Reports about Microsoft's next-gen Xbox have started to give us a vague outline of what the gaming console will feature when it releases sometime in 2013. The latest piece of information comes from well-known hacker Hector Martin, or 'Marcan,' who states that the Xbox 720 will be sporting a 1.6GHz processor.
Marcan tweeted the following a couple days ago in response to the public disappointment that the Nintendo Wii U's processor is clocked at a mere 1.2GHz.
"If you want more evidence that MHz isn't everything, a little birdie points out that Durango (Xbox 720) is specc'ed to have a 1.6GHz CPU."
No information about how many cores the Xbox 720 would contain or how the processors would operation was revealed.
While Marcan was merely trying to point out that CPU architecture can vary, and that MHz and GHz aren't the defining characteristic, it will be interesting to see how Microsoft will improve system performance given that the Xbox 360 currently hosts a 3.2GHz tri-core processor. Slower processor speed or not, you can still bet the Xbox 720 will deliver higher-end graphics and gaming performance than any current-gen consoles.
The Xbox 720 is rumored to utilize Blu-ray discs and feature a TV input that will allow for users to record broadcast television much like a DVR. The Xbox 720 should also help launch Kinect 2.0, which is said to be so accurate that it will be able to read lips.
A recent Bloomberg report states that Microsoft will be releasing the Xbox 720 during the 2013 holiday season.
Microsoft is also reported to be working on a cheaper set-top box version of the Xbox 720 that will allow for casual gaming and focus more on entertainment services. Microsoft is also reportedly developing a 7-inch gaming tablet dubbed the 'Xbox Surface.'
Microsoft has not confirmed any of the details above as of now.
What do you think about the next-gen consoles sporting slower clocked speeds than current-gen consoles?