Menzo
1745
There is no way Microsoft would put out a new console without this mandate. There will be precisely zero Series X games that won’t support the Series S.
Sounds like CPU is the same? Going to be Zen 2, same number of cores/threads. Maybe clocked a little slower.
RAM amount will be smaller and slower, but remember, the RAM bandwidth splits on the XSX. 10GB is at 560GB/s, but 6GB is at 336GB/s. So if you assume game logic is going to run on that slower 6GB RAM and the rest is just treated as VRAM, then I can’t imagine there being an issue there. XSS could go with 12GB maybe.
Figure SSD speeds the same.
My initial guess is that XSS APU is binned off the XSX die. All those that couldn’t make the cut got their CUs cut-down for the XSS. And if that’s the case, it should make development really easy. The only difference will be resolution.
Menzo
1747
I’m sure the plan is that the hardware is similar enough that devs will only have to make minor adjustments to get games to work at 1080p/30hz. Microsoft doesn’t want to force devs to make radical design changes to support the Series S.
I think Microsoft may need the Series S. They’re pushing developers to treat Xbox titles like PC games - give options - albeit simplified ones on console - for the different hardware. If it were just XSX or XBO then XBO would lose. But if developers already have to account for XSX and XSS then what’s one or two more profiles for XBS and XBX?
I generally agree with what you’re saying but I wouldn’t rule out there ever being an exception. Especially not if we try to predict out over the span of the whole generation. You’re probably right, I’m just hedging slightly.
It’s not. It’s a totally custom APU.
JD
1753
The XSS is an interesting approach, and I think there’s a market for people who want the latest generation, but are on a tigher budget and/or also will be stuck with FullHD tv sets for a while. I don’t think it’ll be comparable to the X360 Core/Premium divide where developers were held back by always having to support a system that didn’t have an HDD. The required dev effort to support XSS probably is relatively small in comparison since the base feature set is identical in both systems and the difference is more about the target resolution.
I personally don’t care that much about either Xbox since I’m primarily a PC gamer and thus will get to play Microsoft’s first-party titles and indie exclusives anyway. If it was possible to run vanilla Windows 10 on an XSS though I’d most certainly get one due to the form factor. Not that it’ll happen.
Definitely puts some pressure on Sony here. Given all the talk about how expensive the PS5 hardware allegedly is in terms of manufacturing, I kinda wouldn’t have been surprised to see them ask for $599 for the Blu-ray version and $499 for the one without BD-ROM… but who knows.
RickH
1754
Damn I forgot the wired controller. Consumer pain indeed.
Kadath
1755
LG CX is a native 10 bit 4k panel with VRR and supports 4k 120 on all HDMI ports. Not sure why you think it caps at 1440p
Menzo
1756
I don’t think he was suggesting it caps at 1440p. He was replying to my suggestion that hardly anyone actually games on console at 1440p. I stand by my statement and guess that between 1080p and 4K that makes up 98% of the resolutions console gamers play at.
stusser
1757
Well no, because most people still don’t have 4k TVs. But sure, current-gen consoles can’t actually handle 4k in most games so even the XboneX runs games at 1800p or whatever.
It only came with composite cables, too, so you had to buy another set if you wanted HD. It really was a “dick move” SKU built entirely to hit the $299 price point.
TimJames
1759
I hope some of you guys never change!
Anyway, it’s kind of funny that they’re taking the idea of incremental console releases and driving a freight train through it. They’re starting the generation with two of them. No need to wait for the Series X Pro to see if that trend continues. It’s the new reality.
Well, assuming they made the right call. I’m glad I don’t have to.
If the only difference is less of a GPU… the Series X GPU must occupy an awful lot of space :) Plus the disc drive I suppose.
I imagine the X uses a lot more power, which translates to larger internal power supply and increased cooling. The internal chassis of the X is basically a giant heat sink.
My sense is that Microsoft has been hyper-sensitive to cooling issues post-360. Since the One they have been over-engineering (in a good way) the cooling capabilities of their boxes. Both my Elite and One X run well and very quiet. The only time I have heard the fans on the One X was when I tried putting it in a mostly closed tight space inside my TV console…which I promptly removed.
JD
1764
Having a smaller GPU definitely makes cooling the chipset way easier - and not having to cram a BD-ROM into the casing also means a lot more flexibility with regards to how you design heat pipes, air flow and such. Not to mention that a BD-ROM itself is a bit of a heat source when spinning. And as WH mentioned, this affects the required power draw and thus means more wiggle-room with the PSU.
Alistair
1765
It looks like the volume difference is about enough for sli 3090s, so the Series X must have some oomph.
