Xbox 360:Buying Guide
This page serves as a reference for informaton on each version of the Xbox 360. All of the recommendations are objective 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.
 | 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. |
Retail Configurations
Xbox 360 (Original)
Original version of the console, often given the nickname of "Phat" or "Fat" due to it having the largest size. Features 1 rear USB port, 2 front USB ports, no internal Wi-Fi card (can be obtained with , no optical audio (can be obtained with an AV cable or adapter), and no Kinect port. Unlike the S and E, the hard drive is a large module on the top/side of the console and clips into place. The HDD shell has an internal adapter to convert a standard 2.5" SATA HDD to a propritary connector. All models feature an A/V video output. This port supports composite, component, and VGA video outputs in addition to RCA and optical audio output. 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) also include an HDMI port.
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. Some consoles which were officially refurbished by Microsoft may have received an Opus motherboard, but these are uncommon. Thus, these models never feature HDMI output.
Xbox 360 (With Hard Drive)
"Go Pro"
This is the most common retail configuration of the 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
"Go Play!"
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 white 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 & Tonasket Arcade models, the memory unit was integrated in the console's NAND. Arcade consoles with Jasper boards can either have 256 MB or 512 MB NANDs, but Arcade consoles with Tonasket motherboards always come with 512 MB NANDs.
Xbox 360 Elite
"Go Big"
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.
"Super Elite"
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 and faceplate 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 has the same external appearance as standard white consoles.
Xbox 360 S
Major redesign of the console, and integrated the CPU and GPU into one chip. Cooling system was also redesigned to be a single heatsink/fan to accomodate for a single XCGPU. It is often nicknamed the "Slim", as it was reduced in size and noise compared to original console while being a fitting stand-in for the letter S. It features 2 front USB ports, 3 rear USB ports, a dedicated Kinect port, built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and integrated optical audio. The connector on the Wi-Fi cards use looks visually similar to USB, but it's a bit wider and cannot be easily plugged into a PC or phat 360. All S consoles come with A/V and HDMI video outputs. Power/eject buttons are touch sensitive and integrated in the face plate. Power supply connector was changed to make phat power supplies incompatible, but old power supplies can be converted to work on an S with cheap adapters. Xbox 360 S consoles also come with an internal beeper speaker, which plays unique chimes when the power or eject button is pressed on the console. Most special edition S consoles also have unique power/eject sounds and feature a larger speaker.
The naming scheme of the original Xbox 360 SKUs was ditched to only be for the default storage. Retail SKUs consisted of a 4 GB Memory Unit (onboard NAND with Corona/Waitsburg consoles), 250 GB HDD, or in special editions, 320 GB HDD. The 320 GB HDD was also sold seperately. Black 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 with a black case are always matte. Slim consoles featured Trinity, Corona, and Waitsburg motherboards. Waitsburg is a minor revision of Corona with the POST_OUT solder pad being disconnected from the CPU, requiring a postfix adapter for any RGH modification.
Special Editions
Special edition Corona consoles 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 Corona 16 MB motherboards, unique game themed shells with matching power/eject sounds, and 320 GB hard drives.
- Star Wars special edition bundles come with Corona 16 MB motherboards, a special R2-D2 themed shell with matching power/eject sounds, white RF board LEDs with a blue diffuser, and 320 GB hard drives.
- Glossy white Xbox 360 S systems come with Waitsburg 4 GB motherboards and standard power/eject sounds. Since they are 4 GB models, they did not come with a hard drive by default.
- Halo 4 special edition bundles came with Waitsburg 16 MB motherboards, unique game themed shells with matching power/eject sounds, white RF board LEDs with a blue diffuser, and 320 GB hard drives.
Xbox 360 E
The last version of the Xbox 360 released. It is essentially a repackaged Xbox 360 S, but has some components and I/O removed for cheaper manufacturing costs. It removed one of the rear USB ports and replaced the A/V port with a 3.5mm composite video output connector. This means VGA and component are no longer compatible. It replaced the capacitive power/eject buttons on the face plate with mechanical buttons and removed the components for power/eject sounds. On the earlier Stingray motherboards, the solder pads for audio hardware still exist. Power supply now uses a single barrel jack, but phat power supplies can be converted to work with an E with cheap adapters. These consoles also featured 4 GB NAND and 250 GB HDD SKUs like the S, but introduced 500 GB HDD SKUs later in production. Xbox 360 E hard drives are exactly the same as the S hard drives, and are compatible with each other.
