Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Nintendo 64 Forever. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Microsoft finally fix the Red Ring of Death!!!; Sort of...
Topic Started: Jun 21 2010, 09:51 AM (832 Views)
Kerr Avon
Member Avatar
Senior Member
Yes, after five years of hardware revisions, each one designed to cure the almost inevtiable RROD (Red Ring of Death) problem, where the XBox 360 overheats and dies due to it's cheap and badly cooled hardware, M$ have finally got it right.

Past revisions have all been claimed to fix the issue, and each revision has subsequently RROD'd all over the place, and often by careful, intelligent users, and not (as M$ previously claimed) by people stacking the 360 next to, or even on, working radiators or badly ventilated cupboards. The RROD rate of the 360 is not known, except by M$ themselves, who won't release the figure, but some people say it's as much as 30%+, and it's doubtful anyone would say it's less than double figures. Of all the 360 owners I know, I'm the only one still on my first, the rest are all on their third or fourth, seriously, and since I've only had one a few months, and barely used it, my case doesn't much weight as a reference.

Still, M$ have now definitely solved the problem. Not maybe, definitely. No new console will EVER fail with a Red Ring of Death error. Absolutely guaranteed. And how have they achieved this long sought after fix? By adding sufficient coolling to the system? By strenthening the solder joints that otherwise crack and fail when the temperature of the console raises too high? By improving the electrical efficiency of the console, so that less waste heat is produced?

No, they've removed the RROD light bulbs.

Yep, the consoles will still overheat, but now you don't get the RROD as that bulb pattern doesn't exist on the new consoles.

You couldn't make it up, could you...

And no, this isn't a very late April Fool joke.


Source:

http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/109/1099382p1.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
macN64
Member Avatar
Senior Member
I was expecting you to say they changed the colour. :lol: But the truth is just as bad, if not worse. It's like a parody of Microsoft. :mellow:
Youtube
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
KidRetro
Member Avatar
Newbie
About time they got it fixed. The new Xbox looks really nice but I will probably not be getting it because I am focusing on just retro games.

The N64 on the other hand just doesn't die. I haven't had one ever break on me.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

So, no concern about hardware failures? Nice. Now if they could just get rid of the online fees.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
lithium017
Member Avatar
Is Now Posting With Power
KidRetro
Jun 21 2010, 12:12 PM
About time they got it fixed. The new Xbox looks really nice but I will probably not be getting it because I am focusing on just retro games.

I am not sure you read the post to the end- it IS NOT fixed as they simply removed the red lights so it WILL STILL OVERHEAT and they simply have not told the public how us gamers will be notified when our system does overheat or has another issue - perhaps a screen prompt that states "RROD"

This is ASS!
However it does look very nice

but smaller? come on...its maybe 1.5 inches shorter that is it! 15% smaller is not much of a slim
Click For Nintendo Collecting Youtube Page

N64 Consoles: 16 / 16 N64 Controllers 29 / 30 N64 Accessories: 8 / 10
NES: 32 --- SNES: 133 --- N64: 64 --- Gamecube: 78--- Wii: 75 --- WiiU: 14
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ganondorf
Member Avatar
Senior Member
i cant see why they would release a slim xbox360 which could get the RROD. Anyway i think this thinks UGLY,real ugly,it looks like someones runover a black wii and wrote xbox360 all over it :w00t: . Still no other console can match the stylish :n64: looks, i guess the Atari 2600 woodie does have its charm ASWELL :-/
Plato "wise men talk because they have something to say, fools talk because they have to say something"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Shangyou
Member Avatar
Dreamwalker
I have had 2 360s RROD on me so far...
I got one repaired by Microsoft (surprisingly they actually repaired it instead of giving me a refurbished set) and my other one I bought used without warranty when I was waiting for Microsoft to repair my first one and it RROD'd on me on me about 5 months ago.
My repaired 360 seems to be doing fine now but I've barely played it in the past few months(due to lack of games) and my warranty for this one has ended coz I bought it in 2006 so I probably won't be using it much as I don't have the money to buy another one if this one dies on me again...

Anyway I rofl'd at Microsoft "fixing" the RROD problem by removing the red lights lolol.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
alxbly
Member Avatar
Ancient
lithium017
Jun 21 2010, 10:50 PM
I am not sure you read the post to the end- it IS NOT fixed as they simply removed the red lights so it WILL STILL OVERHEAT
Unfounded assumptions should be emphasized with capitals... well done. If we want to stray back into what's factual (i.e. not opinion or speculation) then we can say it's a brand new hardware revision with lower power consumption, a cooler running board and repositioned fans. Additionally, it seems the console will actually shut down before overheating:

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/new-xbox-360-shuts-down-before-overheating/

Truthfully, no-one knows if it's properly fixed or not as of yet, except perhaps some testers at Microsoft. It's worth noting that 300 of the new consoles were given away at E3 and there's not been any scare stories about them yet that I've read or heard of. Perhaps you know differently?

lithium017
 
and they simply have not told the public how us gamers will be notified when our system does overheat or has another issue
Reality check. How many companies make "here's what happens when it breaks" part of their press release? ^_^

lithium017
 
This is ASS!
Post review complete.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
OldCartGamer
Member Avatar
Newbie
From what I'm reading so far it actually sounds very promising.

