# Xbox One APU

> main system-on-a-chip of the Xbox One, containing the CPU and GPU

**Wikidata**: [Q128497888](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q128497888)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/xbox-one-apu

## Summary
The Xbox One APU is the central system-on-a-chip (SoC) powering the Xbox One console, integrating both the CPU and GPU into a single unit. Designed by AMD, it combines a Jaguar-based CPU with a Graphics Core Next 2 (GCN 2) GPU, fabricated using a 28 nm lithography process. This custom chip serves as the foundational hardware enabling the console's gaming performance.

## Key Facts
- **Designer**: AMD, manufactured by TSMC.
- **CPU**: 8-core Jaguar architecture, clocked at 1.75 GHz.
- **GPU**: 1.31 teraflops performance, 853 MHz clock speed, based on GCN 2.
- **Fabrication**: 28 nm lithography process.
- **Memory**: 32 MB eSRAM for bandwidth optimization.
- **Successor**: Followed by the Xbox One S APU.
- **Die Size**: 375 mm².

## FAQs
### Q: What CPU and GPU architectures does the Xbox One APU use?
A: The APU uses a Jaguar-based CPU and a Graphics Core Next 2 (GCN 2) GPU, both designed by AMD.

### Q: How does the Xbox One APU compare to its successor, the Xbox One S APU?
A: The Xbox One S APU offers a GPU overclock and improved thermal efficiency, while retaining the same Jaguar CPU cores and 28 nm fabrication process.

### Q: What is the significance of the eSRAM in the Xbox One APU?
A: The 32 MB eSRAM provides high-bandwidth memory for the GPU, compensating for the slower DDR3 RAM and enhancing graphics performance.

## Why It Matters
The Xbox One APU represents a critical integration of CPU and GPU technologies tailored for console gaming. By consolidating these components into a single chip, Microsoft and AMD aimed to balance performance and power efficiency, addressing the challenges of modern game development. Its design choices, such as the use of Jaguar cores and eSRAM, reflect compromises between cost, thermal management, and computational demands. While its performance metrics (e.g., 1.31 teraflops) were outpaced by competitors like the PlayStation 4, the APU's architecture laid the groundwork for iterative improvements in later Xbox models, such as the One S and Series X. This SoC exemplifies the broader industry trend of custom silicon development for specialized hardware, influencing future console designs.

## Notable For
- **Integrated CPU/GPU Design**: Unified processing and graphics capabilities on a single 375 mm² die.
- **eSRAM Implementation**: Use of 32 MB embedded SRAM to boost memory bandwidth for GPU tasks.
- **Jaguar Architecture**: One of the first major consumer applications of AMD's low-power Jaguar microarchitecture.
- **28 nm Fabrication**: Manufactured by TSMC, reflecting the semiconductor industry's node advancements at the time.

## Body
### Design and Architecture
The Xbox One APU combines an 8-core Jaguar CPU (1.75 GHz) with a GCN 2 GPU (853 MHz), fabricated at 28 nm. This integration reduces latency and improves thermal efficiency, critical for compact console form factors.

### Technical Specifications
- **CPU**: 8 Jaguar cores, 1.75 GHz clock speed.
- **GPU**: 1.31 teraflops, 853 MHz, 12 compute units.
- **Memory**: 32 MB eSRAM + DDR3 RAM.
- **Fabrication**: TSMC 28 nm process, 375 mm² die size.

### Manufacturing and Legacy
Produced by TSMC, the APU's design prioritized balanced performance for gaming and media tasks. While criticized for lower GPU performance compared to the PS4, its architecture enabled Microsoft to optimize software and tools for developer ease of use. The APU was succeeded by the Xbox One S APU, which retained the Jaguar CPU but introduced GPU overclocking and manufacturing refinements.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.tomshardware.com/news/microsoft-xbox-series-x-architecture-deep-dive)
2. [Source](https://www.anandtech.com/show/6972/xbox-one-hardware-compared-to-playstation-4/2)
3. [Source](https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2016-xbox-one-s-has-a-gpu-overclock-and-we-have-benchmarked-it)