The Energon Pub

We're thinking about finally buting a X360 at the end of the September,* and are debating between the Console ($350, 20GB) and the Elite Console ($450, 120GB).

As far as we're concerned the $100 difference would be primarily for the 100GB difference (though I also prefer the black paint) - we don't use X-Box Live at all.

But I don't know how fast the 360 eats memory. Is 20 Gigs enough for the casual player? Or is the 120 Gigs what we'd really need?

Also, any tips on keeping it from overheating?

Thanks



*I have no interest in the PS3 or the Wii, so don't bother trying to sell me on one of those; we're buying the 360 mostly to play Oblivion and Halo 3.

If you have no interest in live at all, go for the 20GB. About 6GB is reserved for game use, so it's only like 14GB if you clean up the pre-loaded stuff. However, game saves are relatively small. To give some examples: Bioshock says 15MB on the back, DOA xtreme says 200KB, DOA4 says 1MB and Gears says 1MB. So if all you are doing is saving you have tons of room.

The only large downloads are movies or additional levels or downloadable demos. If you have no interest in downloading any of this stuff, then you don't need the space.

Even then, a demo is usually between 500MB and 1.3GB or so. So as long as you delete demoes when you're done, it's not that big of a deal either.

I agree that the Premium would work well for you....Though I'm wondering why you aren't interested in Live....You do know that there is a **** load of free downloadable content on there right? You don't need to pay to play demos, watch video trailers, etc. You only pay to play multiplayer.

TheMuffin wrote:I agree that the Premium would work well for you....Though I'm wondering why you aren't interested in Live....You do know that there is a **** load of free downloadable content on there right? You don't need to pay to play demos, watch video trailers, etc. You only pay to play multiplayer.

I thought you had to pay a monthly fee to subscribe to X-Box-Live?

That was what deterred me. I would have liked to download the added levels of Battlefront II from Live, but didn't want to subscribe for one month just to do so.

Foallen wrote:If you have no interest in live at all, go for the 20GB. About 6GB is reserved for game use, so it's only like 14GB if you clean up the pre-loaded stuff. However, game saves are relatively small. To give some examples: Bioshock says 15MB on the back, DOA xtreme says 200KB, DOA4 says 1MB and Gears says 1MB. So if all you are doing is saving you have tons of room.

The only large downloads are movies or additional levels or downloadable demos. If you have no interest in downloading any of this stuff, then you don't need the space.

Even then, a demo is usually between 500MB and 1.3GB or so. So as long as you delete demoes when you're done, it's not that big of a deal either.

Extremely helpful, thanks!

On the x-box 360, you can get the silver version of Live for free.

Also, harddrive depends on what you may want to do with the 360.

I've pretty much turned mine into not only a video game console, but I record TV shows that I miss with the sucker, I can also watch movies/shows that I've downloaded onto my computer through the 360, so I don't have to watch them on my monitor.

If you start using the 360 to record shows and everything(you'd need Windows Media Center for it to work right) those take up a fair amount of space.

Plus the downloads on x-box live can stack up and take up a fair chunk as well.

maybe I put too much music on mine and my 20gig is almost full.

Caelus wrote:

TheMuffin wrote:I agree that the Premium would work well for you....Though I'm wondering why you aren't interested in Live....You do know that there is a **** load of free downloadable content on there right? You don't need to pay to play demos, watch video trailers, etc. You only pay to play multiplayer.

I thought you had to pay a monthly fee to subscribe to X-Box-Live?

That was what deterred me. I would have liked to download the added levels of Battlefront II from Live, but didn't want to subscribe for one month just to do so.

Extremely helpful, thanks!

Nope. Silver is free. Some items you may have to pay for (like your battlefront pack) but even then it's only maybe $4.00. You will never have to purchase a Live Gold subscription to buy items off of the marketplace. Gold is solely for playing multiplayer online.

