Is it worth trading in an old 20GB Xbox 360 for a new 60GB model?

[Parm]

I got an Xbox 360 at launch - all the way back in Dec '05! Has it been that long already? Yowzers.

Anyhow, that was one noisey machine, but it served me well... right up until it died roughly a year later. Packed it up, sent it off to the land of dead Xbox's, and had an all-new replacement sent my way.

The one I've got now (a 360 Premium), is working fine and has shown no signs of dropping dead. It's still a relatively old model, so it has no HDMI port, and I'm currently using component. I move into a new place next month and I'm hoping to use the 360 as my primary DVD player, so upscaling via HDMI would come in handy - as would a slightly quieter machine.

I was in Gamestation and Blockbuster the other day, and I noticed they did some cracking deals for console trade-ins and upgrades. So, I contemplated trading in my current console, and getting an all-new model.

I don't particularly fancy the elite, as personally I prefer the white-look console, so I'm leaning toward the new 60GB Xbox 360 Premium.

So, my questions are:

• Do you own a 60GB 360, and if so, is it any quieter than launch models?
• The console has a HDMI port (mine is old and doesn't), but is it still possible to use an optical cable for sound?
• Carrying on from above, are these cables provided?
• How would I transfer my data from the 20GB HDD to the 60GB? And, would I lose anything?

If the answers to those questions are favourable, it might be worth doing the upgrade. Any thoughts?

[Trash Man]

I've been thinking of doing the same thing, but going for the elite instead. When the new dashboard is up and running and we are able to run games from the HDD, the more space the better imo.

Also if you do go for the 60GB version you will need to purchase a HDMI cable separately, as the 60GB SKU does not come with one. The official cable is around the £25 mark and with that you get an optical adaptor so you can still use optical for sound with the HDMI cable.

As far as transfering the data goes, the internet is full of forums of people saying that at the moment you can't use the data cables to transfer the data from a 20GB to a 60GB HDD, they only seem to recognize the 120GB HDD's. I'm sure MS will bring a cable out that is compatible with the new 60GB HDD at some point. How much data do you need to move over? I'm planning on just sticking all my save games on a MU and moving them over using that and then just downloading any XBLA games and DLC that I want to use as and when I need it. If you are doing a straight trade over the counter though, you won't be able to keep you old HDD back will you?

Noise wise, I believe that the 60GB SKU's come with the BenQ drives which are a lot quieter than the drives in the launch models. I've heard a BenQ drive in action and it's hardly any louder than the fans in the 360, but I've not heard a 60GB 360 yet, so I can't say for sure.

The noise from my 360 does not bother me all that much, I use headphones when I'm playing so I can only hear with when I take these off anyway. I might wait for the 60GB HDD's to be made available on their own, the price of the 120GB HDD's is to off putting to make it an option at the moment.

[Lee`]

The HDMI model of 360 has both a HDMI port and the standard port that your old xbox has, so for optical sound with HDMI you need an audio dongle that comes with the elite but not the pro (not sure about the 60Gb).

[Parm]

Lee, is it possible to buy that audio dongle as a standalone product? I've had a look but can't find it anywhere other than in the elite bundle.

So, if I were to get the premium, I'd use HDMI, but how would I get optical audio is that dongle isn't sold seperately?

Trash Man, the noise has never bothered me either, but I'm now planning on using my 360 as my primary DVD player so that could make the noise a factor.

I don't think I'd be transferring much from one drive to the other, but you've got a point, if I'm trading it in I won't be able to do that anyway! What will I lose? I'm guessing just the save games, as my gamertag info is stored on Xbox Live? I'm also presuming I can re-download any XBLA games I've purchased without a problem?

[Trash Man]

Originally Posted by Parm

Lee, is it possible to buy that audio dongle as a standalone product? I've had a look but can't find it anywhere other than in the elite bundle.

So, if I were to get the premium, I'd use HDMI, but how would I get optical audio is that dongle isn't sold seperately?

