360 RRoD Rate

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: Feneant2
My launch console is still going strong

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: coreyb
I can't even understand how the 360 could have so many failures. It is basically a small computer in a box, right? Well, my computers for the last 10 years have never had any failures like that...so why does the xbox?

Your PC is also a lot bigger and heavier. Lot more room for airflow and heatsinks. I think they make PC heatsinks that weigh more than the 360.

They rushed it out to beat the PS3 to market. So inadequate quality testing. They probably expected some problems, but underestimated how bad it would be.

I read an anecdote by a tech reporter who, while visiting the MS R&D team handling the development of the console in early 2005, was shown the original Xbox 360 SKUs, which were based on two G5 Macs linked together, running a Radeon X1800XT, or something like that. They also had mockups of how the console would look like. The reporter asked, pointing at the G5s "how on earth are you going to cram that into that (pointing at the mockup for the 360)?'.

They simply aswered that they were working on ironing out a few kinks. Clearly not all the kinks had been ironed out by the time the 360 came out

To answer to the OP: I've owned my 360 only since December 2007, and it's a Falcon; haven't had any problems yet and hopefully it'll stay problem free.

My brother, though, who bought his 360 in September 2006, had it RRoD the very same day GTA IV was released. Luckily MS repaired and sent it back in less than a week.

 

[Stuxnet]

On my third console. First two RROD'd, and I take EXCELLENT care of my equipment. My 360 is in my home office (dust/child free, A/C'ed) and even sits on a small cookie rack to let air flow underneath it. First two still bombed.

Some people just can't accept that the design is terribly flawed. A few think that just because they've owned one for a couple years without problems means the rest of us are torturing our systems.

The Xbox 360 is, quite literally, an OVEN. It has virtually zero airflow. The little flow that it does have is blocked by internal components. Microsoft was more interested in a sleek, compact design than they were a viable system. Case closed.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

Originally posted by: jbourne77
On my third console. First two RROD'd, and I take EXCELLENT care of my equipment. My 360 is in my home office (dust/child free, A/C'ed) and even sits on a small cookie rack to let air flow underneath it. First two still bombed.

Some people just can't accept that the design is terribly flawed. A few think that just because they've owned one for a couple years without problems means the rest of us are torturing our systems.

The Xbox 360 is, quite literally, an OVEN. It has virtually zero airflow. The little flow that it does have is blocked by internal components. Microsoft was more interested in a sleek, compact design than they were a viable system. Case closed.

Some of us accept it but still consider it better than the alternative.

 

[Stuxnet]

Oh I agree... I'm on my third 360, and still would take it over a PS3. Nothing personally against the PS3, but Xbox Live is the shizzle.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Mine has started freezing up on me again, so I rarely use it anymore. This is my 3rd. I picked up GTA4 on the PS3 so I could actually play it, luckily, I didn't have any of the PS3 freeze-up issues that other 60GB owners had. The last time I sent in my 360 for repair/replacement, it was gone for almost 2 months, and no one at MS could explain exactly why that was the case.

At this point, if there's a game I want that's coming out on the 360 and PS3, I will generally buy it on the PS3. At some point, Sony will release their in-game XMB, then online will be a lot better, I don't really do a lot of online gaming anyway, so it's not much of an issue for me. When I do use my 360, I make sure it's not set up to automatically log into XBL, since in my experience logging into their network is just asking for a spamfest of Family Guy episode ads and crap like that. I just ordered Dynasty Warriors Gundam for my son on the 360, since I was able to get it for $23 shipped, as opposed to $50 on the PS3, so I'm sure that'll be the straw that breaks the camel's back and I'll be ordering up a 3rd 360 coffin from MS.

On the plus side, it was a gift from a relative, and I rarely use it anymore since I got the PS3 late last year, so I don't get as strung out when it RROD's on me.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Krakn3Dfx
Mine has started freezing up on me again, so I rarely use it anymore. This is my 3rd. I picked up GTA4 on the PS3 so I could actually play it, luckily, I didn't have any of the PS3 freeze-up issues that other 60GB owners had. The last time I sent in my 360 for repair/replacement, it was gone for almost 2 months, and no one at MS could explain exactly why that was the case.

At this point, if there's a game I want that's coming out on the 360 and PS3, I will generally buy it on the PS3.

Very similar situation to mine, 3rd 360, the last time took over a month just to gett he return box,, it freezes in every MS Studio game I have and LEGO:TCS. You probably have a bad DVD drive, same as me, which means if you bought your's more than a year ago you have to pony up the $100 for repair.

I looked at the replacement DVD drives, and fixes, but decided it probably wasn't going to save me enough money to be worth my time and effort. Besides, I get the full bumper to bumper 1yr warranty with the repair.

I took it to UPS Store this morning, and the guy I dealt with last time *manager or owner* immediately says "Another one huh?"

I too started to buy everything for PS3, but I caved and bought a Falcon Elite with a 3yr warranty. Not going to deal with MS on this one.

 

[PianoMan]

Mine just RRoD's Sunday. Purchased Aug 2006. Warranty RMA in process.

 

[BassBomb]

my cousins xbox360 has been working fine (not sure when purchased, i think mid 2007)

 

[Tremulant]

Got my 360 on 12/3/2006.
Got my first RRoD about 4 months later. Sent it back, they fixed it and returned it.
Got my second RRoD about a year after the first. Sent it back again, it was fixed and returned.

Hopefully it won't die again.

