After Hours

Cracking Open The Xbox 360 Elite

By // December 18, 2007, 12:15 AM PST // erikeckel

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  • The Xbox 360 Elite

    The Xbox 360 Elite includes two games and ships in this box. The Xbox 360 Elite is Microsoft's premier entry in its Xbox 360 console line that also includes the original Xbox 360 and the Xbox 360 Arcade models.

  • Marvels Ultimate Alliance

    Activision's game Marvel Ultimate Alliance is included with the Xbox 360 Elite console, which also includes a massive 120GB hard drive, wireless controller and component video and HDMI cables.

  • Microsoft Forza2 Motorsport

    In addition to including the Marvel Ultimate Alliance game, the Xbox 360 Elite ships with Microsoft's Forza2 Motorsport title.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Wireless Controller

    One wireless controller is included with the Xbox 360 Elite console.

  • Xbox 360 Wireless Controller

    Here's a look at the Xbox 360 wireless controller from its front.

  • Xbox 360 Wireless Controller

    The Xbox 360 Elite wireless controller's undercarriage. Two AA batteries tuck inside the middle compartment.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Headset

    The Xbox 360 Elite also includes this wired headset.

  • Xbox 360 Elite HD Cable

    This HD-Component Video cable enables viewing Xbox 360 play in HD.

  • Optical/RCA Adapter

    Included with the Xbox 360 Elite is this optical/RCA adapter, which enables enhanced sound in non-HDMI stereo systems.

  • Network Cable

    The Xbox 360 Elite console includes a category 5 network cable.

  • HDMI Cable

    Normally $49.99, an official Xbox 360 HDMI cable is included with the Elite console.

  • Xbox 360 Power Block

    Microsoft engineers struggled to eliminate heat in the popular game console. In order to reduce temperature levels, the console's power supply actually sits outside the console itself in this brick.

  • Xbox 360 Power Block

    Another view of the Xbox 360 Elite power brick.

  • The Xbox 360 Elite

    The Xbox 360 Elite looks very similar to previous Xbox consoles, except it's black.

  • Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite

    Here's another look at the Xbox 360 Elite, which like other 360 models, can stand on-end or flat.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Side View

    Here's a side view of the Xbox 360 Elite. Note the functional cut outs at top and bottom that help encourage air flow through the console.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Rear View

    A look at the Xbox 360 Elite from behind.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Rear View

    The Xbox 360 Elite boasts a pair of large fans that can be seen here behind the console's black plastic case.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Cooling Fans

    Here's a close up look at the two cooling fans at the rear of the Xbox 360 Elite.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Inputs

    The Xbox 360 Elite boasts a full complement of input ports. In this image you can see the HDMI port (lower left), proprietary audio/video (top left), a USB input (top right) and a standard Ethernet jack (bottom right).

  • Xbox 360 Proprietary Power Port

    Here is the port where the Xbox 360 Elite's power supply plugs in to the console.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Bottom View

    The Xbox 360 Elite case includes a perforated mesh, even on its bottom edge shown here, to assist in cooling the console.

  • Xbox 360 Perforated Mesh

    Here's a close up look at the Xbox 360 Elite's perforated mesh case.

  • Hard Drive Release Button

    Depressing this push button, which is found on top the Xbox 360 Elite, releases the 120GB hard disk enclosure.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Hard Disk

    The Xbox 360 Elite's Hard Disk enclosure, show here removed from the console, holds a 120GB hard disk.

  • Disassembling The Xbox 360 Elite

    To disassemble the Xbox 360 Elite (which is likely to void your console's warranty), slip a small flat head screwdriver into the slot found at the base of the Xbox. Then, slowly and carefully remove the bottom perforated base.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Bottom View

    Removing the Xbox 360 Elite's bottom perforated panel reveals the actual console's chassis.

  • Xbox 360 Bottom Plate

    This is the Xbox 360 Elite's plastic perforated bottom plate once removed from the console itself.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Front Face

    Carefully peeling away the front decorative plate reveals three interlocking clips that secure the case's two halves together.

  • The Xbox 360 Elite's Front Cover

    Here's the Xbox 360 Elite's front cover by itself.

  • Removing The Top Panel

    Inserting a small screwdriver in the hole hidden by one of the console's rubber feet helps free the console's perforated top.

  • Xbox 360 Elite's Perforated Top

    Here's the Xbox 360 Elite's perforated top (removed from the console). Much like the perforated bottom plastic case, the only differences are some spacing adjustments and a cutout to accommodate the hard disk enclosure's connection to the main console circuitry.

  • Xbox 360 Case Separation

    When separating the Xbox 360 Elite's casing, disassembly requires inserting a flat head screwdriver (or other similar object) gingerly between the plastic casing's two locking halves to ease removal. In this image numerous locking clips can be seen.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Bottom Case

    Here's the bottom casing removed from the Xbox 360 Elite.

  • Xbox 360 Bottom Chassis

    With the bottom plastic casing removed, the Xbox 360 Elite's chassis becomes visible.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Disassembly

    Six torx screws (like the silver one toward the top center) must be removed to proceed with the Xbox 360 Elite's disassembly.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Heat Shield

    The entire inside bottom of the Xbox 360 Elite case is lined with a metal sheeth to enable heat dissipation.

