Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PS3 users report LA Noire overheating issues, Rockstar and Sony respond [update: Freezing issues also reported for PS3, 360]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ps3-users-report-la-noire-overheating-issues-rockstar-and-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ps3-users-report-la-noire-overheating-issues-rockstar-and-sony/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ps3-users-report-la-noire-overheating-issues-rockstar-and-sony/#comments This morning, Rockstar posted a notice about PS3 systems possibly overheating due to some friction between L.A. Noire and the new firmware 3.61. The post has since been removed, though a new announcement has been posted on Rockstar's website providing some clarification.

The company notes that it has "received a very small number of customer support questions about PS3's overheating or shutting down while playing L.A. Noire." It adds that "Rockstar Games and Sony can confirm that neither L.A. Noire or firmware update 3.61 are causing the PS3 hardware to overheat," though no solution is offered.

The company advises that those with such problems contact either Rockstar or Sony technical support.

Update: It appears that Rockstar has also received complaints of crashing or freezing issues on both PS3 and Xbox 360. Rockstar has outlined steps to help correct the problem. Find them after the break.

Continue reading PS3 users report LA Noire overheating issues, Rockstar and Sony respond [update: Freezing issues also reported for PS3, 360]

JoystiqPS3 users report LA Noire overheating issues, Rockstar and Sony respond [update: Freezing issues also reported for PS3, 360] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 May 2011 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firmware-3.61LA-Noireoverheatingplaystationps3rockstarThu, 19 May 2011 17:03:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS: Ridge Racer 7 demo attracts loyal fan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-ridge-racer-7-demo-attracts-loyal-fan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-ridge-racer-7-demo-attracts-loyal-fan/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/23/tgs-ridge-racer-7-demo-attracts-loyal-fan/#commentsFiled under: ,

It seems all that burning rubber and gratuitous nitro boosting in the Ridge Racer 7 demo took its toll on a lone PS3. Kotaku snapped this picture of a Sony rep bravely averting disaster by pointing some sort of advanced cooling mechanism into the console's compartment. System anomalies crop up at trade shows all the time -- we salute the fan-man for his keen sense of practicality. He probably doesn't lock his dog in the car while he's out shopping either.

[Thanks AK and mupwangle]

JoystiqTGS: Ridge Racer 7 demo attracts loyal fan originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>OverheatingPS3Ridge RacerRidge Racer 7RidgeRacerRidgeRacer7Riiiiidge RaaacerRiiiiidgeRaaacerTGS06Sat, 23 Sep 2006 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[The Xbox 360 and glitching, six months later]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/29/the-xbox-360-and-glitching-six-months-later/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/29/the-xbox-360-and-glitching-six-months-later/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/29/the-xbox-360-and-glitching-six-months-later/#commentsFiled under:

While the occasional glitching is just a part of owning new technology, there's something about that little red power ring that has the potential to send chills down any 360 gamer's spine. IGN set out to investigate the "glitch in the system" that plagued certain consoles last November from a six-month-later perspective.

Some cases are just extreme though. Take Chris Szarek, for example, who had to go through so many replacement consoles that he eventually got a personal call from Peter Moore who apologized for the matter. While he and other gamers with such issues could possibly be storing their consoles in an oven or something, there are other people who are clearly taking the right steps to avoid any sort of problems.

One of the IGN staffers had this to say once his own system bit the dust: "... while I was on the customer support line, I heard two guys in the background giving the exact same 'detach cables and hard drive' speech to other poor souls with dead 360s, so I think the problem of dying 360s is still pretty common." Read on for some interesting information regarding this "common" issue. It makes us wonder though: Are any of our readers out there still experiencing such problems?

JoystiqThe Xbox 360 and glitching, six months later originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 May 2006 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360breakglitchignmicrosoftoverheatoverheatingxboxMon, 29 May 2006 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Germans foiled again?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/11/germans-foiled-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/11/germans-foiled-again/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/11/germans-foiled-again/#commentsFiled under:


Microsoft has issued a semi-heated response to the German sprockets who wondered if a curious piece of foil on the 360 heatsink may be the cause of the console's much-discussed toaster oven issues. From Gamerccore Blog (run by Xbox employees):

The video and photos posted by German blog GameStore24.de show thermal interface pads that are not installed incorrectly.  They are installed per specification.  This foil eliminates the need of a protective liner, which simplifies the final assembly process and minimizes shipping concerns and contamination issues.  

