Xbox Series X 12 TFLOP GPU confirmed, 4x Xbox One CPU and 8x GPU power

Today Microsoft revealed more Xbox Series X specs, confirming a powerful 12TFLOP RDNA 2-powered GPU on AMD's Big Navi refresh while showing just how big the leap from current- to next-gen actually is.

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Contrary to the recent leaked specs, the Xbox Series X will have a 12 TFLOP GPU that's better than any current Navi GPU on the market, reinforcing Microsoft's original "double the Xbox One X's GPU" statements. With its new heavily customized 7nm AMD SoC, the Xbox Series X's GPU is eight times as powerful as an Xbox One, and it's Zen 2 CPU is four times as powerful as the lower-end Jaguar CPU found in the original launch Xbox One.

"Xbox Series X is our most powerful console ever powered by our custom designed processor leveraging AMD's latest Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures. Delivering four times the processing power of an Xbox One and enabling developers to leverage 12 TFLOPS of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) performance - twice that of an Xbox One X and more than eight times the original Xbox One.

"Xbox Series X delivers a true generational leap in processing and graphics power with cutting edge techniques resulting in higher framerates, larger, more sophisticated game worlds, and an immersive experience unlike anything seen in console gaming."

While Microsoft didn't announce key specs like RAM and frequency timing (past reports from Windows Central cover this info, however), it did re-confirm multiple aspects of the Xbox SX including hardware-accelerated ray tracing, variable rate shading, and new details like auto low-latency and dynamic latency input support.

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Microsoft has put strong emphasis on high Xbox SX frame rates right from the beginning. The Xbox Series X will support up to 120 FPS (assuming on upscaled 4K and native 1080p, possibly 1440p), and developers will have lots of nifty tricks to make this happen, including new optimizations on the HDMI 2.1 spec.

Variable rate shading, variable refresh rate, and auto low-latency will all work together to help squash lag and improve refresh timing synchronicity between the console's video output and the display itself. The result will allow tighter frame rates while reducing screen tearing.

Variable rate shading (VRS) in particular allows devs to focus on individual aspects of a scene and improve FPS by prioritizing and de-prioritizing specific effects and rendered areas. Basically devs can reduce clarity in a few spots without you noticing in order to speed up gameplay frame rates.

Variable refresh rate (VRR) will allow the console's output to match the refresh rates of a monitor, TV or display. For example, hooking up the Xbox Series X to a monitor that supports 120Hz over HDMI 2.1 will let you game at up to 120FPS, if a game can hit that performance target.

Auto low-latency (ALLM) is something new Microsoft hasn't really talked about, but we've heard it thrown around in a few reports. It's another optimizing spec that goes hand-in-hand with VRR, and essentially automatically sets your Xbox Series X to the lowest ms latency timings the output display will allow.

"ALLM allows Xbox One and Xbox Series X to automatically set the connected display to its lowest latency mode. VRR synchronizes the display's refresh rate to the game's frame rate, maintaining smooth visuals without tearing. Ensuring minimal lag and the most responsive gaming experience."

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Ray tracing will work in tandem with this features as well; VRR and VRS will help reduce the sizable frame rate hits usually associated with ray tracing, a new visual technology that can massively improve effects like lighting, reflections, ambient weather and fog environmental effects, and much more.

Sadly there was no specific mention of the console's "next-generation" SSD. Past reports claim the Xbox Series X's SSD will based on a DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 SSD with QLC flash on Phison's E19T memory controller, which allows max speeds of 3.7GB/second.

These features aim to push the console's raw GPU and CPU power to new heights, enabling a new era of ultra high FPS gaming and visual clarity we haven't seen before. Developers in particular have access to much more potent SDK software to optimize their games, and Microsoft is opening the door to some truly crazy experiences.

The Xbox Series X will release sometime in Holiday 2020. Based on everything we know about the system it could cost $499 or even more.

Check below for confirmed specs and details, and a huge content listing of everything we've heard about Xbox Series X so far:

Xbox Series X confirmed details (Formerly Project Scarlett):

• 8-core, 16-thread Zen 2 CPU
• Navi GPU on RDNA architecture
• Highly customized 7nm SoC from AMD
• GDDR6 memory
• 2x Xbox One X's 6TFLOPs of GPU perf
• 4x CPU power of Xbox One generation
• Can deliver up to 40x more performance than Xbox One in specific use cases
• Adaptive sync supported
• Super-fast SSD that can be used as VRAM
• Supports 8K resolution (likely media playback)
• 120FPS gaming
• Variable refresh rate (adaptive sync/FreeSync)
• Variable Rate Shading
• Raytracing confirmed with dedicated raytracing cores
• Backward compatible with thousands of Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games
• New controller with a dedicated share button
• Compatible with Xbox One accessories

Lockhart (Unconfirmed lower-end Xbox Series hardware)

• 1440p 60FPS
• No disc drive
• Super-fast SSD that can be used as VRAM
• 7nm AMD SoC w/ scaled-down 8-core, 16 thread Zen 2 CPU at 3.5GHZ and Navi GPU
• Lower GDDR6 memory pool (Possibly 12GB)
• ~6-8 TFLOPs of power?
• Aims to rival PS4 Pro/Replace Xbox One S
• Full backward compatibility with all Xbox One games
• Cheaper MSRP

