Inside Microsoft's Xbox 360
by Anand Lal Shimpi, Kristopher Kubicki & Tuan Nguyen on November 16, 2005 5:09 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
The Xbox 360 Chipset
As we mentioned before, the Xbox 360's North Bridge is integrated into the GPU, similar to most PC chipsets with integrated graphics. The North Bridge is on the main die of the GPU and shares the same 128-bit GDDR3 memory controller that the graphics core uses to access the Xbox 360's 512MB of memory. This bus runs at 1.4GHz offering just over 22GB/s of bandwidth to main memory.
On the other side of the North Bridge there's the CPU's FSB interface, which offers 10.8GB/s of bandwidth in each direction (21.6GB/s total). You can see the serial FSB laid out in the image below:
The North Bridge also features a 500MB/s interface to the Xbox 360's South Bridge, which was designed by SiS (pictured below).
Once again, you don't see any non-Microsoft logos on any of these chips. It's clear this time around who the IP belongs to. The South Bridge is responsible for communication with the audio codec, storage devices, USB ports, controllers, and any other I/O devices.
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Zebo - Friday, November 18, 2005 - link
I've made this correction before as well but Anand's not listening..that's alright he's the man.Googer - Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - link
I am getting a 404 error when I click on the photographs.Googer - Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - link
Thanks Anand, Kris, and Tuan for taking it apart so we can see what is inside of it. Awesome article, keep up the good work.MAME - Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - link
article is way f'ed up guysKilim - Thursday, November 17, 2005 - link
Don't worry, be happy, bucko. Sorry for being so damn right cheery right now, I had my therapist appointment last night, lol, and I feel good. hahaAnyway, I pre-ordered a 360 for my godson at the local Gamestop, well the one I work at, on June 18th, and he will now be waiting for the second shipment! We are only getting 26! Only 26 "good ones" and two "core" units. Anyone know what exact part of the building process is holding up construction of the 360's.
Is it the video card, cpu, what? Is it the HDD and that is why they created the core unit? Anyone know? Anand?
Imazalil - Thursday, November 17, 2005 - link
As far as I know, Microsoft is keeping the supply really limited to make sure that they have a 'sellout' launch. No real technical issues, just marketing.Shlong - Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - link
Wow that power supply is a beastpossnfiffer - Thursday, December 30, 2010 - link
Hey precioustone very general comment with a link i sense spam how bout a mod removes that one. anywayz nice pix got mine opensteveyoung123456789 - Friday, December 9, 2011 - link
wow guys im learning so much and this is so fin thanks alot!! :).... jk your all fags go diedarckhart - Sunday, April 7, 2013 - link
Update: Just in case anyone else browses here to use as a guide.I cracked open a Zephyr model yesterday using brand new torx key sets. The only required ones are T8 and T10. I posted a photo guide here: http://i.imgur.com/IQzr0k8.jpg