How to Identify an Xbox 360 with Jasper Chipset

In their bid to make the Xbox 360 quieter, less power-consuming and more reliable, Microsoft have been slowly rolling out new chipsets. The latest revision to the silicon inside the Xbox 360 is code-named "Jasper". It replaces the second generation "Falcon" chips that many credited with reducing the Red Ring of Death problem. Hopefully Jasper can eliminate this deficiency altogether.

Consoles with the new Jasper chips are already on sale in some stores. They are distinguishable by their new power bricks, which look exactly the same as the bulky old ones, but draw only 150 Watts of power instead of the usual 175. Of course, that doesn't help shoppers who want to know if the box they are looking at contains a Jasper or an older model. The way to determine whether the console has the new chip is by looking at the Lot Number on the outside of the box. The first Jasper models have a lot number of 0843, so if yours is equal to or higher than that number, there is a stong chance that it contains a Jasper, rather than a Falcon equipped Xbox 360.

Early reports suggest that the new console is slightly quieter than early versions, but other than that there are no other obvious signs that it has the new chips. We will have to wait and see if Microsoft have solved the Red Ring of Death problem once and for all.

[Source: Xbox Scene]