So my brother was thinking of getting a 360 Arcade because he had the money, but without the HD I wondered if he'd be able to play online at all. While I know the console has online access, I am thinking its restricted storage space wouldn't allow it to install required patches to games so he could play online.
Can anyone confirm this? I did some very basic searching but no real confirmation of what I suspect. He doesn't have a lot of money and only thought about getting it because of the $199 price (plus $50 for Gold account), so if I tell him he can't play games online with the Arcade model he'll probably just not get an 360.
I had an arcade for about a year without an HDD. This was back when they were called cores and came with only a 64 mb memory card. I bought a 256 to save games, but I had about 8 games and that 64 mb memory card was enough space. So I think you'd be fine.
You only REEEEEALLY need a HDD if you're gonna do DLC or downloadable games. For saves and patches, I survived on 256 + 64 mb for a year. And I never filled up that space completely, btw.
You should be fine with the 512MB for a while. If you eventually need a HD, you can just buy one used. 20GBs and 60GBs are pretty trivial to find on eBay for cheap (120GBs are easy to find too, but they're nearly always knockoffs). I picked up my 20GB for like $30 (with shipping), my 60GB for like $45.
The Elite is still by far the better value, but if you're on a budget you can buy an Arcade now and just add the pieces later.
The hard drive is totally worth it, by the way, for the game installation. Holy fuck the damn thing makes so much noise otherwise.
EDIT: Hell, I still have that 20GB if you wanted to buy him a gift. PM if interested, I won't want much for it.
Shit, the elite doesn't even come with an HD cable anymore.
Which is bullshit, because the OEM cable is about the only way to get 5.1 out over optical while using HDMI (if yours is one ofthe 90% of TVs that downmixes to stereo). It comes with the dongle for audio, which they do not (to my knowledge) sell separately.
Unfortunately, every component (or any other) cable I've found that gives optical out blocks the HDMI port.
Shit, the elite doesn't even come with an HD cable anymore.
Which is bullshit, because the OEM cable is about the only way to get 5.1 out over optical while using HDMI (if yours is one ofthe 90% of TVs that downmixes to stereo). It comes with the dongle for audio, which they do not (to my knowledge) sell separately.
Unfortunately, every component (or any other) cable I've found that gives optical out blocks the HDMI port.
There's no way this design wasn't intentional.
Kind of like the proprietary USB wireless adapter. I'll even take it a step further with the play & charge kit for the controllers.
All these reasons are pretty much why I bailed on the 360 after my Zypher model died on me.
Well hey look at that. You can use a USB device to save/store data for XBox 360 games.
Hey, I was just coming to mention this here.
Yeah, in a short while there will be a (relatively) cheap alternative for Arcade owners. a 16GB USB device (the limit, apparently) is still pretty pricey...you can get a used 20GB HD for cheap.
However, the ability to add swappable 16GB (or smaller) USB drives in addition to that 20GB HD is probably a nice thing. Plus, those flash drives will get cheaper (and MS's hard drives probably won't).
Since when is a 16GB USB drive 'pricey'? I just bought a 8GB one for 12€ a month ago.
Pricey compared to USB hard drives, on a per-gig basis.
About the same, per-gig, as the official Xbox hard drives. Which, of course, is the reason for the limit.
Not for the xbox 360 120gig HDD in the US. It's about a $2:$1 ratio for USB to 120gig HDD.
Man, what?
A 16GB stick costs like $30 or so. That's nearly $2 per gig.
I don't believe a 120GB hard drive for the 360 costs $200-$240. I could be wrong.
Other way around. 120GB hard drive for the 360 is $1.08 per gig. Though $200-$240 would put it at $2 per gig or a 1:1 ratio so not sure how you read my post.
Since when is a 16GB USB drive 'pricey'? I just bought a 8GB one for 12€ a month ago.
Pricey compared to USB hard drives, on a per-gig basis.
About the same, per-gig, as the official Xbox hard drives. Which, of course, is the reason for the limit.
Not for the xbox 360 120gig HDD in the US. It's about a $2:$1 ratio for USB to 120gig HDD.
Man, what?
A 16GB stick costs like $30 or so. That's nearly $2 per gig.
I don't believe a 120GB hard drive for the 360 costs $200-$240. I could be wrong.
Other way around. 120GB hard drive for the 360 is $1.08 per gig. Though $200-$240 would put it at $2 per gig or a 1:1 ratio so not sure how you read my post.
Posts
That's enough for multiple game patches? Can you remove game patches to make room if you start to run out?
You only REEEEEALLY need a HDD if you're gonna do DLC or downloadable games. For saves and patches, I survived on 256 + 64 mb for a year. And I never filled up that space completely, btw.
The Elite is still by far the better value, but if you're on a budget you can buy an Arcade now and just add the pieces later.
The hard drive is totally worth it, by the way, for the game installation. Holy fuck the damn thing makes so much noise otherwise.
EDIT: Hell, I still have that 20GB if you wanted to buy him a gift. PM if interested, I won't want much for it.
Which is bullshit, because the OEM cable is about the only way to get 5.1 out over optical while using HDMI (if yours is one ofthe 90% of TVs that downmixes to stereo). It comes with the dongle for audio, which they do not (to my knowledge) sell separately.
Unfortunately, every component (or any other) cable I've found that gives optical out blocks the HDMI port.
There's no way this design wasn't intentional.
Kind of like the proprietary USB wireless adapter. I'll even take it a step further with the play & charge kit for the controllers.
All these reasons are pretty much why I bailed on the 360 after my Zypher model died on me.
Well hey look at that. You can use a USB device to save/store data for XBox 360 games.
EDIT: The drive. Not the 360.
Though I suppose if someone wanted a 2 red ringed overheated system for whatever reason too...
Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand
Hey, I was just coming to mention this here.
Yeah, in a short while there will be a (relatively) cheap alternative for Arcade owners. a 16GB USB device (the limit, apparently) is still pretty pricey...you can get a used 20GB HD for cheap.
However, the ability to add swappable 16GB (or smaller) USB drives in addition to that 20GB HD is probably a nice thing. Plus, those flash drives will get cheaper (and MS's hard drives probably won't).
Pricey compared to USB hard drives, on a per-gig basis.
About the same, per-gig, as the official Xbox hard drives. Which, of course, is the reason for the limit.
Not for the xbox 360 120gig HDD in the US. It's about a $2:$1 ratio for USB to 120gig HDD.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/Cykstfc
Man, what?
A 16GB stick costs like $30 or so. That's nearly $2 per gig.
I don't believe a 120GB hard drive for the 360 costs $200-$240. I could be wrong.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/Cykstfc
Yeah, pretty sure I just read your post wrong.