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Games & gear: xbox 360 overheating issue

by tteister - 1/16/08 8:29 AM
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Post 1 of 15

xbox 360 overheating issue

by tteister - 1/16/08 8:29 AM

my xbox tends to freeze a lot while I'm playing and gets the red overheating lights a lot too. I have my 360 on a flat wooden surface in the middle of the room so there is plenty of ventilation. I have been reading a lot that the nyko and pelican fans don't actually fix the xbox but break it so I was thinking of getting a laptop cooler. I wanted to know if that would work. If I got a laptop cooler and put it under the 360 to keep it cool. If it works does anyone know which one I should get?

Post 2 of 15

The problem with that

by Jimmy Greystone - 1/16/08 10:54 AM In reply to: xbox 360 overheating issue by tteister

The problem with that is one of basic physics: Heat rises.

Laptop coolers work mostly by virtue of the fact that laptop makers have turned the entire case into a giant heatsink in order to make everything thinner. So there's a lot of heat generating components really close to the bottom of the case, and there's also not a lot of options for where else the heat can go.

The 360 doesn't necessarily work the same way. While Microsoft hasn't officially said anything, the heat problem in the 360 is due to some kind of manufacturing defect. So if you're getting overheating issues, you should make a warranty claim on it. From what I've heard, it doesn't guarantee you'll get back a "fixed" system, but you don't appear to have a lot to lose. Worst case scenario is that you have to live without the console for maybe a month, and then it comes back no better than when it left.

Post 3 of 15

Re: What is the manufacture Date of your 360

by jn24uk - 1/17/08 1:16 PM In reply to: xbox 360 overheating issue by tteister

How long are you playing for?

Post 4 of 15

hard to say

by tteister - 1/17/08 11:58 PM In reply to: Re: What is the manufacture Date of your 360 by jn24uk

i play my 360 a lot, i play it added up probably 6-10 hours on weekends or when i don't have school, some of the time it spends just on sitting at the main screen of a video game. Well, the heat problem with the 360 I know is due to the use of bad solder on the 360 and the GPU. The GPU generates a lot of heat sitting right under the dvd drive and it doesn't have a fan properly situated to really ventilate that heat. The GPU is at the bottom of the 360 which is why i think the laptop cooler would work well.

Post 5 of 15

Use the NYKO cooler...in other way, of course

by scorpion81a - 2/2/08 10:44 AM In reply to: xbox 360 overheating issue by tteister

First of all, excuse my english, i am from Venezuela.
I am a ruthless player, playing for hours without resting. I bought the NYKO cooler and used it, but 2 weeks later my console got the 3 red lights problem (the first time!!!)then i removed the intercooler, and the 3 lights gone. But was still remaining the problem of overheating....simple. Since i realized the cooler was the cause of the 3 red lights I remove the conection with the 360 making and external and separated source of energy with a trnasformer of 12V and 1200mAh, of course, with this power the cooler worked much more powerfull and useful to the console, and overheathing, goodbye. The good thing in that you dont need to make anything at the console, only modify the cooler for better performance.

I actualy play without red lights and without overheathing. Plus, a put the 360 in a dock with only 4 points of support, thus the air may circulate below the console.

Post 6 of 15

whered u get external power source

by tteister - 2/2/08 3:17 PM In reply to: Use the NYKO cooler...in other way, of course by scorpion81a

I don't think I completely understand. You said you used the nyko but because its a powerzapper for the 360 it gave the red rings of death. You took it off and then somehow supplied it with power from an external source. If that's what you said could you show me what external power source was used and where I can buy it, because that would be perfect.

Post 7 of 15

Example USB power source.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 2/2/08 4:35 PM In reply to: whered u get external power source by tteister

Check newegg.com as well as http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=YLL-609A&cat=PWR

While that's all of 300 mA, there are some nice 500 mA units out there so give the nod to the 500 mA if you find one.

Post 8 of 15

... how does that power the intercooler?

by tteister - 2/2/08 5:55 PM In reply to: Example USB power source. by R. Proffitt Moderator

How does that provide power for the intercooler? Isn't the intercooler powered directly from the 360's power outlet on the back and not usb?

Post 9 of 15

There are a few coolers.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 2/2/08 5:57 PM In reply to: ... how does that power the intercooler? by tteister

Mix and match as needed.

Post 10 of 15

nyko intercooler

by tteister - 2/2/08 6:50 PM In reply to: There are a few coolers. by R. Proffitt Moderator

I'm talking about the nyko intercooler, that is really the only good intercooler for the 360, the rest of the ones that are made specifically for the 360 are bad.

Post 11 of 15

this is my procedure...take note

by scorpion81a - 2/2/08 8:40 PM In reply to: nyko intercooler by tteister

is a little drastic and rude.
1. take the cooler, open it with a screwdriver, later, with a instrument (like a saw or equivalent) "cut" the segment corresponding at the energy socket, leaving intact the fans and the case of them, and of course, the cable(s)
2. each fan has 2 cables, 6 in total, arrange in two group of three (depending the colour/polarity) making 2 groups....
3. conect, looking at the polarity, at one AC/DC transformer 12V minimun 500mAh (i recomend 1200mAh, is big, but reliable) each group of cables of the fans.
4. close the cooler with the screwdiver. Seal the conection between cables with a special tape (we dont want shortcuts here)
5. verify the polarity in the AC/Dc transformer until the coolers spin. The more output power is, the more power of spining and ventilation the cooler will show.
6. attach the cooler at the console at the same original place, of course, there will be the space for the origial energy cable, with a direct conection at the 360.

Someone can say this is rude, but i prefer performance and security (cool console) rather than style (originally the coolers "steal" energy at the console, giving chance of the 3 red lights, i figured out that). An external and INDEPENDENT source of energy dont affect the 360 energy imput.

I use el cooler conected at AC/DC transformer (and this conected at the socket wall) at 12V and 1200mAh.
a bad thing: since this adjust make the cooler spin and cool the console like the gods, is making some noise (like a chooper hahaha). I dont care, i use big earphones.

Hope this may be useful for you.

William, from Venezuela. (excuse my english)

Post 12 of 15

i wanna hear some feedback about my post

by scorpion81a - 2/14/08 7:37 AM In reply to: this is my procedure...take note by scorpion81a

has anyone test my solution modifying the cooler yet? i wanna hear feedbaks about mu post. Only to konw if someone has found this as useful as i did.

Post 13 of 15

I like it.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 2/14/08 6:10 PM In reply to: i wanna hear some feedback about my post by scorpion81a

No, I didn't do that but I see it.

Post 15 of 15

Play in a freezer

by Hiprocksoul - 5/21/08 9:16 PM In reply to: xbox 360 overheating issue by tteister

Playing your 360 while keeping the system in a freezer seems to be the only logical answer. I suggest buying a mini freezer to place next to your entertainment center and keeping your 360 in there 24-7. Otherwise, utilize the warranty and then sell it on e-bay. Based on statistics, even if you get a working one back, it will break again after the warranty is over. Sell the replaced working unit while it's worth something and then buy a PS3 and/or Wii.

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