| drkohler said: Note that this list is only valid once the manufacturing lines are optimised (maximum yields). Initial prices for cpus/gpus are very considerably higher, so there is a reason why the next console parts are not as new as you wish them to be. |
HD7000 series has been out for more than a year. HD7770Ghz is not exactly setting the world on fire (and neither is a 768 Steam Processor 800mhz HD8000 series rumored in the next Xbox). Also, we still have almost a year before Xbox 720/PS4 launch. That means prices on these GPUs will only fall further. Here is my point: Xbox 360's Xenos GPU cost MS $141 to purchase/manufacture. The console retailed for $399, despite manufacturing costs roughly estimated at $525 for it. Now, the current rumor that Xbox 720 will have a 768 Steam Processor 800mhz (1.2 Tflop) AMD GPU tells us the performance is roughly similar to an HD7770Ghz. The HD7770Ghz retails at places like Newegg for only $100-110 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202011).
OK, now look at the 2 charts I linked that show Median retail prices vs. Total cost to purchase the graphics cards by AIBs. If HD7770Ghz retails for roughly $100-110, the total cost to purchase this GPU directly by MS by Q4 2013 will likely be no more than $50-60. Essentially if MS prices Xbox 720 for $350-400, we are getting a short end of the stick this time. It's either MS is investing the budget towards other features like Kinect 2.0, screens in the controllers, etc. OR they are pulling a Nintendo and not taking huge losses on the hardware. Either way, the rumored specs for Xbox 720 on the GPU side are disappointing:
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-next-gen-xbox-specs-leak
