NXE Update Improving Game Experiences

by pastapadre
Posted November 19th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

One of the anticipated elements to the New Xbox Experience (NXE) is the ability to install the games to the hard drive. While the disc is still required to be in the 360 while playing, drawing from the hard drive is supposed to put less strain on the hardware as well as decrease loading times as the disc isn’t spinning or being read.

So I thought I would go through and experiment with some of the more recent sports titles to see what if any effect is had by installing the game to the hard drive. The actual installs took about 10 minutes each. I went through a few scenarios with NCAA Football 09, Madden 09, NBA 2K9, and NHL 09. Continue on to see the results.

Size of Install: 6.3 GB
Start-up of game into the menu screen: 1:10 (disc) vs 1:01 (hard drive)
Loading into a play now game: 24 seconds (disc) vs 16 seconds (hard drive)
Loading out of a game into the menu screen: 35 seconds (disc) vs 34 seconds (hard drive)
Total time saved: 18 seconds

Size of Install: 6.7 GB
Start-up of game into the menu screen: 54 seconds (disc) vs 38 seconds (hard drive)
Loading into a play now game: 41 seconds (disc) vs 37 seconds (hard drive)
Loading out of a game into the menu screen: 15 seconds (disc) vs 9 seconds (hard drive)
Total time saved: 26 seconds

Size of Install: 6.7 GB
Start-up of game into the menu screen: 57 seconds (disc) vs 42 seconds (hard drive)
Loading into a play now game: 29 seconds (disc) vs 22 seconds (hard drive)
Loading out of a game into the menu screen: 6 seconds (disc) vs 3 seconds (hard drive)
Total time saved: 25 seconds

Size of Install: 5.7 GB
Start-up of game into the menu screen: 43 seconds (disc) vs 38 seconds (hard drive)
Loading into a play now game: 27 seconds seconds (disc) vs 24 seconds (hard drive)
Loading out of a game into the menu screen: 2 seconds (disc) vs 1 second (hard drive)
Total time saved: 9 seconds

While the times were not reduced drastically there is some improvement seen from loading off the hard drive as opposed to the disc. Just saving a few seconds here and there is a good thing and can really add up.

Browsing through menus I found some cases where moving through them seemed a little more fluid, while other times it seemed the same as before with some occasional lag/stuttering. There have been reports of people believing that the games actually play better when running off the hard drive, though I did not attempt to evaluate that for this article.

The thing I noticed most while doing the comparisons is the noise that the 360 generated. When reading off the hard drive it was very quiet. Basically the same amount of sound the 360 produces when just sitting on the dashboard is what you get when playing the games that are installed to the hard drive.

So this has taken me to the conclusion that I need to upgrade my hard drive to at least the 60GB. There is the immediate benefits being seen of slightly quicker load times, potentially smoother menus and gameplay, and a quieter running 360. It seems well worth the investment now.

Tags: hard drive eval

Uk II Gamer

NBA 2K9 motion and frame rate seem to be more improved when playing from the hard drive also.
Uk II Gamer

NBA 2K9 motion and frame rate seem to be more improved when playing from the hard drive also.
di

some people that say they dont care about loading times need to understand, your 360 isnt working as hard when running from hard drive. Maybe it will stop the infamous red light issue, or maybe not. Its weird because i got this message from halo saying i need to use the disc and not install from the hard drive or I will have issues. I ignored that message ad did it anyway, and was quite surprised how quick the load times were and matchmaking!!
di

some people that say they dont care about loading times need to understand, your 360 isnt working as hard when running from hard drive. Maybe it will stop the infamous red light issue, or maybe not. Its weird because i got this message from halo saying i need to use the disc and not install from the hard drive or I will have issues. I ignored that message ad did it anyway, and was quite surprised how quick the load times were and matchmaking!!
Jonathon

di wrote:

some people that say they dont care about loading times need to understand, your 360 isnt working as hard when running from hard drive. Maybe it will stop the infamous red light issue, or maybe not. Its weird because i got this message from halo saying i need to use the disc and not install from the hard drive or I will have issues. I ignored that message ad did it anyway, and was quite surprised how quick the load times were and matchmaking!!