20gig is fine for u if u don't play live.
I'm a gamer with a computer right next to my 360, i don't have a need to use it for video/music. So i have about 10-12 gig usually free on mine even with 2gigs worth of download content and game saves (but i deleted all unsused stuff off of it like themes and gamerpics).

but if i may suggest, i was thinking one day and it occured to me that you could get the Core edition of the 360 that comes without a hardrive and then buy the 120gig hardive separate. This would get you a 360 with Elite cpabilities for the price of a Premium 360.

If you dont plan on using live then you dont need 120gb HD. Thats only used for game downloads and demos.

The standard 20GB HD will be more than enough for saving your games with.

Senor Hugo wrote:On the x-box 360, you can get the silver version of Live for free.

Also, harddrive depends on what you may want to do with the 360.

I've pretty much turned mine into not only a video game console, but I record TV shows that I miss with the sucker, I can also watch movies/shows that I've downloaded onto my computer through the 360, so I don't have to watch them on my monitor.

If you start using the 360 to record shows and everything(you'd need Windows Media Center for it to work right) those take up a fair amount of space.

Plus the downloads on x-box live can stack up and take up a fair chunk as well.

Wait, how do you use the 360 to record TV? I've been looking at buying a PVR, but if I can use my 360 to do the same thing, score!

Cowboy Bebop wrote:but if i may suggest, i was thinking one day and it occured to me that you could get the Core edition of the 360 that comes without a hardrive and then buy the 120gig hardive separate. This would get you a 360 with Elite cpabilities for the price of a Premium 360.

Not as far as I can tell, not around here anyway -

Core - $280
Premium - $350
Elite - $450
120GB HD - $180

Core + 120GB HD = $460

I have seen a 120GB HD for $172 at Walmart, but that's still not an improvement.

Caelus wrote:

Cowboy Bebop wrote:but if i may suggest, i was thinking one day and it occured to me that you could get the Core edition of the 360 that comes without a hardrive and then buy the 120gig hardive separate. This would get you a 360 with Elite cpabilities for the price of a Premium 360.

Not as far as I can tell, not around here anyway -

Core - $280
Premium - $350
Elite - $450
120GB HD - $180

Core + 120GB HD = $460

I have seen a 120GB HD for $172 at Walmart, but that's still not an improvement.

The core is $180 used, you know.

Autobobby1 wrote:

Caelus wrote:

Cowboy Bebop wrote:but if i may suggest, i was thinking one day and it occured to me that you could get the Core edition of the 360 that comes without a hardrive and then buy the 120gig hardive separate. This would get you a 360 with Elite cpabilities for the price of a Premium 360.

Not as far as I can tell, not around here anyway -

Core - $280
Premium - $350
Elite - $450
120GB HD - $180

Core + 120GB HD = $460

I have seen a 120GB HD for $172 at Walmart, but that's still not an improvement.

The core is $180 used, you know.

Along with a 120gig hardrive off ebay or something that is about $300 give or take

Who would want a used 360 with no warrenty?

Sonray wrote:Who would want a used 360 with no warranty?

Someone who likes to tinker. I got my Premium with every single accessory for $172 used on Ebay. I just had to fix the disc drive which cost $25. So $200 for a Premium that works better and runs cooler than one straight out of the box.

TheMuffin wrote:

Sonray wrote:Who would want a used 360 with no warranty?

Someone who likes to tinker. I got my Premium with every single accessory for $172 used on Ebay. I just had to fix the disc drive which cost $25. So $200 for a Premium that works better and runs cooler than one straight out of the box.

Yeah but the average gamer, someone like the person who posted this topic, doesnt know how to take apart a broken 360 and fix it...for that matter the average person wouldnt know how either, taking apart a broken 360 and fixing it isnt exactly that easy...

Sonray wrote:

TheMuffin wrote:

Sonray wrote:Who would want a used 360 with no warranty?

