While many Joystiq readers have been pleased with their new
hardware purchase, reports are coming in of Xbox 360 system crashes, overheating, and some titles not playing at all.
Crashing is believed to be due to hardware with overheating issues attributed to the hard drive. No word yet
on misplays of some games,
but Slashdot has some
comprehensive links that look further into the problem.
While all hardware launches have teething issues, let's hope the trend doesn't continue, and the number of occurrences
doesn't increase.
[Thanks, anon]












(Page 1) Reader Comments
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Xbox Vs Tower...
Tower:
Dual AMD Opteron 250
4x 120MM Fans!
3x 80MM fans!
183CFM of Airflow
Xbox:
3Cores
2 Fans
Minimal Airflow
Needs a Higher Flow Fan
Noise Level: tollerant!
Turn up the audio what im mad about is the Powerbrick the size of the xbox ~.~
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Btw what's that "all hardware launches have teething issues"? This is the first time I heard of problems like this... Or maybe the second time, because I think I remember something with the PS1. But thats 2 times in 10 years... So plz someone tell me about other teething issues of other platforms. What did I miss?
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Scary stuff. Pages and pages of problems from 360 owners. :-(
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I have not experieced any crashes.
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the machine does get warm but not hot, probably too many people trying to run the thing in a confined cabinet or too close to other hot items like the TV or HD cable box (both of those at my home get pretty damn hot)
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I'm running mine laying down flat, on a carpet, in a room that is about 23 degrees Celcius. No issues yet.
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This is news?
I bet it was Sony's Rootkit that did it. I hope it was anyway.
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As to why it crashes more when actually playing games, that's because the GPU doesn't get taxed when just displaying the UI.
I think Microsoft would do well to place a large 8 1/2x11 display inside the box on top that clearly spells out the need for good airflow clearly. That, and reminding people to take the tape off the front of the DVD drive :).
John
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I BLAME $ONY! TEH ROXBOX 2HOTTY RUELS!
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Maybe it won't have as many bugs.
Of course, if the lady that won my PSP on eBay would hurry up and pay, I'd have enough cash to get a DS and kill some time before I get my 360.
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Didn't the PSP have dead pixel issues and a button problem?
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really, thanks again ;)
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http://live.xbox.com/member/prankfurter%20com
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That's the ideal place for FUD tardo! It's PUBLIC forum
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I hate to tell you, but LESS THAN ONE PERCENT of people post in forums.
But for some reason, and its ALWAYS been this way since the beginning of forums (or 'boards'), folks like to think that whatever they see on forums reflect what must be happening in the world.
Not to mention joystiq LOVES to spread the pain to all large corporations (Sony and M$ and whoever). Its like all their writers have been screwed by The Man or sumthing...
If there is some problem with overheating (and until there is a recall, there ISN'T one...) then it most likely means people arent giving it enough ventilation room. The 360 is in essence a little computer, and you wouldn't shut a computer inside a little cabinet with 3 other components (stereo, DVD, cable box...) because HOPEFULLY you would realize "hey, it might get a little hot in there...".
I have an entertainment center that houses all my home entertainment components - except the 360. Because of ventilation concerns I put it on top of the cabinet. And it actually looks pretty cool (no pun intended) up there.
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Thanks for adding a little common sense talk to this forum.
I can only report what I've seen, my 360 is running great and so is my brother in laws 360.
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And now MS owns ur asses for bringing it too damn early.
BSOD a la Xbox 360,lol!
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The first version of the PS2 had a problem with the optical lens being too high up. It would actually scratch a grove into CDs/DVDs when playing for long periods of time, and the lens would end up damaged eventually.
The second version of the PS2 had power issues that were problematic for some users.
The first version of the slimline PS2 has recently been tagged with power problems, and a new version has been made to correct these issues.
The Xbox had disc reading problems at launch, as well as some known power problems.
