Microsoft: Xbox 360 Red Rings Are Behind Us
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is a tremendous hit amongst hardcore gamers. The system has the reputation for playing host to the majority of the top next-generation titles. However, while the Xbox 360 has the right software, it’s also known for unreliable hardware. Microsoft says that’s all fixed now.
The latest hardware revision, code named Jasper, shipped late 2008, which is expected to be the most reliable and cool-running Xbox 360 yet thanks to its 65 nm CPU and GPU.
“We're seeing great performance of the current systems, so we're really happy with the way they've been performing,” said Xbox 360 product manager Aaron Greenberg to Edge. “From friends that have had [repairs] done as of late, I can tell you from our own internal staff that we're seeing very strong performance from a quality standpoint.”
That’s great news for those who haven’t yet purchased an Xbox 360 (or have one of the new Jasper models), but it doesn’t help those who own one of the older consoles that still use the 90 nm chips.
Greenberg said that those who send in their consoles for repair could get an improved system shipped back. "We've improved that [repair] process. … What we do in general, the way that it works, is that they will fix it with the latest [hardware] improvements that we've applied [to current Xbox 360s]. Obviously we're continuously improving the technology inside the box, not to get too technical. So they'll apply that when they make the increments to your system.”
For obvious reasons, we doubt that Microsoft is replacing all 90 nm chips with 65 nm ones, but improved cooling hardware is one improvement that consumers have already seen from their refurbished Xbox 360s.
“We've put the worst behind us on this, but we know there are a few lagging systems, and so we want to take those and make it right,” Greenberg added.
The revised Jasper models hit the market nearly three years after the launch of the Xbox 360. Those who want to be able to identify if one is a Jasper before plunking down the cash should look out for the 150W power brick and console power rating of 12.1A. An early unboxing video from Microsoft’s Larry Hryb indicates that all the upcoming Resident Evil Red Xbox 360 Elite consoles should be of the Jasper variety.
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Good news is now when you RROD at least it should be the last time. The bad news? 50% chance you're going to RROD if you don't have a Jasper.
Sweet, glad to hear it.
It might be a bit late in the cycle though to be dropping full price for a system that will be replaced in the not too distant future. But glad to see that they have gotten a handle on this problem.
I've had 3 xbox's save your money unlike me. YES! you won't get the red rings anymore. BUT...BUT... you will get a black screen w/ only sound. Same problem as the red rings BUT no red rings... Microsoft is so smart. They got us! Don't want to see the red ring error. Fine. we'll take it away. that doesn't fix the machine its just a programing update.
ps3 is more reliable than xbox360(or atleast was), i've gone through 3 360's and i had a playstation 3 for that same period!more money spent on xboxes than ps3 is so a rip off!
I have a non-jasper 360 and it's been great! No problems at all. I play it all the time and its in an entertainment cabinet where it gets pretty warm. I get the feeling a lot of the sentiment regrading the quality issues is anecdotal since no one will provide actual figures on failure rates, so I can confidently say that you don't need a jasper version in order to have a reliable xbox 360!
Guess I've been really lucky. I have a Gen1 first release 360 and have never had problems. I also have a Gen Falcon release and have had no problems with that one either.
Good news is now when you RROD at least it should be the last time. The bad news? 50% chance you're going to RROD if you don't have a Jasper.
The model released before Jasper, the Falcon wasn't nearly as bad either. The die shrink on the CPU made it run a bit cooler and a bit less noisy. I've not had any problems with my Falcon based XBox and it doesn't get nearly as hot as the Xenon my son uses.
As to those above who bought multiple 360's, why would you buy more than one to begin with? Microsoft fixes (for free) any RROD 360's and has a good turn-around. When my son's broke down, they had it back to me in less than a week. Their box arrived on a Monday and I had it back before the weekend, at no cost. So why would you buy another one, then claim the PS3 is cheaper because you bought so many? Doesn't make sense if you can just get it fixed for free anyway...
You shouldn't have to get them fixed in the first place, MS should have used more reliable hardware.. However, I had more problems with my original PS2 (which Sony would NOT fix for free) than I've had with either mine or my son's 360. Sony is not really any better known for reliablity than MS is. /shrug I'd rather have the system which has the best line-up of games and that so far is the XBox360, in my opinion (not taking the Wii into consideration since it's in a class of it's own).
You shouldn't have to get them fixed in the first place, MS should have used more reliable hardware.
The philosophy on commercial software has long been to release software with known bugs that are too trouble-some to fix before release, see which ones people complain about most, and fix those in the next update/service pack.
It's becoming a very common trend in hardware these days too (and not just with the XBox). Microsoft's XBox division adopted and expanded that philosophy into the hardware (overheating, disk scratching). Apple does it with batteries, monitors, etc... Why fix the problem when hopefully you can just pave over it. I mean jeese, how many millions of batteries did Sony have to recall?
Ya, real nice. "We want to make it right." Then why the hell are they charging ME $100 bucks to make it right?
I have never had a RROD, but I have had an optical drive failure - which I hear is the second most part prone to failure. MS did the usual, sent me the box, I sent my console, and they sent me a box back stating they could not repair it so here's a new one on us basically. The only hard part for me was getting past the language barrier with the customer reps (like all other "tech support" in America is anyways). The RROD warranty is three years from date of purchase. As a company, I strongly dislike MS, but they get an A+ for the way they handled the situation. They could have just said go **** yourself like any other company has done and you sit back hoping something good comes out of a class-action suit.
ps3 is more reliable than xbox360(or atleast was), i've gone through 3 360's and i had a playstation 3 for that same period!more money spent on xboxes than ps3 is so a rip off!
I havn't had any probs with my Xbox360, only been a year.
