What's on your (hypothetical) Xbox 540 wish list?

Wed May 14, 2008 2:42PM EDT

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Microsoft has already quashed rumors of a redesigned, slimmer Xbox 360 for this fall, but not before gamers—myself included—began dreaming up wish lists for the non-existent (for now, at least) new console.

Rumors of an Xbox "520"—basically a half-step between the Xbox 360 and, say, the next-next gen console, the 720—have been circulating for...well, just about as long as the 360's been out.

This time around, TG Daily reported that it heard whispers of a "mid-cycle" refresh of the Xbox 360—which might include a slimmer design, a la the slim PlayStation 2—set for fall 2009. The rumors coincide with word that new, 65-nanometer graphics chips for the Xbox (smaller and cooler than the current 90nm 360 GPUs) are rolling off assembly lines.

Microsoft quickly denied the "Xbox 540" rumors, saying it has "no plans" for a new console this year.

But we can dream, can't we? Indeed, the Xbox 360 in particular is in sore need of a hardware redesign, given its sky-high failure rate, noisy cooling fans, and the like. Here's what would make me cough up the cash for a hypothetical Xbox 540 (these are all hardware changes, mind you, not software updates):

Better cooling system: Overheating seems to be the main bringer of the Red Ring of Death—the dreaded ring of red light that signals a major hardware failure. The upcoming 65nm graphics chips for the 360 should go a long way toward keeping new consoles cool, but a top-to-bottom redesign of the entire cooling system is also in order. Which brings us to...

Quieter cooling fans and optical drives: The Xbox 360 must be one of the loudest gadgets I've ever owned (well, the 20-pound, 4MB hard drive my dad bought in the mid-80s might take the cake). After spending some time with my relatively whisper-quiet PS3, I'd gladly fork over more cash for an Xbox that doesn't roar like a jet engine, especially when the DVD drive is spinning. And that reminds me...

A slot-loading optical drive: Again, I've been pretty happy with the slot-loading drive on the PS3—why not one for the Xbox 360 (er, 540)? It would definitely be a step up from the flimsy DVD tray in the current model, which tends to get jammed in the closed position. And speaking of optical drives...

A built-in Blu-ray drive: This one will probably have to wait for the Xbox 720, circa 2012 or so, but still, it would be a nice touch.

Built-in Wi-Fi: From the start, Microsoft's $100, snap-on wireless adapter seemed like a rip-off. Just build Wi-Fi into the console and be done with it.

Slimmer design...maybe: I guess it would be nice, but frankly, I'd happily trade a slimmer console for all the points I just mentioned, especially since overheating has been such a thorn in the 360's side.

So that's my "top 5" in the Xbox hardware wish-list department. What about you—what new hardware features would you like to see in an Xbox 540?

Related:
Microsoft Denies Slimmer Xbox 360 [Gizmodo]

 

 

Comments on What's on your (hypothetical) Xbox 540 wish list?

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  • 66 Posted by mendoza_51 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    actuallly back here in asia we discovered the countermeasure for the so called redlight of death our xbox here doesnt overheat it always stays cools no matter how many hours of gametime your consuming

  • 67 Posted by jennifer.eight on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sales aren't half as bad as you make them out to be. If you've been paying attention, Sony can't keep up with demand -- hence the price increases in all things Blu Ray. I'm currntly on the waiting list for the top of the line model now. Americans -- well far too many are willing of us are willing to live with the mediocrity and technical ignorance. I was a salesman at Ultimate Electronics, and did more teaching than selling. At least they were asking questions, I suppose... For years, we audio and videophiles have had to stand silently and helplessly by while the government extended the deadline that all things would be broadcasted in digital. People are actucally fighting it now -- morons. Anyway, if you want High Definition, BLU RAY is the only game in town, PERIOD. So what real choice does Microsoft have but to adopt it?

  • 68 Posted by theboy.dresden on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's okay but I hope everyone understands that with all of these the price of the Xbox will sky rocket.

  • 69 Posted by djb21685 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    How bout they get rid of those freaking 3 red lights aw man I've been through three Xbox 360's already and just this week a my xbox 360 did it again i'm 360less waiting on my console to get back.

  • 70 Posted by bowlgreenbay on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    yes i think your right and also i think Microsoft should make xbox's that will not overheat so fast because my xbox is 4 months old and i have had overheating problems with my xbox. but you know it might just be my xbox.