The GameCube had a few rare power problems (mostly failure, rather than the overheating usually associated with console power issues).
PSP had serious problems with dead/lit pixels, scratched screens, and dust under screens. The original Japanese PSP had problems with the firmware, and the latch on the UMD door would open if the system was twisted or bent a little (although you really shouldn't be BENDING your PSP, anyway).
Atari 2600 VCS heavy-sixer was known to have problems with joystick ports, console switches, and the occasional problem with the RF-connector port not being soldered on well, thus losing the connection.
Odyssey 2 consoles initially shipped with hard-wired, built-in controllers that were known to fail within the first six months when used frequently. Because the controllers were hard-wired to the console, you had to ship the whole console to Magnavox just to repair the controller (and it was usually just a contact in the controller that had snapped off or cracked that caused this problem). The keyboard on the Odyssey 2 was also prone to problems.
NES front-loaders ALWAYS had issues with cartridge connections. They developed serious dust problems, and contacts didn't always line-up properly. Nintendo only fixed this when the NES was all-but-dead by releasing a top-loader, which was rare and now goes for hundreds in the collector market.
SEGA Genesis consoles had issues with the headphone jack, and the controllers have been known to die. The sound chip would also fry on occassion, although this was more rare than the other problems.
Commodore 64 computers had problems with the SID chip (sound), controller ports, and floppy drive connections. Floppy drives would frequently just die, and require being replaced out of warranty.
Intellivision had problems with the first version's built-in controllers; the "disc" would stop responding, and since the controller was hard-wired to the system you had to repair the whole console, much like the Odyssey 2 before it.
Vectrex systems were known to just up and die. Screen would go blank, unit wouldn't power on, controllers wouldn't respond.
SEGA Saturn systems had the rare power and controller problems.
SEGA Dreamcast systems had disc read errors in some units at launch.
N64 consoles had memory card issues, cartridge reading issues, and power issues at launch (although rare).
NGage had retardation issues at launch, which continue to plague it to this day.
Phantom had non-existence issues.
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however, the most surprising thing i read, was that MS was actually offering to send people to people's houses. others were having boxes shipped to pick up their units and be repaired, and a few just went back to the store and got replacements.
wait, went back to the store and got a replacement? yup, that's what they claimed. there were a surprising number of cancelled preorders and things that people could just swap them for according to some of the posts.
however, that's actually some pretty amazing service if MS is actually sending technicians out to inspect the units. then again, there is so much shit in forums, it's hard to tell who is bullshitting and who actually has problems.
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But yeah, it was a big MS boo-boo.
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I'd have to say that if they're overheating, it's most likely user error; lack of ventiliation, placing them on a TV, setting them on a heater... etc, etc.
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I am glad you "diced" to also, nice job.
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The unit actually runs quite cool, however it does dissapate a fair amount of actual heat and energy. This means that give it proper ventilation and you won't have any heat issues at all (well until dust eventually takes over) but throw it in an enclosed space and watch out!!
The fact that it can ever run for the store with the melting disks is a good sign. If there was a design issue it would have crashed well before that point. A lot of us with OCed PCs know that a few degrees can cause issues, if they can actually get to the point it melted a disk means the hard ware is well designed.
Expect a LIVE patch and new software for temp monitored shutdown with error message soon (assuming it is possible)
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The put on top of a DVD player, VCR, TV, or some other appliance, and it sucks up the heat rising from below it.
They stick it in an ultra-tight entertainment center with little or no ventilation.
They move the system around while it's functioning, causing disc read errors and hard drive crashes.
They paint or sticker the damned thing and expect it not to interfere with the ventilation.
They FREEZE it, thinking it will help cool it down, and then immediately play it.
Yes... Consumers can be flippin' idiots.
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The box no longer sounds like a jet engine revving for take-off. I'm 99% sure I've got a bunk power brick.
I would suggest that anyone else having heat issues try this out. Kudos to the poster of #13.
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