Xbox 360 Jasper: What's changed?

By Andrew Webster

Anyone who has purchased an Xbox 360 lately might have received the latest version of the console, dubbed the Jasper. This most recent update is expected to improve the reliability issues that have plagued the console since its launch. However, we've heard this story from Microsoft before. So what exactly is new in this latest iteration to make the 360 a more reliable piece of hardware?

Of course, the biggest change is the newly redesigned motherboard, which should help alleviate the infamous Red Ring of Death problem. Attached to the motherboard is a new 65-nanometer graphic chip. This new chip will consume less power and run cooler.

The new versions of the Arcade unit also feature the addition of 256MB of internal memory. "We are constantly updating the console's more than 1,700 internal components," a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to Xbox 360 Fanboy. "We can confirm that we are moving to internal memory for the Xbox 360 Arcade." Essentially, this additional internal storage replaces the 256MB memory unit that used to come with 360 Arcade units.

The only other change that we currently know of is that the console also includes a new 150-watt power supply, as opposed to the previous 175-watt version. These changes were most likely made in order to support the New Xbox Experience, which requires a great deal of the 360's processing power. Hopefully, these changes will all add up to a more hard, longer-lasting system.