exactly…its the sound and the work that the 360 was doing previously that is greatly reduced…that’s a MONSTEROUS plus…plus…future games are going to take advantage of the harddrive install option in order to make double and triple disc games a possibility on the 360…
Jonathon

di wrote:

some people that say they dont care about loading times need to understand, your 360 isnt working as hard when running from hard drive. Maybe it will stop the infamous red light issue, or maybe not. Its weird because i got this message from halo saying i need to use the disc and not install from the hard drive or I will have issues. I ignored that message ad did it anyway, and was quite surprised how quick the load times were and matchmaking!!

exactly…its the sound and the work that the 360 was doing previously that is greatly reduced…that’s a MONSTEROUS plus…plus…future games are going to take advantage of the harddrive install option in order to make double and triple disc games a possibility on the 360…
Tristate Killa

I’m loving the new look,but yea you can install games on your xbox.Also by installing the game it will load faster and make almost no system noise,and we all no the xbox 360 is loud as hell so its definetly a plus.

Note:dont be a fool and waste over a hundred dollars on another hard drive if your lacking space to install more games because if you do need more just delete what you installed and download it some other time because all it takes is ten minutes to install. Peace
Tristate Killa

I’m loving the new look,but yea you can install games on your xbox.Also by installing the game it will load faster and make almost no system noise,and we all no the xbox 360 is loud as hell so its definetly a plus.

Note:dont be a fool and waste over a hundred dollars on another hard drive if your lacking space to install more games because if you do need more just delete what you installed and download it some other time because all it takes is ten minutes to install. Peace
Morzikei

would be a good thing if you didn’t have to have the disc inside the xbox… install the game and put the disc where it’s nice and safe… 60 bucks lost due to a scratch is not fun… yet it’s business for the retailers
Morzikei

would be a good thing if you didn’t have to have the disc inside the xbox… install the game and put the disc where it’s nice and safe… 60 bucks lost due to a scratch is not fun… yet it’s business for the retailers
BK Slime

great experiment, I loaded three games already, NCAA football, Basketball 2K9, and End War, games seem to load fatser and I’m thinking it will cut down the RROD.

Good work Microsoft
BK Slime

great experiment, I loaded three games already, NCAA football, Basketball 2K9, and End War, games seem to load fatser and I’m thinking it will cut down the RROD.

Good work Microsoft
NJPapi1977

Do some of you idiots have brains…Why would it be dumb to leave the disc in when anybody can then go rent 10 games in block buster and save them to the hd and not have to pay for them…Sometimes I am baffled by americas youth and their lack of brain usuage…..Idiots…..Biggest reason to load it to the hd is to reduce the sound and make load times quicker….only and idiot would question why you have to put the disc in when you know that it is done for the purpose that no company wants to give free games away…
NJPapi1977

Do some of you idiots have brains…Why would it be dumb to leave the disc in when anybody can then go rent 10 games in block buster and save them to the hd and not have to pay for them…Sometimes I am baffled by americas youth and their lack of brain usuage…..Idiots…..Biggest reason to load it to the hd is to reduce the sound and make load times quicker….only and idiot would question why you have to put the disc in when you know that it is done for the purpose that no company wants to give free games away…
r00tabaga

I’m glad I got an Elite w/120gb now! Does any1 know if the 360 can auto detect like the PS3? What I mean is, if a game or movie runs better in 1080p (blu rays & SOME games) on the PS3 it will run in that form. If a game (like most PS3 games) run in 720p it will run 720p and doesn’t try to upconvert. I play Gears 2 in 720p b/c it is a lil smoother and I can’t see any graphics difference on a 1080p TV w/1080p Xbox. Any1, any1???
r00tabaga

I’m glad I got an Elite w/120gb now! Does any1 know if the 360 can auto detect like the PS3? What I mean is, if a game or movie runs better in 1080p (blu rays & SOME games) on the PS3 it will run in that form. If a game (like most PS3 games) run in 720p it will run 720p and doesn’t try to upconvert. I play Gears 2 in 720p b/c it is a lil smoother and I can’t see any graphics difference on a 1080p TV w/1080p Xbox. Any1, any1???
acreyman

