A detailed schematic of the CPU for the next Xbox, codename Durango, seems to have surfaced, describing the unit down to the very last detail.
According to VGLeaks, the CPU is broken down into two identical modules. Each module features four x64 cores, each running a single thread at 1.6 Ghz. Each module also has its own 2MB L2 data cache, along with 32kb Instruction and data caches. At 1.6 Ghz, the individual cores are actually less powerful than the ones in the Xbox 360. As the report points out, however the emphasis on running multiple parellel cores will the console process functions more quickly: "With Durango, a familiar instruction set architecture and high performance silicon mean developers can focus effort on content and features, not micro-optimization. The trend towards more parallel power continues in this hardware; so, an effective strategy for multi-core computing is more important than ever."
Rumor has it the next Xbox will also use a D3D11.x 800MHz GPU and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. According to Kotaku, the next Xbox will use 50GB Blu-Ray discs and sport a 500GB hard drive. Earlier this year VGLeaks released a similar diagram detailing the console's complete architechture. The newly-released CPU specs are identical to the one from the earlier report.
This setup, should it prove accurate, would mean that the PS4 would be the powerful of the two upcoming new consoles. At their console announcement last week, Sony revealed that the PS4 will feature a x86-64 AMD "Jaguar" CPU, a 1.84 TFLOPS AMD GPU and 8GB of GDDR5 RAM. To put things in perspective, the PS3's Cell processor is decidely more powerful than the Xbox 360 CPU: While it's always nice to boast about higher specs, the Xbox 360 managed to excell despite losing the technical arms race.
