New Xbox 360 models have been spotted using upgraded components, said to make the infamous Red Ring of Death a thing of the past.
The newest 360s are fitted with new 'Jasper' motherboards, says a report on Joey Gadget, as well as a new and improved graphics chip.
The upgraded components are smaller and emit less heat, according to the techies, which in turn should mean no more red lights on your 360, and less postman visits to send your console off to Xbox repairs.
To be honest, we've not experienced or heard of anywhere near as many RRoD incidents over the last year anyway (apart from our launch office 360 which died last week and is now being used as a prop to raise Gav's monitor).
The problem behind the infamous 360 hardware failures, which cost Microsoft $1 billion in warranty extensions, has never been officially disclosed.
According to Gartner analyst Bryan Lewis though, the defect was down to Microsoft's decision to manufacture the 360's graphic chip itself, rather than paying a third party.
If you're keen to find one of the new 'Jasper' 360s, you should look for a manufacturing date as early as June 8, 2008, 'Lot 8031' and up, and 'Team CSON' on the back of the console - though you'll probably have to bribe the bloke behind the counter to see it.
In theory, that should mean stores with a high turnover of '360s will be selling the improved models. Gamestation should be safe, but then they offer the best '360 deals anyway.
I thought this problem HAD been fixed?! Are you telling me that the 360 that I bought 6 months ago is still a duffer? Wonderful....
this seems to be pure speculation and could be just a routine shrink of the graphics chip due to better manufacturing processes and maybe why they can reduce prices. i got mine last year and its still going strong and as the article says the problem has died down a hell of a lot. i wouldnt worry too much as you also have a warranty if needed
Mine was repaired last month and the guy at UPS said they send 45 x box 360s a day from my local branch for repair (and it is a tiny depot). They had a huge pile of them.
Having said that since it came back with a new motherboard and disc tray it is quieter and isnt as hot.
FAO the neutral console gamer who is waiting for the 360 to finally be fixed...
IT ISN'T.
I don't see how the title "Is 360's Red Ring of Death finally fixed?" translates into the XBox 360's RROD problem actually having been fixed. In fact, all CVG has said here is that they've not heard of as many RROD's lately, which actually counts for nothing, seeing as everyone is so used to the problem now its hardly worth reporting.
That aside, many RROD's have occured over 12 months after purchase and these so called Jasper setup's have apparently only been released in June '08.
Microsoft never announced that there really was a problem with all units any more than they announced that the problem was fixed.
Is it necessary for someone with a RROD Jasper 360 to tell you that there is still a problem, or are you happy to buy into more pro-360 forum posters opinions?
I very much doubt anything has changed at all. The DVD drive still makes crunching noises, so why should the RROD be fixed?
i havent had any probs yet but then again i just got mine like a month or so ago. 1 thing im not sure abt is if the amount of noise it makes is normal, i mean it makes more noise than my pc which itself has abt 8 chassis fans!
My bro got his in April this year and it broke 3 times in 2 months whereas mine I got on launch day and its only broken once! shows ya how bad its realiability is when your happy its broken just gthe once!
This upgrade isn't anything out of the ordinary. Every console manufacturer redesigns and reduces the manufacture process of a consoles components to bring down the costs. These new, smaller and cooler components are one of the big reasons the 360 is now only Ł129 - they're simply cheaper to make. It's just a bi-product that the chips actually give off less heat.
Also, the RAM is now top-mounted rather than bottom-mounted to allow more cooling.
And fanboys - give over. If you're stupid enough not to see that you can actually enjoy ALL the consoles on the market, there's simply no hope for you.
And fanboys - give over. If you're stupid enough not to see that you can actually enjoy ALL the consoles on the market, there's simply no hope for you.
The only enjoyment Gav seems to get from his XBox 360 is saving himself from getting a crooked neck.
And fanboys - give over. If you're stupid enough not to see that you can actually enjoy ALL the consoles on the market, there's simply no hope for you.
The only enjoyment Gav seems to get from his XBox 360 is saving himself from getting a crooked neck.
Sorry but you really are a w****r, and whats all this s**t about crunching disk trays? You been trying to f**k ya console again? Oh sorry I forgot you only stick your dick in the PS3. I got an Elite well before June and the disk tray is quite and smooth and even the fans quiter. Stop talking b******s and like the man says "fanboys - give over. If you're stupid enough not to see that you can actually enjoy ALL the consoles on the market, there's simply no hope for you".
You Sony fanboys all need to get a life full stop.
I'll warrant it does, but then you probably wouldn't know what a crunching noise was if you heard one.
i will give you that they are louder than perhaps we would like but i dont find it intrusive at all. my 360 sits on a desk next to my monitor so is likely to appear louder than my PC as that sits on a carpeted floor.
anyhow, what does noise have to do with the rrod problem?
My 360 Elite has just RRoD on me this morning, but no biggie just gonna take it back to Game to get a new one. Hopefully it will have this new chipset in it
Damn, knew I should of waited just a bit longer; At least got the Falcon model though.
The problem behind the infamous 360 hardware failures, which cost Microsoft $1 billion in warranty extensions, has never been officially disclosed.
Yes it has. An MS spokesperson announced it earlier this year at somepoint (I think?). MS tried to save costs by creating it's own GPU rather than getting AMD to make one (ironically it's ended up costing more), but because of the failures it then got AMD to make the new models (Falcon, Jasper and probably the other rumoured one I can't remember the name of?).
Damn, knew I should of waited just a bit longer; At least got the Falcon model though.
Don't want to worry ya but the 360 that RRoD on me did have a falcon chipset in it. and yes my machine was well ventilated to let the air flow before anyone says. Still on the bright side, game did a straight swap for me and it looks like I have a Jasper chipset in my new one
Since both the 360 and the ps3 have come down, it's almost like just buying a ps3 to now own both systems.
Stop the hacking...Sony won't go to your funeral anymore than Microsoft... they both release products to make money...if they provide games you enjoy so be it...the fanboy stuff has to end sometime.
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