Microsoft unveiled the full specs for its next-generation console, the Xbox Series X, in a Xbox blog post on Monday morning.
See the full specs below.
- CPU: 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.8GHz (3.6GHz with SMT)
- GPU: 12 TFLOPs, 52 CUs at 1.825GHz, Custom RDNA 2
- Die Size: 360.45mm2
- Process: TSMC 7nm Enhanced
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- Memory Bandwidth: 10GB at 560GB/s, 6GB at 336GB/s
- Internal Storage: 1TB Custom NVMe SSD
- I/O Throughput: 2.4GB/s (Raw), 4.8GB/s (Compressed)
- Expandable Storage: 1TB Expansion Card
- External Storage: USB 3.2 HDD Support
- Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray Drive
- Performance Target: 4K at 60fps – up to 120fps
According to Microsoft, the Xbox Series X will be defined by three primary characteristics: power, speed and compatibility.
When it comes to power the Series X’s processor is no slouch. Microsoft is using two main logicboards and through a partnership with AMD sports a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU boasting eight cores that clock in at 3.8GHz each and a custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU with 12 teraflops and 52 compute units clocked at 1.825GHz each.
There’s also 16GB of GDDR6 memory – a significant upgrade from the Xbox One X’s 12GB GDDR5. Though not all of the memory will be allocated to games: 10GB for GPU optimal memory, 3.5GB for standard memory, and 2.5GB reserved for the operating system.
Load times have always been one of the top features touted with new console releases and the Series X is no different. Microsoft released a demonstration video that shows State of Decay 2 loading a full 40 seconds faster on the Series X in comparison to the Xbox One X. More than a little bit impressive and it’s thanks to the partnership between the console’s new SSD and the beefy new processor.
What’s perhaps the most impressive feature from the Series X is Microsoft’s new Quick Resume technology. This incredible new tech — seen in the demo video above — allows players to save their game’s state to the SSD and resume them after several days, a week, or even after a system update and full reboot. With the press of a button you can switch between multiple different games, even after unplugging the console and letting it sit on your shelf for a month.
Microsoft
Players will be enjoying incredible new games that are massive in size due to a number of factors, but storage for these games and their save files shouldn’t be a concern. Microsoft has partnered with Seagate to create a proprietary external 1TB SSD expansion card that can be plugged into the rear of the console for extra storage. Basically, it’s a giant memory card that ensures you’ll never have to worry about not being able to store your extra games.
And finally, compatibility. Probably the feature most asked for since the last generation of Microsoft and Sony console’s were released. Players hate giving up their old games and the Series X promises that they won’t have to. Microsoft is promising a full library with thousands of games from Xbox One, Xbox 360, and even the original Xbox. There will be full backwards compatibility with all Xbox One games and the new hardware promises better frame rates, higher resolutions and improved image quality.
The Xbox Series X is slated for a holiday 2020 release date.
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