XBOX new guts?

[GeNeRaL AcE]

In a move that will no doubt pour gasoline on the fiery arguments raging between nVidia and Microsoft, Focus Enhancements has announced that it has struck a deal to supply a new graphics chip for the Xbox.

The new chip will handle the conversion of the console’s signal into a format acceptable to the humble television set.

The move is designed to bring down the Xbox’s lofty production costs which at the moment run to around $350 per unit.

It is likely that, given the current rift between Microsoft and nVidia over payment and pricing for the machine’s core graphics components, compounded by nVidia's recent $7 million stock write-off following slow Xbox sales, that nVidia did not pitch for the work.

"The chip going into the Xbox is designed to give Microsoft a competitive advantage," said Tom Hamilton, executive vice president of Focus Enhancements.

It is also widely expected that Benq, a Taiwanese developer and manufacturer of DVD drives, will announce a new DVD component for the Xbox in the coming weeks.

http://www.spong.com/framehead.asp?g...pe=n&prid=3670

[shrew king]

cool find, does that mean the new line of XBOXs will be better? I had heard they were using cheaper DVD drives a while back, and now a new chip, interesting.

[nate66]

Don't worry, this

"The new chip will handle the conversion of the console’s signal into a format acceptable to the humble television set."

is done by a chip made by Conexant, not Nvida. Here's a picture of it.

[Fixxer]

Has nothing to do with Nvidia...