The monster heatsink and cooling fan look good too from this under-the-hood article. 8)

Here is the specific page, if you don't want to look through the whole thing.
Edited by OldCartGamer, Jun 23 2010, 10:10 PM.
Scott
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lithium017
Member Avatar
Is Now Posting With Power
alxbly
Jun 22 2010, 07:21 PM


Truthfully, no-one knows if it's properly fixed or not as of yet, except perhaps some testers at Microsoft. It's worth noting that 300 of the new consoles were given away at E3 and there's not been any scare stories about them yet that I've read or heard of. Perhaps you know differently?



lithium017
 
This is ASS!
Post review complete.
LoL alxbly...

No I believe I am correct in my statement that they haven't told the public what will happen when it 'overheats' again (like you said if possible) or something else goes wrong with it.

The fact is that the console is LAUNCHED and not simply announced at a Press Conference. Because Microsoft had so many issues with their original 360 the general public does have a right to know how they will be notified if and when their console has issues.
Click For Nintendo Collecting Youtube Page

N64 Consoles: 16 / 16 N64 Controllers 29 / 30 N64 Accessories: 8 / 10
NES: 32 --- SNES: 133 --- N64: 64 --- Gamecube: 78--- Wii: 75 --- WiiU: 14
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
OldCartGamer
Member Avatar
Newbie
A bit of further reading on the new 360. Granted, it's only one box being tested (as someone notes in the comments), but try a similar test with an earlier model, and I don't believe you'd get a single one to pass. :D Not looking too bad so far, overall. :yeah:

Btw, debate between PS3 and 360 fans not intended. I am only posting this to show how the new 360 did (and NOT how it compares to a particular type of PS).
Edited by OldCartGamer, Jun 27 2010, 02:01 AM.
Scott
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Grizzmeister
Member Avatar
Latter-day Nostradamus
My friend Jonathan had his fat Elite version Xbox 360 RROD on him so he asked if I could fix it. Took me awhile but I finally got around to working on it and lo and behold it's fixed.

Basically the repair involves replacing the thermal paste between the heat sinks of the CPU and GPU. You also have to reengineer the thing so you use regular screws to hold down the heat sinks rather than the clumsy X shaped clips that the console comes with.

Hopefully the fix will last as I've read that once a 360 red rings it's likely to have that issues reoccur regardless of the fix used to restore it. :(
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cabanon
Elite
the real fix is reheating the balls. and even after that, it's not a 100% guaranteed method.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Grizzmeister
Member Avatar
Latter-day Nostradamus
Cabanon
Oct 10 2012, 06:31 AM
the real fix is reheating the balls. and even after that, it's not a 100% guaranteed method.
If you mean reflowing the motherboard, yeah I did that. :huh:
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cabanon
Elite
yeah sorry, i meant that. it will likely fail again, but you just dont know when.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
stinger9142
Member Avatar
Endure and survive...
I had to fix the YLOD on my old PS3 4 times. It is waiting on a 5th time too :lol: I know we are talking different animals here, but I usually got 1 to 3 months out of it after the "fix". I had to remove the thermal compound, heat the flux around the board to 850 for about 5 mins total, and then re-apply compound. The good news is I had done it so much I became very proficient at at ;)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Matt
Member Avatar
Kick, Punch, It's all in the mind
Cabanon
Oct 10 2012, 06:19 PM
yeah sorry, i meant that. it will likely fail again, but you just dont know when.
The 360 I fixed months ago is still going strong

I reapplied the thermal paste, replaced the x clamps, reflowed with a heat gun, allowed it to cool down, and unplugged the fans and overheated the console

I have a used 360 my friend found at the moment though, and repairing this thing is a pain... Turns out the last owner had modified the firmware on the DVD drive and its becoming a right pita to try to restore to the stock official one >_<
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
corE
Member Avatar
Senior Member
Does anything like this happen to Wiis?

I just love how people are so quick to go buy a new one, after theirs just stops working for no reason.

I had to get cheap deals on my PS3 and 360, so if they go out, I can't replace them.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cabanon
Elite
Wii dont have fancy hardware, so it's basically impossible to overheat a Wii.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Grizzmeister
Member Avatar
Latter-day Nostradamus
When you open an Xbox 360 it's apparent why they overheat. Two fans draw cool air in to the console from the back and over the heatsinks but there isn't a clear path for the hot air to escape. Very poor design which makes one wonder why Microsoft didn't put egress vents on the front of the unit.

If I get a chance to fix another 360 I'm probably going to drill 1/4 inch holes over the on/off switch to create a better path for heat to escape. I've even heard that some people remove the plastic case entirely in a desperate attempt to keep their Xbox 360 from overheating.
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Matt
Member Avatar
Kick, Punch, It's all in the mind
Grizzmeister
Oct 21 2012, 09:54 PM
When you open an Xbox 360 it's apparent why they overheat. Two fans draw cool air in to the console from the back and over the heatsinks but there isn't a clear path for the hot air to escape. Very poor design which makes one wonder why Microsoft didn't put egress vents on the front of the unit.