  • 71 Posted by sinellhell on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    This time around, TG Daily reported that it heard whispers of a "mid-cycle" refresh of the Xbox 360%

  • 73 Posted by davidflowers90 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    so you want the 360 to become the ps3 with slot bay, bluray,nice look free internet play. just get a ps3 save time and money

  • 74 Posted by kevinbaradar1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    ^^ you do realize that the regular 360's have HDMI output...

  • 75 Posted by austin_ridgeway on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    It sounds like all you people just want Microsoft to make an Xbox PS3

  • 76 Posted by quickbiteme2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    Geez everyone made some great comments. Before I begin to address any of the issues I'm reading I would like to say one thing that would make the xbox great FREE XBOX LIVE and I dont mean the crappy silver live I mean the good gold one that lets you play with others. That being said: The new 360's have an HDMI cable port (srry old 360 owners, I am one of them so it made me mad too) As was pointed out earlier the system isn't meant to be a dvd player it is a added bonus but kinda redundant. The 360 isn't as advanced as the PS3 because it had a whole year as a head start (PS2 vs Original Xbox?). I would love to see a built in Wifi but since MS wants to keep the profit of each system as high as they can that likely means you wont see it. The "tilt" ability with the controllers is one sounds great and is a big step in gaming but it hasnt been used to its potential, and sometimes it kinda gets annoying when your swinging your controller around to do something. To finish up, this is no way meant to insult or degrade anyone posting I think you guys really thought this through, and the article is great all of which MS could change to their next generation of the 360. I have 2 of the 3 systems and will be getting the third when MGS 4 comes out so I'm not a Nintendo fanboy or a Xbox Fanatic I just dont want to put any of the systems in comparison of each other. (Dont forget doesnt take graphics to sell a game, wii is still harder to find than any other system).

  • 77 Posted by jerrycanelo@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    Were only human, all three consoles has problems or are missing things that the other has. Is not like the human race has more than a thousand years of advance technology behind us. Appreciate what you have ----- s!

  • 78 Posted by sportguy13112 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree, full backward compatibility would be a very nice upgrade

  • 79 Posted by jennifer.eight on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    That is crazy. I've never had a single problem with my 360, and it's two years old. Am I just lucky then?

  • 80 Posted by connor_bakan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is kind of funny because it sounds like you want your Xbox360 to turn into a PS3 and have all the features the PS3 have.... -Better cooling system -Quieter cooling fans and optical drives -A slot-loading optical drive -Built-in Wi-Fi -Slimmer design...maybe http://www.flickr.com/photos/costadvance/2242425097/ Aslo if they were to come out with a new Xbox it would be ALOT more Expensive mayb $500 with Blu-Ray and all tht.

  • 81 Posted by mrsmith820 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    This isnt really what i would like to add, just something im angry about. Its not the xbox, its my internet. Is there anyway anyone knows how to get xbox live with crap internet? My county wont give me broadband/dsl/cable whatever, i have dial-up. Anyone know if buying wifi is an option? lol

  • 82 Posted by monteith.john on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Please, people: the PS3 is gargantuan, ugly, and has a poor selection of games. By the way, congratulations on winning the HD war, which is pointless since high-def disks will be obsolete before the next gen of console----- the stores. Microsoft intentionally fought a battle that was theirs to lose by backing HDDVD; they knew that their Marketplace was where to put their time and energy. All this talk about high-def disks and slot drives is pointless, too, since the future of gaming consoles is a wireless device that contains all the games you are playing. Hmm, but the 360 only came out with a 20G drive--oh wait, yeah, then they pushed out the Elite drives with 120G space. And why? Because no matter what kinds of disks you're using in two years, you're going to look like a throwback to the 20th century getting up, opening the cabinet, cracking open two cases, shuffling the disks, popping in a new one, waiting for it to load up (the other dragging leg of the PS3: load times), and on and on ... while 360 and 540 owners just flip through a dashboard of games already onboard the system. Sorry guys; if you own a PS3, you already own a piece of history. Enjoy your Blu-Ray, along with your DustBuster and your 3D glasses.

  • 83 Posted by kimslack90 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww yyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! i want the same thing and then i would buy it.

  • 85 Posted by paul_dawisp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    yea Sure would be nice if the 360 had those features... but the price would be over the roof. It will cost more than the Ps3 like 800-900$

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