Microsoft still on track to add HDMI to Xbox 360 Premium?

Remember way back when we broke the big news on the Xbox 360 Elite -- and one of the bits we mentioned was that after a while Microsoft was going to burn through its Premium SKU stock and eventually add HDMI to the mid-range model? Or that again, recently, another source of ours confirmed the same? Well it seems Ars heard the same thing from one of its sources, and has it that Microsoft will have an HDMI enabled Premium system (with cooler 65nm chips and quieter drives) coming later this month or early September. We don't know about that bit, but we'll certainly be waiting and watching this one.

[brad @ Aug 8th 2007 1:38PM]

*awaits for: zomg this is teh cheap, MS fuxored teh ealry adoptorz, down with M$$$$$$$$*

[Manuel @ Aug 8th 2007 2:03PM]

zomg this is teh cheap, MS fuxored teh ealry adoptorz, down with M$$$$$$$$ !!!

[FrankTheCrank @ Aug 8th 2007 4:56PM]

Speak english?? WTF?

Looks like I'll be finally buying an XBOX 360. 65nm CPU solves the RROD issue, and the new DVD ROM quiets the drive...plus, an HDMI port too boot and $50 off the price?

I'm all in. Let's go. What's the new SKU number? I want to make sure I get the right one when I cash in my AMEX points and get my FREE 360.

[HektikLyfe @ Aug 8th 2007 1:39PM]

I'm glad to hear about the cooler processor. That's the important part Microsoft seems to ignore.

[neggie @ Aug 9th 2007 7:45PM]

interesting.. i have gone through 6 360's due to overheating 3 red rings hopefull this new one will resolve this issues.

[marc @ Aug 9th 2007 10:28AM]

What version of HDMI? It would be nice if they would move to 1.3a with this and the Elite.

[Iced_Eagle @ Aug 8th 2007 1:45PM]

Awesome :)

I may have to sell my console to a friend so I can get HDMI. That way, I would be able to get HD DVD at it's highest 1080p instead of 1080i over component.

[Tyler @ Aug 9th 2007 7:27AM]

my Samsung 56' does 1080p over component

[Matthew @ Aug 8th 2007 2:36PM]

You can do 1080p over component, the 360 has that option in the set-up its just whether or not your TV will accept 1080p over component, I have a 46" Samsung LCD 1080p and it supports it and it looks amazing

[Cash @ Aug 8th 2007 6:51PM]

My 50" Sammy doesn't like the 1080p over component, but it has a VGA input which I hook the VGA adapter into with no problems. I don't think it is a 'true' 1080p signal though as it's set to 1680 x 1050. I tried kicking it to the 1920 x 1080, but the image started tearing something fierce. After visiting the forums, I guess this is a glitch that is being worked on, but who knows when it will be fixed. I'm thinking about giving my nephew this box, and buying the new model with HDMI when it comes out.

[Iced_Eagle @ Aug 8th 2007 6:54PM]

Matthew: I have the 360 set up to do normal 1080p. I'm specifically talking about the HD DVD add-on, which instantly goes from 1080p to 1080i when I start playing the movie.

[Ray-- @ Aug 8th 2007 1:47PM]

I think was posted by a user here on engadget that MS has been producing the new cooler die shrunk 360's since May and that they would be on the shelves in August (for the elites) and Oct. (for the premiums). It would make sense that these new 360's also have HDMI since that would save costs not having to run a seperate line for component vs. HDMI... make them all HDMI and its much simpler...

but this is great news... and we'll know very soon huh.

[andy @ Aug 8th 2007 2:05PM]

It's on xbox-scene.com

Any July MFG date is the 65nm design.

[Ray-- @ Aug 8th 2007 3:02PM]

yep thats it... thanks andy.

[StinkyPete @ Aug 8th 2007 1:48PM]

omg this is teh cheap!!!

Thanks AACS for taking a dump on the consumer!

[Phil Gross @ Aug 9th 2007 1:51AM]

HDMI is nice, but where the hell is my WiFi? I don't have an Ethernet cable going to my living room. My Wii and my PS3 are fine with that. Some reason MS can't throw a $5 802.11 chip in there?

[tehpwnmstr @ Aug 8th 2007 2:00PM]

i think the most important part of this would be the 65 chips, followd by the quieter drives. the drives dont bother me much though cause i usually have the volume up to 11 anyways. the hdmi has little to no effect on me, since my tv only displays in 1080i any way. something i did notice, there arent really any scan lines and i have a really hard time telling the difference between 720p and 1080i. i KNOW what the differences are, but i just dont see them foir some reason, and i only sit about 10 feet away.

[Jon Graft @ Aug 9th 2007 1:43AM]

Who remembers back in the day when Microsoft bashed Sony for using HDMI saying it was a waste of money...and now Microsoft is trying to use it. Pathetic...PS3 FWT! Down with Micro$haft!

[Dan Lomanto @ Aug 8th 2007 8:05PM]

You don't need HDMI to get 1080p. Component can deliver a 1080p signal. HDMI is just a simpler plug with a digital signal. If you have a 1080p and component cables (like I do) then you are all set!

[Aztec @ Aug 8th 2007 2:14PM]

Microsoft likes to give you choices. Kinda live the many flavors of Windows Vista... For example:

Xbox 360 Core
Xbox 360 Premium
Xbox 360 Elite
Xbox 360 Halo 3 SE
Xbox 360 The Simpsons Movie SE
Xbox 360 300 SE
Xbox 360 MILK SE
Xbox 360 (Various bundles by Frys, Best Buy, ect)

Now, Xbox 360 Premium w/ HDMI...

