Support NeoGAF

[gofreak]

OK, I'm kind of surprised this hasn't "hit" here yet, but I suppose I'll be the messenger. I'm only posting this now because more than one person is claiming the same thing now.

Anyway, a number of posters on B3D are claiming there's been a bit of a boo-boo with some "final" X360 kits that arrived recently. Apparently, a non-neglible proportion of the supposedly final kits arrived with the CPU clocked at 2.8Ghz, not the 3.2Ghz the final systems are supposed to contain. The kits have to be sent back, and may not see replacement until November.

Apparently there are a number of explanations for how this happened and how this passed under MS's radar, including that components "recycled" from returned beta kits may be restricting the clock speed of the CPUs, even though the chips themselves are at 3.2Ghz (e.g. the motherboard, perhaps?).

Seperately, there are now claims that the final machine will ship with the CPU clocked at 3Ghz, not 3.2Ghz, although this seems far less reliable to me..

Bear in mind, I bring this purely as rumour..nothing has been offered to substantiate this except the credibility of the posters in the firstplace (who are pretty well established there). So can anyone here confirm/deny? Element? Blim?

(The B3D thread is here: http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23382)

 

[Blimblim]

First time I hear about this, this could be true of course but the whole thing about no replacement until November makes no sense at all.

 

[element]

Seperately, there are now claims that the final machine will ship with the CPU clocked at 3Ghz, not 3.2Ghz, although this seems far less reliable to me.

That is BS.

some final kits have been clocked at 2.8 GHz. My people tell me it was a quality control issue at IBM, and the problem is being taken care of. Developers do have devkits at 3.2 GHz.

 

[Fuma]

Not again. Didnt all this happen right before the Xbox360 stats were released?

 

[PG2G]

Wouldn't it make more sense to continue working on the 2,8 Ghz kits until the replacements show up?

 

[element]

Wouldn't it make more sense to continue working on the 2,8 Ghz kits until the replacements show up?

Yes, which is what majority of developers are doing, because even a slow kit, IS a kit you have and can use. Devs just need to do some profiling to make sure that they hit their target frame rates on retail hardware.

 

[gofreak]

That is BS.

some final kits have been clocked at 2.8 GHz. My people tell me it was a quality control issue at IBM, and the problem is being taken care of. Developers do have devkits at 3.2 GHz.

Thanking you!

Cheers for the clarification. Do you know anything more about this QC issue?

 

[element]

Do you know anything more about this QC issue?

AFAIK it was they pretty much grabbed the wrong box of CPUs. Label 'Xenon CPUs'.

that is the total dumbed down version, and probably didn't happen that stupid, and probably was a far more complex issue. But pretty much that is what happened.

 

[dorio]

Will 400Hz really make that big a difference in performance. Does a game normally run the cpu at 100% in the first place?

 

[Shompola]

Will 400Hz really make that big a difference in performance. Does a game normally run the cpu at 100% in the first place?

If you are one of those programmers who cant utilize the power in correct way, yah sure why not.

 

[gofreak]

Cheers again Element.

Can you clarify a couple of other things? The original claim says that these kits have to be sent back..? And might it actually take till November to get replacements?

 

[element]

I personally would find it strange if a dev sent their kits back and knowingly wouldn't get replacements for 6 weeks if not longer. It doesn't make sense for either a launch title or post launch title to be without devkits, even if they aren't clocked right.

I have no idea how long it would take to get new ones, which is why i doubt any developers would send them back.

 

[Piepz]

OK, I'm kind of surprised this hasn't "hit" here yet, but I suppose I'll be the messenger. I'm only posting this now because more than one person is claiming the same thing now.

Anyway, a number of posters on B3D are claiming there's been a bit of a boo-boo with some "final" X360 kits that arrived recently. Apparently, a non-neglible proportion of the supposedly final kits arrived with the CPU clocked at 2.8Ghz, not the 3.2Ghz the final systems are supposed to contain. The kits have to be sent back, and may not see replacement until November.

Apparently there are a number of explanations for how this happened and how this passed under MS's radar, including that components "recycled" from returned beta kits may be restricting the clock speed of the CPUs, even though the chips themselves are at 3.2Ghz (e.g. the motherboard, perhaps?).

Seperately, there are now claims that the final machine will ship with the CPU clocked at 3Ghz, not 3.2Ghz, although this seems far less reliable to me..

Bear in mind, I bring this purely as rumour..nothing has been offered to substantiate this except the credibility of the posters in the firstplace (who are pretty well established there). So can anyone here confirm/deny? Element? Blim?

