Cave shmups coming to X360 confirmed!

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:13 am

Yes. All the new models which have an HDMI socket (that were released when the Elite was released last August) including the Elite, all have a redesigned heatsink that re-directs heat away from the problem areas on the PCB. Aparently the problem areas have also been covered with some sort of heat resistant resin. More recent models have a completely redesigned PCB which has a cooler running CPU.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:16 am

Ok, and how can you make sure to get one of those (with redesigned PCB and cooler cpu) when buying a Japanese 360? Considering how badly Xbox is selling in Japan, they are probably still selling 360 launch-Failboxes.

And what about the disc-scratching problem, has that been solved, as well?

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:19 am

Around the time of the release of the Elite last year, I had a friend whose original release 360 had a RROD. He sent it back, and they sent him a brand new one which had the HDMI socket. This was in the UK. It may be Microsofts policy to relpace the RROD consoles with newer more reliable models (in the UK/EUR anyway).

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:20 am

Ceph wrote:Ok, and how can you make sure to get one of those (with redesigned PCB and cooler cpu) when buying a Japanese 360? And what about the disc-scratching problem, has that been solved, as well?

You can tell by looking at the back of the console or the bottom of the PSU. I think the newest revision of the PCB runs at 170W (whereas the old models ran at 203W).

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:23 am

So, did Microsoft do the honorable thing and recall all old stock or are they currently still selling failboxes back from 2005 in Japan?

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:26 am

Good question. However, I recon someone like play-asia will check for you to make sure you only get sent a 170W unit.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:30 am

Oh, and as for the disc scratching problem, I think that was a much more isolated scenario than the RRoD cases, and only then when you placed the console in a vertical position. All 360 models have had several drive changes since that first happened.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:34 am

Here's another consideration - is the Asian 360 compatible with Japanese 360 games? And, is the 360 popular in Asia? If so, it might be easier to get a more recent Asian 360 rather than a Japanese model.

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:49 am

bcass wrote:Yes. All the new models which have an HDMI socket (that were released when the Elite was released last August) including the Elite, all have a redesigned heatsink that re-directs heat away from the problem areas on the PCB. Aparently the problem areas have also been covered with some sort of heat resistant resin. More recent models have a completely redesigned PCB which has a cooler running CPU.

I'm sorry but the answer isn't a straight YES. The 4th console they sent me as a replacement was a new model with an HDMI socket (The build date was September 07) and that failed within 4 months.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 11:58 am

I might have that bit wrong then. I think it might have only been the Elite that had the redesigned heatsink (initially). My Elite has been fine since release, and I haven't read of any Elites failing on the various forums I read. The redesigned heatsink was the first major fix. The new cooler-running models weren't produced because they might be more reliable, it's because the new CPUs are cheaper.

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:02 pm

I personally know of two people who have had their Elite's fail.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:04 pm

Actually, something did go wrong with mine - the PSU started making high-pitch noises just before Christmas, but the game store I bought it from changed it (the PSU) without any hassles.

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:27 pm

Thats good timing, Has anyone seen the front page of Yahoo.com today?

Hopefully if the message is out there enough it'll mean MS learn a lesson.

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:32 pm

Does anyone know what the actual fail rate is? I think I read it was something like 13%.

Kron · Post by **Kron** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:33 pm

Its probably more accurate if you swap the two numbers around.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:20 pm

Ceph wrote:Ok, and how can you make sure to get one of those (with redesigned PCB and cooler cpu) when buying a Japanese 360? Considering how badly Xbox is selling in Japan, they are probably still selling 360 launch-Failboxes.

At Play-Asia they are very explicit about whether the item is the new one with HDMI. You just have to look at their description.

Geezer · Post by **Geezer** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:22 pm

There are two sorts of HDMI capable 360:
-Zephyr
-Falcon

Zephyr's are slightly more reliable than the original 360s but the Falcons are in a different league and from what I hear these are very reliable.

If you want a Japanese Falcon, buy the pack that comes with Forza 2 and Viva Pinata. I'm sure the recently released JPN Arcade pack will also be a Falcon.

Diabollokus · Post by **Diabollokus** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:22 pm

I faced this dilemma when buying my 360 a few months back, if your in europe buy either the elite or the 360 pro in white with an hdmi port, latest model so you should be okay. You may have to physically force them to open the console up in the store like I did to check the hdmi port is included, just to be sure. Then again if Cave includes a region lock you may want to wait awhile.

PPA · Post by **PPA** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:02 pm

ahahha whiners

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:09 pm

And what about the disc-scratching problem, has that been solved, as well?

there never was one... that was from idiots who moved their console from a vert to hori position while the disc was spinning or vice versa. morons don't get the idea of a gyro....

just don't move it while a disc is spinning in it. get a newer model with HDMI and be you'll be ok. I have a older 360 from japan, I've had no issues.

PPA · Post by **PPA** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:15 pm

happened to me also i lost al my data gamezz coz i extracted the HD while saving.
OMG MS succks for thiz

Seriously, i am worried abaout the answer 5pb gave me about the region locking.

Usually that means a nono

cody · Post by **cody** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:19 pm

Strider77 wrote:
And what about the disc-scratching problem, has that been solved, as well?
there never was one...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_t ... estigation

get a newer model with HDMI and be you'll be ok.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZx3JdSXux8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stmZp4X7iOo

Also, I've been through 3 MS service drones and still haven't gotten an answer to the question of whether a JPN console will be replaced with a JPN console by north american warranty service. YMMV.

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:51 am

bcass wrote:Does anyone know what the actual fail rate is? I think I read it was something like 13%.

Microsoft keep it a trade secret.

But among hardcore gaming communities, the failure rates seen are astronomical:

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/sho ... p?t=175137

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:16 am

i've personally sold over 100 machines, and have had about 30% returned faulty within the 1 year warranty.

Post by **system11** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:17 am

My personal guess was the failure rate was around 30% judging from just experiences with myself and friends. However, within that I think that the 70% that didn't break are the 70% owned by very casual players, and the rate among high use gamers is probably much higher.

That 170W suggestion sounds good. The Falcon is supposed to use less power after all. I wish they'd stamp them in some way, but I know why they aren't...

Augemitbutter · Post by **Augemitbutter** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:42 pm

based on my personal experiences, failure rate must be around 35%. once it broke down, you can be certain it will break another time.

thats the minimum.

Post by **undamned** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:16 pm

Just for the sake of curiosity, I looked around as to the cause/fix for RRODing and apparently there is(are) a(some) surface mount chip(s) which has(have) a BGA (ball grid array) package and not all of the solder balls (BGA's have pins covering the bottom rather than around the edges) stay soldered. Many people on forums confirmed that you can use a heat gun to re-flow the solder on these chips and that is all that is required.

This would be something I'd be willing to do after my warranty is up

-ud

Battlesmurf · Post by **Battlesmurf** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:47 am

Also, I've been through 3 MS service drones and still haven't gotten an answer to the question of whether a JPN console will be replaced with a JPN console by north american warranty service. YMMV.

This is the part that makes me curious. I don't think I'd even consider touching a J 360 until this is confirmed/denied.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:19 am

The failure rate is 95%. I only know of one person who bought one at launch and its still going strong. Everyone else has had at least 5 and some have had up to 10. Its not a question of if it fails, rather than when.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:40 am

knock on fucking wood. but i got my system in probably august of '06. heavy use, for both movies and games. system is on for at least 5 hours a day (on average) and the motherfucker is still going strong. system is US region, but still, considering the failure rates i hear about.