Xbox 360:Buying Guide

This page serves as a reference for informaton on each version of the Xbox 360. This is all objectively based recommendations, with no bias for the appearance of the console.

Every Xbox 360 revision except for Winchester models can be RGHed, however the modding process and recommended exploit will vary between models. See the Getting Started page for more information.

Note: While retail consoles configured with a hard drive never came with internal or external memory units, it was very common for users to upgrade Arcade consoles, 4GB Slim consoles, and 4GB E consoles with a hard drive later on. Keep this in mind when buying a used console.

Xbox 360 (Original/"Phat"/"Fat")

 * Original version of the console.
 * Features 1 rear USB port, 2 front USB ports, no internal Wi-Fi card, no optical audio (can be obtained with an AV adapter), and no Kinect port.
 * All models feature an A/V video output. This port supports composite, component, and VGA outputs. It can also use adapters to output RCA and optical audio.
 * CPU and GPU are separate chips with their own heat sinks. Fan units for phat consoles also include two fans.
 * Xenon/Elpis and Opus consoles only have an A/V connector, but all other board revisions (Zephyr, Falcon, Jasper, and Tonasket) include HDMI and A/V ports.

Xbox 360 Core

 * This is the original base model retail SKU for the Xbox 360, and didn't come with any hard drive or memory units. The DVD drive and eject button were color matched to the matte white shell unlike HDD models. These only featured Xenon motherboards, aside from consoles which were officially refurbished by Microsoft. Thus, these models never feature HDMI output.

Xbox 360 (With Hard Drive)

 * This is the most common retail configuration of the phat Xbox 360 and came with either a 20 GB or, later on, a 60 GB hard drive with a white shell. They are colloquially known as the "Premium" or "Pro" models. These consoles came with a chrome DVD tray bezel and matching eject button. They came with various motherboards, including Xenon boards. While Xenon versions of these models didn't feature HDMI, they were later revised with HDMI capable motherboards.

Xbox 360 Arcade

 * The Xbox 360 Arcade was essentially a reintroduction of the Xbox 360 Core, but with updated Falcon/Jasper/Tonasket motherboards that feature HDMI. These also have a color-matched DVD tray bezel with a matching eject button. The Arcade SKU also included a 256MB or 512MB memory unit. On Falcon models, an external 256 MB memory unit was included in the box. However, on Jasper Arcade models, the memory unit was integrated in the console's NAND.

Xbox 360 Elite

 * This model is the same as the standard white model, but with a 120 GB HDD and always comes with HDMI. It featured a black shell and a chrome DVD tray bezel. It was the first SKU that officially featured HDMI, and the first to use the Zephyr motherboard. Later on, they came with Falcon, Jasper, or Tonasket boards.
 * In 2010, there were also limited edition Elites that came with 250 GB HDDs. These came in a few bundles, and always feature Tonasket motherboards. Sometimes these are colloquially known as "Super Elites" and have the same appearance as normal elites.
 * Halo 3 with Halo 3: ODST Special Edition Bundle (Canada only).
 * Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction Special Edition Bundle.
 * Forza Motorsport 3 Special Edition Bundle.

Special Editions
Special edition consoles often came with special HDD sizes that normally required a separate purchase with standard models (Except for the Resident Evil 5 bundle). These consoles also came with a special shell design. All 250 GB models feature Tonasket (also known as Jasper Kronos) motherboards.
 * Halo 3 special edition consoles came with either Zephyr or Falcon motherboards, unique game themed shells with matching HDD shell, and 60 GB hard drives.
 * Resident Evil 5 special edition bundles came with 120 GB HDDs and Jasper motherboards with a red shell.
 * Modern Warfare 2 special edition bundles came with 250 GB HDDs, a unique game themed black shell, and Tonasket motherboards.
 * Final Fantasy XIII special edition bundles came with 250 GB HDDs, an extra game themed face plate (not preinstalled), a unique HDD shell, and a 250 GB HDD. The shell is matte white, just like standard consoles.

Xbox 360 S

 * Major redesign of the console, and integrated the CPU and GPU into one chip.
 * Features 2 front USB ports, 3 rear USB ports, a dedicated Kinect port, and integrated optical audio. All S consoles come with AV and HDMI video outputs.
 * Power/Eject buttons were touch sensitive and integrated in the face plate.
 * Slim and E consoles going forward always include a Wi-Fi card.
 * Slightly reduced in size.
 * Slim consoles featured Trinity, Corona, and Waitsburg motherboards.
 * Waitsburg is similar to Corona, but with the POST_OUT solder pad being disconnected from the CPU, requiring a postfix adapter for any RGH modification.
 * Retail storage configurations consisted of a 4 GB Memory Unit (onboard NAND with Corona/Waitsburg consoles), 250 GB HDD, or in special editions, 320 GB HDD.
 * 4 GB models always have a matte shell, but early HDD models came with a glossy shell. Those early HDD models will also always be Trinity consoles. Corona/Waitsburg consoles are always matte.

Special Editions
Special edition consoles often came with special HDD sizes that normally required a separate purchase with standard models.
 * Halo Reach special edition bundles came with Trinity motherboards, unique game themed shells with matching power/eject sounds, and 250 GB hard drives.
 * Gears of War 3 special edition consoles came with Trinity motherboards, unique game themed shells with matching power/eject sounds, and 250 GB hard drives.
 * Modern Warfare 3 special edition console bundles come with either Trinity or Corona "V1" motherboards, unique game themed shells with matching power/eject sounds, and 320 GB hard drives.
 * Star Wars special edition bundles come with Corona "V1" motherboards, a special R2-D2 themed shell with matching power/eject sounds, and 320 GB hard drives.
 * Halo 4 special edition bundles came with Waitsburg ("Corona V3") motherboards, unique game themed shells with matching power/eject sounds, and 320 GB hard drives.

Xbox 360 E

 * The last version of the Xbox 360 released.
 * It shares similarities with the Xbox 360 S, but has some I/O removed for cheaper manufacturing costs. It removed one of the rear USB ports (2 USB ports on the front and rear), replaced the A/V port with a 3.5mm composite video output connector, replaced the capacitive power/eject buttons on the face-plate with mechanical buttons, and used a single barrel jack on the power supply.
 * These consoles also featured 4 GB NAND and 250 GB HDD SKUs, but also introduced 500 GB HDD SKUs later on.
 * Earlier consoles came with Stingray motherboards (Which were like Corona/Waitsburg but removed the aforementioned features and still has no POST point) and are RGH-able just like Slims, but in late 2014 the Stingray boards were replaced with Winchester boards. Winchester boards cannot be RGHed whatsoever.
 * The blue special edition Xbox 360 E that was bundled with Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Call of Duty: Ghosts also always comes with Winchester motherboards.
 * Generally, Xbox 360 E consoles which were made after 8/14/2014 are most likely Winchesters.

Motherboard Identification
If you want to identify a console motherboard, you can either use Octal450's identification wizard or.

If you have an Xbox 360 E, you can use either this video guide or reference this image (make sure to take off the top shell cover) and shine a flashlight through the side.