Microsoft Xbox 360

By Jeff Bakalar, CNET.com
Nov 7, 2008

Microsoft's Xbox 360 was the first "next-generation" game console to hit the US market in November 2005, and consequently has had a year over its competitors to improve upon its faults. Now, with the upcoming "New Xbox Experience" update on the horizon, the 360 is further positioning itself to become not just a game console but also a top-tier media hub for the living room. The 360's physical design has also matured over the years: The noise issues that have long been an annoyance have also been lessened by including a smaller and cooler processor, which reduces fan speeds.

The new update also offers the option for users to install games directly onto the hard drive, further reducing the high-pitched sound of the disc drive and also limiting wear on the drive itself. With the current lineup of games, the offering of more online video content, and Microsoft's continued persistence of improving upon its system, the Xbox 360 has become one of the best consoles available. With the recent price drops, the company has made it even more tantalizing for those still on the fence.

In the past, the console's real Achilles' heel was its unacceptably poor reliability: A vast number of Xbox 360 consoles have suffered the dreaded "red ring of death" error, a fatal glitch that renders the console unusable. It's been a huge frustration for even the most forgiving 360 owner. Anecdotal evidence continues to suggest that the problem afflicts mostly older consoles. In other words, those manufactured in 2007 or later--the ones equipped with HDMI ports--should be much more stable than their predecessors. However, even these consoles have seen their fair share of red rings.

Xbox 360 Models Compared

The 60GB version (which replaced the 20GB model) will suffice for most users, while those who wish to maximize the console's video and gaming prowess will want to invest extra in the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite. (The Xbox 360 Arcade should be avoided--you'll just end up having to buy the addon hard drive later anyway, thus eliminating the apparent savings.)

*Replaces the Xbox 360 Core System, which has since been discontinued

Hardware reliability

As mentioned above, the Xbox 360 has been plagued by a series of hardware problems in the past, most commonly represented by the now infamous "red ring of death"--the three flashing red lights that the console displays when a major hardware malfunction has occurred. Microsoft has yet to confirm the reason for the problem, but it's widely attributed to overheating and poor airflow within the console's innards.

Since the middle of 2007, it appears that most Xbox 360s have been manufactured with the so-called "Falcon" CPU, a 65nm processor that's said to be smaller, cooler, and more energy efficient than the 90nm version found on earlier 360s. Improved heat sinks in the consoles have also helped cool newer units as well allowing for better heat dissipation to take place.

The upshot is that the newest Xbox 360s should be much more reliable than their predecessors, while all the 60GB models have updated hardware and ship with an HDMI-out port.

Tags: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Xbox 360, Wireless, cable

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