Jeff Bakalar,
Assistant Editor
April 6, 2009
So you've looked at the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 and decided that the Microsoft console is the right one for you. Now the question is--which 360? There are three models to choose from:
- Xbox 360 Core System ($300): Avoid this one like the plague. It doesn't include a hard drive, and once you shell out the money to buy one--$100 for the 20GB model, or $180 for the 120GB model--you'll already be paying as much as the step-up models, each of which also include a headset and a wireless controller.
- Xbox 360 Premium [20GB] ($400): This model lacks the larger hard drive and HDMI output of its big brother. But if you don't plan on downloading a lot of game demos, movies, and TV shows from the Xbox Live Marketplace and you don't require 1080p or HDMI video output, this model is just fine.
- Xbox 360 Elite [120GB] ($480): The newest member of the 360 family includes a much larger hard drive, HDMI output, and a stylish black color scheme. While we wished it offered some more substantive upgrades, it's the best option for first-time 360 buyers--especially those who are interested in viewing movies and TV shows on their 360--but anyone who already owns the 20GB model (above) needn't feel pressured to upgrade.
| Product name | |||
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| Price | Check Prices | $14.90 to $177.99 | $399.99 |
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| Review date | November 18, 2005 | November 19, 2007 | April 27, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | The Core System is a cheaper, bare-bones version of Microsoft's Xbox 360. | With its extensive digital media features, a superior online service, and an excellent game library, the Xbox 360 remains the game console to beat. | While it's neither a must-have upgrade for existing 360 owners nor as feature-packed as the PS3, the Xbox 360 Elite's combination of top-notch gaming and digital media features make it the current game console of choice. |
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| Features | |||
| Max resolution (external) | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Video RAM installed | 10 MB | 10 MB | 10 MB |
| Processor type | PowerPC | PowerPC | PowerPC |
| Graphics Processor / Vendor | ATI Xbox 360 | ATI Xbox 360 | ATI Xbox 360 |
| Media Type | DVD-ROM | DVD-ROM | DVD-ROM |
| RAM installed size | 512 MB | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices |
This product is currently unavailable at any of our partners. A similar version is available here. |
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