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Post by Dan @ 10:51am 22/01/13 | 28 Comments
An overview of what appears to be the complete specifications for Microsoft's much anticipated next generation Xbox console has leaked by way of website vgleaks.com. The site does not disclose its sources for the data, however, many of the details have reportedly been corroborated by sources of Richard Leadbetter, editor of the more reputable Digital Foundry.

Here's the full list, which according to DF "suggests that the data is at most nine months old: factoring in how long it takes to create a console, the chances are that there will not be many changes implemented since then"
Central Processing Unit:
  • x64 Architecture
  • Eight CPU cores running at 1.6GHz
  • Each CPU thread has its own 32 KB L1 instruction cache and 32 KB L1 data cache
  • Each module of four CPU cores has a 2 MB L2 cache resulting in a total of 4 MB of L2 cache
  • each core has one fully independent hardware thread with no shared execution resources
  • each hardware thread can issue two instructions per clock
Graphics Core:
  • custom D3D11.1 class 800-MHz graphics processor
  • 12 shader cores providing a total of 768 threads
  • Each thread can perform one scalar multiplication and addition operation (MADD) per clock cycle
  • At peak performance, the GPU can effectively issue 1.2 trillion floating-point operations per second
  • High-fidelity Natural User Interface (NUI) sensor is always present
Storage and Memory:
  • 8GB of DDR3 RAM (68GB/s bandwidth)
  • 32MB of fast embedded SRAM (ESRAM) (102GB/s)
  • From the GPU's perspective the bandwidths of system memory and ESRAM are parallel providing combined peak bandwidth of 170GB/sec.
  • Hard drive is always present
  • 50GB 6x Blu-ray drive
Networking:
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • WiFi and WiFi Direct
Hardware Accelerators:
  • Move engines
  • Image, video, and audio codecs
  • Kinect multichannel echo cancellation (MEC) hardware
  • Cryptography engines for encryption and decryption, and hashing
Digital Foundary also notes that the listed Sata 2.0 HDD as standard is expected to be 500GB minimum, and points out that the console seemingly has both HDMI output, and input, opening it up to an array of video recording applications.

A specific port for Kinect connectivity also indicates that the motion controller sensor will not be built into the console, but also not be hampered by the USB bus as with the Xbox 360.

The next generation Xbox, currently codenamed Durango, is rumoured to be revealed by Microsoft in the coming months, ahead of a wider showing at the E3 2013 expo in June, in preparation for a holiday season 2013 launch.



xbox 720next generationxboxmicrosoftconsole





Latest Comments
TiT
Posted 10:57am 22/1/13
Not bad, if you can put XBMC on it sounds like the perfect Media centre for me and would actually probably buy my first console :)
Dan
Posted 11:06am 22/1/13
MS wouldn't allow something like XBMC on it, but if it was to get hacked for homebrew support it would at least be easier for XBMC devs to port to, as it's x86 architecture, unlike the x360.

Wouldn't hold your breath though. It took years for the last gen to get proper homebrew hacks, and they've likely learned even more lessons about platform security since then. There's no shortage of other cheap devices that can run XBMC now anyway.
Spook
Posted 11:09am 22/1/13
wow, being able to generate that many polygons, this thing is set to be the MOST FUN CONSLOL EVAR
TiT
Posted 11:09am 22/1/13
There's no shortage of other cheap devices that can run XBMC now anyway.


Oh I know this but ATM I have HTPC running Atom processor and blu-ray player running Windows 7. Its getting a little slow and keen on getting all in one console and media centre especially now it plays Blu-Rays :)
Tollaz0r!
Posted 11:32am 22/1/13

MS wouldn't allow something like XBMC on it, but if it was to get hacked for homebrew support it would at least be easier for XBMC devs to port to, as it's x86 architecture, unlike the x360.


I don't the next Xbox is going to be hacked for a very, very long time. I expect them to have multiple redundant anti-piracy systems in place, they did this a little with the xbox360, and it was the DVD drives that were the weak point. So this time around it will be very interesting. Of course there is always the possibility a major stuff up which allows full system access very quickly.

GPU is only 800Mhz?

I'm glad they are using 64 bit CPU.
kappa
Posted 11:40am 22/1/13
Can't wait. It's been way too long between drinks for MS/Sony. New console hardware is always exciting. Add in Steam Box and it's going to be an awesome year!
Eorl
Posted 11:56am 22/1/13
I'm just interested in seeing if this tech catch up will help stimulate better title ports to PC. Be nice to see more games like Far Cry 3 or Batman: Arkham City utilising all features that a PC offers.
trog
Posted 12:01pm 22/1/13
You know what they should do? Let other publishers run their own platforms on it.

If it's x64 then they probably could drop a big chunk of the Steam catalogue on there without too much hassle. Take a percentage of the proceeds and bang - you've got yourself a stew going.

