Taking discs out of consoles while they are off?

UnknownSaint

So I've always wondered, because I have friends that are on either side of this argument, but what is the optimal thing to do regarding discs in a gaming console when they are off and not being used?

I have friends that always take them out, claiming that it's better for the console and the game.

I have friends that leave some games they are playing for a while in there for extended periods of time, claiming that it's better because it doesn't wear the eject mechanism.

Anyone have any solid facts regarding this?

Gdiguy

It's better for the console/game if you're planning on taking your 360 out ballroom dancing later on that evening... or I guess if you have nightly earthquakes

Seriously I can't think of a single technical reason why it would make any difference at all... though are we talking like this generation or NES/gameboy type systems?

UnknownSaint

Nah, just Wii/360/PS3.

That's what I figured as well, but my friend is extremely thickheaded about this, and it's just funny because of how overly-protective of his PS3 he is, but he's probably doing more harm than good in his efforts.

Doc

It's nicer just to keep game boxes organized. If I leave the game in, the box typically gets put back on the shelf, then the game gets swapped into whatever other game/movie box someone next uses.

dobi

I'd have to say using the motors on either the 360, PS3, or Wii is worse than letting the disk sit in the console. There's mostly likely a finite amount of times the drive motors can be run (though that number is huge)

Movitz

finalflight89 wrote: »

I'd have to say using the motors on either the 360, PS3, or Wii is worse than letting the disk sit in the console. There's mostly likely a finite amount of times the drive motors can be run (though that number is huge)

This.

But you'll also have to consider the life-span of the disc the game is on. It will probably get scratched a lot quicker if you handle it all the time.

ViolentChemistry

In real-life it just doesn't fucking matter at all as long as you handle discs carefully and never move the console when there's a disc in the drive.

MurphysParadox

What are the reasons your friend gives for removing the disc?

UnknownSaint

MurphysParadox wrote: »

What are the reasons your friend gives for removing the disc?

He thinks he's being protective of his precious PS3.

MurphysParadox

But in what way? What is he afraid will happen? Based on the mechanics of a disc drive, the only possible damage the actual console could suffer is if the disc was dislodged and became stuck inside the drive itself. However, for this to happen, you'd need to be really roughing that machine up; tossing it around and flipping it through the air. Assuming you don't live in a natural disaster prone area where stuff may be knocked off tables and counters with relative ease, I cannot think of ways that one would need to reasonably fear damage.

As others said here, taking the disc out is much much more likely to cause damage to the disc and wear on the console's drive motors than it could ever prevent the console from receiving.