Xbox 360 gutted and cooled
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Jun 20th 2006 at 10:35AM }
Case mods are certainly all the rage nowadays. I only wish I had a smidgen of the skill necessary to pull one of these jobs off, but sadly my talents lie far away from anything scientific. Ever since the Xbox 360 came out, many have griped at the amount of nuclear-plant like heat generated by our white next-gen machine. We've all seen the external cooling mods, but now, thanks to Xbox-scene, someone has actually gutted their 360 and installed an internal water cooling system.
The brave modder -- who goes by the alias Dano2k0 -- gives hope for those who thought this internal project was impossible: "It has proven to be quite a challenge doing a complete internal water cooling build with such space restrictions, the whole project was well thought through before being started, and as can be seen through the progress photos it shows quite clearly the steps I took so it may be possible for some people to replicate a similar modification as the parts are mentioned in my thread."
I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone try this at home, but it's lovely to live through the bravery of others.
[Thanks, anonymous & Revadarth]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tobor @ Jun 20th 2006 11:04AM
As a brand new 360 owner, I have to wonder if MS has fixed this issue. I played Oblivion for 6 hours last night(awesome game), and my 360 was cool as a cucumber afterwards. The power adapter was mildly warm, but nothing to worry about. Needless to say, after months and months of hearing how hot this thing gets, I was shocked. My 360 and the adapter are both in open well ventilated areas. Go figure.
Psykoboy2 @ Jun 20th 2006 11:06AM
Here's my thing: While this stuff looks cool and actually makes me jealous that I cannot do it myself, I still have no reason to mod my case, console or otherwise. I stick these things in places that just don't show off the case. The best I can do on my 360 is change the faceplate (thank you Chrome) and my PC is so hidden, it wouldn't matter what the sides look like.
I suppose then, however, that if I did mod a case, I'd find a way to display it proper to be seen by all.
martin @ Jun 20th 2006 11:21AM
Little Timmy here wishes his 360 had this cooler. He pulled out the disk after 2 hours of playing Perfect Dark Zero, and none of this would have happened if he had the cooling unit in his 360!
http://www.childrenofpeace.org/images/1BOY%20WITH%20BURNT%20HAND%20G.jpg
Michael @ Jun 20th 2006 11:27AM
Does the 360 really heat up soo much???? do you guys think i should buy a ps3 instead?
The ZeroCorpse @ Jun 20th 2006 11:30AM
All this "overheating" stuff is pure B.S.. Like #1 says, hours-long sessions with the most demanding games leave the system cool and running fine. I've had my 360 since launch, and it has NEVER gotten any warmer than my VCR or DVD player. It doesn't even get as warm as my HDTV does.
The idiots who have "overheating" Xbox 360s are the same dumbasses who put it on a shag carpet to play, or store it in an enclosed entertainment center with a door and no ventilation, or set it on top of their TV, VCR, DVD player, or Surround Sound setup/Receiver. THERE IS NO OVERHEATING PROBLEM.
I don't sell them anymore (switched jobs) but when I did- from launch until last week- I never, ever got one back for overheating. Most of the 360s I got back were because of poor cable connections, disc read errors, or hard drive problems, and even these problems were all relatively rare considering the high number of systems sold.
The cooling mods are pointless, and they void the warranty. This is no different than taking a Honda Accord* and adding neon lights and spinner rims. It's fluff that doesn't do much. Might as well put a spoiler on your 360, for all the good the water cooling will do for gameplay or performance.
*Although the 360 is probably a bit more powerful than a Honda Accord.
funkonaut @ Jun 20th 2006 11:40AM
ZeroCorpse, I don't think the reason for the mod is so much overheating as it is for noise. The 360 is one noisy console. Some people believe that audio/video equipment should be seen and not heard.
Canadian Geese @ Jun 20th 2006 12:13PM
I've never had a problem with my 360 getting hot, either. After hours of gameplay, my 360 is still the coolest piece of equipment under my TV (pun intended).
I think this has everything to do with the power supply being external. I'm so glad MS made it external. I don't know why some people complain about it so much.
Clint @ Jun 20th 2006 12:16PM
It's sad when someone pays that much for a product that has to be gutted and shit to work properly. Why can't Microsoft just make a good product like Sony did with the PS2?
Max Howell @ Jun 20th 2006 12:17PM
I don't feel these mods are necessary, but I wouldn't say they are pointless.
Chips that run hot are mostly fine. Prolly fine for most people all the time.
But hot-running chips are more likely to give spurious results to calculations, so you'll get crashes. Innards that get too hot can cause unforeseen expansions that weaken solderings etc. over time.
I'm not sure if the xbox 360 runs too hot, the output from the back of mine feels too hot. But is it hot enough to cause long-term failure to soldering, or sporadic crashes? I can't say.
It feels too hot though. And mine is well ventilated.
