I have wanted to get an 360 for some time now. Best buy had xbox360 premium with guitar hero 2 pack for 349.99. Didint figure I would really play the marvel alliance or forza much so was waiting it out until a better deal showed up and it did. My 360 does not have the hdmi like some of the premiums have been rolling out with. I do have a question. I was looking at the build date and on the serial number the date shows.....2006-11-06. I was surprised to see that it wasnt newer. Given the build date what things should I be looking for for failures. Am I missing out much on not getting HDMI? Any tips for my new 360 would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jason

Yes, if you missed a cooling mod revision and hdmi just return it and buy and xbox off the shelf where you can verify it was made in 07/07 or later. When you don't buy it in a bundle there's a flap right there on the box that you can lift up to see the serial # and manufacture date.

Without hdmi you'd have a harder time selling your xbox way down the road, and the chance of running into the RROD is high.

Think Best buy will let me return it even though i got it out?

Think Best buy will let me return it even though i got it out?

They should. Just package it back up nicely.

What is the best thing to say when returning it?

Congrats on the 360. Your build date and the fact that you do not have an HDMI port means your system is missing the new heatsinks and updated motherboard design that MS implemented to curb the 3RODS. (3 light failures) The most current Halo3 and Arcade models are now even shipping with the smaller 65nm Cpus to reduce heat and power consmption. Is this a deal breaker if you didn't get all these things, it all depends on your luck I guess. There is no magic formula to get a long lasting, quiet, most up to date features. You may get one that rolled off the line last week and still have issues and there are plenty of original 360's still running that have none of these upgrades. I however would suggest picking up an HDMI Premium for the connectivity options if anything.

Botton line is if you're happy and enjoying the console don't get caught up in all the hype of finding the perfect build. With MS extending the 3ROD warranty to 3 years you are covered no matter what so why not just enjoy.

There are plenty of great games out. Halo3, COD4, and Gears of War are all must haves if you're in to shooters. PGR4, Forza, Dirt, and the Need for Speed series are all good racrer on the 360. I could go on and on. Look around here and see what others are saying. Renting games is also a good way to see if you will dig it without shelling out $60 bucks.

Get your Gold live account and get to gaming!

What is the best thing to say when returning it?

"I wanted the HDMI version!"

You need to get a current one. Tell best-buy that all xbox 360s since July have come with HDMi and that this one is old stock that's been repackaged and you simply don't want it. Guaranteed they have xboxes sitting in the store where you can lift the flap and show them a newish date.

I had this same issue at Target.com. I ordered an xbox and they shipped me an '06 one, so I brought it to the store and exchanged straight accross for another one with hdmi.

don't wait, do it now.

Has anyone returned their 360 yet with the BB 2-year warranty? I am wondering if they will give me the HDMI version or if they have the older versions tucked away somewhere.

This is what best buy told me....Since I got the 360 that is bundled with the guitar hero, I would have to return both. The bundle with Guitar hero 2 is only with the older xbox360's. Not the newer ones with HDMI. If I wanted the newer one with HDMI i would have to give up the Guitar Hero 2 bundle pack. I currently do not have a TV with HDMI so that isnt much of a concern. I guess my main concern was getting a 360 that had all the upgrades done so it wouldnt fail. I got the best buy 2 yr protection plan. Sounds like I shouldnt worry about it and just play the balls off it, If I have problems with it I can exchange it for a new one down the road. If is has no problems then I guess I got lucky. Thoughts?

I would cancel the two year best buy "protection plan" since Microsoft is offering a 3 year warranty for your console for free!

Use the money to get another game :)

Play with it. If it dies, send it in, and chances are good you'll come back with the HDMI version.

Dude just keep this one and hope that if it does die, it happens within 2 years, which it will. If it's after 2 years you still have MS 3 year warranty to fall back on. I'd much rather box up my xbox and take it back to BB and return home with a new one, than have to call MS and order a coffin, wait for coffin, send back to MS, and wait some more. Rock on.

