Xbox 720 Coming In 2013, Six Times More Powerful Than Current Gen
Thanks to the sleuths at IGN, it has been confirmed that Microsoft’s next-gen console (unofficially called the Xbox 720) is being prepped for a 2013 release. Also, the console’s processing power will exceed current-gen consoles and Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U.
It all started earlier today with initial reports from Fudzilla about the next Xbox’s chipset. Fudzilla’s source claimed that mass production of the GPU will commence at the end of 2012. The CPU will be a PowerPC codenamed Oban, developed by both IBM and Global Foundries. The 32nm Oban chip will be married to an ATI Southern Islands GPU, or modified 7000 series. As a result, the next-gen console will be six times more powerful than current consoles and 20 percent more powerful than the Wii U. Also, dev kits will be handed out the developers by April 2013. Lastly, the Xbox 720 will be shipped to retailers in late October or early November that same year.
However, IGN had to make one correction regarding the GPU; it will actually be a 6000 series model which was released last year. The correction makes the claim of the Xbox 720′s processing power seems skeptical considering its a last gen GPU, though it supports DirectX 11, multidisplay output, 1080p HD and 3D output.
Filed under: Confirmation, News, Xbox 720 Tagged: ATI 6000 series GPU, ATI Southern Islands GPU, Fudzilla, Global Foundries, IBM, IGN, Microsoft, modified 7000 series, Oban, Xbox 720 
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