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Added by Jeff Gerstmann on Nov. 28, 2008

Jasper lives!
Jasper lives!
The hardware modders over at Xbox-Scene have images of what appears to be a dismantled Xbox 360 with a lower-wattage power supply, complete with a different adapter to ensure you can't plug the new power supply into old units or vice versa. This model is assumed to be the first one to feature a 65nm GPU, which is another change in the continuing struggle to build more reliable hardware for less money.

Manual scans discuss internal storage.
Manual scans discuss internal storage.
But the most apparent difference between this new hardware and the old stuff is that this one has a larger flash chip. While older models had a 16MB chip, this one contains 256MB. This gives 360s that don't have memory units or hard drives attached enough space to hold all of the newly released NXE data. Users can also now use the internal flash for storage--though most of that space would probably be chewed up by NXE stuff, there would probably be enough to store your Xbox Live profile, if not a saved game or two.

Scans from the manual discuss the internal memory as if it will work exactly like hard drives and memory units do today, with the ability to format or rename the space if you so desire.

Stores are probably pretty cluttered with older, non-Jasper stock at the moment, so if you're looking to get one of these new models, you may wish to wait a bit for the seasonal rush to clear out the old stuff. If you're the type to read the sides of the box in hopes of finding one, the one torn apart in the posted photos had a manufacture date of 10-23-2008 and came from lot #0843X.

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43 Comments

The_Icon
on Nov. 28, 2008
It would have been better if they fixed the RROD completely than pushing an extra 256MB.

TekZero
on Nov. 28, 2008
Pretty cool.  I'm looking to return my launch 360 before the 3 year warranty expires so I can get an updated version.  Hopefully, I'll get one of these bad boys.

Meatsim
on Nov. 28, 2008
what happens if you don't have the new Jasper hardware and still yet don't have a hard drive how  is the NXE stored in that case?

WilliamRLBaker
on Nov. 28, 2008
The_Icon said:
"It would have been better if they fixed the RROD completely than pushing an extra 256MB."
do you know if they have? if not then maybe you should wait before saying.

Scooper
on Nov. 28, 2008
Hopefully no overheating, that would be nice.

daniel_beck_90
on Nov. 28, 2008
my 360 is working fine , though I'll consider this model as the alternative

daniel_beck_90
on Nov. 28, 2008
The_Icon said:
"It would have been better if they fixed the RROD completely than pushing an extra 256MB."
I think the 65 nm GPU will solve that problem altogether

Milkman
on Nov. 28, 2008
It only makes sense for Microsoft to do that.

BlackWaterCO
on Nov. 28, 2008
The_Icon said:
"It would have been better if they fixed the RROD completely than pushing an extra 256MB."

Do you own a 360?

The Jasper model has 45nm chipset, which means super low failure rate

Gameboi
on Nov. 28, 2008
This is a brilliant idea, although I echo the sentiments of The Icon.  If the RROD issue is fixed, along with this nice addition, the Xbox 360 will become the best value in gaming consoles.

MordeaniisChaos
on Nov. 28, 2008
WHY THE HELL CAN'T SONY START DOING THIS STUFF??
Seriously, Sony, get your ass on lowering damn production costs and making efficient hardware. MS is kicking your asses , and their the SOFTWARE guys.

Most people don't seem to get how good this is gunna be. I'm glad MS is STILL working on making the 360 more effecient in power and manufacturing, but it would be nice to fix that nasty RROD problem once and for all. They have gotten some improvements on it, its a lot better now, but it still needs work. Lets hope this thing maybe helps things.

But damn... I was about to get a 360, now I'm seriously considering this one... Because I will be getting the arcade... Plus the whole effeciency and the whole lower failure (hopefully)... damn, i hope its not too long before we get some down at my local best buy

Hughes
on Nov. 28, 2008
That's a paddlin'

TEAMHOLT
on Nov. 28, 2008
"WHY THE HELL CAN'T SONY START DOING THIS STUFF??
Seriously, Sony, get your ass on lowering damn production costs and making efficient hardware. MS is kicking your asses , and their the SOFTWARE guys."

They have. They cut out PS2 BC as well as external storage port and USP ports. I remember hearing that they are working in making smaller CELL processors, too. They still do need to hurry up about lowering production costs because a 399 pricetag doesn't look so great compared to the 299 Pro 360 bundle.

KingHippp0
on Nov. 28, 2008
Does anybody think this will affect that awesome 20 GB Hard Drive upgrade offer they started last month? I hope not.

drifter13x
on Nov. 28, 2008
Been tracking the Jasper for awhile so the info is good news. As far as I can tell the new 256mb on board is no doubt just so they can now have anyone use the NXE. Also as far as fixing the RROD, from the pic layout it would seem that MS went to a good amount of effort to try and dissipate the heat in this model on chips that are already said to run cooler. That said, there are still many other factors such as use and envoironment that could effect the system. If you're playing Gears 2 24/7 in a hot room with lots of dust, our old friend RROD could still rear it's ugly head. I'll wait for the holiday rush to clear out more Falcons before I go hunting for a new shiney 360.

As for ragging on sony for not making updates, they have tweaked the PS3 a number of times to cut costs, just not in ways that have seen an savings passed onto the consumer. A quick look at wiki will show sony has desperatly been tearing things out of thier system and making slight internal revisions. And as far as I know PS3 system failures aren't even a fraction of what 360's have been, so at least you have some assurance as to quality even from the launch machines. I own all 3 systems and so far I've had to send my 360 into repair for a crapped out DVD drive, and had 3 friends do the same for other problems and RRODs.

My Wii on the other hand is still running great...when it's actually running and not acting as a dust collector or an object of my ridicule.

Lunarbunny is online
on Nov. 28, 2008
Don't have a 360, but hope for everybody else's sake that the lower wattage / smaller etching process chips actually cut down on heat enough.

code305
on Nov. 28, 2008
I would like for them to fix the red ring first. Its the only thing that making some people from getting there hands on the 360 system.  Its nice that they have this improvement but please fix the major problems first.

headcase
on Nov. 28, 2008
That's half the Wii's internal storage, and that console has no HD to back it up. So is the idea that NXE will be pulled from the flash instead of the hard drive, and hence run \ boot up more smoothly?

Lepuke
on Nov. 28, 2008
The Falcon chip was already a decent improvement upon the horrible first design,  so the 65nm Jasper and lower-wattage power supply will probably work wonders to lower the RROD rate to a finally acceptable level.

LiquidPrince
on Nov. 28, 2008
That's cool, but maybe they should just remake there system with completely reliable hardware. That would make it worth more then all of these little changes.


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