  • Inside the Xbox 360 Elite

    With the cover removed, the Xbox 360 Elite's DVD drive is clearly visible to the bottom left.

    Meanwhile, the unit's two large fans sit at the back, while a large gray plastic air tunnel (or shroud) helps cool the console's high-performance graphics chip. Note the second heat sink that's been added to the unit at the bottom right; this heat sink was not present in the first generation consoles.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Console

    Here's the Xbox 360 console chassis completely removed from its black plastic casing.

    Two USB ports can be seen at the far right, while two proprietary memory ports can be seen beneath the silver DVD tray toward the unit's left side. The green circuit board to the right, meanwhile, powers the unit's RF capabilities.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Air Ducting

    Heat dissipation is critical to the Xbox 360 Elite's performance. Engineers worked with the first generation 360 consoles to route significant volumes of air around the unit's ATI Xenos graphics engine and triple-core IBM-designed PowerPC CPU using this ductwork (that connects to the console's two rear-mounted fans).

    The heat sink shown here cools the unit's IBM-designed, IBM-manufactured CPU.

  • New Second Heat Sink

    The Xbox 360 Elite boasts a second heat sink.

    The heat sink seen here in the foreground was added to the Xbox 360 Elite to assist in eliminating overheating issues experienced with the first generation of 360 models.

    You can view the original Xbox 360 heat sink configuration in a previous TechRepublic Photo Gallery.

  • Closer Look At The CPU Heat Sink

    Here's a closer look at the piping that helps the CPU's heat sink lower operating temperatures (with assistance from the unit's two fans and air shroud).

    To the left you can make out a second heat sink not present in original Xbox 360 models. This additional heat sink provides greater cooling capacity for the ATI graphics processing unit.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Fans

    Here's a closer look at the air shroud that connects to the unit's two rear-mounted cooling fans.

  • Removing The DVD Drive

    Before removing the Xbox 360 Elite's DVD drive, the power (black) and data (white) cables must be carefully removed from the rear of the device. Once the cables are unplugged, the drive can be lifted clear of the chassis and motherboard assembly.

  • Xbox 360 Elite DVD Drive

    The Xbox 360 Elite's DVD drive is manufactured by Ben-Q.

  • Graphics Cooling Heat Sink

    With the Ben-Q DVD drive removed, the ATI graphics chip-cooling heat sink is clearly visible on the Microsoft motherboard.

  • Twin-Molded Cooling Fans

    Here's a closer look at the twin-molded cooling fans that lower operating temperatures inside the Xbox 360 Elite.

  • The Xbox 360 Elite Motherboard

    Inside the Xbox 360 Elite chassis, the Microsoft motherboard (complete with CPU- and GPU-cooling heat sinks) is clearly visible now.

    In addition to a third heat sink, the new Elite model boasts additional epoxy securing the triple-core CPU to the motherboard. Rumor has it that the additional bonding material prevents the chip from working loose from the main board when temperatures climb high. The CPU sits below the larger raised heat sink to the right, while the GPU sits below the wider and lower heat sink to the left.

  • Mounting Pins

    These mounting pins, found inside the Xbox plastic cover, help the six torx screws secure the cover's two halves together.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Hard Disk Enclosure

    Here's another look at the Xbox 360's hard disk enclosure. Normally the enclosure sits atop the Xbox 360 Elite's case.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Hard Disk Enclosure

    Cracking open the hard disk enclosure requires removing the silver Microsoft sticker shown here (in order to access a fourth screw required to open the case). Once removed, the sticker leaves a tell-tale pattern behind, thereby revealing the user has accessed the hard disk and voiding the unit's warranty.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Hard Disk

    With the top shell removed (shown on the right), the hard drive itself is visible behind its custom silver heat dissipating chassis.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Hard Disk

    Here's a close up of the Xbox 360 Elite hard disk inside its custom chassis.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Hard Disk

    The original Xbox used a 3.5-inch desktop hard disk. The Xbox 360 models switched to smaller 2.5-inch laptop drives.

    The Xbox 360 Elite we've cracked open here features a Fujitsu SATA 120GB 7200RPM hard disk.

  • Xbox 360 Elite Hard Disk

    Microsoft engineers designed this SATA mounting bracket to connect the Xbox 360 Elite's laptop-sized hard disk.

  • The Xbox 360 Elite Package

    Here are all the pieces that come with the Xbox 360 Elite, Microsoft's premier console.

The Xbox 360 Elite

The Xbox 360 Elite includes two games and ships in this box. The Xbox 360 Elite is Microsoft's premier entry in its Xbox 360 console line that also includes the original Xbox 360 and the Xbox 360 Arcade models.

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After Hours Innovation Hardware Tech & Work

By Erik Eckel

Erik Eckel owns and operates two technology companies. As a managing partner with Louisville Geek, he works daily as an IT consultant to assist small businesses in overcoming technology challenges and maximizing IT investments. He is also president o...