I can confirm no issues with PS3, bought day1 for about $800 on day 1
My Falcon Elite RRoD'd on me about two weeks ago. I bought the product replacement warranty from Best Buy, thank God - but alas, they had, I think it safe to say, no Jasper Elites in the channel (I say "I think it safe to say" because I visited ten local Best Buys in the span of two days and, um, "stretched" the serial number window on probably just short of a hundred Elite boxes).
I still have about eighteen months left of my two year replacement warranty, so I plan to keep my eye out for Jasper Elites at Best Buy - and when they show up, crossing my fingers for another RRoD. The first one was unexpected (one of the reasons I waited so long to buy the 360 in the first place) - the second one will be WELCOME.
yea doesn't matter if it called jasper, smurf or what other crappy crash box model comes out still will not trust them. besides i have my reason for getting a PS3 now and its God of War 3
Got my mines the first week it came out and got one last year not one a problem. I did have a problem with the disc drive scratching some games but games still play fine.
yea doesn't matter if it called jasper, smurf or what other crappy crash box model comes out still will not trust them. besides i have my reason for getting a PS3 now and its God of War 3
Well, I've owned my 360 for 3 years and did have the RROD. It took 10 days to repair out of over 1000 owned. So it seems I have missed 1% of playtime due to microsoft and their lousy hardware. And to think they threw in some arcade games and 1 month gold for my troubles, what a bunch of Aholes ;p
And wait, you say you have a reason to get a PS3 now and it's GOW3? I thought that came out 12/09, seems you have a few months to wait. I will be enjoying my 360 during those months.
sorry cat i thought i was raggin on Xbox not something offensive like your mom. you have your reasons for getting a Crashbox and i have mine for not getting one and going for a PS3
Funny how the PS3 never had anything like the RROD.
lol @ console trolling wars.
I'll stick to my PC,graphics are higher quality anyways. D:
Its a bit late to fix that problem.every time I go to gamestop someones returning a RROD 360 , even after the holidays Red Rings still haunt people.
what kind of reporting is this? Microsoft says the problem is fixed so the headline reads "Xbox 360 Red Rings Are Behind Us"
From a company who took three years to fix a basic quality problem that caused hundreds of thousands if not millions of people grief, I won't take their word for it until its confirmed by people who don't get their paychecks signed by Microsoft.
I wouldnt have a crapbox for free. PS3 owns it now, plus the fact that the crapbox dont do Blu Ray. LOL Oh and to Jaragon13 I will also stick with my High End PC for the graphics part too. Core i7 at 4.2 Ghz 30 inch panel at 2560 x 1600 all max settings. Lets see the Crapbox do that. NOT!
I bought a new Jasper from wally world and returned my old one with the new serial number on the back. One day turn around FTW!
/puts on flamesuit
I wouldnt have a crapbox for free. PS3 owns it now, plus the fact that the crapbox dont do Blu Ray. LOL Oh and to Jaragon13 I will also stick with my High End PC for the graphics part too. Core i7 at 4.2 Ghz 30 inch panel at 2560 x 1600 all max settings. Lets see the Crapbox do that. NOT!
I'm going to assume you didn't buy your components for 199.99? Seeing as how your CPU alone costs more than a 360...
lol i just like bashing the crapbox is all. No my components are way more than any console costs.
After 2 and a half years, my xbox finally RROD'd on me last week. I called Microsoft support and when I told the lady I had it for 2 and a half years, she laughed and said that was longer than most. I sent it out one week ago from this day, and they received it Friday, and just emailed me today it was finished being repaired and they already sent it back out.
I also heard all of the arcade systems are "Jaspers", but it's been hit or miss with the pro models and elites.
FrustratedRhino
the ps3 has the ylod same as red ring. you must not knoe much about the systems
I've had my 360 sense I won it from Mt.Dew's "every10minutes.com" contest (received it 3 days before it was available in the stores). Not one issue, not a single one... I must be lucky or something.
My Arse, mine just died on the weekend and I'm pissed of.
Got to love gamers that fight about which console is better.
A true gamer will play games on any platform , it is all about the quality of the games at the end of the day.
I got a Xbox 360 and I have had it for 1 and half years. No problem with it ever. Got a brand new PS3 for free 3 days ago.
Got a new i7 pc. I play games on all 3 , each has some awesome games.
Don't break something down until you have tried it.
HAH! i finally bought a 360 two weeks ago , THANKS for this article , I justchecked my PSU on it after reading this, and sure enough it is 150 wt with 12.1 amps so i got a jasper !!!
This and lower cost is the NUMBER ONE reason, I stopped rushing out to get new consoles as the first come out. Last time I got a "just-came-out" console was the original xbox and it's disk drive whent dead after 3 years while tohers around me had gotten it 2 eyars into it's life cycle and to this day thier original is still running solid... so i learned my lesson on the first xbox and well i hope it pays out.
P.S. if i see a RRoD I'll scream LOL
hmm to all you folks claiming morestable ps3's
they only got more stable after sony removed one of ps3's main features , that being the hardware backward compatability.
originally ps3 was haveing ps1 and ps2 chips in with the ps3 chips this gave the console it's hardware backward compatibility ... well a few weeks in and sony was getting a lot of decks sent back from overheating (just to many components to closely cramed together). long story short, Sony nixed the backward compatibility chips (this occured around the same time they nixed the small hard drive models) that said they started dealing with software based backward compatibility similar to 360's style of backward compatibility. (ie: not all games are supported and you have to get support updates as the come via online , to get more game compatible)
granted this change ended all ps3 issues ... sony is not "clean" on stability record, any one looking at history can clearly see that the PS2 had much higher fail rates than the original xbox and the game cube combined