xbox 360: Generic HDD vs Micro$oft brand

[Sonikku]

I noticed that the 250 gig Microsoft hdd is $100 extra if you buy it with the console, or $130 separate which sounds crazy to me. Then I noticed on amazon there are generic harddrives designed for the 360 slim that are half the price.

http://www.amazon.com/250G-Drive-Mic...9593082&sr=1-7

http://www.amazon.com/250GB-Hard-Dri...593216&sr=1-23

Question is, can I go with one of these and be just as well off with the Microsoft brand just being an overpriced variant of the same thing? Or is the Microsoft brand of a higher quality?

 

[Tom]

The Microsoft one isn't higher quality. Microsoft doesn't support the non-official ones but I've never seen a credible report of that causing any problems as far as a hard drive.

 

[Kaervak]

The only thing you'll lose by going with a generic is the original xbox emulation partition which is no big deal.

 

[Slick5150]

I bought a WD Scorpio HDD, flashed it with the Microsoft firmware, been using it without any problem at all.

 

[Sonikku]

The only thing you'll lose by going with a generic is the original xbox emulation partition which is no big deal.

So I won't be able to play any Xbox 1 games if I go generic? I've been able to add additional emulation to old white chasis variants burning a disc off microsofts website, is it possible to restore that functionality that way?

I noticed one of the generic hdd's I linked is 7200 rpm while the rest including microsofts are 5400. Would that make the generic one superior to the name brand variant?

 

[Kaervak]

So I won't be able to play any Xbox 1 games if I go generic? I've been able to add additional emulation to old white chasis variants burning a disc off microsofts website, is it possible to restore that functionality that way?

I noticed one of the generic hdd's I linked is 7200 rpm while the rest including microsofts are 5400. Would that make the generic one superior to the name brand variant?

There's a hack that shows you how to add the Xbox 1 emulation partition onto the generic drive. I've never tried it since I have an MS drive, but it seems like it works fine.

 

[Batti]

What if I bought an official MS drive as a refurb from Gamespot? Would that have the emulation partition already there? I know I need to take the drive out of the enclosure to fit my 360 slim, but that's easy.

I don't have a PC handy to be able to flash a generic drive.

 

[smackababy]

What if I bought an official MS drive as a refurb from Gamespot? Would that have the emulation partition already there? I know I need to take the drive out of the enclosure to fit my 360 slim, but that's easy.

I don't have a PC handy to be able to flash a generic drive.

It doesn't just slide in. You need an adapter or something to hold the drive in place. Otherwise, I believe it should work. The firmware might be different though, I'd do some Googling before I buy anything.

 

[Batti]

I know how to make it fit, there's plenty of detail on Youtube. The question is whether a Gamestop refurb drive would have the MS partitions on it.

 

[RedRooster]

I know how to make it fit, there's plenty of detail on Youtube. The question is whether a Gamestop refurb drive would have the MS partitions on it.

Yep, they should. They're most likely just trade ins of official drives, unless traders have learned to scam that system too.