Xbox 360 Motherboard In-Depth

jshaped writes "As a follow-up to their previously popular article, Anandtech has posted an in-depth look at the Xbox 360 motherboard. The IBM cpu core looks massive, and check out the ATI gpu with 2 dice on the package." From the article: "The original Xbox featured a 4-layer Intel motherboard, but given the incredible power requirements of the CPU and GPU on the Xbox 360's motherboard we would be astonished if the same were true today. Luckily with any console, especially early on in their life, you are getting a true bargain when it comes to the cost of hardware - so the number of layers on this PCB doesn't matter much to the end user, as Microsoft will absorb all costs above and beyond the core system's $299 price tag."

Comments

True costs?

[the computer guy nex]

The 360 is more powerful than any gaming machine on the market today. Adjusted for inflation the 360 is also cheaper at launch than NES SNES N64 PS1 PS2 and the Xbox1.

Microsoft has to be eating a ton of the cost for every console sold.

Re:True costs?

[Red Flayer]

"Adjusted for inflation the 360 is also cheaper at launch than NES SNES N64 PS1 PS2 and the Xbox1"

I know this has been gone over dozens of times on Slashdot, but that's not exactly true, since full functionality is not included in the base price. Never mind the hard drive, 2nd controller, etc...

Specifically, I'm talking about online play. Yes, this was not a capability of early gen consoles, but it's a core function of the coming generation of consoles. Factor in the cost of subscriptions, and the total cost is ridiculous.

I wouldn't make this distinction, except that a ton of games are being designed around online play, and you won't be able to get all the content you paid for purchasing the game unless you play online.

This business model for MS has worked in lots of markets... give the hardware for free or cheap, but make people pay for the service -- Cell phones are the easiest example I can think of, but there are many others.

Re:True costs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Adjusted for inflation the 360 is also cheaper at launch than NES SNES N64 PS1 PS2 and the Xbox1.

Don't forget that Adjusted for inflation:

• The ipod is cheaper than a record player from 1901

• The revolution will be cheaper than a book from 1542

• Oil today is cheaper than in was during the oil-shocks of the 1970's

• A 2005 Focus is cheaper than a Model-T

What's the point?
Because of mass-production, robotics and computer design things become both better and cheaper; this doesn't stop people from complaining that something (ie. Oil/XBox 360) is way too expensive because it reaches a level of cost that is either unprecidented or at least unprecidented in a mainstream product.

Re:Amazing Piece Of Hardware

[Babbster]

I know I'm feeding the troll here, but I feel the need to highlight one of the funniest things I've read on Slashdot in months:

"Stick an ATI card in there and you've got a system that is performing around the level of a dual 2.5ghz 970 PowerMac. Which is why you keep hearing first hand impression talk about how 360 games look no better than the games people are playing at home."

So, the quote above, in essence, means that Microsoft is charging $300 (the core system is supposedly going to play at least 99% of 360 games, though I expect HD-requiring games like MMOGs as the 360 goes on) for a gaming experience comparable to that of a $2,000 Power Mac with the actual consistent release of games? The tone says complaint, the content says "OMG the Xbox 360 is a fantastic deal!" :)