Do you install games to your 360?

SolidSqual

So do you? Check this out: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6234271.html

I just discovered I could do this! I already notice less fan noise and Black Ops is loading faster.

Very Cool

EndersShadow

I did this with Halo Reach and the campaign loads much quicker for sure.

kuntasensei

I install every game. The only game that doesn't benefit from this is Halo 3, because it was optimized for streaming off the disc before the install to disc feature was available and installing it actually slows the load times WAY down. Other than that, faster load times and less noise from the DVD drive (not the fans) are a GOOD thing.

Hawkeye

How is this done? I can't seem to figure it out.

Gordon

mantis

I did one game and noticed a big difference in loading time.

kuntasensei

Hawkeye wrote: »

How is this done? I can't seem to figure it out.

Gordon

Put the game in, scroll to Play Disc on your dashboard, hit Y for options, then pick install to hard drive. Note: You still have to have the disc in to play the game, but when you start it, it will spin the disc just to verify it's in there, then run everything else off the hard drive. This reduces the noise from the DVD drive spinning and the game and individual levels will load much faster.

ysss

I do this to most of my 'current' games, but I find many 'big' games already do a pretty dang good job on optimizing their titles for streaming (as kuntasensei mentioned)... so the speed up may not be noticeable.

But still, I think everyone should do this to their 'current' games (whatever they're currently playing) because:

1. It cuts down on disc drive noises
2. It speeds up the access time
3. It should prolong your disc drive's lifetime

polkfarmboy

I really dont notice any noise since I bought the new slim version of the xbox360

Heres the thing about the disk load up .... you still have to pop the game into the hard drive anytime you go to play a game .Whats the point of eating up the hard drive and l;oad times aint that slow to begin with

kuntasensei

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I really dont notice any noise since I bought the new slim version of the xbox360

Heres the thing about the disk load up .... you still have to pop the game into the hard drive anytime you go to play a game .Whats the point of eating up the hard drive and l;oad times aint that slow to begin with

The primary source of noise in the 360 is the DVD drive, even in the 360 Slim. More importantly, DVD drives are more likely to go out from use than the hard drive. Loading the game on the hard drive saves wear and tear on the DVD drive, reduces system noise (and yeah, I don't notice mine either way, but still), and does significantly speed up load times (though we're talking maybe 15 seconds vs. 30 seconds) and reduce the odds of texture pop-in (which you often see in Unreal Engine games) because the hard drive can feed the GPU that data far quicker than the DVD drive.

It isn't necessary... but it's a nice feature. I load all of my games on mine, 'cause why else have a 250gb drive if you're not gonna make use of it?

mmadden28

I do and for a lot of the reasons already stated; Cut down load times, noise, and wear and tear on the DVD drive.

I don't find putting the game disc in (to play a game that's been copied to) the HDD an inconvenience--If that's too much work then I shouldn't be playing games and perhaps get out and do some more exercise.

Snowdogyyz

I do. The slim has plenty of drive space, so why not speed things up and quiet things down a bit?

SniperREX

kuntasensei wrote: »

I install every game. The only game that doesn't benefit from this is Halo 3, because it was optimized for streaming off the disc before the install to disc feature was available and installing it actually slows the load times WAY down. Other than that, faster load times and less noise from the DVD drive (not the fans) are a GOOD thing.

Another game is Crackdown. If I remember correctly, you can't even install that game.

I got a 360 Elite MW2 with the 250GB, so I install every game that I even remotely think to play. In fact, my HDD is usually 90% full :biggrin:

SniperREX

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I really dont notice any noise since I bought the new slim version of the xbox360

Heres the thing about the disk load up .... you still have to pop the game into the hard drive anytime you go to play a game .Whats the point of eating up the hard drive and l;oad times aint that slow to begin with

The disc has to be in the tray as an anti-piracy measure.

mutelight

I have a 120GB Elite in the bedroom and a 250GB Halo Xbox S in the living room which I install my games onto both.