Someone who likes to tinker. I got my Premium with every single accessory for $172 used on Ebay. I just had to fix the disc drive which cost $25. So $200 for a Premium that works better and runs cooler than one straight out of the box.

Yeah but the average gamer, someone like the person who posted this topic, doesnt know how to take apart a broken 360 and fix it...for that matter the average person wouldnt know how either, taking apart a broken 360 and fixing it isnt exactly that easy...

Sure it is. You just follow an 8 page guide and you're done in a couple hours. My dad could do it and he doesn't even know how to turn on a computer. The only people that say it is hard are the ones who don't want to take an hour of their time to learn something new. Especially something that would benefit them.

TheMuffin wrote:

Sonray wrote:

TheMuffin wrote:

Sonray wrote:Who would want a used 360 with no warranty?

Someone who likes to tinker. I got my Premium with every single accessory for $172 used on Ebay. I just had to fix the disc drive which cost $25. So $200 for a Premium that works better and runs cooler than one straight out of the box.

Yeah but the average gamer, someone like the person who posted this topic, doesnt know how to take apart a broken 360 and fix it...for that matter the average person wouldnt know how either, taking apart a broken 360 and fixing it isnt exactly that easy...

Sure it is. You just follow an 8 page guide and you're done in a couple hours. My dad could do it and he doesn't even know how to turn on a computer. The only people that say it is hard are the ones who don't want to take an hour of their time to learn something new. Especially something that would benefit them.

And where exactly does one find this guide.

This is so stupid and so inconviniant, just buy a new console and have a warrenty and something that hasnt been handed down, new stuff makes you feel good. Not everyone is a technophile.

Yeaaahhh... Neither of us is really tech-savvy enough to 'tinker', nor am I trusting enough to spend that much money on something without a warranty.

http://360repair.50megs.com/fix-for-the-3rlod.pdf

Sonray. Is it really any more stupid and inconvenient than having your system die, waiting up to two weeks for a box to arrive, and then waiting for up to a month to get a REFURBISHED, not new 360 which will more than likely screw up again?

New stuff makes you feel good sure. But when it works worse than a beat up used console there is a problem. And as I said already, you don't need to be a technophile to do this fix. A pair of pliers, a screwdriver and some Q-tips are all you need. And of course a few washers and screws. I seem to be going in circles with you when it comes to this fix. It's as if you refuse to believe that a used system can be fixed for less than half the price and you're trying to come up with excuses for why it's a stupid idea.

It's nice that there's a tutorial out there, but other than the DVD or the HD replacement, I seriously doubt I could do the rest. I could do a CPU replacement in a PC, but this motherboard is slightly different.

TheMuffin wrote:http://360repair.50megs.com/fix-for-the-3rlod.pdf

Sonray. Is it really any more stupid and inconvenient than having your system die, waiting up to two weeks for a box to arrive, and then waiting for up to a month to get a REFURBISHED, not new 360 which will more than likely screw up again?

New stuff makes you feel good sure. But when it works worse than a beat up used console there is a problem. And as I said already, you don't need to be a technophile to do this fix. A pair of pliers, a screwdriver and some Q-tips are all you need. And of course a few washers and screws. I seem to be going in circles with you when it comes to this fix. It's as if you refuse to believe that a used system can be fixed for less than half the price and you're trying to come up with excuses for why it's a stupid idea.

No i dont refuse to beleive that a used system cant be fixed, nearly ANYTHING can be fixed i just dont see the point in fixing one when you can just spend a little extra and save all that hassle and time, and have a warrenty and something new to admire as well.

These are 360's afterall. Even if you fix one thing, something else that you CANT fix might go wrong and then you have done your money when you can just buy a new one, have a 3-year warrenty and not have to worry. Besides, its not like EVERY 360 is guaranteed to fail, you might buy one and never have any hassles with it for years, like i did with the PS2 another console known for its crappy build quality, but i had my first-gen system for years before i had to sell it because i moved to the US. As far as i know its still ticking..