Earlier consoles came with Stingray motherboards (These were like Corona/Waitsburg boards from the 360 S but removed the aforementioned features and still has no POST point) and are RGH-able just like Slims. In late 2014, the Stingray boards were replaced with Winchester boards. Winchester consoles cannot currently be modded whatsoever. Generally, Xbox 360 E consoles made after 8/14/2014 are most likely Winchesters.
Special Edition
There was only one special version of the Xbox 360 E ever released, and it was a Walmart exclusive. It was colored dark blue with teal sidepanels while being bundled with a 500 GB HDD, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and Call of Duty: Ghosts. These usually came with Winchester motherboards, but there are some early examples of these systems coming with Stingray motherboards.
Motherboard Identification
If you want to identify a console motherboard, you can either use Octal450's identification wizard or this motherboard identification chart.
Identification Chart (All models)
In some instances, used Xenons and Zephyrs may have the middle pin broken off (either intentionally or unintentionally). Pay close attention to the middle of the connector if you are unsure.
PCB Part Number
Xbox 360 motherboards come with part numbers on the PCB, which can be used to easily identify a motherboard revision. On phat motherboards, the part number will be on the bottom right next to the USB ports. On S/E motherboards, it is on the bottom left next to the Microsoft logo.
It should be noted that 4 GB Coronas may have an additional number for their build up ID, and it will be torwards the left of the PCB's part number. The PCB part number will be circled in the following image.
Xbox 360 S
Trinity Vs. Corona
If you have an Xbox 360 S, you can easily identify a Trinity console with the listed ampridge on the rear sticker (Trinity consoles use 10.83A whereas Corona/Waitsburg consoles use 9.6A). Early slims with a glossy case came with a Trinity board and hard drive, but ones that came with a 4 GB memory unit came with a matte case. Later on, Trinity consoles that shipped with hard drives were also switched to a matte case. 4 GB Trinity slims had the memory unit on a daughterboard with the main NAND still being 16 MB.
Corona/Waitsburg consoles were always matte, weather they are a 4 GB NAND or 250 GB HDD SKU. 4 GB Corona/Waitsburg slims instead had the 4 GB Memory Unit built onto the board as the main NAND, thus making NAND dumps require different tools and steps. When opening the console, Trinity motherboards also have several distinctive features compared to Corona boards.
Corona Vs. Waitsburg
If you have a Corona based console, you can identify if it's a Corona "V1/V2" or Waitsburg ("Corona V3/V4") using the provided images. The Waitsburgs will have not have traces from the CPU going to POST, which means you will need a POSTFix adapter in order to successfully use RGH. 4 GB SKUs also have a BGA153 eMMC without the Phison controller. If you have a Corona/Waitsburg console that has a 16 MB NAND, the only ways to identify the revision is either by taking off the CPU heatsink or checking the PCB part number.
Xbox 360 E
If you have an Xbox 360 E, you either can use this video guide or reference this image (make sure to take off the top shell cover) and shine a flashlight through the side to determine if it has a Stingray ("Corona V5/V6") or Winchester motherboard.
Motherboard Comparison
| Name | PCB Part # | Description | CPU | GPU/eDRAM | 12V Amps | Flash | Potential DVD Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xenon | X803600 | First ever motherboard model used on the Xbox 360. Does not feature HDMI. Uses ANA encoder/DAC chip, unlike future motherboards. Early consoles have a small GPU heatsink, but later manufactured consoles come with an extended GPU heatsink. Xenons originally came with unreliable CPU capacitors and low Tg underfill on the GPU, causing them to be very unreliable. Some consoles feature either a fixed Y1 or Elpis, indicating they were refurbished. Note: CPU capactiors may still be defective even on refurbished Xenons like the Elpis. Avoid these consoles unless they have an official service date sticker from Q2 2008 or later. |
90nm Waternoose | 90nm Y1 w/ 90nm eDRAM | 16.5A | 16 MB NAND | Toshiba-Samsung TS-H943 (earlier Xenons) Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L (later Xenons) Philips & BenQ VAD6038 or Philips & Lite-On DG-16D2S (MS Referb) |
