Next Xbox 360 Designs are 'Jasper', 'Opus' and 'Valhalla' Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Next Xbox 360 Designs are 'Jasper', 'Opus' and 'Valhalla' Posted by XanTium | February 15 07:47 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From seattlepi.nwsource.com: [QUOTE] There is not one but two secret Xbox cats that Microsoft has kept in the bag. Currently there are three more Xbox 360 motherboards in the works right now. They are.. dun dun dun.. Jasper, Opus and Valhalla. It's well known that the next Xbox 360 motherboard is going to be Jasper and it going to have both a 65 nm CPU and a 65 nm GPU. Jasper is going to be a major advancement in reliability since it is going to run much quieter than previous Xbox 360 systems. Jasper's reliability is in part to the fact that there is no place on the motherboard that is going to be running as hot or as much power as previous Xbox 360 systems, also it might run a lot quieter since it will not need as much power. Jasper is very real and they are testing prototypes right now. Word from Redmond is that progress on Jasper is going well and on schedule and you can expect it fall of 2008. The Opus project is a "Falcon" generation motherboard designed to fit in a Xenon case. You can expect an 90 nm GPU but a 65 nm CPU. Opus solves a major hardware recycling and inventory problem since Microsoft currently has millions of used Xenon cases from RRODed dead systems and this lets them use most of the good parts from the millions of dead Xenons but with a newer tested more reliable motherboard. There is no HDMI on Opus since the Xenon cases don't have openings for the port. Opus is a third generation Xbox 360 in the case of a first. Now they are also in the very early stages of designing the fourth generation Xbox 360 called Valhalla. At the heart of a Valhalla Xbox 360 is a combined 65nm CPU and 65nm GPU on a unified super chip. This also would only need one cooling system and be much quieter and hopefully more reliable than previous Xbox systems (if they include hardware JTAG testing reporting into the design). It is really early in the design process but there are engineers at Microsoft working on it as you are reading this. Microsoft has planned on near annual changes to the Xbox 360 motherboard generation designs. First was the Xenon motherboard from 2005-06, then followed by the Zephyr motherboard 2006-2007, then the Falcon Motherboard 2007-now. Probably later on this year we will see the Jasper Motherboard 2008-2009. Then then comes Valhalla the year four motherboard in late 2009 or mid 2010. [/QUOTE] Full Story: seattlepi.nwsource.com

[AcidPenguiN]

man I want a valhalla just for the cool name and the "super chip"

[Swahili]

I'm guessing opus is gonna be the ones handed back to people who's old xenons have failed on them. Destroys all hope of me getting a hdmi 360, if mine RROD. I really hope their is a new revision this fall with wifi, quiet operation and hdmi. Or I'll be walking over to the ps3 camp when ff13 hits. . .

[Software2]

I realize that this is the correct course of action for any modern console. However, we've crossed a point where newer revisions of consoles aren't just smaller or cheaper, they're offering new features. The industry is larger than ever, with dozens of high quality titles released every year that rival the production values of Hollywood. Things are looking good, but they have a flip side.

I have always purchased my consoles on day one of their release, but I suspect that next generation I will not. There are still plenty of titles already released that I have yet to play, with hundreds more to come this gen. I see little reason to upgrade at launch, especially knowing that waiting a while will yield not only a cheaper system, but one with better features.

[twistedsymphony]

It sound to me like...

PS2 : Simline :: Xbox360 : Valhalla

that would be sweet if we got a mini-360 just before the next Xbox console is launched.

In the mean time I'll probably wait for Jasper + price drop (though they'll likely come at the same time) to finally upgrade my launch console to an Elite.

[Bubbalynch]

So let me get this straight. They haven't tackeled the faulty design issues of the 360, which originally hit shelves in 2005, until 2009?

I suppose they expect xbox enthusiests should be excited about this knowledge and look forward to a new revision of 360. Well I'm not. I feel cheated outta 400 bucks. And will be damned if I allow them to cheat me out of another dollar.

Even if the hardware problems are fixed, I'm still bitter about being sold something that only has a 1 year lifespan (give or take for most ppl) and can't bring myself to hand them another dollar.

On the other hand, I love the 360 and it's games library. And have invested alot in games. Wouldn't make sense to NOT buy another one at this point... ugh.

