Xbox 720 Is Super Powerful, Contains 16-Core CPU

Quote from Waxed : There's a rumor that Microsoft is teaming up with cable providers like Comcast to provide a slimmed down version of the xbox 720.

So basically a PC with a digital cable tuner.

Quote from ant0n : So basically a PC with a digital cable tuner.

Yeah, I think someone posted a link earlier in which Comcast was to provide an xbox for 15 bucks a month. I actually think it's a good deal if it's a full xbox 720. I'm already paying 10 dollars a month for my current cable box. Five bucks more is really what I'm looking at paying.

I just see it as another way to limit choice. If for whatever reason Comcast chose to raise prices during the two year contract you'd be.farked. You either would have to cough up more money or lose your Xbox.

Quote from ant0n : I just see it as another way to limit choice. If for whatever reason Comcast chose to raise prices during the two year contract you'd be.farked. You either would have to cough up more money or lose your Xbox.

My options are already limited. Do you pay for your own cable? You don't sound like you know what's going on. Comcast has a propriety DVR, meaning that you can only use the DVR that they give you and in my local area, that limits my option to two models. Both models are set at different prices and those are the only ones that I can use. I can't go out and purchase a 3rd party DVR to use for my cable TV. This is why an xbox option is such a great idea. It'll add another choice to my already very limited set of options and it'll probably be the best option there is out of the two current models that I have to choose from.

Quote from Waxed : My options are already limited. Do you pay for your own cable? You don't sound like you know what's going on. Comcast has a propriety DVR, meaning that you can only use the DVR that they give you and in my local area, that limits my option to two models. Both models are set at different prices and those are the only ones that I can use. I can't go out and purchase a 3rd party DVR to use for my cable TV. This is why an xbox option is such a great idea. It'll add another choice to my already very limited set of options and it'll probably be the best option there is out of the two current models that I have to choose from.

It's simple.You will be limited to signing a contract with Comcast if.you want uncapped internet in order to download your games. Also you will only have the option of getting a subsidized Xbox through Comcast only. So essentially to get the most out of the 720 and a decent deal you will only have one provider.
It will be similar to the iPhone only being available on AT&T way back when. If your assumptions are true of course.

Quote from ant0n : It's simple.You will be limited to signing a contract with Comcast if.you want uncapped internet in order to download your games. Also you will only have the option of getting a subsidized Xbox through Comcast only. So essentially to get the most out of the 720 and a decent deal you will only have one provider. It will be similar to the iPhone only being available on AT&T way back when. If your assumptions are true of course.

Where are you getting that I must sign a contract and what is in this contract that makes it so horrible? Do you have to sign a contract with your provider? I'm currently a Comcast subscriber and have never signed a contract and I am under no contract agreement. I can end my service anytime I want without a penalty. Also, my internet is already capped but at 100gbs a month. I currently use 8-15gbs a month so it's really not that bad. This might be a problem with the xbox 720 but I highly doubt that Microsoft would create a gaming machine that doesn't have a disk media player. Microsoft might release an xbox that's purely a media center but they wouldn't release a gaming system that forces you to download a 15gb game through the internet. If I only have to spend 5 dollars more a month for a brand new xbox 720 then that is an extremely good deal. Even if it isn't fully capable of playing games, it might be better then the limited options that I have to currently choose from which is two.

Quote from ant0n : Inflation...Duh

No shit. I said that to show what a fact actually is. I doubt it will launch at $250 and I certainly wasn't saying that it will.

Rumor that Microsoft will be releasing 2 versions of the NexBox. One will be a set-top box and the other will be a fully functional gaming machine.
http://www.christianpost.com/news...ons-68289/


Rumor that Microsoft will offer the set-top box for Comcast and Verizoin.
http://venturebeat.com/2011/09/19...cable-box/


Comcast xfinity now offered on the xBox. If you have comcast then you automatically have an xfinity account. I haven't use it yet but I've looked through it. It allows you to watch reruns of shows that you've missed and movies on demand if you're willing to pay for them. Reruns are free and held for 2 weeks of the first showing.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/2...nd-mlb-tv/


Comcast will not cap internet usage if used by the xbox.
http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Cust...-p/1233763


I know it's only a rumor but it seems like Microsoft and Comcast currently have a good relationship. So it's not far fetched that one of the new versions of the xbox will be an HD DVR offered to Comcast subscribers which is good news to Comcast users as we don't have many options to choose from when deciding on a DVR.

Buy a fcuking actual computer. Play games on it. Swap cable for newsgroup. Watch programs on THE SAME COMPUTER. Problem solved.