"I got the best buy 2 yr protection plan."

So you spent about $50 on a plan that you *will* have to use with your old as hell 360. Plus you got the old wired GH2 controller. It sounds like a bad deal to me. I would have spent the $100 on GH3 with the really nice wireless guitar, didn't purchase the 2yr BB plan, and got the newer version of the 360 that still has a 3yr MS warranty for the most common 360 problem. $50 more expensive, but nicer gear all around with a much lower chance of failure.

Hindsight is 20/20 I guess. I personally dont mind the wired guitar, wireless would be nice, but really dont notice it to much. I got the BB plan cause of the history of problems with the 360. The idea of just taking it in and getting a new one if need be was much more appealing than dancing around with MS. Given what we know I will more than likely be heading to best buy sometime in 2 yrs for a new 360, if that happens oh well.

Play it and have fun. Don't worry. At least with the BB warranty you can swap it out when/if it dies. Everyone is so adamante that older xboxs are going to die if you don't get a new updated 360. The failure rate folks is not 100% so telling people this is retarded.

Enjoy!

That's right, the old 360s die at a rate of over 100%. They're DEAD, MS "brings them back to life" and they friggin' die again! OMFG. Who saw that coming. I'm currently on my fourth Xbox 360. I've been without a 360 for almost three months now! It's been a hell of a lot of fun dealing with Xbox support. I hope Billy boy gets his nads put in a vice. MS are liars, first they say there's no problem, then no HDMI whole new console is coming out now or anytime soon. LIARS!!!! So after my second return, I was promised my 360 would be swapped with an HDMI version. GUESS WHAT FOLKS, surprise surprise!!!! It came back "repaired" with NO HDMI!!! Then guess what again, it died in a damn week with RROD!!!! Woooo!!! So I repeat, and I repeat again, do not purchase a non-HDMI 360, or better yet buy a Wii or PS3. MS won't ever replace your 360 with a HDMI version, ever period. Even though this time I was promised yet again a 360 with HDMI, I won't get it. I even have it taped that I was promised a HDMI version to stop the madness. When I called back and complained, I was told no one ever gave me that promise. I said I had it taped and MS threatened to sue me because I wasn't given permission to tape and what I had done was illegal, then the bitch hung up on me. I called again, her supervisor said he didn't give two hoots what anyone else said, it's not MS's policy to replace a 360 ever with HDMI, you get back what you sent in, even if it's going to break. I have that on tape too that he admitted "yeah it's going to probably break, just send it in again, and yes Microsoft won't honor promises by employees, because thats not policy." I really really wish I never bought the 360 from those MS bastards, the only games I have are Oblivion and Lost Planet which both are on the PS3 anyway. But no one cares, MS keeps on lying and screwing over anyone they can in order to get their high. Don't believe my story can be true? I'll send you the files from my recorder or you can search how another person was laughed at by a supervisor when he said he took it to his friend who was an engineer and was told by the engineer his 360 overheated and was MS' fault. The supervisor said, "You want to know something, I'm laughing at you, yes I'm laughing at you because you'll never get your 360 fixed because your warranty is violated!!! hahahahaha."

I think you forgot to put this in your post: :mad:

My 10th 360 since launch arrives on Monday. All of them have been units without the GPU heatpipe that was recently added... so caveat emptor. I say return it, buy one of the ones with HDMI and drop the extra scratch on GH3 with the wireless controller.

You may not think it's a big deal now, but just wait until your system red-rings during a big release and you get stuck waiting for a replacement! One of mine died when I had Gears Of War, Call Of Duty 3, and Rainbow Six Vegas sitting here unopened, so I got pissed and bought a Core system... to use as a backup for when I send my Premium in for repair. That Core system died 5 weeks later. During that time, Microsoft sent me two broken Premiums... then lost my return for 2 months.

So while I heartily recommend the 360 as a great gaming experience, I wouldn't recommend TO ANYONE keeping the old busted-ass 360 without the GPU heatpipe. It WILL die on you - no ifs, ands or buts.

