More Xbox Series X Specs and Details Reveal a Monstrous Game Console
The Xbox Series X is one of the two next-gen gaming consoles we’re expecting to launch sometime this year. We’ve learned quite a bit about it already but now, we have even more details on the hardware specs and features.
It’s no secret that the team wants to deliver the most powerful Xbox ever, but this led to conversations on what defines power for the Xbox Series X. According to the Director of Product Management for the console, Jason Ronald, they believe this generation will be defined by graphics or resolution alone. As such, the system will be powered by the Octa-core AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2-class GPU. This is said to be the “biggest generational leap of SoC and API design” by Microsoft, according to Corporate VP of AMD, Sebastien Nussbaum.
Before we dive in any further, let’s take a look at the detailed specifications first:
Xbox Series X Specs
| CPU | 8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz (3.66 GHz w/ SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU |
| RAM | 16 GB GDDR6 w/ 320mb bus |
| GPU | 12 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU |
| Storage | 1TB Custom NVMe SSD |
| Die Size | 360.45 mm2 |
| Process | 7nm Enhanced |
| Memory Bandwidth | 10GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s |
| I/O Throughput | 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed, with custom hardware decompression block) |
| Expandable Storage | 1 TB Expansion Card (matches internal storage exactly) |
| External HDD Support | USB 3.2 External HDD Support |
| Optical Drive | 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive |
| Performance Target | 4K @ 60 FPS, Up to 120 FPS |
How Does This Translate Into Gaming?
Now I’m sure some of you may be thinking that it looks good but how it does translate into gaming? Gears 5 was used as an example, with the game running with higher resolution textures, volumetric fog, and 50% higher particle count than PC on Ultra settings. The opening cutscene ran at 4K 60 FPS on the Xbox Series X, which is an upgrade over the Xbox One X’s 4K 30 FPS. Some settings like contact shadows and self-shadow lighting for plants and grass were able to be turned on as the console had the power for it. It’s also expected to run 120 FPS in multiplayer.
As for speed, there is said to be some new possibilities thanks to the use of NVMe SSD in the console. Quick Resume technology allows you to resume multiple games by activating them from their suspended state. Moreover, with the games state being stored in the SSD, when you turn the console off, unplug it, or perform a system update, the games you were playing should pick up where you left off “without so much as a loading screen.”
But that’s not all. A new feature known as Xbox Velocity Architecture allows more than just fast loading times as allows games to become even bigger in scale. This is made possible as it integrates hardware and software being optimized for the streaming of in-game assets, allowing 100GBs of game assets to be instantly accessible by the developer.
On the subject of latency, we’re expecting a response time of 2ms with every button press. Using Dynamic Latency Input and a redesigned input software stack, you’re expected to enjoy instantaneous input. This is improved even further with the new HDMI 2.1 standard, which supports 120 FPS and instant synchronization via Variable Refresh Rate.
There may be more details still being kept secret so we’ll be reporting more on this as soon as information becomes available.
Pokdepinion: This is actually shaping up to be one interesting game console. I’m personally curious to see how the PS5 will stack up, and if there’s a possibility this coming generation could be Xbox’s win.
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