Xbox 360 Games, Digital vs Disk

[MistaFreeze]

I am wondering if there's a difference in terms of frame rate or loading times when downloading a game from XBL versus having a disk. I know most disc games allow you to install to the HDD which increases load time so that's something I will do but I wanted to get Dark Souls and I've heard there is lag in some areas. Is there a definitive version to go with? Thanks guys!

 

[smackababy]

Installing to HDD does not fix performance issues other than load times. A Digital download will load faster than a game on disc, however, the performance issues in Dark Souls (in the Blighttown area) will still appear. It is a problem with the game itself (the PC version has a similar problem, despite PCs having considerably more power).

 

[Imaginer]

The difference in it is that I do not need to physically swap disks for different games I want to play. That is (to me) a big difference. Never mind all of the usual about the technical details of loading and buffering.

 

[Wingznut]

A Digital download will load faster than a game on disc

Correct me if I am wrong... But doesn't the disc fully load on to the hard drive. So, other than a quick check for the disc, load times should be the same?

 

[Doppel]

Correct me if I am wrong... But doesn't the disc fully load on to the hard drive. So, other than a quick check for the disc, load times should be the same?

On the 360 if you don't specifically install the game, as much of it as possible is loaded from the disc and doesn't make its way to the hard drive.

 

[ronbo613]

Correct me if I am wrong... But doesn't the disc fully load on to the hard drive. So, other than a quick check for the disc, load times should be the same?

If the game is installed on the hard drive, after a quick check of a DVD for the license, there isn't any difference.

 

[lamedude]

GTA5 and Halo3 performed worse in if you installed to HDD so I would assume that would also affect the GoD version.

 

[ronbo613]

GTA5 and Halo3 performed worse in if you installed to HDD so I would assume that would also affect the GoD version.

Any idea why that would be the case?

 

[smackababy]

Any idea why that would be the case?

The reason for GTA5 is because they had a way to stream data from disc and from the additional install disc to improve performance. If you installed both disc, this method didn't work, because you had to load both from the HDD, hurting performance.

 

[zerocool84]

The biggest difference is not having to hear the jet taking off aka disc drive if you install the games. That alone is worth installing the games on a 360.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The biggest difference is not having to hear the jet taking off aka disc drive if you install the games. That alone is worth installing the games on a 360.

On some models yes, on the latest models this doesn't seem to be an issue anymore.

 

[Wamill]

Noise is probably one of the main difference. It should also help a bit with loading time.

 

[Lil Frier]

GTA5 and Halo3 performed worse in if you installed to HDD so I would assume that would also affect the GoD version.

Skyrim allegedly had an issue where it hurt the graphics if you installed it, not sure if they ever fixed it.

 

[ronbo613]

Noise is probably one of the main difference. It should also help a bit with loading time.

Cuts down wear and tear on the optical drive as well. It seems that reading data from an optical disc would be significantly slower than a hard drive.

 

[smackababy]

Right now, I'd wait to buy. A lot of content is being removed from XBL soon and is seeing sales (with the idea that it is being ported to the new Xbox One). This is happening on PSN as well. There might be a discount for whatever you're looking for in the coming weeks.