Microsoft reveals detailed specs for its Xbox Series X Console – RDNA 2 confirmed!

Microsoft has just confirmed a lot of the specifications of its Xbox Series X console, revealing the exact architectures used in its CPU and graphics processors and several of the new features that are coming to their next-generation system. 

For starters, Microsoft has confirmed that they are using an RDNA 2 graphics processor which offers 12 TFLOPS of GPU performance. In terms of raw TFLOPS, this is double what the Xbox One X offers, and more than the peak compute performance of AMD’s Radeon RX 5700 XT (which offers 9.75 TFLOPS of peak FP32 performance). 

This doubling of GPU compute performance is just the beginning, Microsoft’s new Xbox Series X graphics component utilised AMD’s next-generation RDNA 2 architecture, which packs increased IPC when compared to AMD’s older GCN and RDNA 1 graphics architectures. In simpler terms, this means that each TFLOP of graphics performance on RDNA 2 is worth more than an equivalent TFLOP on GCN-based graphics cards (Xbox One X, PlayStation 4 Pro) and RDNA 1-based graphics cards (AMD RX 5700 series). As it stands, AMD doesn’t offer a graphics card this powerful within the PC market. 

Next up we have Microsoft’s new Zen 2-based CPU, which is due to deliver a major leap in CPU performance over the Jaguar-based processors on the Xbox One S and Xbox One X. These processors will offer Microsoft higher clock speeds, larger caches and increase performance per clock. This is where Microsoft will see a true generational leap in system performance, a factor which will allow games to become a lot more complex. 

New Features

Aside from the Xbox Series X’s architectural improvements on the CPU and graphics side, Microsoft has also added support for Variable Rate Shading (VRS) and Hardware-Accelerated DirectX Raytracing (DXR) to its hardware, which will allow Microsoft to push graphics further by enabling raytracing on consoles and by spending GPU cycles more efficiently. 

Microsoft has also promised full HDMI 2.1 support alongside 120Hz refresh rate support, enabling games to run at faster than 60 FPS framerates while offering HDMI 2.1 features like low latency mode, variable refresh rates and more. Microsoft has also worked to lower its controller latencies to decrease input response times further. 

With Xbox Series X, Microsoft also plans to offer a “quick resume” feature on multiple games at once, allowing users of its new console to quickly continue games without the need to wait through long loading screens. SSD storage is also set to help make games load faster, and to make game worlds larger and more varied.

Backwards Compatability

Microsoft has promised that all Xbox One compatible games will work on Xbox Series X, including backwards-compatible Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles. With Xbox Series X, Microsoft promises gamers steadier framerates, faster load times and improved visuals and resolutions with enhanced titles.

“Smart Delivery” is a new feature from Microsoft which will allow gamers to run the best version of their favourite titles on Xbox Series X, allowing those who purchase Xbox One versions of games to access the Series X version if they buy Microsoft’s next-generation console. Microsoft plans to open this feature to developers and publishers for cross-generation titles, though it is up to them if they want to use it.   

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X is due to be an incredibly powerful console, offering gaming hardware that even the PC market lacks. As it stands, the Xbox Series X contains AMD’s strongest (announced) graphics card, and that sets up Xbox Series X as an incredibly powerful gaming system. 

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