I may have to buy a new one anyways, since I may be moving to Texas (for business), so my current 360 will stay at home (my little brothers use it more than I do).

 

[Dumac]

Got my first 360 in September of 07. It hasn't been that long, so I'm hoping it won't die any time soon. It better at least wait till I beat lost odyssey.

 

[tornadog]

my 360 died after a year of service. First I took to drinking, then I became a pirate!!!

 

[tk149]

Stuff like this...

Originally posted by: Xed
Bought an Elite falcon that rrod in under 2 hours. Replacement hasn't had a single freeze or any other problem.

...and this....

Has your 360 ever died due to the RRoD? (Total Votes: 125)
Yes, once
32 votes 25.60 (%)
Yes, multiple times
22 votes 17.60 (%)
No, and I have had it for more than a year
26 votes 20.80 (%)
No, and I have had it for less than a year
20 votes 16.00 (%)
I do not own a 360
25 votes 20.00 (%)

...are why I'm not going to buy a 360. It has a number of games that I would like to play, but I refuse to support shoddy workmanship. Except for Windows. And Office. Grrr....

Since some people don't seem to mind going through the warranty process once, twice, or even more times, I guess the 360 is a great machine when it works.

But according to the poll 40+% of these things RRoD. Since MS won't release actual numbers, this is probably as accurate a figure as any to use. And remember that most AT'ers are at least somewhat technically savvy, so they know to provide the 360 with adequate ventilation. Think about how many other people put the 360 in a closed entertainment center or block the vents. I bet the real RRoD frequency is much higher.

If even the Falcon's are RRoD'ing, then it's clear that MS has failed to fix the flaw. Improved, maybe, but not fixed.

 

[Razgriz]

I got a Falcon in December 2007, no issues. *knocks on wood*

 

[mindcycle]

Apparently it's the clamps that hold down the heat sinks (for the CPU and GPU) that are causing all of these problems. What happens is the heat sinks fail to make good contact with the chip because of the shitty design, and then either the CPU or GPU gets too hot and the mainboard actually warps! This causes contact with the heat sinks to get worse, then eventually it causes hardware issues or the 360 just simply overheats after awhile causing the 3RLOD.

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/a...ONSHI/20070926/139719/

..the article fails the mentions the clamps, but bad contact with the chips (which causes the excess heat) is reason the why the board warps.

I bought a first gen 360 off ebay that has one of the first hitachi DVD drives in it. It actually works great. Someone had already taken the thing apart previously (so no warranty), so I decided to take it apart again and fix the clamps. It basically involves getting rid of them and using new screws.

For those of you who are out of warranty, or have already voided their warranty for some reason, check this out to possibly fix the 3RLOD.. http://copronymous.com/wp-cont.../fix-for-the-3rlod.pdf

I'm not getting the 3RLOD, but I did it as a safeguard to make sure it doesn't happen in the future.

You may also want to check out this guy's guide to help with the poor airflow within the 360's case.. http://rbjtech.bulldoghome.com...oghome_com/Xbox360.htm

 

[Wuzup101]

I just got my console back form MS (or rather another console... whatever). Had it for 18 months before RRoD... I think it did it out of spite because I bought a PS3 to keep it company

 

[micaturbo]

Originally posted by: Feneant2
My launch console is still going strong

^^

 

[SnipeMasterJ13]

Dammit, after all this time with my launch day console, it finally bricked itself. I had it standing vertical on carpet for a couple years, then vertical on top of a speaker (not in use while playing) and then I decided to lay it horizontal for more stability. After a few weeks of that, RRoD. I shipped it out a little over a week ago, and I just got an email today saying they just received it. 3-4 weeks turn around time is insane, but at least I have my brother's 360 and Ninja Gaiden 2 to hold me over.

The only bright side of this is maybe they won't fix it and just give me a newer model with HDMI output. Has that ever happened for any of you that have had RRoD?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: SnipeMasterJ13
The only bright side of this is maybe they won't fix it and just give me a newer model with HDMI output. Has that ever happened for any of you that have had RRoD?

I don't think you'll get one with HDMI but you may get an 'Opus' system. 'Opus' is basically the Falcon motherboard (65nm CPU + better heatsinks) but without the HDMI. There are rumors that MS is sending those out already.

 

[SnipeMasterJ13]

Damn, I was hopeful for a bit since my brother's has HDMI and uses the same power supply as mine. At least it appears to match according to the numbers on the back of the 360 itself.

 

[Kabob]

I've had a 360 die but it wasn't from a RROD. The console kept freezing.

 

[Drekce]

I just sent mine in for repairs yesterday. It is a September 2007 model Elite (new cooling method, but original processors). Sucks.

 

[S h o o B i E x]

I got it once...I thought it got hit by lightning cause it was storming real bad but I turned it off and back on and it has worked fine ever since. (Have had my xbox since release)

 

[Dari]

The fact that people continue to get this piece of shit despite its quality tells Microsoft that everything is business as usual. That's a bad sign to sent to a corporation. Good for me, considering I own a PS3 and Sony is learning from Microsoft's mistakes.

 

[SnipeMasterJ13]

Well I think the fact that people still buy the "piece of shit" knowing full well about the RRoD and other problems says a lot about the product. They must be doing *something* right if people are dealing with their 360s instead of getting the uber elite PS3 of elite uber-ness.

I'm not trying to sound like a fan boy, but people on their high horses for any console (or PC) piss me off. People will buy what makes them happy. It's not a crime.