What ever happened to on console every couple of years?

[KSB @ Aug 8th 2007 3:04PM]

Bring on the Consoles, The white models are so sexy compared to the black ones.

[Sameer Surampalli @ Aug 8th 2007 3:32PM]

I beg to differ... the black looks much better... but I'm not really considering to buy it just for black. If the Premium gets HDMI, I'll be more than happy to buy it.

[timatl @ Aug 9th 2007 7:46AM]

i agree, the black looks so much better with my all black entertainment center.

[few @ Aug 9th 2007 5:00AM]

as always, a carot, and a stick

[wickedpheonix @ Aug 8th 2007 2:37PM]

thats the whole point of engadget and all these other sites that dispense rumors: u don't get effed over. You knew, for example, not to get an iMac this monday and that new ones were coming yesterday.

anyways, this would be kinda stupid as there would be very little reason to buy an Elite anymore. But yay for the idiots at MS!

[Mangina @ Aug 8th 2007 2:46PM]

No reason? Black, my friend. Black is the reason.

[darkstar @ Aug 8th 2007 2:46PM]

whats the highest resolution xbox 360 supports??

[Alex @ Aug 8th 2007 3:02PM]

1080p

[Beau @ Aug 8th 2007 3:05PM]

It supports 1080p though component of hdmi, it actualy kind of funny microsoft told the people at aacs to screw off, because the 360 is the only hddvd player that i know of that supports playback of hddvd though an analog output (the component)

[Beau @ Aug 8th 2007 3:06PM]

i meant to say component or hdmi my bad mistyping

[NHAnimator @ Aug 8th 2007 3:18PM]

It's a little disconcerting to see these consoles upping the specs and dropping the price every other month. Used to be that I could buy a unit and know that for 18 months, I had the latest and greatest.

Don't get me wrong. The updates ARE nice. But I'm afraid to drop a dime on the PS3 for fear that it will be obsolete before I get it home.

[Matt B @ Aug 8th 2007 3:49PM]

They said it will be a 10 year product(PS3). Do you live 10 years from home?

[sangretu @ Aug 8th 2007 3:20PM]

I'm sure nobody will read this, but...

Component video cables are at least as good as HDMI, if not better. They give the same resolution, they don't lock down your devices with digital copyright flags, and they don't use extra bandwidth to encrypt signals between your home media devices.

Just wanted to point out that there is no legitimate reason for a home user to choose HDMI over component, it is only being marketed heavily as a way for media companies to control how you use the stuff you buy.

So when you get your hot new 360...grab the component cables for it, not the HDMI. Don't buy into the hype.

[dk @ Aug 8th 2007 4:54PM]

That may be true in theory, but it all depends upon the converters in your TV. Most LCD TVs, particularly the cheap ones, have poor A/D converters in the component inputs, so you probably will get a much better picture through the HDMI input in these TVs.

[andy @ Aug 8th 2007 3:27PM]

geffen sells an EDID stand in that gives fake EDID data and outputs an unencryped all digital DVI signal.

But yeah, I dislike the DRM too.

I also hate the fact that the HDMI spec doesn't require a sink to have an HDMI pass through (receiver to tv) or SPDIF output (tv to receiver).

[alexhrose71 @ Aug 8th 2007 3:22PM]

LOL dumbass, hardware iterations are a normal facet of the lifespan of any consumer electronics. I guess Chevy should cancel their 2008 Impalas then as I bought an '07 a few months ago. Cheap stealing b******s !!!

(face/rolls eyes)

The PSX and PS2 both went through this. The original xbox even had incremental improvements (better DVD drives etc.)

[Tom @ Aug 8th 2007 4:18PM]

Is it a new product? No. It's an update. Adding features in an update isn't the same as improving reliability, cutting costs, etc.

[alexhrose71 @ Aug 8th 2007 3:24PM]

They all play the same games. Even the core can play any game (*)


(* required harddrive not included)

:P

[Char @ Aug 8th 2007 3:28PM]

Wow i feel bad for anybody that bought an elite thinking that was their only HDMI solution . turns out cores will get them and run quieter and better lol. In good news my may06 360 has yet to rrod! And is the 120gb hd even necesary?

[belial20xx @ Aug 8th 2007 4:06PM]

Yeah I feel th 120gb drive is needed. I down load a lot of tv shows like south park and v and many others and boy does the 20 gb fill up quick I wish the would not rape us on the price for 120 Hell the 20gb is even more absurd as to cost unit price.

[Je2037 @ Aug 8th 2007 4:16PM]

Does anyone really know if Xbox360 made after July 1st are 65nm? Why hasn't a tech site dissected one yet? Those posts on x-box scene aren't too convincing.

[Loban @ Aug 8th 2007 4:39PM]

I know this has already been brought up, but the rumor is that the 65nm Xboxes have been in production since July (for the Elites anyway). So if you pick up an Elite and it was manufactured in July or later, it will have the new 65nm hardware. That's the rumor anyway.

[Loban @ Aug 8th 2007 4:41PM]

Je2037, that's kind of the confirmation I've been waiting for too. This rumor has been circulating for a while and still noone has dissected one to find out for sure.