| Elpis | Same as Xenon | Essentially a Xenon, but refurbished with a new GPU. The firmware was also modified to support the Elpis GPU on Xenon. The Elpis GPU is similar to the Rhea used on Zephyr_C and Falcon/Opus, and is always fixed. Note: CPU capacitors may still be defective even on refurbished Xenons like the Elpis. Elpis boards with Samsung RAM cannot be RGHed at this time. However, all other RAM brands on Elpis work as expected when RGHed. |
80nm Elpis w/ 80nm eDRAM | Philips & BenQ VAD6038 or Philips & Lite-On DG-16D2S | |||
| Zephyr_A/B/C | A: X810385
B/C: X810387 |
First motherboard to feature HDMI. Significantly redesigned compared to the Xenon. Replaces the ANA chip with the HANA chip, which integrated the clock generator and supported HDMI. The HANA would go on to be used on all future phat boards and Trinity slims. Zephyr was originally only on Elite SKUs, but later trickled down to the standard white model. Zephyr_A features the same Y1 from the Xenon and slim GPU heat sink, Zephyr_B features the Y2 with an improved GPU heatsink, and Zephyr_C revisions feature the Rhea. Unfortunately, like the Xenon, GPUs on these all three versions also had low Tg underfill, causing poor GPU reliability. Avoid these consoles unless they have an official service date sticker from Q2 2008 or later. |
90nm Y1 w/ 90nm eDRAM (A) 80nm Y2 w/ 90nm eDRAM (B) 80nm Rhea w/ 80nm eDRAM (C) |
Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L (earlier Zephyrs)
Philips & BenQ VAD6038 (MS referb or later Zephyrs) Philips & Lite-On DG-16D2S (MS referb) | |||
| Falcon | X812320 | This motherboard revision was the first to use a 65nm CPU, alongside a cheaper power delivery system. Very early Falcon consoles use the same CPU heat sink with a copper heat pipe on Zephyr/Xenon, but later on the CPU heat sink was replaced with a cheaper and larger full aluminum heat sink. At sometime in March 2008, the Rhea GPU was fixed to use high Tg underfill, fixing GPU reliability issues. Avoid Falcon consoles if the manufacture/service date is before March 2008. Falcon consoles manufactured or serviced after March 2008 tend to have good reliability. |
65nm Loki | 80nm Rhea w/ 80nm eDRAM | 14.2A | Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L (earliest Falcons)
Philips & BenQ VAD6038 (mid-life Falcons or MS Referb) | |
| Opus | Same as Falcon | Same as Falcon, but only used on some refurbished consoles that previously used a Xenon board. As such, these don't feature HDMI. These also always feature a fixed GPU. In terms of non-HDMI motherboards used for refurbished Xenon consoles, these motherboards tend to be uncommon compared to Xenon or Elpis boards with replaced GPUs. |
Philips & Lite-On DG-16D2S | ||||
| Jasper | X815842 | Another phat motherboard revision. It now features the 65nm Zeus GPU, new PSB south bridge, and Arcade models integrate a memory unit into the NAND. This also means dashboard updates can be stored on the NAND, rather than needing the hard drive. This, along with the Tonasket, are generally regarded as the most reliable motherboard models.
Some of these consoles when brand new also patched the JTAG exploit. |
65nm Zeus* w/ 80nm eDRAM | 12.1A | 16 MB, 256 MB, or 512 MB NAND | ||
| Tonasket | X820379 | Also known as "Jasper V2" or "Jasper Kronos". Tonasket is a minor Jasper revision with a new GPU that has shrunken eDRAM. The PCB layout was also slightly cleaned up compared to Jasper. All of these motherboards patched against the JTAG exploit even when brand new, but can still be RGHed. Stock RF board was changed, but is still compatible with older model RF boards. The GPU heat sink was reverted to the slim heat sink without the extra copper heat pipe, like on early Xenons and Zephyr_As. This model is generally regarded as the most reliable, and technically has the lowest power draw of all Phat motherboards. |
65nm Kronos w/ 65nm eDRAM | 16 MB or 512 MB NAND | |||
| Trinity | X850590 | Major redesign of the motherboard to accommodate for the new Xbox 360 S. CPU/GPU were integrated on one chip, and the hard drive now uses a direct SATA connection. Cooling system was also redesigned to be a singular fan on one heat sink, since there is only one chip to cool. Early Trinity consoles have a full length copper slug in the heat sink, but later manufactured consoles may come with a short slug. The RF board was changed to have the power and eject buttons as touch sensors on the face plate. All 4 GB models were matte black, but most HDD models came with a glossy shell. 4 GB Trinity memory units are detachable modules unlike on Coronas. Later in production, Trinity consoles with HDDs switched to using a matte shell. Trinities are generally regarded as one of the more reliable models, second to Jasper/Tonasket. |
45nm Valhalla XCGPU
65nm eDRAM |
10.83A | 16 MB NAND | Philips & Lite-On DG-16D4S or Hitachi-LG DL10N | |