I guess thats even more reason for me to have gotten the BB replacement/protection plan. Sounds like I will use it during the 2yr covered period and can just get a 360 with hdmi.

I guess thats even more reason for me to have gotten the BB replacement/protection plan. Sounds like I will use it during the 2yr covered period and can just get a 360 with hdmi.

Just curious (I forget what the two year replacement plan costs):
Wouldn't getting the standard XMAS bundle with the updated 360, *two* pack-in games (good ones, too) and Guitar Hero II separately cost about the same (~$420) as what you got?
The BB warranty cost kinda negates the deal...

That's right, the old 360s die at a rate of over 100%. They're DEAD, MS "brings them back to life" and they friggin' die again! OMFG. Who saw that coming. I'm currently on my fourth Xbox 360. I've been without a 360 for almost three months now! It's been a hell of a lot of fun dealing with Xbox support. I hope Billy boy gets his nads put in a vice. MS are liars, first they say there's no problem, then no HDMI whole new console is coming out now or anytime soon. LIARS!!!! So after my second return, I was promised my 360 would be swapped with an HDMI version. GUESS WHAT FOLKS, surprise surprise!!!! It came back "repaired" with NO HDMI!!! Then guess what again, it died in a damn week with RROD!!!! Woooo!!! So I repeat, and I repeat again, do not purchase a non-HDMI 360, or better yet buy a Wii or PS3. MS won't ever replace your 360 with a HDMI version, ever period. Even though this time I was promised yet again a 360 with HDMI, I won't get it. I even have it taped that I was promised a HDMI version to stop the madness. When I called back and complained, I was told no one ever gave me that promise. I said I had it taped and MS threatened to sue me because I wasn't given permission to tape and what I had done was illegal, then the bitch hung up on me. I called again, her supervisor said he didn't give two hoots what anyone else said, it's not MS's policy to replace a 360 ever with HDMI, you get back what you sent in, even if it's going to break. I have that on tape too that he admitted "yeah it's going to probably break, just send it in again, and yes Microsoft won't honor promises by employees, because thats not policy." I really really wish I never bought the 360 from those MS bastards, the only games I have are Oblivion and Lost Planet which both are on the PS3 anyway. But no one cares, MS keeps on lying and screwing over anyone they can in order to get their high. Don't believe my story can be true? I'll send you the files from my recorder or you can search how another person was laughed at by a supervisor when he said he took it to his friend who was an engineer and was told by the engineer his 360 overheated and was MS' fault. The supervisor said, "You want to know something, I'm laughing at you, yes I'm laughing at you because you'll never get your 360 fixed because your warranty is violated!!! hahahahaha."

How is it over 100% failure rate when my Dec 05 build is still functioning?

BB plan was 59.99 I think. I wouldnt play marvel alliance, but would play forza2. I have been wanting to get a 360 for sometime. BB had a deal with the 360 the guitar hero 2 bundle for 349.99. I basically bought it for the guitar hero, I knew it was a game my wife would enjoy also. Dropping that much money on somehting for myself a month before Xmas I had to get something that the wife would appreciate...lol. Would I have liked for the 360 to be the one with hdmi and the revisions...absolutely. Chances are before its all said and done I will need to exchange it anyways. Its not like the hdmi falcon ones are bullet proof either.

If you ARE going to look for the newer version Xbox, here is a real simple way to find it:

Look at the label on the outside with the Team and Lot# info. At the bottom of the label it says what power supply it uses....

Ole version: 203 watts New Falcon: 175 watts

Its as simple as that..... IF you find one, then you wont have to deal with a 2month wait for a repaired box,,,, hopefully!

BTW I looked thru a whole stack of premiums at BB and they were all 203 watts :(

Hope that helps u

Those BestBuy and GH 2 bundles were a promo to get rid of some very old stock. I was amazed at how old the lot numbers were. I didnt even know they existed.

