Xbox 360: Questions

[TheMarvell]

ok, so I'm thinking about getting a 360 sometime in the next couple of months (mainly for Halo 3 and Mass Effect) but I haven't really read too much on it. I'm mainly concerned about it's technical issues. I know it has some heating issues, and the defect rate is disturbingly high. But I'm not really sure what the 3 red lights of doom are. Is it just after you play a game for a really long time? Also, are these technical failings apparent in just the 360's made and released in 2005, or also the ones being sold now in the store? If so, will Microsoft release a newer version that fixes these issues?

So my main concern is the technical failings of the system. I'm just not up to date on what's wrong with the system, and every message board I try to find the answer but never really get a clear one.

Also, I don't have an HDTV. Would I really be missing out on something if I played a 360 on a regular tv? I heard some games, like Dead Rising, don't function as well on a regular TV because apparently some part of the game on the screen gets cut off, like the subtitles or something.

Please help.  :huh:

[zuludelta]

ok, so I'm thinking about getting a 360 sometime in the next couple of months (mainly for Halo 3 and Mass Effect) but I haven't really read too much on it. I'm mainly concerned about it's technical issues. I know it has some heating issues, and the defect rate is disturbingly high. But I'm not really sure what the 3 red lights of doom are. Is it just after you play a game for a really long time? Also, are these technical failings apparent in just the 360's made and released in 2005, or also the ones being sold now in the store? If so, will Microsoft release a newer version that fixes these issues?

Many experts are now saying that the RROD (Red Rings of Death) is the result of the awkward cooling solution installed on the XBox 360. The finned GPU heatsink design is conducive to the accumulation of dust and other assorted particles that contribute to heating, and the inadequate ventilation compounds the problem further. Of course, you can just open up your 360 to regularly clean the heatsink like you would a PC but that would void your warranty. The failure rate on XBox 360s is being reported to be as high as 33%, and there are reports that people taking advantage of the new 3-year replacement warranty just get 360s that conk out even sooner (probably because they don't actually get "new" 360s in exchange for their broken ones, they just get refurbished ones made from other customers' broken units). Still, if you don't mind the inconvenience of waiting for repairs/replacements, I guess all the RROD issues become a minor annoyance.

The jury's still out on the New XBox 360 Elite... it's got more fans to help with the cooling, but it retains the same flawed heatsink design, so the potential for RROD is still there. 

Also, I don't have an HDTV. Would I really be missing out on something if I played a 360 on a regular tv? I heard some games, like Dead Rising, don't function as well on a regular TV because apparently some part of the game on the screen gets cut off, like the subtitles or something.

Here's something you might not have known: You already have a high-definition display device. It's called your PC monitor  :) It's not really a true HDTV since it's not designed to decode HDMI signals (which isn't an issue with the XBox 360, since it doesn't output true HDMI signals either), but if it's a fairly recent one, it can display video in resolutions equivalent to, and even exceeding HDTV standards. All you need is a VGA/HD AV Cable, like this one.

[UnfluffyBunny]

360's are hit and miss
I returned 3 in the first couple of months, my 4th has been perfect.
the red light thing is caused by pretty much poor design, some parts arent as well soldered as theyshould be, combine this with the stupid amount of heat a 360 can kick out if placed in a -slightly- warm environment, the joints loosen and the parts start to pull away.
(there's a trick of purposely overheating your machine by wrapping it in towels, this resoftens the connections and can make them retouch, but it never works longer than a week)

[JeyNyce]

My 360 lasted almost 2 years before I got the rings of death.  Microsoft are secretly releasing an updated model of the 360 pro with the HDMI connection built in.  It suppose to have a quieter CD drive & I believe the new processor.  If you are going to get a 360 wait until we close to the holidays. 

[murs47]

Here's something you might not have known: You already have a high-definition display device. It's called your PC monitor  :) It's not really a true HDTV since it's not designed to decode HDMI signals (which isn't an issue with the XBox 360, since it doesn't output true HDMI signals either), but if it's a fairly recent one, it can display video in resolutions equivalent to, and even exceeding HDTV standards. All you need is a VGA/HD AV Cable, like this one.

This is question is slightly off topic. Zulu, I have a Phillips TV that says HD-TV monitor in the bottom left hand corner and has a plethora of input holes in the back of it. Would the only thing I need is that VGA/HD AV Cable you mentioned above to enjoy my 360 in HD? Or are there other things I need to get for it as well?

Yes, I know absolutely nothing about this stuff :doh:

[zuludelta]

This is question is slightly off topic. Zulu, I have a Phillips TV that says HD-TV monitor in the bottom left hand corner and has a plethora of input holes in the back of it. Would the only thing I need is that VGA/HD AV Cable you mentioned above to enjoy my 360 in HD? Or are there other things I need to get for it as well?

