_hardware.png/220px-XBox_360_bandwidth_and_hardware.png)
The console features 512 MB of
.According to
The Xbox 360 has an extensive amount of
Audio and video
All games made for the Xbox 360 are required to support at least
Initially there were no digital video outputs such as
DVD storage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/The_Idolmaster_DVD-ROM_for_Xbox_360.jpg/220px-The_Idolmaster_DVD-ROM_for_Xbox_360.jpg)
Xbox 360 is equipped with a 12× DVD drive, with a data transfer rate of 16.5 MB/s.[18] The original production DVD drives were manufactured by LG, Samsung, and Sony. Beginning in November 2006, a new model the BenQ VAD6038 was introduced, which is said to run faster than the previous models and, in addition, is much quieter.[19] There is a new drive by LiteOn.[20]
Games are stored on standard 8.5
The option to apply a
Announced at CES 2006 and first publicly shown at E3 2006, an external HD DVD drive was released in North America on November 7, 2006 (for US$199.99) and in Japan on November 17, 2006 (for ¥19,800). In the UK, France and Germany, the HD DVD drive was released for €199.99/£129.99.[26] The HD DVD drive was bundled for a limited time with an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote, as well as an HD DVD copy of Peter Jackson's King Kong.[26] The drive plays HD DVD movies, although all Xbox 360 games will remain on the DVD format.[27] Microsoft had no plans to include an internal HD DVD player in future Xbox 360 designs.[28] The drive connects to the Xbox 360 via USB and contains two integrated USB ports on the rear. Games can not be played on the HD DVD drive. Microsoft has since discontinued the HD DVD add-on since the format was officially dropped by Toshiba.[29]
List of DVD drives
Manufacturer(s) | Model | Firmware version(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Toshiba-Samsung
|
TS-H943 | MS25 MS28 |
|
Hitachi-LG | GDR-3120L | 0032 0036 0040 0046 0047 0058 0059 0078 0079FL/FK |
|
DL10N (Xbox 360 S) | 0500AA | ||
Philips & BenQ (PBDS) | VAD6038 | 62430C 64930C 04421C |
New FW after System Update 2.0.13146.0 version. (04421C) |
Philips & Lite-On (PLDS) | DG-16D2S | 74850C 83850C v1 83850C v2 93450C 02510C |
New FW after System Update 2.0.13146.0 version. (02510C) |
DG-16D4S (Xbox 360 S) | 9504 0225 0401 0272 1071 1214 |
New FW after System Update 2.0.13146.0 version. (9504 → 0272) | |
DG-16D5S (Xbox 360 S) | A445 1175 1532 |
Hard drive storage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Hard-Drives.jpg/220px-Microsoft-Xbox-360-Hard-Drives.jpg)
The Xbox 360 uses standard 2.5"
Approximately 7 GB are reserved for system use (4 GB of that portion are reserved for game title caching and other hard drive specific elements in games that support the hard drive, and an additional 2 GB are reserved for use by the Xbox 360 backwards-compatibility software). The original Pro configuration of the system came with a 20 GB hard drive, which was also available to purchase separately (for the Core model, and later the Arcade model, which did not include a HDD). This was upgraded to 60 GB in September 2008, and the 60 GB HDD was also made available at retail. In April 2007, Microsoft released the Elite console, which included a black 120 GB HDD; a grey 120 GB drive was also later made available at retail. In November 2009, Microsoft released the "Super Elite" console, as a bundle with the highly anticipated game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.[31] This console was like the typical black Elite, but with Call of Duty graphics added and for the first time included a 250 GB hard drive (which holds up to 228 GB of data after system information is stored). This was followed by various other 250 GB special/limited edition bundles. No standard (non-special edition) configuration of the original console ever included a 250 GB drive, but they were later made available at retail.
In June 2010, Microsoft announced a new version of the console, the Xbox 360 S, which used a new form factor for its 250 GB hard drives. As such, original style hard drives cannot be used in Xbox 360 S consoles, and vice versa, without modification. In June 2011, Microsoft announced a specially branded Gears of War 3 Limited Collector's Edition Xbox 360 S console to coincide with the launch of Gears of War 3. At 320 GB, the included hard drive is the largest available for/with the original Xbox 360 model.[32]
In August 2014, Microsoft announced and released a new 500 GB hard drive for the Xbox 360 S console model,[33] currently the largest hard drive available for or with any Xbox 360 model.
Networking
All versions of the Xbox 360 come with a built-in 10 to 100 Mbit/s wired Ethernet network adapter. The "Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter"
The Xbox 360 S and Xbox 360 E consoles feature built-in support for 802.11b/g/n but on the 2.4 GHz band only. The Wireless and Wireless N Adapters can be used on these models to add support for the 5 GHz band (albeit the former losing support for 802.11n over 2.4 GHz) and will, in some cases, offer "... better range and bandwidth compared with the internal wireless feature ..."[37] If this adapter is connected, the internal wireless adapter is disabled. The S and E models lack the notches for the adapter.
Motherboards
Microsoft avoids outright announcements of new motherboard production runs and their subsequent appearance in the market in part due to uneven distribution causing buyer's remorse and to prevent purchaser delay.[38] However, several major (and many minor) motherboard revisions are introduced to reduce costs and to allow them to run cooler while consuming less power. Note that there is no clear divide between the appearance of motherboard revisions in retail. Due to individual stock production, distribution and rotation, it may become difficult to find specific versions.[39]
The power connectors on the back of these systems incorporate a "keying" system that will prevent plugging a (newer) lower-rated power supply into an older system (which needs more power).