Instant access to the PC gaming scene, more much needed unification between console and PC, and (most important) more games available for PC.

Steam (and other publishers) get access to a huge new distribution channel for some percentage points for the distribution.

Someone make that happen.
kappa
Posted 12:06pm 22/1/13
Isn't that the idea of the Steam Box? Can't see MS opening up the new console like that :(
badfunkstripe
Posted 12:27pm 22/1/13
So how does this compare to a high end gaming PC today?
f***chops
Posted 12:58pm 22/1/13
It doesn't. It's already fallen behind the current gen GPU/CPUs and it's not even out yet.
fpot
Posted 01:09pm 22/1/13
It doesn't. It's already fallen behind the current gen GPU/CPUs and it's not even out yet.
Yes but haven't consoles always been behind the current spec PCs? They always perform well though because they have less overhead and developers can wring more performance out because they share the same hardware.
Khel
Posted 01:14pm 22/1/13
It's already fallen behind the current gen GPU/CPUs and it's not even out yet.


And you're basing that on .... ? I wasn't aware you had all the details and benchmark information on the custom DX11 GPU they're using. Clock speed isn't everything, I thought people had learned that lesson by now, but I guess not.

Of course, a high end PC that costs a few thousand dollars is probably always going to be better than it, but thats not really the average, and it also costs a lot more than this will.
Nerf Lord
Posted 01:22pm 22/1/13
So how does this compare to a high end gaming PC today?

I think that it's more of a programming problem than a question of raw hardware power these days. It's better than my desktop, but looking at umart, it looks to not be on par with their most expensive $1250 gaming system.

Also, cpus come in 8x4ghz cores now? Jebus.
Eorl
Posted 01:20pm 22/1/13
With how technology moves in this day and age it will more than likely be outdated, but that isn't to say it can't perform well. As fpot said, the overhead on a console is far less, and developers can dedicate more to games. Just have a look at what we are getting at the end of a nearly eight year console cycle.
Totenkopf
Posted 01:25pm 22/1/13
Is it me or the PS4 looks like it has a better gpu?
Nathan
Posted 02:32pm 22/1/13
I expect at release it will be equivalent to a good gaming PC, while the top-end PCs will still be better.

Dont need specs to tell me that, it just seems obvious.
copuis
Posted 05:00pm 22/1/13
all i read from less is, less loading screens
bleh
Posted 05:00pm 22/1/13
ITS CODE NAMED DURANGO. WHY WASN'T THE NAME OF THIS ARTICLE DURANGO UNCHAINED?!?!?!?!
Dazhel
Posted 05:05pm 22/1/13
Because a torturous wordplay link between an obscure product code name and a non gaming related movie makes no sense whatsoever?
mental
Posted 05:06pm 22/1/13
^it's supposed to have the core of win8 so porting should be extremely easy for developers.
skythra
Posted 05:19pm 22/1/13
Sounds like loading times should be just as bad.
Still sounds like they're using ancient spinning disk and the price difference between some low end 250gb version versus a 500gb version will probably be priced at like $200 dollars difference, which could only ever be in-line with a 240gb SSD @ $200, versus a 480gb SSD @ $400. (Except of course if it was SSD it really would drop loading times).
Nerf Lord
Posted 05:31pm 22/1/13
Load times are another thing where (with black magic) programmer implementation is more important than hardware. I learned this after playing the Assassin's Creed games, which somehow load those mega cities in a few second on my old machine with that running around minigame active to boot...
Khel
Posted 05:50pm 22/1/13
They probably don't load the whole thing up front, just your immediate surroundings and stream the rest in as its needed
Poorping
Posted 06:15pm 22/1/13
At least the ports wont be holding PC back so much anymore. Doubt ill ever buy a console ever again because no doubt these consoles will show there age even quicker then the last gen did. Ill stick to my expensive and always upgrading PC

on another note its good to see the "norm" getting better hardware finally after waiting 8 years *Shakes head*
Darkhawk
Posted 06:24pm 22/1/13
The most promising thing for us PC gamers is the BD ROM drive. Finally we can ditch the DVD format and enjoy HD textures straight off the disc!

These specs destroy the Wii U and while the clock speed is lower than my 5 year old Q6600, and similar L2 cache, not having to run a full Windows kernel and optimised for gaming will mean this thing will blitz my current PC!

I am genuinely excited about this!
fpot
Posted 06:38pm 22/1/13
There better be at least terabytes of HD space or a 512GB SSD in there. F*** blu-ray loading times right in da pooper.
natslovR
Posted 07:28pm 22/1/13
Because a torturous wordplay link between an obscure product code name and a non gaming related movie makes no sense whatsoever?


but then we could have filled this thread with n*****. Every off topic post would have n***** in it. There'd be LOLs galore. Maybe a lynching.
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