Xbox 360 Storage

Detachable Hard Drive

The Premium configuration of the Xbox 360 comes with a detachable external SATA 20 GB hard drive, which may be purchased separately as an option for the Core package. Whilst not required for playing standard games, the hard drive may be used for the storage of games, levels, demos, player preferences, music, downloaded trailers and community-created content from Xbox Live Marketplace. A hard drive is also essential for playing original Xbox games, as users must first download an emulation profile. (Find out more here ...)

Only 14 GB of this 2.5" hard drive is available to the user; the rest is reserved for the system and games.

DVD Drive

The Xbox 360 is equipped with a 12x DVD drive, which is capable of a maximum read rate of 15.9 MB/s. Games are stored on standard dual-layered-DVD-ROMs which have 7 GB of usable space available for game content. Whilst DVD region codes are always enforced, publishers have a choice whether or not to apply a regional lockout to games.

The drive is able to read both DVD+-RW and DVD+-R in addition to being able to play DVD-Video out of the box, unlike its predecessor, which required the purchase of an add-on remote. The system can also play standard CDs along with CD-R/RW, CD-DA, CD-Extra, MP3-CD, CD-ROM XA, WMA-CD and JPEG Photo CD.

Microsoft has implemented methods to prevent hacking through the drive, for example, by removing the external debug triggering and covering the chip and controller pins with black hard glue added to cover all the chip and controller pins.

External HD-DVD Drive

The external HD-DVD drive was released in November 2006, which is designed to connect to the Xbox 360 via USB in order to play HD DVD films. However, it is thought that all Xbox 360 games will remain on the standard DVD format.

Memory Unit

A portable 64 MB device that enables the transfer of saved games, unique gamer profiles and in-game achievements to other Xbox 360 consoles. It has been announced that a 256 MB version of the unit will be available in 2007.