Xboxist

Xbox 360 45nm Chip Production to Start 2008

According to a report by Joystiq [via Engadget], new 45 nanometer chips are due to start production possibly as early as late 2008. Apparently a Singapore based company, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing has begin work and they also currently produce the current Xbox 360 CPU. The smaller chip could potentially mean "lowered production costs, smaller power requirements, and a cooler operating temperature, which would address a handful of problems the current Xbox design has".

"As 65nm just started production in the last two quarters, you would expect 45nm to [begin production] about 18 months from that timeframe," said Chia Song Hwee, President of Microsoft manufacturing partner, Charted Semiconductor.

Too long to wait? Then at least have comfort that the 65 nm chips should be driving Xbox 360s soon, possibly around Fall of this year. That's Autumn to everybody else.