Ordering online or picking up in the store can be a crapshoot whether you get a Jasper as the new config filters into the supply and they're not in packaging labeled differently, or obviously, from older models.

Here Newegg is offering the Arcade bundle for $199 and calling out its 256MB of internal storage, which is code for OMG TEH JASPER.

If you have $200, in addition to the onboard storage, you'll get a savings on the power usage and a cooler-running machine. And, like, one that won't brick.

Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade Holiday Bundle 256MB White [Newegg, thanks okenny]

Writing on Engadget, the modder extraordinaire has broken down just what it is that makes the Jasper better, and more importantly, how you need to check the back of the unit to make sure you're getting one.

It's all in the amps. If the back of a 360 says 12.1 amps, it's a Jasper, and you're free to enjoy the cooler, safer experience that brings with it. If it's any higher than 12.1, it's an older unit, you lucked out.

Inside an Xbox 360 Jasper: Ben Heck dissects the mythical console, then tells you how to find one [Engadget]

Here are three things that enough people are blabbing about in the video game blogosphere that I'm reasonably comfortable passing them along. These are other people's rumors, and other people's sources — I've tried to put a sniff test on 'em. By itself I don't think one makes much of a post, but three are good to chew over with your Reese's Puffs this a.m. Enjoy.

• New Xbox 360 "Jasper" Console to have 256 MB of Flash Memory — Xbox 360 Fanboy is reporting this, but is it really a rumor? Dean Takahashi reported the 256MB figure as straight-up fact in his rundown of what the 360 will feature. Either way, that would allow the console to be shipped with the entire NXE on it, removing the need to connect the machine to XBL to download and install it.

• Disaster: Day of Crisis OTW to North America? — GoNintendo got screenshots of email from a reader talking to Nintendo customer support (grain of salt alert), in which the reader was told "I’m pleased to report that Disaster: Day of Crisis has been announced for North America, but no release date yet." The comment was attributed to Dervin Camden, Nintendo of America Inc. Makes sense, and the last time we had someone's tech support give up details about a title release, it was GTA IV for the PC and that turned out pretty well.

• Fable II OTW to PC? Joystiq goes with a rumor from a German-language site, quoting a "gut unterrichteter Quelle" (well-informed source) that Fable II will indeed be ported over to the PC. The rumor goes so far as to give a date: Feb. 15, 2009. Joystiq points out Fable's PC release came a year after the original, so this might be a little early, but who knows. That was an original, this is a sequel that everyone expected to make nothing other than moolah galore, maybe they had the port in the works simultaneously.

Rumor: Jasper 360s Get 256MB Internal Storage[Xbox 360 Fanboy]
RUMOR — Disaster: Day of Crisis Getting a Chance in North America? [GoNintendo via GayGamer]
Rumor: Fable II Coming to PC in February [Joystiq via Blue's News]

Biggest giveaway is the 150w you can see there on the power brick. Jaspers are supposed to run quiter, use less power and run cooler, so if you're in the market for a 360, might want to look for one manufactured anytime after October 23, 2008.

I Got A Jasper Baby! [xbox-scene]

The Opus chipset is actually a bit strange. Featuring a 65nm CPU and a 90nm GPU, the Opus seems like a step back because it's merely intended to fit in the original Xenon Xbox 360 cases. With the Opus, all those RRoD systems can be, in some small way, recycled. This chipset will probably be reserved for refurbished systems only.

That means the Valhalla would be the next chipset of choice since it combines the CPU and GPU onto one 65nm chip. Requiring even less cooling that we'd see in the Jasper chipset, the Valhalla could be the Holy Grail for Microsoft to make some serious cash on the console business. And it could happen either in late 2009 or 2010.

Now to sit back and listen to all the, "I have to wait until freakin' 2010 to buy a 360??" comments.

Next Xbox 360 Designs are "Opus" and "Valhalla" [8bitjoystick]

Takahashi also claims that Microsoft engineers feel like the heat problem is under control with both the recent Falcon's and older Zephyr's heat sink solutions, so buyers shouldn't beware when picking up new machines. While we're not waiting until the new chipset hits next August to buy a machine, we're not so certain the Microsoft has solved all their manufacturing issues just yet.

Xbox 360 secrets: After Falcon comes Jasper [via mcv]