| In a bid to get the product to market ahead of the | | | | doesn't make any sense. This sort of behavior |
| competition, the Xbox 360 was rushed to completion | | | | happens naturally as a result of our desire to arrange |
| far too rapidly. A 30 percent product failure rate (via | | | | things neatly together in order to save space. |
| the red ring of death) is the legacy of this haste. The | | | | By tipping it on it's side, the Xbox can be better |
| Xbox 360 is a frail device because of it's many built in | | | | ventilated because more surface area is exposed for |
| 'bugs'. | | | | cooling. You can also point a small fan at your console |
| It's small and an inadequate cooling system cannot | | | | for additional cooling. |
| keep up with heat generating components that are | | | | Sources of heat such as stoves, heaters, very warm |
| packed into a small space. One or more of it's design | | | | electronics, furnaces and radiators should be avoided. |
| 'bugs' can spring to life when it overheats, which | | | | In addition to these obvious sources, be careful not |
| eventually kills your machine. Therefore, to avoid the | | | | to place your Xbox next to a window that gets |
| ring of death, it is important to keep your Xbox cool. | | | | direct sunlight. |
| Simple precautions for keeping your Xbox cool is the | | | | As important as it is to keep the Xbox ventilated, |
| topic of this article. | | | | the cooling requirements of the power adapter or |
| While most people aren't going to duct-tape cooling | | | | power brick can't be overlooked. It is a very natural |
| vents shut, they will find other ways of effectively | | | | thing to set the power brick on the floor. But if you |
| doing the same thing. These usually involve putting | | | | place it on a shaggy carpeting, cooling air currents will |
| the Xbox on very soft and shaggy surfaces such as | | | | be obstructed. The best location is on a level and |
| pillows, rugs, sofas or beds. | | | | elevated surface with plenty of exposure to the air. |
| Exercise care in where you place the Xbox as it | | | | If you wish to avoid heating problems in the future, |
| needs to be in areas with plenty of ventilation. What | | | | use the suggestions in this article on your Xbox when |
| this means is that confined spaces such as | | | | it is new. However, it certainly wouldn't hurt to try |
| bookcases, cabinets, or racks are not a home for the | | | | them if you are experiencing the red ring of death |
| Xbox. Placing the Xbox in a closed in area while | | | | for the first time. Hopefully this first time heat build |
| exercising great care to keep the cooling vents open | | | | up didn't do any lasting damage. |