Xbox Series X: Microsoft shows the complete hardware
by Nils Ahrensmeier 
on March 16, 2020, 16:18 pm | 🔥 popular | Write a comment
This year Microsoft wants to refresh their console generation with the Xbox Series X and Sony with the Playstation 5 and bring it to a new level. While Sony has shown some data and the logo, Microsoft seems to want to crank up the PR machine for their new console. Because today Microsoft released the complete hardware of the console and a lot more.
A few months ago we have already reported here about the Xbox Series X - at that time with less information. The new information came in one blog entry from Microsoft Germany. In addition, the American YouTuber Austin Evans was allowed to buy the new console at Microsoft HQ look at and disassemble.
The hardware
The hardware looks really strong on paper:
| 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 |
| Size | 360.45 mm2 |
| Proprocessor | 7 nm enhanced |
| random access memory | 16 GB GDDR6 w / 320mb bus |
| RAM bandwidth | 10 GB @ 560 GB / s, 6 GB @ 336 GB / s |
| Internal memory | 1TB custom NVME SSD |
| I / O port | 2.4 GB / s (Raw), 4.8 GB / s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block) |
| Expandable memory | 1 TB expansion card (matches internal storage exactly) |
| External storage | USB 3.2 external HDD support |
| optical drive | 4K UHD Blu Ray Drive |
| Performance | 4K @ 60FPS, Up to 120FPS |
Where I am personally suspicious is the memory. 1 TB doesn't sound bad on paper, but since this is supposed to be a next-gen console, I expect more. The software will take up a few GB and if a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 on a console like the One X takes up 150 GB, the Series X will fill up very quickly. Microsoft has also built in a special connection for the memory expansion, which will probably not make it easy to expand the memory with normal SSDs.
Ray tracing and more
Microsoft also highlights the new ray tracing, which was demonstrated with a Minecraft demo and an adapted version of Gears 5. Downward compatibility was also mentioned again, which should certainly please a lot of customers. If you buy games from Microsoft (and all partner studios that want to participate), you can then play them on all consoles (where there is a version of the game).
For example, CD has announced Project RED with Cyberpunk 2077. So if you bought the game for Xbox One, you can also play the Series X version on the Series X.
Gamers should never be forced to purchase the same game twice or pay for upgrades. Owners of #Cyberpunk2077 for Xbox One will receive the Xbox Series X upgrade for free when available. https://t.co/nfkfFLj85w
- Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) February 24, 2020
In a US blog entry the new controller (also backwards compatible with the Xbox One) was shown, the news was “the best controller, made even better” and there is a share button.
The new controller doesn't seem to have much news. (Image: Microsoft)
“Quick Resume” also sounds pretty exciting. If I switched off the console, you should be able to continue playing exactly where you left off. This even with multiple games and while the console is running.
All that is missing is the price and the games that will appear together at the start. Insiders report a price starting at 500 euros, which is not really cheap. On the other hand, the console sounds pretty exciting with its performance, backward compatibility and speed.