Trash Man, the noise has never bothered me either, but I'm now planning on using my 360 as my primary DVD player so that could make the noise a factor.

I don't think I'd be transferring much from one drive to the other, but you've got a point, if I'm trading it in I won't be able to do that anyway! What will I lose? I'm guessing just the save games, as my gamertag info is stored on Xbox Live? I'm also presuming I can re-download any XBLA games I've purchased without a problem?

If you buy the official HDMI cable you get the dongle/adaptor with it, if you do go for the 60GB SKU you will need to get an HDMI cable. Not seen the dongle for sale anywhere on it's own.

You will be able to download your GT/profile on to your new 360 no problem and yea, you can re-download anything that you have already paid for on XBL, Games or DLC.

How much cheaper is the 60GB over the elite? I've not really looked into all that much yet.

[Parm]

Aha! Buying the official HDMI cable will sort me out then.

Don't quote me on this, but I "think" the trade-in price of a 360 Premium was £110 at Gamestation. The new 60GB model costs £190 so it doesn't work out all that bad.

I also figure that the new 60GB Premium will have newer insides than the Elite, which has been in production for some time now.

[Stewart]

Get an Elite, laaaards of storage space, looks better next to your telly, plus its the 'best' one, so you can look down upon those who have lesser machines, as if they are people from the late 90s.

[samcross]

Originally Posted by Stewart

Get an Elite, laaaards of storage space, looks better next to your telly, plus its the 'best' one, so you can look down upon those who have lesser machines, as if they are people from the late 90s.

Gotta agree with that, I don't know how anyone could live with less than 120Gb's what with downloading demo's, music, video's etc. The black also looks larsh, looks much nicer than the "lesser" 360's and the PS3 imo, and comes with every cable you will ever need. Need I say more?

[Trash Man]

Originally Posted by samcross

Gotta agree with that, I don't know how anyone could live with less than 120Gb's what with downloading demo's, music, video's etc. The black also looks larsh, looks much nicer than the "lesser" 360's and the PS3 imo, and comes with every cable you will ever need. Need I say more?

I've managed fine with the 20gb version for 3 years I don't rip any music to mine though. It would be nice to have the 120gb for when the game ripping is active.

[richieuk]

I have the Elite, and use the HDMI lead, theres no fussing with it and its epicly more useful *and tidy* than component. If i had to faff I wouldn't have been interested. I was blissfully unaware that other people had to mess about with sound and such.

One bother though, transferring between harddrives was near impossible so I borrowed an MU in the end, still lost some of my save games that refused to transfer and all my DLC just took too long to download again *as your restricted to 6 dls a time*. However, if its harder on the 60GB, I wouldn't even bother.

On top of the hassles though the Elite black look looks tidier under a black HD screen, and the 120GB hard drive will come in handy when I rip my fave games to it.

[samcross]

Originally Posted by Trash Man

It would be nice to have the 120gb for when the game ripping is active.

Forgot to mention that, it will be nice to cut down loading time on GTA4.

[spazman]

120gb hard disk has has a price cut recently is about £60 now if i remember correctly, probably get it online for less.

[digit]

As much as i'd like to get an elite 360 I think I'll go for the cheaper option of getting the 120 gig hard drive now the price has gone down on them. Quite a few on ebay atm for £45 / £50!

[beanbandit]

Originally Posted by spazman

120gb hard disk has has a price cut recently is about £60 now if i remember correctly, probably get it online for less.

the 120gb hdd will still set you back £100. Not seen any site much cheaper than that (Game/Gameplay/Gamestation/Amazon) If i was to upgrade my Premium, i'd go with the Elite.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

im thinking of doing the same purely for the fact that my 360 is a refurb and keeps breaking. i rather get a nice fresh one to prolong the life spam of it

[Taz]

I was contemplating this as well. I have an old 360 with the 20GB HDD. How would I transfer all the stuff on there to a new 360? Also, what would happen to my Xbox Live account? It's been so long since I set everything up!