Touche’
Oh the possibilities……
Jonathon wrote:

di wrote:
some people that say they dont care about loading times need to understand, your 360 isnt working as hard when running from hard drive. Maybe it will stop the infamous red light issue, or maybe not. Its weird because i got this message from halo saying i need to use the disc and not install from the hard drive or I will have issues. I ignored that message ad did it anyway, and was quite surprised how quick the load times were and matchmaking!!
exactly…its the sound and the work that the 360 was doing previously that is greatly reduced…that’s a MONSTEROUS plus…plus…future games are going to take advantage of the harddrive install option in order to make double and triple disc games a possibility on the 360…
acreyman

Touche’
Oh the possibilities……
Jonathon wrote:

di wrote:
some people that say they dont care about loading times need to understand, your 360 isnt working as hard when running from hard drive. Maybe it will stop the infamous red light issue, or maybe not. Its weird because i got this message from halo saying i need to use the disc and not install from the hard drive or I will have issues. I ignored that message ad did it anyway, and was quite surprised how quick the load times were and matchmaking!!
exactly…its the sound and the work that the 360 was doing previously that is greatly reduced…that’s a MONSTEROUS plus…plus…future games are going to take advantage of the harddrive install option in order to make double and triple disc games a possibility on the 360…
Sean

I installed Gears 2 so far on my harddrive but that’s it. Runs smoother, 360 doesn’t make noise, etc. Problem is like you said Pasta, I might have to upgrade the the 60 GB now.
Sean

I installed Gears 2 so far on my harddrive but that’s it. Runs smoother, 360 doesn’t make noise, etc. Problem is like you said Pasta, I might have to upgrade the the 60 GB now.
Joe Siegler

MLB 2k8 also has some nice speedups. Mostly in the game loading. The actual game play itself is less of an issue. Sometimes when it has to go search out images like player faces that is increased.

But the initial game loading is faster (although I didn’t actually TIME it). Saves are faster, too oddly enough.

And of course, the quiet 360 is a serious improvement. I do have just the 20GB drive, so I can only realistically install one game at a time due to all the other stuff I have on there.
Joe Siegler

MLB 2k8 also has some nice speedups. Mostly in the game loading. The actual game play itself is less of an issue. Sometimes when it has to go search out images like player faces that is increased.

But the initial game loading is faster (although I didn’t actually TIME it). Saves are faster, too oddly enough.

And of course, the quiet 360 is a serious improvement. I do have just the 20GB drive, so I can only realistically install one game at a time due to all the other stuff I have on there.
Josh

I installed NBA 2K9 to my hard drive & it definately plays smoother. I was suprised how much smoother it played. Not that it didn’t run smooth before but little things like the crowd cutscene between quarters was smooth where before the framerate was choppy. There were some drops in framerate on some freethrow cutscenes before but now I don’t notice any. Too bad it doesn’t correct the issue with the framerate dropping when playing on other camera angles though. Overall this will definately prolong the life of the 360.
Josh

I installed NBA 2K9 to my hard drive & it definately plays smoother. I was suprised how much smoother it played. Not that it didn’t run smooth before but little things like the crowd cutscene between quarters was smooth where before the framerate was choppy. There were some drops in framerate on some freethrow cutscenes before but now I don’t notice any. Too bad it doesn’t correct the issue with the framerate dropping when playing on other camera angles though. Overall this will definately prolong the life of the 360.
lynn

Joe Siegler wrote:

MLB 2k8 also has some nice speedups. Mostly in the game loading. The actual game play itself is less of an issue. Sometimes when it has to go search out images like player faces that is increased.
But the initial game loading is faster (although I didn’t actually TIME it). Saves are faster, too oddly enough.
And of course, the quiet 360 is a serious improvement. I do have just the 20GB drive, so I can only realistically install one game at a time due to all the other stuff I have on there.

I was just wondering how this might affect MLB2K8 performance, specifically the framerate issue (load time doesn’t really concern me). My 360 is away getting fixed, so if anybody else could experiment with MLB2K8 performance on the hard drive I’d definitely appreciate it.
lynn

Joe Siegler wrote:

MLB 2k8 also has some nice speedups. Mostly in the game loading. The actual game play itself is less of an issue. Sometimes when it has to go search out images like player faces that is increased.
But the initial game loading is faster (although I didn’t actually TIME it). Saves are faster, too oddly enough.
And of course, the quiet 360 is a serious improvement. I do have just the 20GB drive, so I can only realistically install one game at a time due to all the other stuff I have on there.

