The Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite is the latest top of the line addition to the Xbox line-up. It includes a 120 GB hard drive, a HDMI port connection and comes in a sleek black. During the last year, the Elite has become one of the most popular versions of the Xbox amongst heavy gamers.

One of the biggest complaints of the Xbox prior to the Elite system was that lack of HDMI support. With the Elite, HDMI support is added and enhances the already crisp picture quality output of the 360. The system itself comes with a HDMI cable so you do not have to buy another cable to run things smoothly. An Ethernet cable is also included to interact with the Xbox Live network.

Out of the box, the 360 Elite comes with a black wireless controller, a wired headset, your standard component/composite AV cables, the HDMI cable along with component and optical audio dongle. The 120 GB hard drive also comes standard with 17 GB of pre-loaded content. The 120 GB hard drive can also be purchased additionally for use with the Premium bundle as well at an additional console.

Currently, Microsoft has four main Xbox systems on the market: the Core, the Premium, the Elite and the Arcade. The Arcade version is a starter system that come with 256 MB of internal memory and is made primarily for kids who may not be into the type of gaming those who invest in the Core, Premium and Elite might be. The Core system is also in the process of being phased out in anticipation of the Arcade taking off amongst younger gamers.

Is the 360 Elite worth buying? Many users have experienced the red light disc errors over time with the Core and Premium systems. The Elite has the latest hardware and firmware Microsoft has to offer, and while the newer Premium system has also been updated to eliminate most of the disc read errors. If you are looking to get the most out of your Xbox right out of the box, investing in the 360 Elite is the way to go.