To stay ahead of it's competitors, Microsoft pushed it's Xbox 360 product line out the door faster than it should have. Because of this, over 30 percent of these products have experienced the red ring of death failure. The Xbox 360 is a frail device because of design and manufacturing mistakes.
Its cooling system is inadequate and barely keeps up with the heat output of it's circuitry. If the cooling system fails to work properly, the heat interacts with it's design flaws which brings about the red ring of death. Not allowing your Xbox to overheat is imperative if you wish to avoid the ring of death.
This article presents different methods of preventing your Xbox 360 from overheating.
1.) While most people are not going to intentionally close off the cooling vents, there are many unintentional ways of doing this. These will involve putting the Xbox on very soft or shaggy surfaces that block local cooling currents such as pillows, beds, soft rugs and sofas.
2.) Make sure that the Xbox is in an area with plenty of ventilation. What this means is that the Xbox should be kept out of confined or closed in spaces, such as bookcases, stereo cabinets and racks. It makes little sense to make a big effort at keeping the cooling ports open while placing the Xbox in a cabinet. This type of mistake is very common since we tend to place things neatly together in order to save space.
3.) Another tip is to stand the Xbox on it's side which exposes more surface area for cooling. You may also want to blow air across your Xbox with a small fan.
4.) Don't place the Xbox near heat sources such as heaters, heat vents, radiators, stoves, furnaces, other electronics such as amplifiers. Also take care not to place it next to a window that gets direct sunlight.
5.) In addition to keeping the Xbox cool, we can't overlook the cooling requirements of the power adapter or power brick. We all have a natural tendency to place the power adapter on the floor without a second thought. But if it is on a heavy carpet, the free flow of air will be obstructed. Keep the power adapter cool by moving it up off the floor onto a level and solid surface with plenty of exposure to the air.
The tips given above are intended to be prevention measures that should be taken when your Xbox is brand new. However if your Xbox has been shut down for the first time by overheating, it wouldn't hurt to try them. Hopefully this first time heat build up shut down the Xbox before any real damage could be done.
Its cooling system is inadequate and barely keeps up with the heat output of it's circuitry. If the cooling system fails to work properly, the heat interacts with it's design flaws which brings about the red ring of death. Not allowing your Xbox to overheat is imperative if you wish to avoid the ring of death.
This article presents different methods of preventing your Xbox 360 from overheating.
1.) While most people are not going to intentionally close off the cooling vents, there are many unintentional ways of doing this. These will involve putting the Xbox on very soft or shaggy surfaces that block local cooling currents such as pillows, beds, soft rugs and sofas.
2.) Make sure that the Xbox is in an area with plenty of ventilation. What this means is that the Xbox should be kept out of confined or closed in spaces, such as bookcases, stereo cabinets and racks. It makes little sense to make a big effort at keeping the cooling ports open while placing the Xbox in a cabinet. This type of mistake is very common since we tend to place things neatly together in order to save space.
3.) Another tip is to stand the Xbox on it's side which exposes more surface area for cooling. You may also want to blow air across your Xbox with a small fan.
4.) Don't place the Xbox near heat sources such as heaters, heat vents, radiators, stoves, furnaces, other electronics such as amplifiers. Also take care not to place it next to a window that gets direct sunlight.
5.) In addition to keeping the Xbox cool, we can't overlook the cooling requirements of the power adapter or power brick. We all have a natural tendency to place the power adapter on the floor without a second thought. But if it is on a heavy carpet, the free flow of air will be obstructed. Keep the power adapter cool by moving it up off the floor onto a level and solid surface with plenty of exposure to the air.
The tips given above are intended to be prevention measures that should be taken when your Xbox is brand new. However if your Xbox has been shut down for the first time by overheating, it wouldn't hurt to try them. Hopefully this first time heat build up shut down the Xbox before any real damage could be done.
About the Author:
Marc Sandford is a gaming addict and author. Get more Xbox troubleshooting advice about repairing the Xbox 360 3 Red Lights Error.
