Xbox: Description of Memory management (817045)

MORE INFORMATION

The Xbox console has an 8 gigabyte (GB) hard disk that you can use for music, saved games, and more. Additionally, you can purchase the Xbox Memory Unit (MU) for the Xbox video game system that provides 8 megabytes (MB) or 502 blocks of additional storage space for use with compatible controllers. Gamers frequently use the memory unit to transfer saved games and Xbox Live accounts between different Xbox consoles. However, you cannot use the memory unit to store or transfer music files or downloadable content obtained from Xbox Live such as maps or roster updates. The memory unit is sold separately.

Note Some games do not support the Memory Unit. You can determine whether your game supports the Memory Unit by checking the lower-left corner of your game's box, to see if "Memory Unit" is supported. If the Memory Unit is supported, see the game manual to determine what type of game data, such as save game files or controller configurations, that you can save to the MU.

The Xbox Hard Disk

• The Xbox hard disk is approximately 8 GB. Not all this space is available for music, saved games, and more.
• Although the console shows approximately 50,000 available blocks when you first turn on the console, there are actually more than 340,000 blocks that are available for music, saved games, and more.
• If you use all the available space on the Xbox hard disk, the following two features make sure that your game play experience is not affected:
  • Optimized hard disk
  • The "Disc is full" warning.
    
    For additional information about related topics, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    816761 HW:Error Message: Unable to copy

• If you use the Xbox console's optimized hard disk feature, you do not have to defragment the console.