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.

Retail Configurations

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. 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)

• 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 ("Slim")

• Major redesign of the console, and integrated the CPU and GPU into one chip.
• Cooling system was redesigned to be a single heatsink/fan to accomodate for a single XCGPU.
• Features 2 front USB ports, 3 rear USB ports, a dedicated Kinect port, and integrated optical audio. All S consoles come with A/V and HDMI video outputs.
• Power/eject buttons are touch sensitive and integrated in the face plate.
• Xbox 360 S consoles come with an internal beeper speaker, which plays unique chimes when the power or eject button is pressed on the console.
  • Special edition consoles have unique power/eject sounds and feature a larger speaker.
• Slim and E consoles going forward always include an internal Wi-Fi card.
  • The connector these 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.
• Slightly reduced in size compared to original console.
• 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 many similarities with the Xbox 360 S, but has some components removed for cheaper manufacturing costs.
• It removed one of the rear USB ports (Console now has 4 total 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.
• Power supply now uses a single barrel jack. Phat and S power supplies can be converted to be on an E with cheap adapters.
• These consoles also featured 4 GB NAND and 250 GB HDD SKUs, but also introduced 500 GB HDD SKUs later on.
• Xbox 360 E hard drive shells are exactly the same as the S hard drive shells, and are compatible with each other.
• 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.
• In late 2014 the Stingray boards were replaced with Winchester boards. Winchester boards cannot be RGHed whatsoever.
  • The blue special edition Xbox 360 E consoles which were bundled with Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Call of Duty: Ghosts always came 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 this motherboard identification chart.

Identification Chart (All models)

Motherboard Identification Chart

Xbox 360 S

If you have an Xbox 360 S, you can determine weather you have a Trinity, Corona "V1/V2", or Waitsburg ("Corona V3/V4") using the provided images. Trinities are easy to identify, as they have a different 12V amperage than Corona. On the motherboards themselves, Trinities also feature a HANA encoder chip and PSB south bridge. Coronas have the HANA integrated in the KSB south bridge. The Waitsburg will have not have traces from the CPU going to POST, and 4GB models have an eMMC NAND without the Phison controller. If you have a Corona/Waitsburg console that has a 16 MB NAND, the only way to identify the revision is by taking off the heatsink.

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.

Corona vs. Winchester (sideview)

Motherboard Comparison

Name	Description	CPU	GPU/eDRAM	12V Amperage	NAND (Retail)	Potential DVD Drive
Xenon	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	Toshiba Samsung TS-H943 or Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L
Elpis	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.	90nm Waternoose	80nm Elpis w/ 80nm eDRAM	16.5A	16 MB	Toshiba Samsung TS-H943 or Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L
Zephyr_A/B/C	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 Waternoose	90nm Y1 w/ 90nm eDRAM 80nm Y2 w/ 90nm eDRAM 80nm Rhea w/ 80nm eDRAM	16.5A	16 MB	Philips & BenQ VAD6038, Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L
Falcon	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 made after March 2008 tend to have good reliability.	65nm Loki	80nm Rhea w/ 80nm eDRAM	14.2A	16 MB	Philips & BenQ VAD6038, Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L, Philips & Lite-On DG-16D2S
Opus	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 very uncommon compared to fixed Xenons or Elpis boards.	65nm Loki	80nm Rhea w/ 80nm eDRAM	14.2A	16 MB	Toshiba Samsung TS-H943 or Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L
Jasper	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. *There are a few very late production Jasper consoles which include a Kronos GPU, but these are very uncommon. Kronos consoles are usually Tonaskets.	65nm Loki	65nm Zeus* w/ 80nm eDRAM	12.1A	16 MB, 256 MB, or 512 MB	Philips & Lite-On DG-16D2S
Tonasket	Also known as "Jasper V2" or "Jasper Kronos". Tonasket is similar to Jasper, but with a new GPU that has shrunken eDRAM. Some unused pads that were previously on Jasper were also removed. Almost 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 Loki	65nm Kronos w/ 65nm eDRAM	12.1A	16 MB or 512 MB	Philips & Lite-On DG-16D2S
Trinity	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. The RF board was changed to have the power and eject buttons as touch sensors on the face plate. All 4GB models were matte black, but most HDD models came with a glossy shell. 4GB 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. Note: Slim Hitachi DVD drives cannot be flashed without a drive PCB replacement. You will also need to RGH the console, as the DVD key cannot be retreived from the drive itself either.	45nm Valhalla	45nm Valhalla w/ 65nm eDRAM	10.83A	16 MB	Philips & Lite-On DG-16D4S Hitachi-LG DL10N
Corona	Also known as the "Corona V1" (16 MB) or "V2 "(4GB 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 moving forward used a matte shell, no matter if it was a 4GB or HDD model. The HANA chip and Ethernet controller have been a new KSB south bridge, and it now supported on-board 4GB NANDs. 4 GB Memory units are now integrated into a 4 GB NAND with a Phison PS7000 controller. Unfortunately, some rhythm games (notably Neversoft Guitar Hero games) have audio de-sync during game play while using an HDMI cable caused by the new south bridge. This also happens in future Corona revisions and the Winchester. This audio desync shouldn't effect other rhythm games, and in the GH games it can be fixed with an A/V cable.. 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 4GB NAND. The 4GB 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.	45nm Valhalla	45nm Valhalla w/ 65nm eDRAM	9.6A	16 MB or 4 GB	Philips & Lite-On DG-16D4S, Philips & Lite-On DG-16D5S, Hitachi-LG DL10N
Waitsburg	Also known as "Corona V3" (16 MB NAND) or "V4" (4GB eMMC). This motherboard is a minor revision to the Corona. It changed the 4GB NAND with a Phison 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 isn't recommended) 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 4GB NAND. The 4GB 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.	45nm Valhalla	45nm Valhalla w/ 65nm eDRAM	9.6A	16 MB NAND or 4 GB eMMC	Philips & Lite-On DG-16D5S, Hitachi-LG DL10N
Stingray	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. Note: Slim Hitachi and DG-16D5S DVD drives cannot be flashed without a 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 4GB NAND. The 4GB Hynix NAND chips on these consoles commonly fail overtime. (4GB Stingray consoles occasionally came with Toshiba branded eMMC, but this is uncommon. They seem to have better reliability than Hynix 4GB eMMCs.) If you do have a Hynix 4GB console, try to minimize usage of the memory unit. The memory unit can also be disabled after an RGH.	45nm Valhalla	45nm Valhalla w/ 65nm eDRAM	9.6A	16 MB NAND or 4 GB eMMC	Philips & Lite-On DG-16D5S, Hitachi-LG DL10N
Winchester	Notable for being the final Xbox 360 motherboard revision. 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 CGPU, which integrated the eDRAM into the CPU/GPU die. The Winchester's CPU also patched the Reset Glitch Hack. Thus, all Winchester consoles are unmoddable.	Winchester CGPU	Winchester CGPU/eDRAM	9.6A	16 MB NAND or 4 GB eMMC	Unflashable! Philips & Lite-On DG-16D5S, Hitachi-LG DL10N