How is it over 100% failure rate when my Dec 05 build is still functioning?

I have a Nov 05 360 that is still running fine. I have two buddies who also have 2005 model 360s.

I also know two guys who have been through multiple 360s. The difference? Those of us with old and kicking 360s keep them either in open air A/V racks or on a desk. The repeated XBox killers keep theirs in enclosed entertainment centers, with only the front of the 360 exposed to air.

Clearly this is still MS' fault, but I don't think it's coincidence. These things need to breathe.

Oh, and I would have killed for a free GH2 bundle, and those two free games are excellent as well. The OP got a screaming deal, and frankly some of you are being dicks for no reason.

I failed to mention in my previous post that I have another 360, mfg. Oct of 2006, and that one is still fine as well. Also kept in an open air rack.

I have a Nov 05 360 that is still running fine. I have two buddies who also have 2005 model 360s.

I also know two guys who have been through multiple 360s. The difference? Those of us with old and kicking 360s keep them either in open air A/V racks or on a desk. The repeated XBox killers keep theirs in enclosed entertainment centers, with only the front of the 360 exposed to air.

Clearly this is still MS' fault, but I don't think it's coincidence. These things need to breathe.

I had 2 360s fail. They both are open on 5 sides and have 1 inch feet added for better circulation on the bottom. Should I try suspending my next one from the ceiling with fishing line below my A/C vent? :rolleyes:

Man 10 Xbox's! You must have some bad luck or something. You would be an exception no matter how you take a poll. Do 360's die? Yes. Are every 360 built going to die? Well yes eventually. It's a electronic piece of equipment that from the moment you turn it on is on it's way to the grave. We all are for that matter. The thing that bugs me is people who say without a doubt your 360 built on or before such and such a date is doomed to fail in six months. We are a SMALL group to sample from and lord knows the complainers out whine the ones that have had no problems. My launch 360 died but I just bought another one and will send mine in to get fixed. They are not bullet proof no matter which model you buy. The current ones are built with better failure prevention methods now that they know what seems to be spiking these but a warranty or replacement plan is your friend no matter which one you happen to own.

Let the guy enjoy his box and stop trying to talk him out of it. He's covered either way with BB and MS's warranty. I think some of the older boxes are quieter anyway. My launch box was not as loud as my Premium HDMI and Elite which both are 07/07 builds. I'm just pointing out there is no perfect solution. (Not by much)

Buy from Costco.

And someone please verify - do the hdmi models still have the x-clamp design? If so, they'll eventually fail just like the others.

Man 10 Xbox's! You must have some bad luck or something. You would be an exception no matter how you take a poll. Do 360's die? Yes. Are every 360 built going to die? Well yes eventually. It's a electronic piece of equipment that from the moment you turn it on is on it's way to the grave. We all are for that matter. The thing that bugs me is people who say without a doubt your 360 built on or before such and such a date is doomed to fail in six months. We are a SMALL group to sample from and lord knows the complainers out whine the ones that have had no problems. My launch 360 died but I just bought another one and will send mine in to get fixed. They are not bullet proof no matter which model you buy. The current ones are built with better failure prevention methods now that they know what seems to be spiking these but a warranty or replacement plan is your friend no matter which one you happen to own.

Let the guy enjoy his box and stop trying to talk him out of it. He's covered either way with BB and MS's warranty. I think some of the older boxes are quieter anyway. My launch box was not as loud as my Premium HDMI and Elite which both are 07/07 builds. I'm just pointing out there is no perfect solution. (Not by much)

you know, i have a problem with anyone using the term "whine" when they complain about the failure rate of this system. I have game systems dating back to the Atari 2600, and none of them have ever failed. Of the dozens of friends I know personally, none of them have their original xbox 360 and some are already on their 3rd or 4th. which isn't a surprise since microsoft has decided to perform temporary fixes rather than implement a design change. which again isn't a surprise since i'm sure they have talented bean counters (like myself) doing cost/benefit analysis saying that's the least costly route. bottom line, my best advice is to buy from Costco, keep your receipt and packaging, and have peace of mind....or buy a PS3.

