Thursday, March 8, 2012

These 4 Easy Tips Will Add Extra Years Of Life To Your Xbox 360

By Don Sullivan


Having the time of your life with your new Xbox? Answering yes to this question means your Xbox has been trouble free so far. However, you should know that this probably won't last forever.

Unless you are completely new to the Xbox or have been living under a rock, you have most likely heard about the red ring of death. If you want this to be a problem that only "happens to other people", you had best learn about maintenance and proper operation of your Xbox. This suggestion shouldn't be taken lightly because the Xbox is a very delicate device.

Your console is just one mistake away from giving you all kinds of heat related problems including the red ring of death. Since the Xbox is a machine, it should be properly cared for and maintained. Use these four tips to avoid future problems with your Xbox:

1.) If your Xbox gets overheated one too many times, it will cease to operate. The motherboard will not tolerate high temperatures for very long. The solder joints on the motherboard also cannot take chronic heat exposure without forming cracks.

Pay close attention to where your gaming is done. It should be in a cool space with plenty of ventilation. Otherwise the cooling system inside the Xbox will be blowing hot air across the internal components.

You also want to avoid heat spikes by allowing the console to sit in idle mode for about twenty minutes. This eliminates residual heat buildup within the console.

2.) Dust is second only to heat in its destructiveness to electronics. Dust reduces and changes the cooling air that is blown across the motherboard.

It is also a good insulator and therefore locks in heat within the console. This means that dust will eventually lead to overheating problems.

3.) Believe it or not, cigarette smoke is harmful to your Xbox. When cigarette smoke comes into contact with the motherboard, it leaves a coating of sticky tar.

These tar deposits provide a nice sticky surface for any dust that comes into contact. When this happens, dust removal is next to impossible.

4.) Externally mounted cooling fans can harm your Xbox, so choose these with care. There is an enormous supply of these fans to choose from. Some of these are effective at cooling and preventing the red ring of death.

Note that Microsoft does not approve of these devices. All of these fans will void your warranty if Microsoft finds out and some will harm your machine. Before you make your purchase, read what other customers have to say about the fan.




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