Check out what Microsoft is reportedly planning (and not planning) for the next Xbox.
Writer Dean Takahashi of The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that Microsoft has secretly circulated the Xbox 2 specifications, and he was one of the persons on the receiving end. The article suggests that Microsoft plans to compete with the PlayStation 3 by keeping the price of the Xbox 2 as low as possible, and by having the system launch before Sony's next console.
The Mercury News article reports the Xbox 2 specs as follows:
-Three IBM-designed 64-bit microprocessors, similar to what Apple's G5 PowerMac machines currently use. The article states that the Xbox 2 will therefore have "more computing power than most personal computers."
-An ATI Technologies designed graphics chip "with speeds much faster than its upcoming R400 chip for the personal computer", which, among other things, allow the Xbox to display hi-definition TV resolution.
-Backwards compatibility with the current Xbox has not yet been finalized, but isn't very likely. Since the Xbox 1 uses Intel and Nvidia chips, "Microsoft is concerned it would cost too much money in hardware or in licensing fees to enable [Xbox 2] to play old Xbox games." The Mercury News report says that this is a risky move for Microsoft since Sony has always stressed compatibility with its older systems. (The PlayStation 3 has also been confirmed to play PS2 and PS1 games.)
-The Xbox 2 will have at least 256 MB of DRAM (dynamic random access memory). However, Microsoft will upgrade the RAM count to 512 MB if Sony adds more to the PS3.
-The article also reports that the Xbox 2 will not have a built-in hard drive this time around, unless Sony decides to add one to their next system. The reasons for not including a hard drive seem to be mainly for cost-cutting. If the Xbox 2 does not include a hard drive, game saves and other data will most likely be saved to removable memory card devices, akin to the PlayStation 2 and GameCube.
Obviously, Microsoft declined to comment on Xbox 2 specs or the Mercury News report. However, there is much talk in the industry that the company will be discussing the Xbox 2 in some form at next month's Game Developers Conference in San Jose and at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles in May.