I had 2 360s fail. They both are open on 5 sides and have 1 inch feet added for better circulation on the bottom. Should I try suspending my next one from the ceiling with fishing line below my A/C vent? :rolleyes:

I never said all these dead 360s are operator error, I just offered up an anecdote. There is this perception that 100% of old 360s fail, and it's just not the case.

bottom line, my best advice is to buy from Costco, keep your receipt and packaging, and have peace of mind....or buy a PS3.

I'm on my third PS3 due to controller disconnect issues. The grass ain't always greener.

In fact the controller disconnect issue is worse than RROD because of the way Sony is treating it. I bought a 60 gig back in June, the thing would drop sync with its controllers due to the crappy bluetooth implementation on the early PS3s. Well, I got fed up with it, and got another 60 gig from Sony about 2 weeks ago. Well, this one has the exact same problem.

The bluetooth antenna is fixed in the 40 and 80 gig PS3s. Many people with older PS3s don't have the issue, because it is highly dependent on how much RF you have going on, and your particular setup.

Anyway, I call Sony back to complain, and they will not under any circumstance replace my 60 gig PS3 with anything other than another 60 with the screwed up antenna. So, this week I'm eBaying my 60, and I bought a 40 yesterday which sure enough, works perfectly.

At least with the RROD issue, MS won't hassle you and tell you you're SOL before sending out another one.

I love both my systems, BTW. I just wish they came from Nintendo, which IMO is the only console manufacturer who a) makes quality hardware starting with the first box that rolls off the assembly line, and b) has STELLAR customer service. It's too bad that the Wii has exactly zero games I find interesting.

Buy from Costco.

And someone please verify - do the hdmi models still have the x-clamp design? If so, they'll eventually fail just like the others.

The new models still have the xclamp. They have however changed the heatsink material and added extra material to the areas of the gpu and cpu to help with warping. Might help, who knows, time will tell.

The new models still have the xclamp. They have however changed the heatsink material and added extra material to the areas of the gpu and cpu to help with warping. Might help, who knows, time will tell.

Are all HDMI models designed w/ the new heatsink? Or does hit have to be built on 7/7 and after?

All of the non-Elite HDMI models will have the GPU heatpipe. Some of the Elites with HDMI that were made before the GPU heatpipe was added may still have the standard cooling, so look for one with a recent manufacture date.

The new Falcon 65nm units have gotten rid of the x-clamps and the heatsinks are actually just bolted through to the board like most of the modders did to fix the x-clamp problem. The 90nm units are still using the x-clamps, even with the ones with the GPU heatpipe added, but as robshdtv said there were some minor changes with newer units.

And as the guy on his tenth 360, I'm not trying to scare people away. I think once they added the GPU heatpipe, the biggest system killing problem was taken care of. Number ten that arrived recently is the first unit I've had with the GPU heatpipe, and it runs much quieter than any of my others did (though I think this is my first with the BenQ drive, which could explain that) and doesn't feel like the exhaust is quite as brutally hot as the others.

I keep my system in an open area, have checked the power to the room to make sure everything was solid, and I take care of my gear. I know most people would think 10 systems must equal user error, but some of those were bizarre flukes. For instance, in October of last year, they sent me a refurb the day of the Fall update, which immediately bricked the system due to faulty installation code that MS owned up to. The system they sent me two weeks later had a bad GPU out of the box and was returned the next day. The Core system I bought because I got tired of waiting on a working system ended up dying 5 weeks after I bought it and was returned to the store (and its replacement sits in my closet as a spare system JUST IN CASE). My most recent failure was a bad DVD drive, not a red ring problem. So not all of them out of my many deaths were red ring issues. I just got a run of serious bad luck.

So despite my cursed history, no one should avoid the 360. It's an awesome gaming experience, and now that next Tuesday's update is adding DIVX support, it'll be even more useful in your home theater.