(The B3D thread is here: http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23382)

Shut up, please

 

[Amir0x]

Shut up, please

But... Element just confirmed at least part of the story is true.

 

[gofreak]

Shut up, please

:lol Uhh..no?

This thread is a perfect example of what makes GAF great - two pages later on B3D, and no can offer any firm confirmation of anything. Within 2 posts here, you can get that confirmation. What's your problem? Actually I don't care, this thread was informative for me, and I'm sure it will be for others too. Thanks for dropping by.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

Shut up, please

 

[Forgotten Ancient]

Shut up, please

*And you are?

Gofreak's one of the best posters around here.

Take your own advice.


*I realize I'm not known here, either.

 

[Acosta]

Shut up, please

For once we have an interesting and informative thead...

Anyway, thanks gofreak for bringing this and Element for answer.

 

[Zer0]

Shut up, please

stfu moroon

 

[El Papa]

That kinda makes sense and fits with what I'd heard about beta dev-kits having a problem with overheating. Maybe that's why those "final" dev-kits are clocked lower.

 

[IJoel]

That kinda makes sense and fits with what I'd heard about beta dev-kits having a problem with overheating. Maybe that's why those "final" dev-kits are clocked lower.

And all the final dev kits at the proper clock speed have magical fairies in them that make it happen.

...

 

[element]

That kinda makes sense and fits with what I'd heard about beta dev-kits having a problem with overheating. Maybe that's why those "final" dev-kits are clocked lower.

heating on final kits isn't an issue at all, on either clock speed. Beta kits really didn't have heating problems either.

 

[El Papa]

And all the final dev kits at the proper clock speed have magical fairies in them that make it happen.

...

What? Make some sense.

heating on final kits isn't an issue at all, on either clock speed. Beta kits really didn't have heating problems either.

Maybe, maybe not. Maybe some of them did. I'd heard beta dev-kits had overheating problems from a couple different people, one who is informed and would have no reason to lie to me about it.

 

[Kleegamefan]

Shut up, please

banned

 

[AB 101]

That is BS.

some final kits have been clocked at 2.8 GHz. My people tell me it was a quality control issue at IBM, and the problem is being taken care of. Developers do have devkits at 3.2 GHz.

Isn't it a little late in the game to be having quality control issues?

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Isn't it a little late in the game to be having quality control issues?

It's never too late. Look at Sony and Playstation 1 & 2 hardware.

 

[bishoptl]

banned

klee for the win

 

[Ecrofirt]

klee for the win

:lol :lol :lol

 

[Kleegamefan]

 

[Suikoguy]

It's never too late. Look at Sony and Playstation 1 & 2 hardware.

Look at Xbox hardware.

Your point?

 

[Stinkles]

I have seen more 360 dev kits than anyone here by far, and the only place I've ever heard about overheating, is here on GAF. So go figure.


They used to be NOISY and now they are dead silent. I think they made 'em extra noisy so we would be especially impressed when we heard the final units. And when I say quiet, I mean the quietest console ever with moving parts.

Which is a big deal for me, AV snob, but with angry wife.

 

[element]

They used to be NOISY and now they are dead silent. I think they made 'em extra noisy so we would be especially impressed when we heard the final units. And when I say quiet, I mean the quietest console ever with moving parts.

Which is a big deal for me, AV snob, but with angry wife.

the beta kits were like leaf blowers!!! they were so noisy!! The finals are awesome. like stinkles says, they are DEAD silent.

 

[Izzy]

Well, Fouad - I guess you were right. Indeed in Microsoft's NDA'd developer notes, they indicate the final tri-core design at 3 GHz rather than 3.2 GHz. Now I'm not sure what the significance of this is; honestly I still think 3.2 would be what to expect. But indeed you are vindicated in having preached what you were preaching.

Taken from the document: 'Xbox 360 Alpha vs. Final Hardware Performance'

Link

Interesting...

 

[Mrbob]

Ruh roh.

X360 downgraded total?

But if these are NDA'd notes, why the hell is it being posted on a public message board.

 

[element]

Link

Interesting...

don't read into it. the guy is reading really old docs.

 

[Jesiatha]

I have seen more 360 dev kits than anyone here by far

I'm gonna have to argue on that one

They used to be NOISY and now they are dead silent.

I probably lost some hearing from using them pre-fan control. Don't play your 360 inside an oven because if the fans ever get to full speed the noise will get to you before the heat from the oven.

 

[olimario]

Excellent stuff, element. Really interesting.
Thanks.

 

[Fuma]

Didnt one of the execs from MS recently state in an interview that the final hardware will meet the released specs? Anyone have that link?