[Xbox 360 Review Kit Help]

[djandy76]

Hi everyone,

I'm writing this in the hope someone will be able to offer me some advise on a possible purchase that I'm considering.

As the title states, the item in question is an Xbox 360 Review Kit. At first glance, I was able to identify that it's a very early model, a fact verified by a small sticker on the back dating it to late 2005. Additionally, another sticker branded it a "Reviewer Kit". The only other thing I noted was that it lacked an HDMI port which backed up the assumption it's a really early model.

The seller claims not to have used it for more than a couple of week after receiving it, so all pointers suggest it's in relatively good condition, though lacking anything other than the main unit itself and the HDD.

So, my questions are as follows:

1. Assuming the seller is reliable and the kit has hardly been used, can I consider this a "safe" purchase? I mean, with all the RRoD problems associated with old-style 360's, do you think this one is likely to last a while?

2. I seem to recall reading somewhere that non-retail units require special power supplies and won't run properly otherwise. Is this true, and if so, what exactly do I need to look for? I took a brief look at the PSU connector and it looked just like a normal retail one...

3. I've tried to work out a reasonable price, but have so far come up with nothing more than some figures based on sales in the marketplace here and one or two testimonials from elsewhere stating how much people paid. Could anyone give me a rough idea of a "good" offer to make this person? He seems reasonably open on this matter, but I really have no idea where to begin the negotiations.

4. The final, and perhaps most general, question. What can I do with this unit that I can't with a retail machine (stock, or flashed, etc.). I mean, since it doesn't come with any software, will that limit its functionality in any way? The main reason I'm considering it is due to a moderately-sized collection of review/preview and non-final builds of Xbox 360 games I've amassed over the years.

Thanks in advance for any help on this matter. I wasn't sure if this was the right place for a thread of this nature, so Mods, feel free to shift it as required.

Cheers everyone!

[sneakypeanut]

reviewers kits are normal final xenons with a gray case and a dev kernal. reviewer kits were discontinued very shortly after the 360s launch and reviewers were issued with test kits... test kit < reviewer kit.

you can use a normal psu with it!

yeah safe purchase but dont go crazy it will probs rrod within a few months to a year as its a early 360.

I wouldnt spend over $250-300 for it.

theres not much you cant do with a kit that you can do with a retail. apart from playing retail games straight from disk.

go for it

[djandy76]

Hi sneakypeanut,

Thanks for the speedy response to my queries, and for the insightful information!

So as long as I can get my hands on a regular retails power supply, and don't push the aging machine too hard, I should be able to get at least some use out of it... Good to know.

I just wanted to confirm one last point though. You said that I won't be able to play retail games straight from disk, but I assume the review/preview and others I've got will be fine, right? The seller did mention the possibility to run games disk-less from the HDD, but I've got no idea how to do that and was hoping to just pop in a game and play.

Cheers!

[wombat]

Review kits are MADE to play review (and other pre-release) discs, so yeah just pop in the disc and play the game :-)

[djandy76]

Hi Wombat,

Thanks for clearing that up! While I'm here though, I just remembered another question that was on mind before... Are there any restrictions regarding swapping the hard drive for a larger one like on retail units, or can it be replaced freely?

I'm guessing the game-installation process is the same, so would ideally like to run as much from the HDD as possible.

Cheers!

[wombat]

You can add 'any' Xbox 360 HDD (20,60,120gb), do note once you use them on a debug/reviewer you cant use them with a retail anymore.

[subbie]

FYI, I moved the thread. Sure it's not a devkit but it's heading down that line and we don't want 360 dev/test/review kit discussion in the main forums.

I hope you'll understand. =)

[Dabman]

hmm review hmmm so on this You can also play alpha/beta games, isn't retail console right? but dev as i think correctly

[LEo]

hmm review hmmm so on this You can also play alpha/beta games, isn't retail console right? but dev as i think correctly

Its a dev, not even a test, but a dev. This one can kernel debug

[sneakypeanut]

reviewer kit runs a dev kernal.... not a test kit one so yeah memory poke is enabled .... enjoy its a rare item in its own right i kinda miss mine

[djandy76]

Hi Subbie,

Thanks for moving the thread to a more appropriate location, and sorry for dumping it in the previous place to begin with.

@LEo
I'm afraid all this "kernal debug" you mentioned is a bit over my head. I'm a little more familiar with PS3 Test units and their various functions, but what does kernal debug allow me to do on this 360? I think I mentioned it earlier, but this unit doesn't come with any disks or special attachments.

Cheers!

[djandy76]

Hi everyone,

Just to keep you all updated. The seller has agreed to take 300 Euros for the unit as-is. I'm seriously contemplating this, and intend to give me answer this coming weekend. I tried to haggle the price down a little in light of what was said here, but it looks like he's standing firm.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks to all those who contributed and mention that I might pop back here to ask follow-up questions about the unit once I've spent more time with it.

Cheers!

[Pikkon]

300 Euros is way to much,plus its a xenon.

[deep3r]

300 Euros is way to much,plus its a xenon.

It might be a xenon, but these kits are special in their own right since there aren't that many of them, I guess you would be paying the extra for the collectability. I barely come accross these, but would probably pay that myself just to say I own one.

[Pikkon]

I see your point as a collectability but if this guy wants to actually use this and its the only kit he has spending that much for a xenon is not that great of a deal.

[djandy76]

Hi deep3r, Pikkon,

Yes, this is on my mind quite a bit. Basically, I was only really considering using the unit, in which case the verdict appears to be that it's too expensive. Now I know that this version is somewhat collectable, I'm still interested, but can't image buying it just to store it safely in a box somewhere.

Anyway, I'm currently considering some other options and may end up buying a more modern unit to use.

Cheers!