I was just wondering how this might affect MLB2K8 performance, specifically the framerate issue (load time doesn’t really concern me). My 360 is away getting fixed, so if anybody else could experiment with MLB2K8 performance on the hard drive I’d definitely appreciate it.
soupmama

lynn wrote:

Joe Siegler wrote:
MLB 2k8 also has some nice speedups. Mostly in the game loading. The actual game play itself is less of an issue. Sometimes when it has to go search out images like player faces that is increased.
But the initial game loading is faster (although I didn’t actually TIME it). Saves are faster, too oddly enough.
And of course, the quiet 360 is a serious improvement. I do have just the 20GB drive, so I can only realistically install one game at a time due to all the other stuff I have on there.
I was just wondering how this might affect MLB2K8 performance, specifically the framerate issue (load time doesn’t really concern me). My 360 is away getting fixed, so if anybody else could experiment with MLB2K8 performance on the hard drive I’d definitely appreciate it.

I will experiement with MLB2K8 tonight and let you know.
soupmama

lynn wrote:

Joe Siegler wrote:
MLB 2k8 also has some nice speedups. Mostly in the game loading. The actual game play itself is less of an issue. Sometimes when it has to go search out images like player faces that is increased.
But the initial game loading is faster (although I didn’t actually TIME it). Saves are faster, too oddly enough.
And of course, the quiet 360 is a serious improvement. I do have just the 20GB drive, so I can only realistically install one game at a time due to all the other stuff I have on there.
I was just wondering how this might affect MLB2K8 performance, specifically the framerate issue (load time doesn’t really concern me). My 360 is away getting fixed, so if anybody else could experiment with MLB2K8 performance on the hard drive I’d definitely appreciate it.

I will experiement with MLB2K8 tonight and let you know.
fat dave

NJPapi1977 wrote:

Do some of you idiots have brains…Why would it be dumb to leave the disc in when anybody can then go rent 10 games in block buster and save them to the hd and not have to pay for them…Sometimes I am baffled by americas youth and their lack of brain usuage…..Idiots…..Biggest reason to load it to the hd is to reduce the sound and make load times quicker….only and idiot would question why you have to put the disc in when you know that it is done for the purpose that no company wants to give free games away…

your one mad vatoe.
fat dave

NJPapi1977 wrote:

Do some of you idiots have brains…Why would it be dumb to leave the disc in when anybody can then go rent 10 games in block buster and save them to the hd and not have to pay for them…Sometimes I am baffled by americas youth and their lack of brain usuage…..Idiots…..Biggest reason to load it to the hd is to reduce the sound and make load times quicker….only and idiot would question why you have to put the disc in when you know that it is done for the purpose that no company wants to give free games away…

your one mad vatoe.
CrimsonVoodoo

Best part of the NXE so far –

Netflix Integration

VERY impressed with how smoothly it’s running – spent my lunch hour adding a ton of movies to my “Play Now” queue
CrimsonVoodoo

Best part of the NXE so far –

Netflix Integration

VERY impressed with how smoothly it’s running – spent my lunch hour adding a ton of movies to my “Play Now” queue
http://www.moesportsblog.com/ Maurice N.

how do u install them to the hard drive?
http://www.moesportsblog.com Maurice N.

how do u install them to the hard drive?
Josh

Maurice N. wrote:

how do u install them to the hard drive?

Before you load the game go to the MY XBOX section from the home page & wait a second. Then just press Y & it will give you the option to install to hard drive.
Josh

Maurice N. wrote:

how do u install them to the hard drive?

Before you load the game go to the MY XBOX section from the home page & wait a second. Then just press Y & it will give you the option to install to hard drive.
JHeb

I used to get "unreadable disc" errors all the dang time before downloading my NCAA 09 game to the hard drive…Now that it's d-loaded, not one error and no freezing episodes. I love it!!!!!!!!!!
JHeb

I used to get "unreadable disc" errors all the dang time before downloading my NCAA 09 game to the hard drive…Now that it's d-loaded, not one error and no freezing episodes. I love it!!!!!!!!!!
tony oree

yo pasta are u or is anybody having problems with their xbox360 while turning it on… i just upgraded my xbox yesterday now its actin funny
tony oree

yo pasta are u or is anybody having problems with their xbox360 while turning it on… i just upgraded my xbox yesterday now its actin funny