Poll: Do you install games onto your consoles?

[tippy2k2]

I'm sitting here waiting for my new game to install to the 360 and just was wondering a simple thing: Do you install games to your consoles?

If you do, do you think it helps? If you don't, why?

I have a big ol' hard drive (250 GB) so every game gets installed onto my 360. I don't know if it helps in the technical sense but it does seem to make the 360 quieter (since it doesn't have to spin the disk as much or something).

I also install them to my PS3 but only just learned in this thread that it's not required. I'll still do it anyway because it can't hurt (and I've got 320 GB of space to fill up).

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I don't have a 360, but just from a technical perspective, it should help. Hard disk access times are an order of magnitude faster than optical media access times, due to physical problems with the maximum speed a plastic disc can spin without being torn apart by centripetal force. I don't see how installing a game could /not/ help, unless it's something tiny that takes no time to load into memory (older DOS games that could fit on a floppy disk come to mind. The whole thing can run off of system memory, and it really doesn't matter what you load it from if it's relatively modern; it's too small for data transfer to be an issue.)

 

[TehCookie]

Nope, but I do on my PS3 and it helps a lot.

 

[StylinBones]

No, but I probably should. I've never tried. I had a 20GB HD for the longest time and just upgraded to a larger one, but I never think to install them because I'm never prompted.

 

[Nouw]

I do. Having said that, I have no idea if it actually helps. Experts say it does so I just follow their word.

 

[Vanitas likes Bubbles]

Everytime I get a new game I install it. It helps with the loading.

 

[Tupolev]

I don't due to my 20gb hard drive, but I would if I had a larger one. With a few games it's not beneficial (Halo 3 being a good example), but for most it helps.

 

[RaNDM G]

For most games it helps. It keeps my system from overheating.

Some games will often freeze on me, especially Left 4 Dead. It's a matter of doing the research and making sure your games will play.

 

[Kermi]

I started installing once it was an available option. Loading times are faster, the machine is quieter, and it reduces wear on the DVD drive.

 

[ERS86]

I have one of the old 360s, so I only have 20 GB of space. I feel like it should help performance though. I can't think of a reason that it wouldn't.

 

[Vegan_Doodler]

Yep, with every one, I can't say for sure if it helps the loading times of all of them or if it's just a placebo but it dose mean the disk isn't spinning and so much less likely to get wear and tare.

 

[PatrickXD]

I got myself a 120gb harddrive super cheap around New Years, and since then I've always installed the game I'm currently playing.
My 360 is one of the originals from ages ago, so it's pretty loud and clunky. Installing games on the HDD helps to reduce this noise and, I'd imagine, the stress on the disk drive.
Also, load times are at least a little quicker (Fallout 3/ NV) or significantly increased (Deus Ex: HR). It's not exactly a binary: Load times will be decreased by a factor of x, but it's always some length towards getting me into the game with great haste.

 

[Altorin]

every single time. I've gotten 2 Open Trey Errors, and I don't intend to get another one.

 

[Ammutseba]

No, but I install games and other software as well as browse the internet on my awesome computer.

 

[VeryOddGamer]

Yeah, I do and it helps... I think.

 

[Mr Dizazta]

I have a pretty damaged copy of Halo Reach that is still playable because I installed a buddy of mine's copy. So yeah installing the game does help.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

Of course. I have the most amount of space available. Why not?

 

[Gigaguy64]

If its a game i play often like Ult MvC3 then ill install it.
It helps because installed games don't need to have the disc spinning while you play, keeping the temp and stress on the disc down.