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Is now the time to buy an XBox 360?
Buddy Lee
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I couldn't find any threads in G&T about the purchase of an XBox 360, so here it goes...
I'm seriously considering the purchase of an XBox 360, but with all of the problems that have been coming up with the console I wonder if it's a good idea.
G&T, what are your thoughts on purchasing a new XBox? What do I need to know about it? How do warranties work and should I consider buying a service plan through a retail store?
I'm seriously considering the purchase of an XBox 360, but with all of the problems that have been coming up with the console I wonder if it's a good idea.
G&T, what are your thoughts on purchasing a new XBox? What do I need to know about it? How do warranties work and should I consider buying a service plan through a retail store?
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First, look for a model with a ship date past September, 2007 - that will increase your chances of getting a Falcon model with a improved chipset that is supposed to be more efficient. Barring that, just buy an Elite or Halo 3 edition and those have the improved chipsets as well.
Second, the Red Ring of Death (the most common fuck up) has a warranty of 3 years - so really no worries if anything goes wrong.
Three, I wouldn't get a service plan unless it is the Best Buy REPLACEMENT plan. It costs %10 of the cost of the item and Best Buy replaces the item if there are any issues.
EDIT: Plus, November quite possibly has the best line up of games releasing on a single platform, ever. I'd take a look through XBox 360's library and see if you can come up with 5 games you'd play on a regular basis (that's my rule of thumb for buying a new system).
edit: I ask because my brother wants a 360, I got mine at a Costco and they have a 1 year warranty
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I couldn't say for sure, but I'm willing to bet no. This is based on other times I've used that replacement plan and they literally just grabbed another unit for me, updated my plan's info, and gave it to me over the counter.
Which model do you want? I'd go with the premium. At the moment it comes with 2 free games (one of arguable quality).
How worried are you about the RROD? At the moment it's looking like it isn't as big of a problem as it was 4-5 months ago. If you buy a new premium system that comes with the game bundle, you're probably getting a falcon model. Seeing how these remove the biggest cause of the RROD (the xclamps) and come with the new drives (which won't kidnap your family and kill you) the chances of you even needing your warranty are rather slim (by comparison to earlier this year). Just make sure that the box you get was manufactured during or after October. Someone will come here to tell you the lot number you need to have, I don't know it off the top of my head.
But onto the warranty.
How does the warranty work? I believe this is the way it works. You have a year (or is it 90 days? I'm not sure) worth of the normal warranty. If you console breaks down at all within this time you can call Microsoft and get it fixed for free.
The RROD warranty is completely different however. Most problems on the 360 come from the RROD, which is cause by overheating and stress put on the mainboard cause by the xclaps. If your 360 gets the RROD (which is 3 red lights on the front of the console), your console is busted. If this happens, for 3 years after your purchase date, you can get it replace by Microsoft for free. However, if you have any other problems besides the RROD, you're out of warranty. If you have multiple problems (RROD and a faulty DVD drive), you more than likely will get it replaced for free, as long as you only mention the RROD.
As far as purchasing a used system, I don't believe that the warranty is void on used systems (like ones from GameStop). So unless I am wrong on this, if you choose to go the used system route, you need to get a service plan through the store. It would more than likely be more beneficial to get a new system with 2 free games that you can sell if you don't want.
I built a really powerful PC when I was in high school, but I didn't play games too much on it during my first year of college. It needs an upgrade in order to be considered "powerful" again.
The big reason that I want a 360 is for multiplayer play. Although I do enjoy single player games, gaming is so much more fun with a friend. A lot of my friends have 360s and it would probably be the best purchase out of all three major consoles.
-EDIT-
Death of Rats, that's an extremely helpful post. Thanks a lot. Does anybody have the lot number that DoR mentioned?
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YES.
Well there you go.
Go for it. The GoW and Halo 3 lan parties I've been at have been a blast. Easy to set up, no computer bullshit, and it's just fun. If your friends have 360s and you want to be involved in the multiplayer love fest, I'd say go for it. Even if it is for online (well, as long as you can invest $50 a year for Live).
The best way to see what model you are getting is to go to a brick and mortar store and check the serial number. There's a little tab on the box you can pull out to check. I wish I had done that, but I assumed all the new Premiums with HDMI had the new chips.
Ok, good to know. Pay attention to this then. If you buy a 360, you really want to get the Falcon model.
-EDIT-
I got it.
The article is about a guy at IGN who disassembled a Halo 3 edition of the 360 to check if it was a Falcon model. The manufacturing date was at the end of August of 2007.
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MS 882224380751,
With Premiums now having HDMI there is no reason to get an Elite unless you like the colour black.
the 20gb HDD with the premium is, frankly, ample space for anything. If you need more HDD space while it is costly getting the 120gb HDD standalone may be better.
The point is, you just dont know if you are going to need all that space if you get an elite. you might not. I certainly dont.
imo 20gb is loads of space. minus 7 for caching 13 wont fill up quick. as long as you delete large stuff you dont need anymore.
because they're demos
Or I myself like to keep demos for games I intend to get down the road so that I have something of the game to play till I get it. Not all demos mind you, but demos that don't get old after only one play.
They let me keep my HDD (this was on the 30 day exchange, I had a bad optical drive). Pulled one off the shelf, opened it up and swapped the drives. No problem at all.
took out her barrettes and her hair spilled out like rootbeer
if you can afford it without it cuting hard into your game related budget, having extra space is always better.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
If you're from Canada, Dell.ca has a nice deal going from now until the 9th.
Basically, it's the Holiday bundle with Ultimate Alliance, Forza 2, 20 GB HD, with HDMI port / cable all for $399.99 with free shipping. On top of that they throw in Halo 3 for free. Here's the linky if anyone's interested. It's the best I've found for deals in Canada. US might have better deals though.
Around 3 months ago... when the 360's price dropped.
Aren't they also labelled on the sticker? I remember reading somewhere around here that the Zephyrs are marked 'Zyphr'. (Obviously I could be way wrong)
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: Hell Yes.
I just cashed in my plan yesterday and they let me keep it
Can I (In the UK) get one from America and happily use it over here? The term region-free has been tossed around...
But yeah, alot of deals right now involve the Premium and 2 Good games for for £249.99, so I'm very tempted...
The bigger problem with the whole Americas/Europe thing is the whole Pal vs ntsc issue. I don't know if a NA 360 will output PAL (or vice versa). That would be a bigger issue than just worrying about region free games.
(Not that I care too much, since it seems to work fine and runs nice and cool.)
EDIT: Just checked the box and it looks like it has a lot number of 735 and the number under the barcode is 882224573887.
Only if using composite.
afaik if you use component or vga or hdmi with the 360 ntsc will display on a tv bought in the uk. dont quote me on this.
ive played an american 360 on my hdtv fine using standard cables but it could be a one off.
Go go go
If it hasn't been said, the Lot # is 0734 and up. I saw a Premium system with a Lot # of 0737 the other day if that matters to anybody.
Do not engage the Watermelons.
What's the deal with the new bundles - are they all newly made consoles, or did they just repackage old consoles with the extra pack-in stuff?
Do not engage the Watermelons.
I got the Forza/M:UA bundle and I think it's pretty awesome. I had a pretty lousy 360 from last christmas and I also had a launch one, they were both really loud and got pretty hot. This HDMI one, even though it may be the older "Zephyr" model, isn't nearly as loud nor does it get as hot.
I'm also a sucker for pack-in games.
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