Reasons for the Red Ringing 360s?

[GodofHardcore]

http://www.8bitjoystick.com/archives/jake_inside_source_reveal_the_truth_about_xbox_360 _red_ring_of_death_failures.php

[Taucias]

No surprises there. I have to say though, Microsoft are doing a good thing with the 3yr warranty.

[opethfan]

No surprises there. I have to say though, Microsoft are doing a good thing with the 3yr warranty.

Still doesn't help when my brand new 360s sitting on my floor blinking, and will be for up to a month.

[GodofHardcore]

That's yoru problem right there...it was on the floor

[mairsil]

No problems with the link, but weren't you leaving two weeks ago?

[opethfan]

That's yoru problem right there...it was on the floor

It wasn't when it broke.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Personally, I don't mind having to send my 360 to Microsoft. The process is pretty fast and easy, at least when I did it last (Summer 2007). However, what will happen when that 3 year warranty runs out? I'll have a stack of 360 games and nothing to play them with.

Look even further into the future. It's not like I'm just going to throw it away when the next generation is released - I still play my Genesis like crazy, and it's almost 10 years old. However, according to the guy in that review ALL 360's fail eventually. In other words, when Microsoft finally decides to stop producing 360's, there will be no way left to play the games except for emulators. Any way you look at it, that sucks.

[jp.]

Well, chances are the next-gen Xbox will be backwards compatible with the Xbox360.

If MS has any sense anyways.

[Borman]

Just like all the Xbox games? Hah. The next gen system is going to need to be extremely fast, have the old hardware too (doubtful, as I cant see it being cheap), or based on the same architecture, which is probably the best solution.

[Tomcat]

Thats if there is a new Xbox.

[Barc0de]

from what I read, the XBOX 3 is being worked on just as any other future console project by competitors.

The brand is seen as a the living-room trojan horse to drive the consumer electronics division of Microsoft.

[Taucias]

3rd time lucky or bust, I'd say.

[jp.]

Well, hopefully MS doesn't try to rush their next console out to "beat Sony" this time. I think, worst case scenario, when all is said and done the 360 is going to either be ahead of the PS3 or on equal footing.

That is, if MS would announce some games and quit keeping everyone in the dark about what they're doing. That shit certainly didn't work for Nintendo last gen.

[Shadowlayer]

And to think one of the baselines of the X360 launch was all the people involved in the project...

Who didnt thought it was a rushed job? after all only 6 months before launch they were using powermacs to run the games on E3, since there was no real hardware at all.

Now the X360 being a trojan horse makes a lot of sense. MS must have foreseen after the Xbox that making money with consoles isnt easy, and it would be better to offset the losses using other markets and products.

Anyway, I would blame Allard for most of the issues. He fucked up the Xbox's costs by using PC parts, then was the head of the X360 project, and lastly made the first Zune which with its crappy design and brown color really fits the description "shit brick".

What I dont understand is why they went for a expensive and complex design instead of a more simple and functional one if what they wanted was to create a bridge for windows from the PC to the living room.

A Wii-like console would've been a much better choice, since is both cheap and easy to use.

[Taucias]

No one would have bought a Wii-like console if it was made by Microsoft, they had to release a powerful system. The reason they went with the 3 core design was the CELL. Ironic then, that it was ultimately the GPU that caused all the problems.

[GodofHardcore]

Personally, I don't mind having to send my 360 to Microsoft. The process is pretty fast and easy, at least when I did it last (Summer 2007). However, what will happen when that 3 year warranty runs out? I'll have a stack of 360 games and nothing to play them with.

Look even further into the future. It's not like I'm just going to throw it away when the next generation is released - I still play my Genesis like crazy, and it's almost 10 years old. However, according to the guy in that review ALL 360's fail eventually. In other words, when Microsoft finally decides to stop producing 360's, there will be no way left to play the games except for emulators. Any way you look at it, that sucks.

Only the Xenons are destined for fail. Microsoft still does support on the OG XBOX and my OG is still under waranty.

[Barc0de]

No one would have bought a Wii-like console if it was made by Microsoft, they had to release a powerful system. The reason they went with the 3 core design was the CELL. Ironic then, that it was ultimately the GPU that caused all the problems.

This is correct in my view too, the XBOXs emphasis has always been that it is the "best" console "all around", including power - after all, whoever got it the first time was enthused because of its more powerful hardware - sort of like the reason why so many bought the n64.

Is there any interview that they reveal that the design was so made to bang the cell? I d like to know more

[GodofHardcore]

I don't think so but I do belive they wanted to make something more efficent than the cell. which they did succeed at.

[Barc0de]

in what respect?

The cell was of interest to Toshiba because of its many possible applications - the PS3 processor is an amazing piece of technology that is miles ahead (in certain respects) than anything in the 360.

Where the 360 stands out is really the better balance as a games console, and of course the fact that the more traditional graphics chip is of slightly newer specs.