The 360 should support HD gaming out of the box, provided that you've got the appropriate connectors. So yes, if your Philips TV has a VGA input in the back, you can use the VGA-HD A/V cable to connect your XBox 360 to it. If your HDTV is one of the rare ones that don't have a VGA input, see if it has component video inputs (You can check the back of your TV if it has three coloured input holes labeled Y, Pb, and Pr... those are the component video inputs). Microsoft also makes a component A/V cable for these types of connections (I always thought these things came with the XBox?). The funny thing about the XBox 360 is that it doesn't support DVI or HDMI connections, two of the more popular HDTV connections, so if those are the only connections available on your TV (which I doubt, I've yet to see an current HDTV that doesn't have component video inputs), you'll need to get a VGA-to-DVI scaler in addition to the VGA-HD A/V cable.

[murs47]

Thanks Zulu, that helps a lot. My TV is one of the rare ones that doesn't have a VGA input, but it looks like the component A/V cables will do the trick. Those cables don't come with the "core" 360, but it comes with the other packages. Thanks again, I very much appreciate your help. :thumbup:

Back on topic: One other problem I've heard of the 360 having is that it will sometimes scratch the discs while they are in the drive. I don't know the exact details of it, but read something along the lines of the disc reader missing some sort of rubber/plastic piece. I believe this is only a problem with the European model, but I think there have been a few American cases as well. Currently Microsoft is denying this malfunction. That's all I know about it.

[The Nemesis]

You get that happening if you move your 360 from upright to sideways (or vice versa) while theres a disc being played, or spinning in the drive. I imagine there are some reported cases where it happens spontaneously but I usually just think some people are ashamed to admit they missed the warning and moved the console anyway.

[zuludelta]

You get that happening if you move your 360 from upright to sideways (or vice versa) while theres a disc being played, or spinning in the drive. I imagine there are some reported cases where it happens spontaneously but I usually just think some people are ashamed to admit they missed the warning and moved the console anyway.

Moving the 360 while a disc is spinning in the drive is the most common cause of scratched and unreadable discs (actually, moving any drive, not just the 360's, with a spinning disc inside will increase the chances of scratching occurring, unless the drive is equipped with stabilization technology like the ones you find in portable CD players). However, a Dutch investigative journalist team did an independent test after hearing about all the complaints of disc-scratching and their findings showed that 1 out of 9 XBox 360s spontaneously scratched discs, even without being moved. Naturally, Microsoft rejected the results of the study claiming that the results were invalid because it was conducted without a Microsoft representative present. Interestingly enough, the Netherlands branch of Microsoft did accept the findings and as far as I know, Microsoft Netherlands is the only branch that will honour warranties with complaints of disc-scratching.

[TheMarvell]

so basically if I buy a 360 now, I'd have a 33% chance of the system overheating? And of course if it does, I have the option to break my warranty by cleaning it myself, or shipping it to Microsoft?

I do want a 360, but that seems like a pretty high percentage of problems. And I'm a little shocked and disappointed Microsoft hasn't really addressed the issue besides extending the warranty in the almost 2 years it's been out (can't believe it's been that long already).

also, the way my room is set up, it'd be annoying and very inconvenient to play the 360 on my PC monitor.

[zuludelta]

I do want a 360, but that seems like a pretty high percentage of problems. And I'm a little shocked and disappointed Microsoft hasn't really addressed the issue besides extending the warranty in the almost 2 years it's been out (can't believe it's been that long already).

Well, you have to take into account the fact that Microsoft doesn't really have that much hardware manufacturing experience, certainly not to the extent that Sony or Nintendo do. I'd say give it a year or two if the hardware issues bother you, by then they'll probably have an updated model with fewer problems and at a lower price. I remember Sony "stealth-releasing" an updated version of the PS2 in 2002 or thereabouts once reports started coming out that first-generation machines would occasionally freeze up when reading double-layer DVDs (this was a different and earlier update than the later updated PS2 that came with a built-in network card).

[TheMarvell]

well I suppose it's worth the risk for the good games coming out this year. I'm wondering how long you can play before the heating problems might arise though. Do you know? There's always going to be those people who complain about the system when they're playing some RPG for like 8 hours a day. I'm not that kind of player. I usually play, at max 3 or 4 hours.

what I also don't like about the 360 is the backwards compatible support. There's a decent list of games they've made BC, but some of those choices are so...odd. I don't own THAT many Xbox games (about a little over a dozen) and only about half of those games are BC. It's so bizarre when I see Prince of Persia 1 be BC, but not it's two sequels. Or when games that I have never seen in retail stores at all (Dreamfall, for example) were BC right away, and games like Tomb Raider Legend are still on the backburner.

[UnfluffyBunny]

the online BC list isnt actually up to date >_> they send your xbox updates quite regularly (alternatively you can download the updates onto cd)

[bredon7777]

How necessary is it to have the 360 connected online?

[UnfluffyBunny]

I only connect when I need to download patches (normally the backwards patches)

(just because I dont wanna keep burning cd's off :P )

[TheMarvell]

so where can I find an actual updated list of BC games then?

also, do they not make certain games BC if there is also a 360 version? For example, Tomb Raider Legend and Hitman Blood Money are available in both Xbox and Xbox 360 formats. Will they not make games like this BC for that simple reason? If so, that's a load of crap. :angry: