Recent developments in the Xbox Series X lineup indicate that the new models may have enhanced energy efficiency, as uncovered in a detailed teardown.
A video showcasing the breakdown of the latest Xbox Series X models reveals several noteworthy modifications, including a more compact system-on-a-chip (SOAC) and superior energy performance. The presentation, lasting 16 minutes, draws attention to a completely revamped motherboard found in both the 2TB variant and the digital-only 1TB version. Notably, the console's chip size has shrunk to just 6 nanometers.
The cooling system for the chip has also been updated, replacing the older vapor chamber design from the 1TB model with a copper heat pipe setup, which is common in such devices. Although this modification might not considerably influence the average user, it's intriguing to note that both new models appear to exhibit a slight increase in energy efficiency.
The previous Xbox Series X model operated at 167 watts during gameplay. This has been brought down to 156 watts for the digital-only variant and, interestingly, a further reduction to 151 watts for the new 2TB model. In standby mode, the 2TB model uses 51 watts, while the all-digital variant requires only 38 watts. This marks an advancement over the original Series X's 61 watts in idle mode.
Although these reductions may seem minimal, they suggest that both consoles are more energy-conscious over time. Additionally, this improvement could represent a cost-saving strategy for the company; with several more years anticipated in the Series X's lifecycle, the potential exists for increased production efficiency over an extended timeframe.