I wouldn't compare the CELL (as a processor) to the Xenon at any rate. It's like comparing a specialized accountant (Xenon) to a big and wise all-around businessman :P

[GodofHardcore]

Hasn't every one and their mother said the Cell is NOT a processor that suits it self well to gaming?

[Taucias]

It all depends on who you listen to. PC programmers have complained as such, but they have said that about threaded code in general. It requires retraining and a different mindset but it is unavoidable - PCs are moving the same way. From what I have read in interviews the SPUs are proving their worth now that the development environment on the PS3 is more mature and developers are starting to pick it as the lead platform. XB360->PS3 seems a harder transition than PS3->XB360, because the XB360 is more forgiving and is less of a departure from the coding most devs are used to.

There is an interesting interview with the XB360 hardware design lead Nick Baker. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/nick-baker-xbox-360-architecture/4060904006 I think is the link.

[opethfan]

My 360 says error 0010, meaning bad or disconnected southbridge. I got it working for 10 minutes using the towel trick while I wait for my coffin.

[Taucias]

My buddy has fixed several XB360s by loosening the clamps and replacing them with NUTS AND BOLTS. Yes, you read me correctly. Presumably that causes less stress on the motherboard during the heat cycles. If you are tech savy it is worth a try. It has kept mine ticking over (although... there may be trouble aheeeeeaaadd)

[opethfan]

My buddy has fixed several XB360s by loosening the clamps and replacing them with NUTS AND BOLTS. Yes, you read me correctly. Presumably that causes less stress on the motherboard during the heat cycles. If you are tech savy it is worth a try. It has kept mine ticking over (although... there may be trouble aheeeeeaaadd)

Well I don't want to void the warranty. I've been toweling it for an hour. Its hot, really hot. wait for it to cool and then I'll try again. I've got nothing to lose, I'll get a new system no matter what.

[Taucias]

Well I don't want to void the warranty. I've been toweling it for an hour. Its hot, really hot. wait for it to cool and then I'll try again. I've got nothing to lose, I'll get a new system no matter what.

Aye, don't try it. I was mostly saying it for folks without a warranty that are without hope of rescue.

[Johnny Vodka]

Only the Xenons are destined for fail. Microsoft still does support on the OG XBOX and my OG is still under waranty.

and they still send you them in refurbished form. I got my 360 back, and its older than the one I sent in from late 2006. What shit.

[opethfan]

And it's working fine. Played with Eternal Sonata for over 30 minutes, no problems.

[Shadowlayer]

No one would have bought a Wii-like console if it was made by Microsoft, they had to release a powerful system.
NOBODY but nintendo was/would be able to pull a stunt like the Wii, period.

Can you imagine what would've happened back in E305 had MS showed an old Xbox+motion controller as the X360?.

Hear the sound: is the millions of angry fanboys blogging the shit out of MS. They would compare this repackaging of the Xbox to Windows ME, and how becos that sucked this will suck ass too.

They'll mock the new controller and say MS should've learn their lesson with the sidewinder.

While good publicity helped nintendo a lot promoting the Wii, bad publicity on Xbox back in the day was harsh to say the least. Even before release people was blamming MS based on conjectures that at the end were not real (like the Xbox freezing like a PC becos it uses windows).

What I meant in my other post with a Wii-like Xbox was a not-so-powerful X360 with more emphasis on user interface and a low price, like $250-$199 at launch.

On the other hand if what MS wants is to get windows into the living room the best solution would've been a 3DO like console, in which anyone can get make their own Xbox as long as they keep MS's specifications.

I can see an Xbox/DVR hybrid getting into every household, specially if its "free" (rental) like most satellite companies do.

[Jamtex]

Before anyone states that Microsoft did have a 3DO home standard called the MSX, the MSX had virtually nothing to do with Microsoft apart from ASCII being the distributor of Microsoft products in Japan in the early 80s. The MSX is based on the Spectravideo SVI-318 which just happened to have Microsoft BASIC as it was seen as the defacto standard of BASICs in the early days of computing. Just sad that there isn't a programming language in XP or Vista.

As for the Xbox 360, like most modern hardware it's built cheap to sell to the massives but again like most modern hardware you can tell it is becuase it breaks far too often.

[Shadowlayer]

The main guy behind MSX was a MS japan executive at the time, Kazuhiko Nishi.

And many people believe the MSX could have been hugely succesful in the US had MS helped bring the standard stateside.

[opethfan]

Box has come, Purolator shipping. Nintendo have just gotten my Wii as well. I'll send the coffin tomorrow, but it has to go all the way to Ontario (from BC, thats the distance from Seattle to circa Detroit) and back.

How long does this process usually take? (from sending it out to actually getting it back)

[Johnny Vodka]

takes like 15 days. It takes time to get to them and back, plus they just grab a refurbished one off the shelf to give to you. Add that to the few days it takes to even get the coffin, and it does take near the 3 weeks they say it can.