Xbox 360 SSD Support Information

A new FATXplorer feature is in development to enable the flashing of certain solid-state drives that will make them work inside unmodified retail Xbox 360 consoles. SSDs have always worked in RGH/JTAG consoles, but now they can also work in retail as well! The feature is not released yet, but the following information is being provided to help answer questions, and will be continually updated.

Help Wanted

  • If your SSD has a Realtek / RayMX, Maxio MAS0901, Maxio MAS0902, or other Phison controller that is not the PS3111-S11T, please get in touch.
  • Comments on this post are very welcome if you would like to share what controller your SSD came with!

Updates

  • 11/9: Refreshed page with various changes and added SSDChecker – a new app to check what controller SSDs use.
  • 10/29: Reports have come in indicating the PNY CS900 and Verbatim Vi550 currently use SMI and Yeestor controllers respectively. Support for SMI and Yeestor will be looked at, but no guarantees on compatibility yet.
  • 10/28: Maxio MAS1102 will be supported and potentially others.

Compatible Controllers and SSDs

Controllers

SSDs

Important notes:

  1. This list is not definitive and there are other SSD models, current and discontinued, that may include a supported controller.
  2. Different sized versions of the same SSD model can use different controllers. For example, the Kingston A400 240 GB uses Phison, but the 480 GB version uses SMI!
  3. Manufacturers can change SSD controllers at any time. You should check the controller in your SSD as soon as you get it (instructions are below). Be sure your retailer has a return policy just in case!
  4. Don’t buy any 480 GB or 240 GB models. While they technically will work, since drive size cannot be larger than the security sector, you would be limited to 250 GB and 120 GB respectively.
  5. Don’t buy anything larger than 512 GB. You won’t be able to use more than 500 GB.

Helpful resources:

If you want to find out what controller an SSD may use, these are a great help:

Future SSD Controller Compatibility

  • ❔Other Phison Controllers (S10, S12, etc): Likely compatible once a sample device is obtained for testing.
  • ❔Other Maxio Controllers (MAS0901, MAS0902): Likely compatible once a sample device is obtained for testing.
  • ❔Realtek / RayMX: Potentially compatible once a sample device is obtained for testing.
  • ❔Yeestor: A sample device has been acquired and research has started.
  • ❔Silicon Motion (SMI): There has been some initial success, but not quite enough to make an SSD 360-compatible. Research is ongoing.
  • ❌Samsung: Currently impossible, do not buy any of these.
  • ❌SandForce: Currently impossible, do not buy any of these. You shouldn’t really see these in new SSDs.
  • ❌Marvell: Unlikely to be supported.
  • ❌SanDisk / Western Digital: Unlikely to be supported.
  • Others not listed: Feel free to ask in the comments.

How to check your SSD

Method 1: Physical Check

SSDs are easy to open and you can often do it without voiding the warranty. Look for the controller chip on the PCB. It may be under a sticker or a heat pad. Here’s what a controller chip looks like:

A Phison S11 controller that is compatible.
Credit: Wikipedia
An SMI2259XT controller that might be compatible in the future.
Credit: ACELab

Method 2: Software Check

Download SSDChecker. Only 1 check is expected to work per SSD, so run each check until you find one that outputs information that looks detailed and correct.

Method 3: Google

If you google the SSD’s firmware version, you can oftentimes find results that indicate what controller is associated with it. You can obtain the firmware version using CrystalDiskInfo.

500 GB limitation

The 500 GB Xbox 360 drive size limitation is still in place and isn’t going anywhere. There will never be a way to use a larger size than that unless you RGH or JTAG your console.

M.2 Form Factor

There are some SSDs in the M.2 form factor that, when put inside an enclosure, may also work in the Xbox 360 as long as it uses a supported controller. This is not tested yet, but should be an option.

Note: NVMe is NOT supported. Not all M.2 SSDs are NVMe – some are actually SATA and those are the only ones to look out for.

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