The manufacturing team pointed me to the exact part we used.

The part in question can be found here at Chromerics.com:

THERMFLOW T558 is recommended for applications where rework and ease of disassembly are important. This new material provides the high performance properties typical of free-film phase change materials with the added benefit of easy removal. T558 is the same phase material as T557 which has been coated on one side of a conformal metal foil carrier. It is easily attached onto a heat sink or heat spreader, leaving the metal foil surface exposed. This foil eliminates the need of a protective liner, which simplifies the final assembly process and minimizes shipping concerns and contamination issues.

Note the spec sheet above that refers to gray/silver foil. The Xbox-Scene forums have some interesting discussion on the matter.

So were the Germans off base? Is MS off the hook? Is it possible some 360s got the T558 and some the "foil-free" T557?

[Previously: Achtung! Xbox 360 overheating explained!]

JoystiqGermans foiled again? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Mar 2006 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customer supportCustomerSupportmanufacturingoverheatingSat, 11 Mar 2006 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Achtung! Xbox 360 overheating explained!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/10/achtung-xbox-360-overheating-explained/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/10/achtung-xbox-360-overheating-explained/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/03/10/achtung-xbox-360-overheating-explained/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ever get drunk and piss on the toilet seat without lifting the lid? I'll explain. The ever-resourceful Deutschland modding community has reportedly discovered the reason behind the 360's overheating issue. Xbox-Scene informs  that a group of German tech-heads from ModControl.com and GameStore24.de took apart two independently purchased consoles and discovered the protective foil on the heatsink had not been removed

On the left [see above pic] you see the CPU heatsink and how the thermal compound should normally look like. On the right you see the ATI GPU heatsink and people who are used to assemble PCs themself known this isn't how it should look like. It's not just a thick layer of compound ... there's actaully a plastic protective foil on top of the thermal compound.

On the right a close-up of the protective layer/foil on top of the heat transfer pad. On the left the protective foil has been removed and placed next to the heat pad. This protective layer is probably placed by the manifacturer of the heatsink and is used to protect the heat transfer pad from dust, but should normally be removed just prior installing the heatsink on the GPU. The way it's installed now by MS the GPU chip makes contact with the plastic protection foil instead of the heat transfer pad. This can of course cause cooling issues for the graphics chip as for optimal cooling performance there should just be a thin layer of thermal pad between the GPU chip and heatsink.

They also have a video (in German) that appears to point out the offending foil.

How many consoles could be affected by this basic issue? Was the overheating scandal really as simple as Friday Happy Hour on the assembly lines? Hardware-savvy readers please weigh in. Also would any German-speakers care to translate?

[Previously: Motion filed to dismiss overheating lawsuit]

JoystiqAchtung! Xbox 360 overheating explained! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Mar 2006 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>overheatingrecalltech supportTechSupportFri, 10 Mar 2006 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Motion filed to dismiss overheating lawsuit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/02/motion-filed-dismiss-overheating-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/02/motion-filed-dismiss-overheating-lawsuit/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/02/motion-filed-dismiss-overheating-lawsuit/#commentsFiled under:

The lawsuit brought by a Chicago man displeased with the Xbox 360's overheating problems is due to be heard on January 10th, but Microsoft are trying to get it thrown out of court before it even begins. It seems that Robert Byers hasn't even contacted customer support about the problems with his own 360--and it's not even clear his 360 is malfunctioning. He may be bringing the lawsuit on the strength of others' complaints, which will make for an interesting argument in court.

In the motion to dismiss, Microsoft notes that "Significantly, Plaintiff omits the fact that his Xbox 360, purchased in November 2005, is still covered by a 90-day warranty, under which Microsoft agreed to repair or replace it, or issue a refund. In fact, Plaintiff does not allege that he contacted anyone at Microsoft about the alleged defect, let alone that Microsoft refused to honor the terms of its warranty. Moreover, Plaintiff does not allege that his Xbox 360 ever malfunctioned. He alleges only that "members of the class have experienced malfunctions" with their Xbox 360s - not that he has.

 

JoystiqMotion filed to dismiss overheating lawsuit originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lawsuitmicrosoftoverheatingMon, 02 Jan 2006 17:30:00 EST