What are my options?

[Craggle]

I want a 360 which will play backed up games.

--Are there any benefits of buying a brand new 360 or should i get a second hand one?
--Is there a specific drive in the 360 i should be looking for when buying?
--I have a pc with sata connections and a sata cable, is there anything else i will need?
--I have a usb drive to use to flash if needs be
--I have dual layer burners
--will i need a samsung dvd drive to back-up?

I live in the uk also if you needed to know...?

(ps ive got a mobo with sata - nvidia nforce4 serial ATA controller - its on a asus a8n sli premium)

 

[rykon9]

I would say to purchase a refurbished or preowned console.All drives at this time are flashable except the phillips,Me personally would go for a samsung as they seem to be the best and easiest to mod! And you seem to have all you need,GOOD LUCK!

 

[Craggle]

how would i avoid the phillips? use this image to make sure its the samsung drive?

http://www.360mods.net/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10005/xbox360-dvd-drives.jpg


Anyone elses opinions on the new/preowned to buy, or is the general consensus buy a preowned?

 

[rykon9]

Phillips drives are rare,i wouldnt worry to much about them! sammys only have 1 lil hole in the middle and hitachi has 2 square looking holes in the front part of tray.New or preowned-you will be fine!

 

[Craggle]

what do the phillips ones look like?

 

[ivanhoe]

Don't fret about the Phillips - you wont get one - I believe that they may have been a few pre-production type xbox's.

Open thr drive tray, and compare with the image on page 6 of the tutorial;
http://www.360mods.net/Downloads/details/id=61.html

As the previous poster outlined, there is little benefit to getting a new box, especially since you would void the warrantee anyway by opening it.