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Difference Between a 20G & 60G Xbox

The Xbox 360 hard drive is an optional gaming accessory that can be bought and installed alongside the core Xbox 360 console. The hard drive can store video games' saved-game data, hold downloadable content, such as map packs, and allows Xbox 360 owners to install games directly onto the hard drive, making the system faster and quieter. The 60G hard drive is a more recent model that offers much more space than the 20G version -- if gamers are willing to shell out the extra funds.

Price
- The original 20G hard drive was included with most Xbox 360s when the console was first released. Now the 20G hard drive model has been discontinued and is available for sale only on websites, such as eBay. The 60G hard drive model was introduced in the summer of 2008, offering gamers an extra 40 gigabytes of space for approximately $50 more. Since then, prices have continued to go down. Xbox 360 consoles with the 60G hard drive included are only $179, and 60G hard drives by themselves can be bought online for about $20 to $40.
Storage Capacity
- Twenty-gigabyte hard drives were the standard when the Xbox 360 was released. They are capable of holding a large selection of saved-game files (all of which rarely exceed 100mb in size) and several downloadable content packages, as well (such as extra levels and game expansions). The 60G hard drive has 40 additional gigabytes and can, therefore, hold movies, music and even has enough space to accommodate directly downloading a game onto the hard drive -- and each game tends to fill about six to eight gigabytes.
Uses
- The uses of the 20G are somewhat limited when compared to the 60G. The 60G is able to run a number of games directly off the hard drive, which is considered preferable to relying on the disc. On a 20G, the hard drive would fill up after downloading just two or three games. The 60G is also perfect for a variety of other features, such as downloading movies over the Xbox 360's Netflix service, for which the 20G hard drive might not have enough space.
Playstyle
- If a gamer wants only a hard drive to save games and download the occasional bundle of content to add to their library, they're not going to need more than the standard 20G. If a gamer wants to use the Xbox 360 as a multimedia platform for music playlists, movies and photo sharing, as well as play a wide variety of games, the 60G will likely be the better choice. Even if the Xbox 360 is going to be used only for games but will be shared by a few different family members or roommates, it may be wise to invest in the 60G.

Xbox 360