add me to the list of RROD

[Atari5200]

Yep, happened today, after playing for some time yesterday, i went to turn it on and boom rrod, nothing I did made it go away, hooked it up to another tv and same thing. Oh well, time to send er back.

[cimerians]

I feel your pain.

 

Bastards....if it wasnt for some of the cool games I'd chuck mine permanantly.

[yuppicide]

You can fix it yourself for $11.99.

 

Here's where to order:

 

http://www.divineo.com/cgi-bin/div-us/zz-36-xsrk.html

 

I've ordered from them before and so has a friend.

 

Here's the website who makes the kit and to read more on it:

 

http://www.team-xecuter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47689

[Atari5200]

I'm gonna send er back, maybe they'll swap the drive out to and I'll get a quieter one. Anyway. The intercooler things are a waste. Mine died RROD 1 week after I bought one, after going almost 2 years without.

[Mendon]

I'm gonna send er back, maybe they'll swap the drive out to and I'll get a quieter one. Anyway. The intercooler things are a waste. Mine died RROD 1 week after I bought one, after going almost 2 years without.

 

Sorry to say but there have been quite a few reports of the Intercooler causing problems with the 360, including scorch marks. Three such articles:

 

 

Article One

 

Article Two

 

Article Three

 

 

My son purchased an Intercooler when he got his third 360 back from MS repair. He used it problem free for about a month when the three red quadrants appeared one day. He smelled something hot when he got up close to the 360 and began checking everything out. He removed the Intercooler and tried starting his 360 back up and it worked perfectly. He then put the Intercooler back on and when he turned the system on, the three red quadrants appeared again.

 

He never used the Intercooler again and so far his 360 has lasted about 11 months.

 

 

Mendon

Edited August 4, 2008 by Mendon

[+Random Terrain]

Sorry to say but there have been quite a few reports of the Intercooler causing problems with the 360, including scorch marks. Three such articles . . .

What about the Xbox 360 Glow Stand with Fan?

[+remowilliams]

I'm gonna send er back, maybe they'll swap the drive out to and I'll get a quieter one. Anyway. The intercooler things are a waste. Mine died RROD 1 week after I bought one, after going almost 2 years without.

Ouch, the intercooler may have done your system in. Those things are bad mojo, from causing voltage issues to interfering with normal case air circulation.

[moycon]

What about the Xbox 360 Glow Stand with Fan?

 

I have the glow stand (I used it for awhile, I’m not currently). It's a better alternative in that it's not inline with the system. Thing is you need to keep your system vertical (something most people poo-poo) to use it. My thought is, if you have one of the newer systems keeping it vertical probably isn't going to be an issue anyways. I kept my first 360 vertical for about a year with no issues (except when lightning fried my network) I did eventually get the RRoD with the replacement system, but by then I was keeping it horizontal because I took peoples advice to not use it vertical or it would get RRoD.....Go figure that one out. I keep saying I’m going to rig it up function with the system horizontal but I haven’t yet.

[+Random Terrain]

Without an external fan, does the heat move differently through the 360 depending on whether it's horizontal or vertical? Do different sections of the guts of the 360 get hotter based on its orientation?

[moycon]

Without an external fan, does the heat move differently through the 360 depending on whether it's horizontal or vertical? Do different sections of the guts of the 360 get hotter based on its orientation?

 

I'm sure however you have it situated the hot air leaves via the vent holes. If you just keep the unit vertical with nothing underneath, you block some vents. I dunno, seems to me that glow fan thing would solve that problem and besides if you just keep it horizontal with nothing lifting up the sides you'd be blocking vents too. Not exactly sure why people tell you not to keep the unit vertical unless it has to do with scratching disks. I know early 360 units scratched disks, I think it was a flaw in the disk drive itself though. The year I kept the 360 vert I never had an issue with scratches nor with the PS2 I had vertical for about 5 years. Currently I have both of my 360's horizontal just based on what I've heard from others I don't really think it matters though. Keeping it horizontal doesn't guaranty anything in my experience.

