Also a 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU
Microsoft is pulling the curtain back even further on the Xbox Series X, in this extreme cold war that is the next generational reveal.
As of now, we do not have full launch and pricing info for the Xbox Series X or the PS5, which have been hit hard by factory shutdowns due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) concern. Both hardware manufacturers have been mum on whether or not their new consoles will even hit their projected holiday 2020 targets, but for now, we have shiny new specs to look at: at least as far as the Xbox Series X is concerned.
Unveiled by way of their official blog, Microsoft notes that the Series X is rocking8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU, with a12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU. It also sports 16GB GDDR6 memory, with 1TB of internal SSD storage (a bit low, don’t you think, but expected), with a 1TB expansion card (Seagate is now revealing theirs) and USB 3.2 external HDD support. It also has a 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive (so optical is still in as expected, despite many PCs jettisoning it), with a “performance target” of 4K at 60FPS, “up to 120FPS.”
The blog also has more direct info on what DirectX Raytracing looks like, as well as variable rate shading (with image comparisons) and dynamic latency input. Beyond the quick loading times with the SSD, Microsoft also boasts that Velocity Architecture will “unlock new capabilities that have never been seen before in console development, allowing 100 GB of game assets to be instantly accessible by the developer.” Using the tech, “developers will also be able to effectively eliminate loading times between levels or create fast travel systems that are just that: fast.”
Backward compatibility is also re-iterated: “The Xbox team is so committed to the concept of compatibility and cross generation play, that not only do your games move forward with you, but so do your Xbox One accessories, your game saves, and progression. In fact, your entire gaming legacy moves forward with you to the next generation.”
Again, a lot of this was expected, but it seems like we have most of the info we need on the Xbox Series X from a hardware perspective. Now we just need to know how much the darn thing will cost and if it’s coming out in 2020. Who will blink first: Microsoft or Sony?
Xbox Series X Tech [Xbox]
Fridge for scale. #PowerYourDreams pic.twitter.com/2n4OEUKXUz
— Xbox (@Xbox) March 16, 2020
Xbox Series X Specs:
CPU 8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU GPU 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU Die Size 360.45 mm2 Process 7nm Enhanced Memory 16 GB GDDR6 w/ 320mb bus Memory Bandwidth 10GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s Internal Storage 1 TB Custom NVME SSD I/O Throughput 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block) Expandable Storage 1 TB Expansion Card (matches internal storage exactly) External Storage USB 3.2 External HDD Support Optical Drive 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive Performance Target 4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS