Rumor: Xbox 360 'Slim' Motherboard Photos Leaked
Is Microsoft trimming the fat off its console?
by Jim Reilly
March 17, 2010 - Is a new Xbox 360 console on its way?

Images appeared on Chinese tech forum A9VG last night showing what looks to be a trimmed down Xbox 360 motherboard. Is it real? Well, there are a number of factors to consider.

With the launch of Natal this fall, Microsoft has the perfect opportunity to re-launch the Xbox 360 brand with a all-new look to its console. The company also probably wants to get rid of the console's dreaded "three red lights" error as it looks to penetrate the casual market. There has also been loose talk from Microsoft executives before about a "new Xbox 360" coming in 2010.

The pictures below indicate that both the CPU and GPU processors have been combined into one chip, allowing for less heat to be generated and, of course, a nice cost reduction for Microsoft.

Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but Microsoft is also hiring for a Motherboard Design Engineer for the Xbox console, which is responsible for "aggressive cost reduction of the console throughout the life of the product."

Microsoft, as usual, said it doesn't comment on rumors or speculation. If there is a Xbox 360 Slim in the works, you can probably guess we'll hear about it this summer, perhaps even at E3.



http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/107/1078172p1.html