Anaconda/Xbox Series X/Project Scarlett

• 4K 60FPS
• Disc drive with 4K UHD playback
• Super-fast SSD that can be used as VRAM
• 7nm AMD SoC with 8-core, 16 thread Zen 2 CPU at 3.5GHz and Navi GPU
• 16GB GDDR6 RAM
• 12 TFLOPs of power
• 2x GPU power as Xbox One X/aims to replace Xbox One X
• Full backward compatibility with all Xbox One games
• More expensive MSRP

Xbox Series X coverage:

• Xbox Series X natively plays all Xbox games better
• Xbox Series X 12 TFLOP GPU confirmed, 4x Xbox One CPU and 8x GPU power
• Xbox Series X packs dedicated audio hardware acceleration
• How publishers will approach current-gen on PS5, Xbox Series X
• Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 pricing expected to be $500
• Xbox studio using AI to upscale low-res textures in real-time
• Coronavirus may delay PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X launch past 2020
• Xbox Series X may support CFExpress memory cards
• Xbox Series X might support UltraWide monitors thanks to Samsung
• Xbox Series X CPU is the key to next-gen frame rates, Spencer teases
• China trade tariffs won't directly raise PS5, Xbox Series X prices
• AMD unknown APU: is this the mid-range Xbox Series S chip?
• Xbox Series X SSD: DRAM-less PCIe 4.0 NVMe with up to 3.7GB/sec speeds
• First photo of an Xbox Series X prototype has leaked
• Next-gen console exclusives will be few and far between through 2021
• No, Xbox Series X won't run Steam or the Epic Store
• Ex-Xbox VP won't buy next-gen Xbox, will play exclusives on PC instead
• Xbox Series X HDMI pass-through currently not supported
• New Xbox Series X renders show ventilation and back ports
• Xbox Series X new die shot teases beautiful AMD custom 7nm APU
• Analyst: $500 Xbox Series X will take wind out of Microsoft's sails
• PlayStation 5 to outsell Xbox Series X in 2020, analyst predicts
• Xbox Lockhart going digital-only at launch would be a mistake
• Xbox Series X new die shot teases beautiful AMD custom 7nm APU
• Xbox Series X will destroy PlayStation 5 with its MUCH faster GPU
• Xbox Series X rumor: launching November 22 for $499
• Xbox Series X GPU is better than any Navi GPU released so far
• Xbox Series X may be more powerful, but will third-party devs use it?
• Xbox Series X will boost performance of previous gen Xbox games
• PS5, Xbox Series X SSD may use software-defined flash to boost speeds
• Microsoft to 'virtually eliminate' loading times on Xbox Series X
• How the Xbox Series X will look in your living room
• Clarifying the Xbox Series X name
• Xbox Series X's custom SoC built with backward compatibility in mind
• Next-gen Forza is playable on Xbox Series X, is 'vastly different'
• Xbox Series X size comparison vs Xbox One, PS4 Pro, Switch
• Next-gen Xbox controller has a share button
• Xbox Series X naming scheme leaves door open for Lockhart
• Xbox Series X may allow suspend and resume for multiple games at once
• Microsoft reveals next-gen Xbox console, the Xbox Series X
• Xbox Series X may allow suspend and resume for multiple games at once
• Next-gen Xbox Lockhart has 'significantly less RAM' for 1440p gaming
• Next-gen Xbox Scarlett specs: 12TFLOPs, 16GB RAM, 3.5GHz Zen 2 CPU
• Cheaper next-gen Xbox Lockhart targets 1440p 60FPS
• Cheaper next-gen Xbox Lockhart targets 1440p 60FPS
• Project Scarlett devkits aren't widely available yet
• PS5, Xbox Scarlett SSD may use Optane-like ReRAM to supercharge speeds
• NVIDIA G-Sync monitors to improve PlayStation 5 and Xbox Scarlett
• Project Scarlett won't get VR gaming, Microsoft doesn't care about VR
• Next-gen Xbox Scarlett plays four generations of Xbox games
• Microsoft teases next-gen Xbox: 8K, 120FPS, super-fast SSD
• Xbox Scarlett CPU: 'no compromises', allows for 4K 120FPS gaming
• Microsoft: Xbox Scarlett will kick PlayStation 5's ass in perf/price
• Next-gen Xbox may hit 4K 60FPS in every game
• Project Scarlett to hit 1080p 120FPS gaming
• Project Scarlett trade-in program announced, but there's a big catch
• New Viking Assassin's Creed may be next-gen console launch game
• Next-gen Xbox may get room-scale VR gaming
• PS5 and Xbox Scarlett will both handle ray tracing differently
• Gears 5 developer says Xbox Scarlett has dedicated ray tracing cores
• GTA 6 on PS5, Project Scarlett to have insane hyper-realistic visuals
• AMD 'Flute': Xbox Scarlett SoC: Zen 2 8C/16T @ 3.2GHz on 7nm
• Project Scarlett's price isn't locked in yet
• Project Scarlett isn't the last Xbox console