If I get a chance to fix another 360 I'm probably going to drill 1/4 inch holes over the on/off switch to create a better path for heat to escape. I've even heard that some people remove the plastic case entirely in a desperate attempt to keep their Xbox 360 from overheating.
I had a friend who did that, he removed the shell and the top half of the metal inner shell, worked somehow though since
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cyan_phoenix
Senior Member
I've had an xbox 360 die on me after 12 months - it was fixed and returned within 1 week of me shipping it, so kudos to microsoft (though it would have been more ideal if the bloody thing didn't die in the first place). The same xbox died again after about 6 months so I just purchased a new one (is it an exaggeration to say that a large portion of xbox 360's purchased are probably from previous owners who are just replacing their old one!).

My Wii on the other hand died after a week of getting it (it stopped detecting the games). Nintendo of Australia were pathetic - they wanted me to pay a fee to ship it and only if there really was a fault they would refund me! Luckily after some complaining Big W just refunded the money and I returned the unit (they weren't going to at first - they wanted me to ship it to Nintendo).

Meanwhile my n64 had lasted well over a decade. It did finally die about 12 months ago. Truth is, it could have been an easy fix, but I didn't bother exploring what the problem was and just got a replacement for it on ebay. I wish they made consoles the way they use to.
Edited by cyan_phoenix, Nov 6 2012, 12:17 AM.
Australia

N64 CIB Collection (EUR/USA/JPN): Complete!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Grizzmeister
Member Avatar
Latter-day Nostradamus
cyan_phoenix
Nov 6 2012, 12:17 AM
Meanwhile my n64 had lasted well over a decade. It did finally die about 12 months ago. Truth is, it could have been an easy fix, but I didn't bother exploring what the problem was and just got a replacement for it on ebay. I wish they made consoles the way they use to.
This. I guess that's why I LOVE the N64 as its solid-state design makes it nearly indestructible. The only reason why I play my 360 as much as I do is because of the on-line support but when I want to quickly jump in to a video game I still often fire up my N64.
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer

Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Kerr Avon
Member Avatar
Senior Member
Quote:
 

I just love how people are so quick to go buy a new one, after theirs just stops working for no reason.


You don't have much of a choice, as you are tied to that console by your games library. If, say, my 360 dies and I think "I'll buy a Wii, and forget about the 360" then I'm not only left with more than fifty XBox 360 games that are now no good to me, but I also have to find money for the Wii games that I want. Selling my XBox 360 games won't give me much cash, as secondhand games aren't worth much unless they are pretty new, and my collection includes games almost from the launch of the 360.

And then, of course, people do mostly like the console (and it's games) that they have, and so they want replace the broken model with a working one.



Quote:
 
Does anything like this happen to Wiis?


Don't know, I only know two Wii owners and neither of them (as far as I know) have used them in ages. The reason 360s break so often is that they overheat, due to them producing more waste heat than the 360 can purge from it's insides. This heat causes the motherboard's joints to expand slightly, but enough to break the metalic connections, which are (so I've read) not as strong as they could be since they use lead-free solder to make the 360 more eco-friendly when being produced (ironic really, since it's the eco-friendly non-Lead joints that make the 360 fail, so it's the eco-friendly non-Lead joints that are responsible for Microsoft having to make many more 360s to compensate for the sky high failure rate. Oh, the irony...

Waste heat is a problem in all powerful machines, and is down to bad design (so I'm told). The heat not only wastes electricity (both to generate the waste heat, and to power the cooling equipment that is needed to channel the waste heat out of the system), but it also reduces the lifetime of the components (which ideally should be run as coolly as possible), and necessitates extra hardware (the cooling mechanism) which of course adds more that can go wrong in a computer/console. I've also heard that ICs (intergrated circuits, silicon chips, such as CPUs and GPUs) run slower the hotter they become, though I don't know how much of a factor that is.

The N64 doesn't generate enough waste heat to necessitate a fan (just a heatsink) which is one of the main reasons for the N64's reliability (the other big reason being that it has no moving parts, which are almost always the first thing to die in a console).

As to why powerful CPUs/GPUs (and even some of the more powerful memory chips now!) are so inefficient that they use power they shouldn't need and output it as waste heat, I don't know (I'm no engineer), but I'd imagine it's probably down to money. It costs a *lot* to design a powerful IC, make and test it, and set up production lines for it, so perhaps they'd have to have multiple tries at making an IC more efficient and instead they just think "**** it, it's working fine, they can put a decent fan/water cooler/etc on it to take care of the excess heat".




Quote:
 
Plato "wise men talk because they have something to say, fools talk because they have to say something"


That's a brilliant quote, do you mind if I use it (not on this forum, obviously)?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Other Video Games · Next Topic »
Add Reply