[+remowilliams]

The amount of vent surface area that you impede by standing it vertically is immense compared to the relatively small amount in a horizontal state. The unit is clearly designed that the right half (aka the bottom when standing vertically) - is the primary air intake of the system.

[keilbaca]

I can't wait to get ahold of a RROD 360.

 

Fix the X-Clamp with bolts instead of teh crap they use, and add ramsinks onto the 4 video card ram chips.

 

Then hack a pc power supply into the 360, add some intake fans, and just go nuts from there.

[+Random Terrain]

Without an external fan, does the heat move differently through the 360 depending on whether it's horizontal or vertical? Do different sections of the guts of the 360 get hotter based on its orientation?

 

I'm sure however you have it situated the hot air leaves via the vent holes. If you just keep the unit vertical with nothing underneath, you block some vents. I dunno, seems to me that glow fan thing would solve that problem and besides if you just keep it horizontal with nothing lifting up the sides you'd be blocking vents too. Not exactly sure why people tell you not to keep the unit vertical unless it has to do with scratching disks. I know early 360 units scratched disks, I think it was a flaw in the disk drive itself though. The year I kept the 360 vert I never had an issue with scratches nor with the PS2 I had vertical for about 5 years. Currently I have both of my 360's horizontal just based on what I've heard from others I don't really think it matters though. Keeping it horizontal doesn't guaranty anything in my experience.

Thanks. If I can get a 360 this year and I keep it horizontal, I'll set it on something like one of these turned upside down:

 

http://www.kitchensource.com/cabinet-organizers/ha-5-32b.htm

 

http://www.hsdmedstor.com.au/trays-baskets...kets/index.html

[moycon]

The amount of vent surface area that you impede by standing it vertically is immense compared to the relatively small amount in a horizontal state. The unit is clearly designed that the right half (aka the bottom when standing vertically) - is the primary air intake of the system.

 

Yes I cannot deny that. That side of the 360 has the biggest vents. I wonder if the glow base forces more air in or draws air away when it's powered on? In any case. I have a 360 that MS sent back to me from the shop and it runs very cool these days. They must have opened it up and replaced parts because it has the same serial number. (The first 360 I sent them because it kept freezing they just sent me another unit)

Even when left on for an hour, I can walk over and place my hand above it and not feel significant heat.

[bones]

Yep, happened today, after playing for some time yesterday, i went to turn it on and boom rrod, nothing I did made it go away, hooked it up to another tv and same thing. Oh well, time to send er back.

That sucks, losing a console for a couple of weeks is no fun. Silver lining, now there's more time to play with your Wii

[Atari5200]

I thought about getting my Wii from my in laws, but then decided...nah. I have the DreamCast hooked up instead. I think I made a good decision.

 

EDIT: who needs a Wii, I just picked up a fishing controller for $5 at The Game Xchange today, fantastic fun!!!!!!

Edited August 5, 2008 by Atari5200

[kroogur]

Unfreekin believable I finally bought a 360 last night at Gamestop it is a 360 Pro re-furb from Microsoft sealed and everything. I get it hooked up set up my info played Bioshock for 10 minutes then shut it down ( i was too tired to play) then this morning i fired it up and 14 minutes later the game locks up and the three red lights are flashing so here i sit waiting for Gamestop to open up so I can find out what happens next.

 

I find it absolutely amazing that i have game systems over 30 years old and they run fine but somehow the alleged "Pinnacle" of modern gaming can't hold up for 30 minutes...

[JamesD]

Unfreekin believable I finally bought a 360 last night at Gamestop it is a 360 Pro re-furb from Microsoft sealed and everything. I get it hooked up set up my info played Bioshock for 10 minutes then shut it down ( i was too tired to play) then this morning i fired it up and 14 minutes later the game locks up and the three red lights are flashing so here i sit waiting for Gamestop to open up so I can find out what happens next.

 

I find it absolutely amazing that i have game systems over 30 years old and they run fine but somehow the alleged "Pinnacle" of modern gaming can't hold up for 30 minutes...

