Xbox crashing? Give it some air

by Jennie Lees { Nov 24th 2005 at 3:30PM }

A clever tinkerer over at the Gamespot forums found this solution to the Xbox 360's overheating problems: isolate the power supply and give it some air, ideally off the ground. This might help those of you who've been experiencing problems, so give it a try!

[Thanks, lightdarkness]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Adam @ Nov 24th 2005 4:04PM

Picture goes perfect with article xD

Yu-Gi-Oh @ Nov 24th 2005 4:31PM

It would be great to actually have a Xbox 360 to see if this is a problem. Apparently, the system is sold out everywhere.

Raffi @ Nov 24th 2005 4:53PM

Yeah the picture does go with the article perfectly. ;)

On topic though, it seems like an interesting fix... Though I don't understand why the 360 would freeze if the PSU is overheating (wouldn't it just shut off?) but if it works, thats great.

jACK @ Nov 24th 2005 5:47PM

I'll have to check when I get home from work, but I would have sworn that the power brick had its own fins or vent holes... would explain why it needs airflow but seems quite odd. Then again, I was in a rush and didn't pay it more than a moment's notice.

(No problems, over 100+ play hours and counting.)

jennie @ Nov 24th 2005 6:22PM

Glad you like the pic, folks. :-)

Majikthise @ Nov 25th 2005 12:28PM

What do you mean by isolate it?
Do you mean run it from it's own power outlet, or just to move it into a clear space?

That won't help those of us hoping to hide the monsteros lump out of sight!

Christopher Coulter @ Nov 25th 2005 5:09PM

(Have a sense of humor). :)

We Three Red Lights

We three red lights are;
Bearing destruction, we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder Ring of Light.

O red light of wonder, red of light,
Red ever so bright,
Westward venturing, not proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect green light.

Born on the pre-order plain
Games I bring to it again,
Power forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to play.

Fans to offer have I;
String owns a power supply high;
Frustration and pleading, voices raising,
Cursing on high.

Three red lights flashing mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes death of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

Glorious before, now behold it not arise;
Toil and sacrifice;
Anguish, Anguish,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

TravisSmith @ Dec 21st 2005 11:58PM

Majikthise Said: " What do you mean by isolate it?"

It means get it off the ground in such a way that it can get airflow around all areas of it.

The implication that there's not enough smarts in the PSU to switch itself off when it overheats, so instead you get insufficient current due to thermal overload; lifting it so it has additional airflow allows more heat to be removed from the power block = no thermal overload = stable XBox 360 = happy you. (theoretically)

Spencer @ Dec 30th 2005 12:58PM

I dont realy think that overheating is a huge problem because several of my friends own them and it never happend to them ..... we think the real problem is that people got them the first day and played them 24 hours straight.....you do that with any system and its liable to get hot!