A little more? Like twice as much for the same console? And if something goes wrong that I can't fix, I'm out $200. That's true. But heres a nice little nugget of info for you. That three year extended warranty? Yeah that only covers the three red lights error. If your nice shiny system dies from something else you still have to pay the $120 to have it repaired if it's outside of the original 3 or 6 month warranty. In the end it's all up to preference I suppose.

Used Premium console with X-Clamp fix: $200
Pros:
-No chance of a 3RLOD error again if done correctly.
-Half the price of a new console.
-Lower price means you are more inclined to change cases, fans, etc.

Cons:
-No warranty means that if a different error occurs you cannot send it in for repair. You will either have to fix it or sell it for parts.
-Used console might have cosmetic damages or incomplete set of accessories.
-People that aren't remotely tech savy will scoff at having to open up an electronic device.


New Premium Console: $400 (after taxes)
Pros:
-That new car smell that everyone loves.
-3 month warranty covering all parts.
-3 year warranty covering 3RLOD
-Clean unused system

Cons:
-Price, double that of a used system
-Prone to 3RLOD error.
-Refurbishing process can take up to a month to be completed, leaving you without a system that you paid a hefty amount for.
-Console you receive back is not yours, but another persons that they repaired ahead of time. Because of this, the console you registered online is no longer yours. This means that brand new console you just bought will go to some other person while you might get a system that is over a year old. Nice eh?
-Good luck with customer service....If you can understand them.

TheMuffin wrote:Cons:
-Price, double that of a used system
-Prone to 3RLOD error.
-Refurbishing process can take up to a month to be completed, leaving you without a system that you paid a hefty amount for.
-Console you receive back is not yours, but another persons that they repaired ahead of time. Because of this, the console you registered online is no longer yours. This means that brand new console you just bought will go to some other person while you might get a system that is over a year old. Nice eh?
-Good luck with customer service....If you can understand them.

Erm...this is wrong.

The 3 year warrenty does only cover the 3 red light, i knew this, BUT the normal warrenty lasts for a YEAR, not three months.

My friend has an unreadable disc error, his console wouldnt play anything. So we called up MS, cost him £50 to get it fixed. UPS guy came the next day to pick it up. 3 weeks later it came back, same console, problem fixed, everyone was happy.

I know that people have received the wrong system before, but they are isolated incidents. Your turning a small problem into an excuse and blowing it out of proportion, not to mention having the wrong facts regarding the warrenty time.

Id rather the new system and take the chance then screwing about inside something i have no idea about and take the chance of ruining the whole console just to save a couple hundred bucks or pounds and i am sure most other casual gamers will agree.

Like i said earlier only a few tech savvy people will want to bother with trying to fix a broken 360, even fewer non-tech savvy people will want to bother with the hassle of learning how to fix a problem and then attempting to fix it without any prior technical knowledge of the system. Its a very daunting task which isnt worth the stress and hassle for what you are saving. At the end of the day you will still have a used console.

THAT WORKS! And checking around I've found that originally the warranty was indeed 90 days and was then extended to a year about 2 months after the consoles release. I just look at it this way. You have a used console and you fix it. The 3RLOD error will never ever rear it's head again and you've saved $200. In my mind that's worth the hour of easy work compared to always having to worry about your system dieing and then having to wait almost a month to get it back. And then wondering if it will happen again. My 360 is the only thing I've ever gotten used and it was the best idea I ever had.

And one more thing...I had no clue prior to reading that PDF as to how to pull my 360 apart. I was as much a newb as anyone else. All I'm saying is that it's a viable option to avoid ever having to worry about an obscenely common system killing error. Hell I believe the count for people fixing their system is over 4000 now last time I checked xbox scene. Thats way more than a few "tech savy" people.

Keep in mind however that the only reason I'm debating this is because I like to push your buttons.