Rumor: Microsoft Next-Gen Xbox To Feature 16-Core CPU

According to CVG, the latest issue of Xbox World (XBW) has reported that Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox codenamed “Durango” will use a 16-Core CPU. This rumored 16 core monstrosity would be based on IBM’s Power PC architecture. It is this reporter’s opinion, however, that the CPU isn’t a true 16-core CPU, but instead is comprised of 4 Cores and 4 SMT threads per core for a total of 4 cores and 16 threads. This hunch is based on the fact IBM’s PowerPC 7 architecture is already capable of 4 threads per core with a max of 8 cores and 32 threads. If Durango, however, does indeed utilize a true 16-core CPU I would have to wonder why. As gaming performance tends to be limited by the GPU in each console, why pair a high end monster CPU with a mediocre GPU. That said, it seems according to XBW the Kinect 2 could use up to 4 cores for tracking multiple players, so maybe the CPU grunt is necessary in order for Microsoft to properly implement this feature. Time will certainly tell if all these rumors are true or not, but in this particular case our readers should take it with a grain of salt.