Joe Smith @ Jun 20th 2006 12:27PM
Just goes to show you that people have WAYY too much free time that could be put to a more productive use. The machine doesn't need cooling, and most of the case mods I have seen are horrible looking -- right up there with dangly balls and plush fur on the dash.
rory @ Jun 20th 2006 12:31PM
i have never had a 360 overheat on me, but they do get very warm...
im not joking but i literally dont put on the radiator in my room because the xbox 360 heats it up just fine!
but as i say its never overheated and even if it did overheat i would never buy one of those nyko intercoolers or anything, id just take it right back to the shop!
That water cooling mod does look sweet, it would be cool to have, even if my 360 runs great already
Max Howell @ Jun 20th 2006 12:39PM
@5 his mods actually added four 60mm fans, so I can't imagine it's quieter, but I don't think anyone asked in the forum thread.
Some Show @ Jun 20th 2006 12:53PM
"The idiots who have "overheating" Xbox 360s are the same dumbasses who put it on a shag carpet to play, or store it in an enclosed entertainment center with a door and no ventilation, or set it on top of their TV, VCR, DVD player, or Surround Sound setup/Receiver. THERE IS NO OVERHEATING PROBLEM."
UMM Where then do you put it? Floating in space?
On the floor in the entertaiment system, or on or next to other TV boxes is the only choice.... I would think M$ would of thought that maybe somone would put there 360 in one of those places.
Art Guy @ Jun 20th 2006 1:20PM
Clint wrote: "Why can't Microsoft just make a good product like Sony did with the PS2?"
You mean the PS2 that lost a class action lawsuit because they were all failing and getting dirty disc errors?
Or the new PS2 that can't even play every PS2 title?
I would think being able to play games for the system it was designed for would be a given, but that's me being silly I guess.
Tobor @ Jun 20th 2006 1:40PM
"I would think M$ would of thought that maybe somone would put there 360 in one of those places."
They did think of that. There is a big giant warning in the set up guide about proper ventilation. The PS3 will have the same ventilation problems. I bought my entertainment center from Ikea specifically because it offered excellent ventilation.
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=42127&langId=-1&categoryId=15962&chosenPartNumber=20074716
Some Show @ Jun 20th 2006 1:53PM
Thats a after thought...
Game systems should be able to sit on the floor, in a a entertainment system or on top of other TV gear. It should be designed to do that, not have a warning not to do that.
Arkile @ Jun 20th 2006 2:41PM
I'm glad Microsoft fucked up with the heating problems. Mine works fine plus I get to laugh at the misfortunes of all the noobs who didn't properly ventilate their 360!
The ZeroCorpse @ Jun 20th 2006 5:15PM
@ #16
If you look in your PS1 & PS2 manuals, you'll see that they, too, instructed you to give them proper ventilation and care for them.
If you want a TOY, buy a TV Games unit. If you want a game system that can match a decent computer, then learn to take care of your stuff like the other grown-ups.
Hart704 @ Jun 20th 2006 6:15PM
Mods aren't scientific. The real reason that most people won't bother with it is because they're scared that they may screw it all up. It has nothing to do with skill or being able to learn modding. Anyone can do it. It's the fear that keep most away.
CelestialMinion @ Jun 20th 2006 6:20PM
I have heard reports of 360s overheating but mine has never had that problem. If you put your 360 in a fairly well ventilated place(like an OPEN entertainment center, desk, ect.) then you should have no problem. Personaly, I keep mine in a fairly well ventilated, OPEN entertainment center. If you put it on shag carpet or something similar(like in an oven)you'll probalbly need a Liquid-Nitrogen cooling system or something. I play Perfect Dark Zero for hours on end and my system does get a little warm but not hat enough to fry anything inside. If you put it in an enclosed space, then it'll get probably get hot...that's what happens when you run a system with a 3.2gHz Triple-core processor in an enclosed space.
If you have no other choice, then get that Nyko Cooling system or something like it. Even the BEST Computer can overheat if you don't give it enough ventilation (unless it's liquid cooled like this bad boy, then you might not have to worry as much). In other words, just give it a bit of air and it'll be fine.
Anon @ Jun 21st 2006 12:00AM
This mod would be definitely be good if you live in a tropical or desert climate with no air conditioning. Necessary? maybe, maybe not, depends on your environment.
If-you-can-guess-my-name-I'll-give-you-a-cookie @ Jun 21st 2006 12:28AM
To Clint, poster of comment #8, Art Guy hit the nail right on the head. SONY's products are just as flawed as any other company's, if not more so. Do you know why people don't seem to care? Because it's SONY. If it was Nintendo, or with Microsoft (as it is now) we would never heard the end of it. Why people haven't taken up arms against a company which, back in times previous, made quality goods only to sell over priced, poor quality, and shoddily crafted crap later on is beyond me. The PS2 is a perfect example of that. It was poorly made (hmm...it heated up more than the GC and ran just as hot as the XBOX but packed less powerful hardware and contained DVD-roms that no sane manufacturer would even attempt at selling as standalone kits) and way over priced (the XBOX could justify its cost over hardware, SONY couldn't).