"Bu-bu-bu-but Microsoft says 'it's good to play together' and I can't live without dropping $40+ per year to use my own internet connection to play Halo with racist teenagers and/or sundry mom's-basement-dwellers and it's got cross game chat that I must have to talk for 5 minutes every 3 months with my virtual online friend from India!!!!"

Hmm, valid points...just go wingsuit into the side of a mountain and everyone wins.

Quote from Waxed : Is it just me or there doesn't seem to be any real hype or excitement around the Wii U?

I'm waiting for more info to come out. I would love to want the wii u.. but I need more info b4 I will know.

Quote from PORSCHE : I'm waiting for more info to come out. I would love to want the wii u.. but I need more info b4 I will know.

I would love to like the Wii U too but Nintendo has failed for me in every console they've made after the Super Nintendo due to the lack of 3rd party support. I was literally forced to buy a Playstation because there were no games for the N64. I have no doubt in my mind that the Wii U will not be the system for me and another failure in 3rd party support games. Nintendo right now seems confused and doesn't know what type of console the Wii U is suppose to be.

Quote : With E3 2012 on the horizon, it should come as no surprise that the Xbox 720 and the PlayStation 4 are at the forefront of gamers’ minds. It turns out that next-gen consoles may be more powerful than originally thought, as the Xbox 720 is alleged to contain hardware similar to that of a modern-day PC.

No kidding. The developers really only have two options here anyway. Either they can install outdated tech or they can put in hardware that is 'up to date'. It's not like they can tap into the future in order to get hardware that isn't already available for PC.

Quote : While the Xbox 720 has yet to be formally announced, recent rumors suggest developers already have access to dev kits for Microsoft’s latest console. These dev kits were shipped just recently, after the Durango events held in London and at GDC.

Unless they want to launch with no titles for the console, they better have units out there for developers to develop on. Or at least tell them what to expect.

Quote : Xbox World Magazine’s sources say the Xbox 720 will contain an 16-core IBM PowerPC CPU, which for a game console is ridiculous. The Xbox 360 already delivers some stunning visuals with it’s 3-core CPU — it’s almost impossible to imagine what games on a system with a 16-core CPU would look like. AMD launched the first 16-core CPU last year via their Bulldozer line-up, though unfortunately there are no games (yet) that take advantage of the processing power.

16 cores isn't overly outrageous. I mean, the PS3 uses 7 right? So what's double that. Really the next xbox could get away with a 4-6 core processor that is efficient, and come out on top when it comes to performance. Just look at how much power is available to intel's Ivy Bridge processors verses AMD's bulldozer. But, having so many cores won't necessarily be a bad thing either. Hell, I'd welcome it. It'd force developers to focus on making their software make use of all those cores efficiently, and building software like that on consoles turns into better software on PC's as well (and vice versa). Ohh and what would games look like on a 16 core cpu? Not much different. Remember the dramatic impact physx had on videogames? Me neither.

Quote : As for the GPU, prospective Xbox 720 owners can look forward to a graphics card similar to AMD’s Radeon HD 7000-series. It has been rumored for some time that the Xbox 720 would be using an AMD 7000 series card, so this should really come as no surprise. Unfortunately, there has been no mention of the amount of RAM in the console, but Battlefield 3 developer DICE wants to see at least 4GB of RAM in the new consoles, so let’s hope Microsoft is listening.

All the 7000 series means is that it's probably going to be more power efficient (and in effect run cooler). This really doesn't say anything (useful) about raw horsepower. I'd like to see AT LEAST an HD7850 in there. Anything less would be a disgrace. Also, all rumors that I've previously heard had the 720 running a HD6670.

Quote : The next Xbox sounds like it’s going to be a monster, but without talented first-party development studios, that power may never be fully tapped. First-party studios only need to focus on developing for one console, allowing them to take full advantage of the system — just look at how much nicer PS3 exclusives look compared to multi-platform titles. While the next Forza and Fable will definitely look gorgeous, it could do wonders for the system if Microsoft had more studios to push the new hardware to its limits.

I think this part is fairly random as it doesn't really coincide well with the rest of the article. I mean sure first party developer support is good for the one console, but I think that overall proprietary efforts are a determent to gamer because it restricts certain videogames to just one outlet. I'm sure plenty of Xbox owners would love to play games like LBP and PS3 owners would love to play Halo. Am I wrong?


EDIT: Also, is there anything fundamentally wrong with calling it the xBox 3?

It sounds like the Xbox 720 will be prone to more hardware failures. I replaced 5 Xbox 360s within the past 3 years. Should I expect to replace 25-26 Xbox 720s within the same time period?

Quote from Nollywood : It sounds like the Xbox 720 will be prone to more hardware failures. I replaced 5 Xbox 360s within the past 3 years. Should I expect to replace 25-26 Xbox 720s within the same time period?

You realize that those guys were joking about the Elmers glue right?