Xbox 2 specs revealed (subject to change, based on alpha kits)

[XA04]

http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/microso.../594331p1.html

# CPU - Xenon's CPU has three 3.0 GHz PowerPC cores. Each core is capable of two instructions per cycle and has an L1 cache with 32 KB for data and 32 KB for instructions. The three cores share 1 MB of L2 cache. Alpha 2 developer kits currently have two cores instead of three.

# GPU - Xenon's GPU is a generation beyond the ATI X800. Its clock speed is 500 MHz and it supports Shader 3.0. Developers are currently working with an alpha 2 GPU. Beta GPU units are expected by May and the final GPU is slated for a summer release. The final GPU will be more powerful than anything on the market today; in game terms, it would handle a game like Half-Life 2 with ease.

# System Memory - Xenon will have 256 MB of system RAM. Keep in mind that this number should not be equated to typical PC RAM. The Xbox has 64 MB of system RAM and is a very capable machine.

# Optical Drive - As many have speculated, Xenon will not use Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. Games will come on dual-layer DVD-9 discs. While the media is the same as that of the current Xbox, the usable space on each disc is up to 7 GB. The drive is slated to run at 12X.

# Memory Units - Xenon will use 64 MB to 1,024 MB memory cards. 8 MB is reserved for system use, leaving a 56 MB to 1,016 MB for user data.

# Hard Drive - As many have speculated, Xenon's hard drive is optional. 2 GB of the drive will be used as game cache. The final drive size is still being determined.

# Camera - Xenon will have a USB 2.0 camera. It's capable of 1.2 megapixel still shots and VGA video. Photos can be used in-game and for gamer profiles. The camera can also be used for video chat. It's unknown if the Xenon camera will allow for EyeToy-like gameplay. Developers are currently using a simulated camera driver.

# Sound Chip - Xenon does not have an audio chip in the traditional sense. Decompression is handled by hardware, while the rest of the chores are handled by software. DirectSound3D has been dropped in favor of X3DAudio. The former was deemed too inflexible

[Dooms]

sounds impressive but wont be for that long however ill be getting one anyway since i can do with a new media Center

[XA04]

sounds impressive but wont be for that long however ill be getting one anyway since i can do with a new media Center

LOL.

yeah, id like to see how this compares to other console's at the time, i'll be sticking with my PC, but i'd like to see how this goes

[Xaneden]

Christ, is it just me or are the next generation of consoles trying to replace the PC? How much will a system with that kind of specification cost for cryin' out loud!?!?!

[muddyfox470]

how much is hype? or is this bonified info from xbox head quarters!

even tho they say about the ram, the ram is very stingy even for these (todays) standards, me thinks it will cripple the rest of the top (high end) system!

[jeNK^]

How much will it weigh?

[jeNK^]

how much is hype? or is this bonified info from xbox head quarters!

even tho they say about the ram, the ram is very stingy even for these (todays) standards, me thinks it will cripple the rest of the top (high end) system!

As it says, the Xbox only has 64MB ram...

Because it does not have a powerhouse and ram hungry Os (Windows) it does not need that much RAM, not forgetting that each component is streamlined to run with the next..

Plus game developers will be creating their games for the Xenon (Xbox2) spec list and not a seemingly inifinte possible combination of components like the PC Market has to deal with.

[Xaneden]

Lol, I can imagine a cray supercomputer with a Microsoft logo on the front.

Btw, the US DoD has a Cray Supercomputer for processing air traffic for defense. The cool thing about it, is that it glows red, because it has pipes running up and down the chipboards... Full of artificial blood! So damn cool...

Just thought I'd add that.

[directhex]

don't pay too much attention to system specs. the proof is in the pudding.

[Knoxville]

That sounds like its gonna be a pain in the ass to code for...

[Xaneden]

True. I have a problem with imagining the average Joe Bloggs being able to afford a console with that specification. It'd be the same price as a PC, and that is just bloody stupid.

I don't even think Sony/Microsoft mass selling these new consoles with such high specifications would reduce the price enough to allow the average gamer to buy it.

[[DW]Cougho]

That sounds like its gonna be a pain in the ass to code for...

yeah thats what i was thinking, didnt the saturn fail cause it had more than 1 CPU to code for?

[Kumagoro]

Do you reckon they added anothe CPU because they think the PS3 might better it and
they are just trying to make sure there isnt a big difference?

[Xaneden]

I'd rather buy a PC than a sole purpose console. Lets face it, for nearly every game, a PC does it better.

Btw, for those who like FPS games on Xbox (1), you can get a PS/2 adapter now, which lets you use your standard keyboard! Imagine how much easier it would be to play FPS games using a mouse and keyboard. Oh, and the keys can be fully customized.

[Kezzer]

The specs could change yet I remember when they were saying it was going to have a single CPU dual core clocked at 4GHz. Just wait, they may change specs yet. It won't be until we see some real demos we can then say wow. I'll probably get one though

[Knoxville]

yeah thats what i was thinking, didnt the saturn fail cause it had more than 1 CPU to code for?

That was part of it, it was more down to the fact that the saturn was designed for 2D games rather than 3D games. The original Playstation came out and with a combination of some of the best marketing ever and slightly better looking games whooped its ass.