The Microsoft Xbox 360
Features
Controller (wired/wireless controller)
-Maximum number of controllers
- Wired controllers: 3 (up to 4 with external USB hub)
- Wireless controllers: 4
- Total: 4 wired/wireless
- 2.4 GHz wireless “Digital Spread Spectrum” (connection) (wireless only)
- USB (connection) (wired only)
- Vibration feedback
-Power source
- AA battery [x2] OR
- Rechargeable battery pack [x1]
-Accessories/Inputs
- Keyboard (“ChatPad”, USB)
- Universal remote (“Universal Media Remote”, infrared)
- Driving wheel (USB, USB wireless)
- Joystick (USB)
- Musical instruments (USB/USB wireless)
- Headset (USB/wireless) [x4 maximum]
- Webcam (“Live Vision Camera”, USB)
- Other 3rd-party accessories
Home Menu (Xbox 360 Dashboard)
-Main menu
- Accessible in-game: partially
- Interface: tabs (“Blades”), “Twist” (coming soon)
-User profile
- Personal picture
- Profile information
- Add online credits (“Microsoft Points”)
-Games
- Plays Xbox 360 game discs
- Plays some Xbox game discs (via emulation)
- Plays downloaded games (via emulation)
-Music
- Sources: CD, internal hard drive, flash drive, portable media player, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
- Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC (optional update required)
- Play in-game: yes
- Copy to system: internal hard drive (only WMA at 192 kbps)
- Copy to external device: no
- DRM/copyright support: no
-Pictures
- Sources: CD, internal hard drive, flash drive, portable media player, digital camera, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
- Formats: JPEG
- Editor: no
- Copy to system: no
- Copy to external device: no
-Videos
- Sources: DVD, HD-DVD (external HD-DVD drive required), internal hard drive, flash drive, portable media player, external hard drive, ‘USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
- Container formats: WMV, MP4, AVI, MOV, ASF
- Video codecs: MPEG-4 SP/ASP, H.264/AVC, WMV, DivX
- Audio codecs: MP3, AAC, Dolby Digital, WMA
- Editor: no
- Copy to system: no
- Copy to external device: no
- DRM/copyright support: no
-Online store
- Payment methods: point cards, credit card
- Downloadable games: Xbox 360, Xbox games (purchase)
- Downloadable demos: Xbox 360 game demos (free)
- Downloadable patches/add-ons: Xbox 360 add-ons (free, purchase)
- Downloadable music: none
- Downloadable videos: trailers (free), TV shows (purchase), movies (purchase)
- Other downloads: themes (purchase), gamer pictures (free)
- Video streaming: none
-Web browser
- Version: Unknown (Windows Media Center program)
- Price: free (Media Center PC required)
- Maximum number of tabs: unknown
- Image support: yes
- Animation support: unknown
- JavaScript support: unknown
- Flash support: unknown
- Adobe PDF support: unknown
- YouTube video support: unknown
- Navigation: Xbox 360 controller
- Text input: virtual (on-screen) keyboard
-Communication
- Send text messages to Xbox 360 users
- Send messages to Windows Live Messenger users
- Voice chat [x2 users maximum]
- Video conference [x2 users maximum]
Technical Specifications
Processors
-CPU: IBM “Xenon” processor
- Cores: 3 (symmetrical)
- Process technology: 90 nm (Core, Arcade models)/65 nm (Premium, Elite models)
- Speed: 3.2 GHz
- L2 cache: 1 MB
Graphics
-GPU: ATI “Xenos” graphics [x1]
- Process technology: 90 nm
- Speed: 500 MHz
Memory
-512 MB total memory
- Main memory: shared
- Graphics memory: shared
- Texture memory/framebuffer: 10 MB
Storage
-Internal data storage
- Standard 2.5″ SATA Hard drive (in proprietary casing): none (Core, Arcade models)/20 GB (Premium model)/120 GB (Elite model)
-External data storage
- USB flash drive
- USB hard drive (supports FAT32, HFS+)
- Xbox 360 memory unit
-Disc drive [x1]
- Load type: tray-loading
- Game disc formats: Xbox 360 game disc (12cm DVD-DL), Xbox game disc (12 cm DVD)
- Standard disc formats: DVD-ROM, DVD±R/RW, DVD Video, CD-ROM, CD-R/RW, CD Audio, CD-ROM XA, CD-Extra, JPEG Photo CD
Ports and Peripherals
-Infrared (IR)
- Compatible with: Universal Media Remote, standard universal TV remotes
-Controller ports
- “Digital Spread Spectrum” [x4]
- USB port [x3]
-Card slots
- Memory unit slot [x2]
-USB port [x3]
- Version: 2.0
- Compatible with: wired controller, keyboard, media player, camera, flash drive, external hard drive (supports FAT32, HFS+) USB hub, USB flash media adaptor, Playstation Portable, any “USB mass storage device”
-Power ports
- Power supply: external
- Main power port
-Ethernet ports
- 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port [x1]
- External Wireless-B/G adaptor (optional)
-Audio/video output ports
- A/V output: multiple-A/V out (adaptor necessary) [x1], HDMI 1.2 (Arcade, Premium, Elite models) [x1]
- Video-only output: none
- Audio-only output: 2.5 mm audio jack (on controller) [x1 per controller]
-Proprietary accessory ports
- Controller accessory port [x1 per controller]
- 2.4 GHz wireless “Digital Spread Spectrum” (for controller, wireless headset, wireless racing wheel, etc.) [x4]
- Memory unit slot [x2]
Video Output
-Standard definition (SD)
- 480i (NTSC)
- 480p (PAL/NTSC)
- 576i (PAL/SECAM)
-High definition (HD)
- 720p (NTSC)
- 1080i (NTSC) (native)
- 1080p (NTSC) (system update required)
-Aspect ratio
- 4:3 (standard)
- 16:10 (widescreen XGA)
- 16:9 (widescreen)
Audio Output
-Main audio
- Channels: 2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 7.1
- Standards: stereo (compressed), Dolby Digital (compressed)
-Other audio
- Wired headset (2.5 mm stereo jack on controller) [x1 per controller]
- Wireless headset [x4 maximum]
Power Consumption
-On
- 175 watts
-Standby
- 3 watts
Other Information
Current Retail Prices
-Core model (discontinued): $280
-Arcade model: $280
-Premium model: $300 ($350 in August 2008)
-Elite model: $450
Technical Issues
-System failure rate: 20-33%
-Most common technical problems
- “General hardware failure”/”Red Ring of Death” (fatal) (sometimes repairable)
- System overheat (sometimes fatal) (repairable)
- Scratched discs (fatal to affect discs) (not repairable)
- Video output failure (sometimes repairable)
- System bricked by update patches (fatal) (not repairable)
- Disc drive tray jam (repairable)