The Xbox 360 is not without its problems, however, all of you fanboys (from any camp) who decry how hot the thing runs have to consider something. 1) It's using a CPU that is based off of a chip that is well known for running hot (what do you think was one of the major reasons as to why Apple dumped IBM for Intel? Hint: Intel's stuff doesn't require an insane amount of case fans to keep stable)and is clocked at 3.2 ghz per core (higher clockspeed = more heat x 3 core = even more heat), and 2) it's GPU is essentially a Direct X 10 level chip. What difference does that make? IF any of you have been following what ATI and Nvidia will both be releasing, their cards will consume 300 watts of juice BY THEMSELVES, so, they will run VERY VERY HOT. Hm...lets see..hot running CPU + hot running GPU..my god..that means the machine puts out a little heat! OH..and ITS TOO NOISY!! Pfft...if noise could cause pain, a true gaming rig would kill you little "I want everything to be so quiet I can hear grass grow" turds. Either you want powerful hardware and can accept the fact it runs above whisper volume, or you can climb into bed cuddling with your Gameboy each night hoping the noise-triggered boogeyman doesn't pop out from under your bed in order to drag you off to Hell (which would be Yoko Ono singing at a volume that fighter jet engines at full throttle couldn't be heard).
Furthermore, SONY fanboys, I have bad news for you. CELL's based off of the PPC architecture too, and it too RUNS HOT. The RSX (which is just a glorified 7900GTX) RUNS HOT. SO, really, none of you have any room to pi*ss on the 360 when it comes to heat issues or audible cooling. The PS3 will run just as hot, if not hotter than the 360 (and, if the powersupply is built into the case, it might as well be a George Foreman grill). All the hardware problems you fault the 360 for having at launch will be just as prevalent in the first gen PS3's.
To Art Guy, Tobor, CelestialMinion, I have one question: why do most people seem to lack your common sense or unbiased views?
Seer @ Jun 21st 2006 11:35AM
Amen No. 22 !!!
teph @ Jun 21st 2006 11:49AM
I agree.
Technology, circuits, processors, chips etc need electricity to operate.
electricity=heat
The Harder, Better, Faster, Stonger (sorry, couldn't resist) the device is, the more heat it creates. Simple. This is physics, and you can't escape it.
Even your precious SONY can't escape it. Get used to it, and get over it.
And for those that think the mod is a waste, my 360
also works fine... but the air it pumps out the back of it CAN, in fact, be quite hot. Not unreasonably so, but at the same time hot enough to also NOT make water cooling UNREASONABLE. Just chill and give the guy props. He's done a great job. He never said he HAD to water cool his 360 for it work. He did it cause he wanted too, and that's all the reason anyone needs to mod stuff.
rory @ Jun 21st 2006 12:40PM
talking about ventilation even microsoft dont properly ventilate their 360's!!
look at the kiosks!
If-you-can-guess-my-name-I'll-give-you-a-cookie @ Jun 21st 2006 6:25PM
Rory, do you know why most of the Xbox 360 kiosks seem to be poorly ventilated? Actually, let me ask a different question; why do the machines in the offical 360 kiosks never lock up due to overheating, but the real deals in some Walmart showcases do? What's the difference? The offical 360 kiosks have beta-hardware locked in final cases. The guts came out months before the first PPC tricore CPUs and the very first Xenos GPUs ever rolled off of the assembly line in a factory located in China. As such, the stuff in the beta-boxes is restricted to running very short demos of incompleted games where the "ooo...awe" visual elements are missing (games get the basic crap done to them first, the visual polish is the last thing added) or trailers, and as such, the 360 kiosks are never put into a position where ventilation becomes an issue; they're just having to barely run a game long enough for people to want it or they have to render CGI a PSI could do comfortably. The GPUs and CPUs aren't under full load so they remain fairly cool. I mean, they put out a fraction of the heat the final product does, and as such, they can stay enclosed in the plexiglass bubbles without overheating; they just don't require the extra heat dissipation and air circulation.
As for the final 360's ventilation...as people have said before...if you put it on a carpet where most of the vents are blocked by fibers or you put it in an enclosed space without proper air supply or for a place where the heat can travel...it overheats. I don't see why half of you people bitch about this when almost every electronic device that even remotely resembles a computer will do the same thing in the same circumstances. I mean, goddamn, use common sense. It's not the MS's fault the 360 will overheat if you put it in an enclosed entertainment center and play Oblivion at 720p for 12 hours; it woud be your fault for being the dumbass who put the machine in that position in the first place. So, I guess all I'm saying Rory is that you need to think very, very carefully next time before you post on this subject.