TS, don't pack ur console just yet >>



A large percentage of Xbox 360 failures (3 red rings included as well as game hangs/freezes that result in 3 red lights) are caused by...

power brick. [which affects the GPU heat largely... but most blaim GPU... not the case ! ]

Yes. Power brick is the cause of all the problems including the GPU overheating which causes 3rod.

How to solve ?
Simply plug the power brick connector to a different outlet. Or use a voltage regulator. I 'was' in the 3 red rings list thread but turns it is NOT the case. Yes, I get those lights. But no more. I was THIS close to sending it for repairs. 6 weeks - - no way !

At first I blasted my air-conditioner. It worked. Yes. In the beginning, it struggled. Games froze. But after 30 mins... things was perfect again. I was like WTH... everytime play must wait 30 minutes to cool ?

Then I did it... moved it to a different power outlet. OMGWTFBBQ ! It worked. 7 hours straight until I decided to sleep.

BTW, the power brick MUST be well ventilated. Notice how tiny those holes on the power brick are... too limited.

And yes, Jasper will solve the issue of RROD. It will folks. (Less wattage + 45nm GPU = no more RROD ! )
See... Microsoft ARE doing something to the power brick + GPU size. This will absolutely eliminate RROD.

This post has been edited by defaultname365: Dec 10 2008, 12:43 AM

Yes. Your power outlet has good voltage regulation. The outlet in my room IS NOT regulating voltage well... even after connecting to a Belkin surge protector which supposedly helps regulate voltage... does not work. I had to drag an extension from my sister's room... and voila !

The more well ventilated + voltage regulation = less chance of 3RROD.

I could have just cracked the RROD issue ! Maybe not... the official site also say "power brick must be well ventilated"

Edit :
OMG! Now I know why there are some who get their Xbox back after repair... some just hours later... the 3RROD appears again !
Its the freakin power brick + power outlet ! After reading forum sites after forum sites and issues after issues... its so clear to me !

This post has been edited by defaultname365: Dec 10 2008, 01:31 AM

My investigation has lead me from...

3RRoD -> GPU overheating -> Power brick issue -> Power outlet

So what about those with 3RRoD ?
OK, the 'change to a different power outlet' I'd say only for those that get 3RRoD first few times... preferably initial. What I'm saying is that, as soon as got 3RRoD -> change to a different power outlet immediately and ventilate the power brick. Immediately. Wait for long, and the GPU could just get toasted for real. The console will be dead, for real.

OK, I changed power outlet, but still, 3RRoD
Too bad, the console's GPU probably has overheated beyond point of reaching back to its original working condition. I daresay, if get 3RRoD the first times... changing power outlet WILL solve the issue. Worse come to worse -> Get a voltage regulator !


What about air-conditioner ?
Turns out it DOES help. Even after 3RRoD (initial ones), placing air-cond air directly pointed towards the console (left-side, vertical position) at 22'c for about 20-30 minutes works. Put the power brick at that same place as well. This is so that Power Brick + GPU = cooled down. It takes time.

So, the whole 3RRoD issue is simply power brick issue ?
No. Its irregularities of power outlet voltage supply. 'Every' home has at least an outlet that does this. Yes. You can't expect a very good voltage flow. The power brick of the Xbox 360 is sensitive. Jasper seem to have done something to it.

... what is 3RRod / hardware failure again?
1. Power outlet voltage irregularities (at home, or wherever) - - >
2. Power brick has 'small' voltage fluctuations - - >
3. GPU overheats overtime at intervals of the fluctuations (it heats up real quick, but when voltage fluctuates - - bam! The GPU goes to a temp it DOES NOT LIKE - game crash!). - - >
4. Turning off and on the console once game crash - - >
5. 3RRoD (because the console thinks the GPU is toast !) - - >
6. Keep on playing like this for maybe a week or more (turn on / turn off ) - - >
7. Permanent 3RRoD.

Yes, a brand new refurbished / repaired console after sending for repair... gets 3RRoD again !!
Guess what - - using the same power outlet. This was the one thing that baffled me. Something was odd. Yes, it is the power outlet. Same outlet used for previous 3RRoD console.

Jasper solves the issue ?
Yes. Power brick + GPU has been.... corrected. Expect an incredibly low failure rate. Very low. Using a voltage regulator + Jasper = anti-3RRoD !! .... perhaps

Who is to blame ?
Well. You know who. But it comes down to -> Power brick not being able to tolerate voltage fluctuations. From this, it goes all the way to... 3RRoD.

How the heck can I make such a claim ?
Well - - I have had history of things overheating. And I also got the 3 magical lights. So... pretty. And I knew the source of it all. The power outlet. Yet, I smartly chose to ignore it when I got my Xbox 360. I even ditched my old voltage regulator. Now using extension from another room. Will get a voltage regulator. Now... playing for half a day non-stop - - touch wood no issues !

This post has been edited by defaultname365: Dec 10 2008, 02:59 PM

Brotha... I was talking 3RRoD. I used this word more than I could have ever imagined.

I am talking about 3RRoD and not other 'DVD drive fail... etc. etc.' issues. That I probably won't want to figure out.

"Don't blame on power brick ?" Well... that may be the case. Most electronic appliances tolerates a certain level of voltage fluctuation. However, the Xbox 360's power brick does not do a great job. Thus, if the power outlet flutuates a lot and/or voltage regulator is not used - the power brick will get very hot and the voltage fluctuations will cause the GPU to overheat more than usual... resulting in the 3RROD.

It should not happen, but the 'power brick' is the concern here. Use a voltage regulator. Presto!

Err.. you might want to check the buzz that so happen (to my amazement) to occur here :
http://www.gamespot.com/forums/show_msgs.p...23998153&page=0
(Date was Nov 2005 !)

Wow, I just got a 'permanent 3RRoD' which forced me to do what most do...

Just last night I tried my luck of using the 'old power outlet' - - the one that supposedly caused my red lights. Heck, I was forced to use the old power outlet - - the extension wires from another room of my house just made things messy... and trippy. So I had no choice but to 'try' to use the old power outlet.

I plugged in, turned on.... and it worked. I played a game or two and it worked but then they started to crash. I was like "Of course." But turning it on and off just 'one last time' resulted in.... the 3RRoD - - permanent !

I wasn't too shocked. But it makes the whole "power outlet issue" a lot more real.

Pulling the extension wires and then trying my luck on the power outlet that worked, no luck. It was a permanent 3RRoD... Just days before I resolved to using that power outlet that made me play games for 7 hours straight !

A coincidence ? Just so happen it 3RRoD when I used the old power outlet ?

Let's just say every electronic device should last years. Even a non-branded DVD player lasts years...

Bad design, from the power brick to the internal design... I heard about DVD drive failure rate on the Xbox 360 as well... and it surprised me

The Xbox community is praying and hoping Jasper is anti-RROD. It has the biggest chance -> power brick + GPU = changed since Falcon.

The whole 'power brick issue plug to another outlet' = = is one of the reasons... not THE reason. One of it.

Will Jasper solve the whole dreaded failure rate of the Xbox 360s ?
Only time will tell. But I strongly believe it will bring it to a significantly low figure.



This post has been edited by defaultname365: Dec 12 2008, 11:35 AM

Every electronic device should last years.

Even a cheapo product can last years, but something from a multi-billion dollar worldwide recognised company like Microsoft ?

Its too bad I have my own reasons why I bought an Elite over a PS3... even after the light of an 3RRoD.