[cloudyimpulse]

You know what sucks. Last night my machine went bad. Was just posting some stuff on gamefaq boards and had my game on pause when all the sudden the game froze. Didn't think much of it, but when I rebooted, all I'm getting now is RRoD. I then proceeded to go n a posting rant on the gamefaq boards. Now I see this on xbox-scene. Ugh for me. Time to start the process for returning.

I'm just so bummed out, because this is going to be my second machine (I know there have been worse horror stories than mine). My first machine was well ventilated but was in the Vertical Position. When I got my first one back, I did a lot of reading up to see what I could do to prevent the RRoD. I have my machine in the standard horizontal position, it's in open space so no ventilation issues. I mean I did everything and still this. Sucks. Ok I'm gonna quit ranting now. Goodbye my friends for now.

--CloudYiMPULSE


EDIT: Maybe I'll go pick up a PS3, I hear that Folklore is pretty cheap now and that Uncharted Game is pretty damn good.

This post has been edited by cloudyimpulse: Feb 15 2008, 07:10 PM

[bucko]

Nice to know but in the mean time ill just play on my Elite.

This sort of thing happened with the XBox 1 and PS2 you know, Xbox one had 6 versions lol. It's nothing new, unless your going to mod it I don't see why you have to wait. I only waited for the elite model cuz the non-HDMI unit wasn't worth the money imho.

[c00ly]

Only M$ can get away with new versions of consoles that only fix major problems with the old versions, not do a recall, and not introduce any new hardware features. BS! People who bought launch 360's should be entitled to an upgrade. Those flimsy things couldn't last a year, and instead recalling them, M$ says I can get a repaired old board or shell out full price for a stable one, yea right. Early adopters helped M$ gain money, market share etc, and what do we have to show for it, RRoD 360's! yey!

65nm CPU's and GPU's are not new features for consumers this is ridiculous, they just make the console stable!

This post has been edited by c00ly: Feb 15 2008, 07:32 PM

[rezonat0r]

Question is, is the 3rd gen 360 going to be as quiet as the first gen PS3's? The 360 won't make it into my living room until it is... : (

Also, is it legal for MS to use USED parts and sell them in units marked as NEW? Sounds shady.

This post has been edited by rezonat0r: Feb 15 2008, 07:29 PM

[Base8]

Thats too bad about the Opus, i was hoping the next time my 360 took a crap i would get one with hdmi back.

[grdnfrmn]

Also, is it legal for MS to use USED parts and sell them in units marked as NEW? Sounds shady.

The article says the opus is not for retail.

"I would trust an Opus Xbox much more than a "zombie repaired" Xenon since you are getting a fresh motherboard. These will probably never be boxed and sold directly to the public in stores so the only way to get an Opus motherboard is to turn in a RRODed dead Xenon in late 2008 and you might get one returned. Opus is the "Zombie Xbox" killer. It's the recycle repair special and is the sort of repair and refurbished Xbox 360 that they should have had done in the first place."

I sent my early 2006 console to be repaired this week, hopefully it'll decide to break again when these opus' are being dished out.

Was hoping us RROD victims would eventually get a falcon replacement. HDMI isn't really a big issue for me (i currently use a 420p TV with component connection) but it would make 2nd hand value and future connectivity better.

Just how much more reliable are falcon's compared to the xenon? Have individual failure rates been announced?

This post has been edited by grdnfrmn: Feb 15 2008, 10:19 PM

[bmontour]

Is there a way to check if the box I just received back is an Opus without opening it? I'm thinking it is due to the build date of 01/07/2008 printed on the back. I am a little upset that I didn't get one with HDMI though, but I'll be happy with a stable box.

[0794]

this is fantastic news and nice to hear some "inside" info on the proposed current process of 360 mobo revisions, especially if the 65/65 Jasper will be able to practically eliminate the major RROD issues.

In the mean time I'll probably wait for Jasper + price drop (though they'll likely come at the same time) to finally upgrade my launch console to an Elite.

this is exactly what i was thinking as well, plus it wouldn't hurt to have a few 360s 'round the house.

[biseroner]

Well by 2010 the xbox 720 will be out. But I think its good that M$ is replacing all the dead consoles for consumers. 3 yr warranty you cant beat that... I had 3 consoles exchanged until I sold the last one and went got myself an Elite.