| Corona | X857330 (PCB)
X859085 (4 GB Build-up ID) |
Also known as the "Corona V1" (16 MB) or "V2" (4 GB NAND). Similar to Trinity, but with several more unified components to make the console cheaper to produce and draw a bit less power. All Corona/Waitsburg consoles which weren't special editions used a matte shell, no matter if it was a 4 GB or HDD model. The HANA chip and Ethernet PHY have been integrated in a new KSB south bridge, and it now supported on-board 4 GB NANDs. 4 GB Memory units are now integrated into a 4 GB NAND with a Phison PS7000 controller. Unfortunately, Guitar Hero games developed by Neversoft have audio de-sync during game play caused by the new south bridge. This also happens in future Corona revisions (Waitsburg/Stingray) and the Winchester, as they have the same KSB. This audio desync does not effect other rhythm games or older motherboard versions. Note: Slim Hitachi and DG-16D5S DVD drives cannot be flashed without a drive PCB replacement. You will also need to RGH the console, as the DVD key cannot be retrieved from the drive itself either. Early Coronas may have come with a D4S drive, which can have its DVD key retrieved without RGH. If possible, try to avoid Coronas/Waitsburgs/Stingrays that have a 4 GB NAND. The 4 GB Hynix NAND chips on these consoles commonly fail overtime. If you do have one, try to minimize usage of the memory unit. The memory unit can also be disabled after an RGH. |
9.6A | 16 MB NAND or 4 GB MMC | Philips & Lite-On DG-16D4S, Philips & Lite-On DG-16D5S, or Hitachi-LG DL10N | ||
| Waitsburg | X862605 | Also known as "Corona V3" (16 MB NAND) or "V4" (4 GB eMMC). This motherboard is a minor revision to the Corona. On 4 GB SKUs, it changed the 4 GB TSOP NAND + Phison PS700 controller to a combined eMMC chip. The trace going to the POST_OUT pad from the CPU to the bottom of the board was also removed, in an attempt to combat the Reset Glitch Hack. This minor change ended up being a fruitless endeavor, as someone can easily use a postfix adapter (or even solder a wire directly on the corresponding BGA ball under the CPU, although this is significantly harder) to easily gain access to POST, and thus a successful RGH. Note: Slim Hitachi and DG-16D5S DVD drives cannot be flashed without a drive PCB replacement. You will also need to RGH the console, as the DVD key cannot be retrieved from the drive itself either. If possible, try to avoid Coronas/Waitsburgs/Stingrays that have a 4 GB NAND. The 4 GB Hynix NAND chips on these consoles commonly fail overtime. If you do have one, try to minimize usage of the memory unit. The memory unit can also be disabled after an RGH. |
16 MB NAND or 4 GB eMMC | Philips & Lite-On DG-16D5S or Hitachi-LG DL10N | |||
| Stingray | X854326 | Also known as "Corona V5" (16 MB NAND) or "V6" (4 GB eMMC). This is the motherboard used in early Xbox 360 E consoles. It is another minor revision to Corona, but with several components removed to make the console even cheaper to produce. It carries over the hidden POST point from the Waitsburg. The power supply connector was changed from a two barrel connector to a single barrel. Notably, this motherboard removed the A/V port and replaced it a 3.5mm composite output jack. This means Component and VGA cannot be natively used on this and the Winchester. One of the rear USB ports was also removed. It uses a different RF board and faceplate connector from the Slim motherboards. If possible, try to avoid Coronas/Waitsburgs/Stingrays that have a 4 GB NAND. The 4 GB Hynix NAND chips on these consoles commonly fail overtime. (4 GB Stingray consoles occasionally came with Toshiba branded eMMC, but this is uncommon. They seem to have better reliability than Hynix 4 GB eMMCs.) If you do have a Hynix 4 GB console, try to minimize usage of the memory unit. The memory unit can also be disabled after an RGH.
| |||||
| Winchester* | X879957 | Notable for being the final Xbox 360 motherboard revision, and was used in later productions of the Xbox 360 E. This motherboard has been drastically simplified in order to reduce manufacturing costs even further. All the solder pads for unused components were also removed. The Valhalla was also replaced with a new Winchester CGPU, which integrated the eDRAM into the CPU/GPU die. The Winchester CGPU also patched the Reset Glitch Hack by filtering the POST and reset lines on the new CGPU while disabling the pins used to slow down the clock speed, like PLL and EXT_CLK. Thus, all Winchester consoles are unmoddable at this time.
|
Winchester XCGPU
Unknown manufacturing process |
Unflashable! Philips & Lite-On DG-16D5S or Hitachi-LG DL10N | |||