List of revisions
Codename | CPU | GPU | eDRAM | HDMI | Power Supply | In Production | Date Released | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xenon | 90 nm | 90 nm | 90 nm | No | 203 W | No | November 2005 | Original release. Later models had an improved GPU heatsink. |
Zephyr | 90 nm | 90 nm | 90 nm | Yes | 203 W | No | April 2007 | Redesigned motherboard. Introduced HDMI port and HANA chip. Improved GPU heatsink. |
Falcon | 65 nm | 90 nm | 90 nm | Yes | 175 W | No | September 2007 | Introduced 65 nm CPU,[42] Different CPU heatsink. |
Opus | 65 nm | 90 nm | 90 nm | No | 175 W | No | July 2008 | Sometimes used as a replacement for Xenon motherboards which were sent to Microsoft for RROD repair. Same as Falcon, without HDMI. |
Jasper | 65 nm | 65 nm | 90 nm | Yes | 150 W | No | November 2008 | Introduced 65 nm GPU. Introduced 256 MB and later 512 MB NANDs in Arcade models. |
Elpis | 90 nm | 90 nm | 90 nm | No | 203 W | No | Mid 2009 | Used as a replacement for Xenon motherboards which were sent to Microsoft for RROD repair. Same as Xenon, but with an updated GPU. |
Tonasket[43] | 65 nm | 65 nm | 65 nm | Yes | 150 W | No | September 2009 | Introduced 65 nm eDRAM. Introduced new "XFreedom" RF-module, new Kronos GPU revision. Return to original GPU heatsink |
Trinity | 45 nm (combined chip) | 65 nm | Yes | 135 W | No | June 2010 | Motherboard redesign used in the Xbox 360 S. Combined CPU/GPU into XCGPU. Some versions had a 4 GB daughterboard. | |
Corona | 45 nm (combined chip) | 65 nm | Yes | 120 W | No | August 2011 | No more HANA chip. Used in the Xbox 360 S. Two versions: one with 4 GB MMC, one with standard 16 MB NAND. | |
Waitsburg | 45 nm (combined chip) | 65 nm | Yes | 120 W | No | Early 2012 | Removed post out from the cpu. Used in the Xbox 360 S. Two versions: one with 4 GB eMMC, one with standard 16 MB NAND. | |
Stingray | 45 nm (combined chip) | 65 nm | Yes | 120 W | No | June 2013 | Waitsburg made for use in the Xbox 360 E. Used in the Xbox 360 E. Two versions: one with 4 GB eMMC, one with standard 16 MB NAND. | |
Winchester | 32 nm (combined chip) | Yes | 120 W | No | August 2014 | New XCGPU combining eDRAM into main die. It patches "Reset Glitch Hack". Released with 500 GB console bundles |
Connectivity to accessories
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Xbox-360-S-Controller.jpg/220px-Xbox-360-S-Controller.jpg)
The Xbox 360 features three
The Xbox 360 also features wireless connectivity of accessories via a proprietary 2.4 GHz radio system. This is mainly used to connect the official wireless controllers, but is also used for other devices such as the wireless racing wheel and
Original style consoles also have two front-mounted memory card slots for the system's proprietary Memory Unit. These can be used to transfer profile and game data from one Xbox 360 to another. Memory Units up to 512 MB are available from Microsoft. The "Arcade" model formerly came with a 256 MB Memory Unit, but with the Jasper motherboard revision of September 2008, the "Arcade" model began to include 256 MB of built-in flash memory. This was later increased to 512 MB. The memory card slots were replaced with USB ports on the newer Xbox 360 S models.
The Universal Media Remote can be used to control several functions of the console, including the
Physical appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Xbox-360-Consoles-Infobox.png/220px-Xbox-360-Consoles-Infobox.png)
The physical outline of the original style Xbox 360 is 31 by 8 by 26.8 centimetres (12.2 in × 3.1 in × 10.6 in)
It comes as standard in either black or white, with other colors available as special editions. It was designed by Astro Studios in cooperation with Hers Experimental Design Laboratory.[45] The original case has a concaveness to it; Astro Studios' president Brett Lovelady said that part of this was to keep an "X" shape to the console when looked at from the front, while it also served to help with cooling the system components, as the narrower section helped the console to "inhale" more air, particularly when placed in the vertical orientation.[46]
In June 2010 a redesign of the console, known as the Xbox 360 S,[47] was announced. This version of the console retains the same basic shape but is noticeably smaller and more angular than the original version. It comes as standard in either matte or glossy black; like its predecessor, other colors are available as special editions.
The front of the console features a "ring of light" that displays four illuminated quadrants in either red or green (Some special editions replaced the green for blue). When the lights turn red, the console has encountered an
The original Xbox 360 weighs approximately 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb),[44] about 350 grams heavier than the new Xbox. The new version weighs in at 2.9 kilograms (6.4 lb).[48]
Power supply
The console uses an external power supply with a 10 A/100–120 V or 5 A/220-230 V (AC) input and DC output rated at 203/175/150/130/115 W (depending on revision). An estimated 2 W of power are used while the older versions of console are in standby mode giving a yearly usage of approximately 17.5 kWh.[49] The new version uses around 0.5W while in standby.[48] Saving the console size and weight, the power supply displaces 1,300 cubic centimetres (79 cu in).[50] Xbox 360 power supplies are designed with keys in the plug to be forwards, but not backwards compatible. For example, a 203 watt supply would fit and work on a 175 watt console, but not the other way around.[42]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ 1 GB = one billion bytes (109 B)
- ^ 1 TB = one thousand billion bytes (1012 B)
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