I'm wondering if it was a trade in and the person that traded it in knew it was bad.

If it's a refurb... I've had mixed results with refurbs/recertified items.

[kroogur]

Unfreekin believable I finally bought a 360 last night at Gamestop it is a 360 Pro re-furb from Microsoft sealed and everything. I get it hooked up set up my info played Bioshock for 10 minutes then shut it down ( i was too tired to play) then this morning i fired it up and 14 minutes later the game locks up and the three red lights are flashing so here i sit waiting for Gamestop to open up so I can find out what happens next.

 

I find it absolutely amazing that i have game systems over 30 years old and they run fine but somehow the alleged "Pinnacle" of modern gaming can't hold up for 30 minutes...

I'm wondering if it was a trade in and the person that traded it in knew it was bad.

If it's a refurb... I've had mixed results with refurbs/recertified items.

This one is refurb by microsoft and sold at Gamestop the box is sealed and everything from the headset to the cables were in sealed colored bags along with a 1 year warranty. Now i bought a refurb regular xbox awhile back and it still works great to this day so i dunno i guess it's just the luck of the draw anymore.

 

I called gamestop and they will give me another one so i'll be heading over there soon.

Edited August 18, 2008 by kroogur

[PressureCooker2600]

I would never have bought a used 360...........no matter how much the game store butters you up.

[moycon]

There is supposed to be a price drop on the Xbox 360 next month (I've heard it when the Jasper units hit the market because they cost less to produce) Arcade bundle is supposed to be $199 the Pro (60 GB) unit is supposed to be $299 and the Elite (120 GB) unit $399.99. If you can I would just return the refurb and get your $$$ back, wait a month and get a new one.

[kroogur]

They swapped it no problem

 

Most of the systems i own from my Jag forward are used or refurb and have been great solid dependable units and that includes my Jaguar,N64,Gamecube,Dreamcast,PSone,PS2,XBox and now the 360. I expected the 360 to die i just didn't think it would go that fast.

 

And i did see the 360 price drop in a magazine article today so it was already too late but all in all i'm happy with what i have i have been Bioshocking all over the place and will be doing some crab fishing later with the fantastic Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm game!

[+Random Terrain]

If you can I would just return the refurb and get your $$$ back, wait a month and get a new one.

Money back from Gamestop? The employees would eat a bullet before they'd give you cash.

[Artlover]

Researching the issue shows the problem is mostly 2 related issues.

 

1: Overheating. Not (wasn't) the best heatsink design, and worse heat sink mounting.

 

2: Cold solder joints related to the use of lead free solder being manufactured by a company with no experience in using lead free solder. In relation to point 1, over heats, bad solder joints muck up, and there you go, non working 360.

 

Really, there is so little excuse for this to have been an issue it's pathetic.

 

 

Anywho, I don't think I'll have an issue. I opened my 360 (it's a Falcon mobo w/Ben-Q drive BTW), wired up the two fans directly to 12v, also cut a hole in the top of the case right over the extended part of the GPU heatsink, installed a small 12v cpu fan angled down across the GPU's heatsink, blowing across and into the cpu heatsink. Also fabricated a small airblock to prevent the airflow from my added fan from blowing to the right, instead keeping it focused across the heatsinks and to the left under the dvd over the memory and primary GPU heatsink. Basicly, just a homebrew version of what most of the 3rd party cases are doing. It keeps it way cooler too. I took temp readings with a digital guage before and after. GPU heatsink (which seems to run hotter then the CPU ny like 10-15 degrees) was running 136 F after 5 minutes with the fans @ normal voltage and no extra fan. Running at 110 F with my changes after over 30 minutes.

 

The only problem is it sounds like a vacuum cleaner now. Luckily, it's inside an entertaiment console behind doors, so it's not so bad. Besides, it's sitting in the same room as 4 PC's and their noise drowns it out anyways.

[kroogur]

Sounds like a plan! I am really enjoying the 360 and will probably look at getting a dead one and trying your ideas so i can have a back up .