So I got a second XBox for the bedroom, primarily for use as a Windows Media Center Extender. I didn't figure I needed the high-end machine, so I got a really good deal on the XBox 360 Arcade at Dell Home ($179 for the Arcade + a $50 Dell gift card).
I first set up and tested the extender functionality, which works great. My wife is very happy!
My next goal was to load up Trials HD and Platinum some tracks in the comfort of my own bedroom.
The newest Arcades have 512MB of on-board memory, so while I knew that wouldn't let me download all the XBLA games, videos, etc I have on the other box (XBox Pro with 60GB HD), I figured it would be good for some late-night Trials HD and maybe some other stuff.
The good news: I did it
The bad news: barely
The XBox Live system update took up about 200MB, leaving 224MB free
Trials HD was 208 MB, leaving 16MB free
Trials HD fat pack was 8MB, leaving 8MB free
I was actually successful in downloading and applying the Trials HD premium theme (7MB), but that only left 1MB free on the internal storage, and that makes me nervous, so I removed it.
So while it worked, there is absolutely no room for any other XBLA games! This is basically a dedicated Trials HD machine! (Well, plus the media extender, plus any full game disks I want to play, plus if I get a Netflix subscription... anyone know if the Netflix app uses up any local storage?)
I had hoped to throw Magic: The Gathering on there, which I play quite a bit. Guess I'll have to find some more storage before I can do that...
So other than returning the Arcade for an Elite (which I probably should have considered in the first place), what's the most economical way to pick up extra storage? The memory cards are a joke (only 512MB max). Can I use a standard USB flash drive for game storage??
Probably makes the most sense to put the Dell gift card toward a 60gb starter kit (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...9&sku=A2207622)
Senior Member
I'm not really sure what could be done at this point. I'm not sure a usb stick would work for storing games (you could try it but I'm not sure that it would work) and you don't seem to want to play with memory cards so your only real option is to buy a hard drive, but they can be pretty pricey. If you're not looking for too much storage then I'd recommend that you get either the 20GB or 60GB HDD, but there are larger storing HDD's out therethink the current largest is 250GB). Maybe you could put together $100-$150 and buy an HDD because that seems to be your only option.
Actually, if I use the $50 Dell gift card that came with the deal, I can get the 60GB "starter pack" (also includes 3mo XBLA Gold and a headset) for only $50 more.
Also looks like NewEgg has a refurbished 20GB starter pack:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16874103142
And except for using them to play your music or other media, looks like USB flash drives can't be used as game storage:
http://askville.amazon.com/flash-dri...uestId=9428270
WESTERN DIGITAL 1TB "MY BOOK" EXTERNAL HARDRIVE... look on play.com no more worries ever. or simply take your hardrive off xbox downstair and take it to bed with u
LOL, why didn't I think of that??Originally Posted by raistlin2076... or simply take your hardrive off xbox downstair and take it to bed with u
My second problem now is my old, lousy 19" SD TV. (Purchased in 1992 on the opening day sale of the Fry's Electronics in Huntington Beach, CA. Still works.)
MAN, THAT PICTURE IS HORRIBLE! This is the first I've seen TrialsHD on a non-HD TV.
Can't read the track times sitting on my bed. Can barely tell if I'm ahead of my prior record!
Senior Member
You didn't think to move your HDD? hahaOriginally Posted by MegaTrainLOL, why didn't I think of that??Originally Posted by raistlin2076... or simply take your hardrive off xbox downstair and take it to bed with u
My second problem now is my old, lousy 19" SD TV. (Purchased in 1992 on the opening day sale of the Fry's Electronics in Huntington Beach, CA. Still works.)
MAN, THAT PICTURE IS HORRIBLE! This is the first I've seen TrialsHD on a non-HD TV.
Can't read the track times sitting on my bed. Can barely tell if I'm ahead of my prior record!
Also, buy a new TV!
Well, its not a general solution, if someone else is using the XBox downstairs, but for the "everyone else has gone to bed but I want to play some XBox before I go to sleep" case, it should work just fine.Originally Posted by Jarr3tt88You didn't think to move your HDD? haha
Also, buy a new TV!
And yes, I do need a new TV. Just can't decide whether I want to get a new 32-37" TV for the bedroom, or spend the extra to get a new 50+" for the living room and move the 37" upstairs.
When I first mounted the 37" over the TV, my wife said "you know, I'll bet a bigger TV would look good up there..."
Well, looks like the "borrow the hard drive from the other XBox" strategy will probably do the trick. Tried it last night, and it seemed to have no problem recognizing and using the content!
Still have to work on getting a new bedroom TV, though. The picture is so bad, I literally can't read the leaderboard times with the small font, or read the "ahead/behind" time indicator during a race. Just an ugly, blurry mess.
Anyone else have these readability issues on a Standard-def TV? Or is it just my old piece-o-crap?
you really need to decide whats more important your wife etc or trialsbut with no wife you could play trials on your new 50in downstair all the time ???? but you may miss out on other stuff
its a big decsion you will have to make
lol at getting dome while playing going up
