Processor Architecture

Source:  Andrews, J., & Bakers, N. (2006). XBOX 360 System Architecture. IEEE Micro , 25-37.

Xbox 360 / Power PC Processor Architecture

The Xbox 360’s CPU consists of 3  3.2 gigahertz processor cores and a 1 megabyte level 2 cache and implements the Power PC instruction set architecture.  A customized version of the VMX single instruction multiple data vector instruction set is used for graphics.  Each processor core has a level one cache with a 32 kilobyte instruction cache and a 32 kilobyte data cache.  Each processor also has a Vector Scalar Unit which contains the four-way single instruction multiple data VMX 128 units for floating point, permute, and simple math operations.  The VMX 128 has 128 registers with 128 bits each.