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Xbox 360: Up or Down?

LBD_NytetraynLBD_Nytetrayn TorontoRegistered User regular
edited September 2008 in Games and Technology
Question for Xbox 360 owners, particularly those familiar with the console's defects and getting the most life out of the system.

Is it better to stand it up, or have it laying down? I had read before that laying it down was the best way to go, as supposedly the fan is set to blow out the bottom when standing, preventing better circulation.

But now, I'm reading this article (which was linked from this one), in which the person being interviewed says the following:
But the cooler you can keep it, the longer it will probably last. So stand it up, keep it in free air, etc.

...so, does anyone know which way is actually better for keeping it cooler?

qjWUWdm.gif1edr1cF.gifINPoYqL.png
Like Mega Man Legends? Then check out my story, Legends of the Halcyon Era - An Adventure in the World of Mega Man Legends on TMMN and AO3!
LBD_Nytetrayn on

Posts

  • WetsunWetsun Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I keep it laying down, on a baker's cooling rack.

    Heard lots of people bitch about them falling over & scratching discs if they're vertical.

    Wetsun on
    XBL/Steam: Wetsun
  • NaloutoNalouto Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    down, there are vents on both "sides" of it? so wouldn't it be bad to stand them up?

    Nalouto on
    :winky:
  • Gaming-ModuleGaming-Module Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I keep mine down in a vat of liquid nitrogen with a crucifix hanging on the wall above.

    Gaming-Module on
  • MechMantisMechMantis Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    You should probably find a tooth of a saint and embed it in the tank.

    For added security.

    MechMantis on
  • LBD_NytetraynLBD_Nytetrayn TorontoRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Maybe I'll just get Ice Man, Frost Man, Chill Penguin, and Mr. Freeze together, and watch them play.

    LBD_Nytetrayn on
    qjWUWdm.gif1edr1cF.gifINPoYqL.png
    Like Mega Man Legends? Then check out my story, Legends of the Halcyon Era - An Adventure in the World of Mega Man Legends on TMMN and AO3!
  • Gaming-ModuleGaming-Module Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I hear monkey's paw gives you another 6 months without the red ring.

    Gaming-Module on
  • jothkijothki Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Wetsun wrote: »
    I keep it laying down, on a baker's cooling rack.

    Heard lots of people bitch about them falling over & scratching discs if they're vertical.

    That happened to me. It's probably a good idea to keep it lying down if you have pets, family members, or feet.

    jothki on
  • DjiemDjiem Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    jothki wrote: »
    Wetsun wrote: »
    I keep it laying down, on a baker's cooling rack.

    Heard lots of people bitch about them falling over & scratching discs if they're vertical.

    That happened to me. It's probably a good idea to keep it lying down if you have pets, family members, or feet.

    Or the bizarre desire of keeping your 360 working.

    Djiem on
  • DusdaDusda is ashamed of this post SLC, UTRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I keep mine on it's side, on the carpeted floor next to my TV. Never had any problems.

    Dusda on
    and this sig. and this twitch stream.
  • UltimanecatUltimanecat Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Dusda wrote: »
    I keep mine on it's side, on the carpeted floor next to my TV. Never had any problems.

    TiananmenSquareJune51989.jpg

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  • WillethWilleth Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I have had it both vertical and horizontal, and I've had it fail on me in both positions. Personally I would recommend horizontal.

    There are intake fans on the hard drive end and the opposite end, and an out vent on the back. This means that when you have it vertical, you are pulling air downward over the disc for ventilation and one fan is off. If it's horizontal, you have another fan in play and you're not fighting the forces of convection as much.

    Willeth on
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  • SkutSkutSkutSkut Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Mine's verti , but on an elevated rack so it's not sitting on anything throwing hot air back into itself.

    SkutSkut on
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  • DusdaDusda is ashamed of this post SLC, UTRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Ultimanecat wrote: »
    Dusda wrote: »
    I keep mine on it's side, on the carpeted floor next to my TV. Never had any problems.

    TiananmenSquareJune51989.jpg

    What's your point? He's getting plenty of ventilation.

    Dusda on
    and this sig. and this twitch stream.
  • MegaMan001MegaMan001 CRNA Rochester, MNRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Horizontal here. I bought some of those rubber feet you can put on the bottom for about an extra inch of clearance. Hasn't died yet.

    I also had a chaplain on my hospital unit bless it when he came over to play Rock Band.

    MegaMan001 on
    I am in the business of saving lives.
  • DehumanizedDehumanized Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I'd say horizontal, simply because I'd rather just be worried about RROD instead of RROD and disc scratches.

    Dehumanized on
  • EriosErios Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I keep it flat and every month I head down to Brooklyn with my 360 to get a Santero to sacrifice chickens for its health.

    Erios on
    Steam: erios23, Live: Coconut Flavor, Origin: erios2386.
  • LBD_NytetraynLBD_Nytetrayn TorontoRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Incidently, I don't play many disc-based games on it. That'll change for sure, once Bionic Commando comes out, and Street Fighter IV, maybe Banjo-Kazooie, but yeah, I keep it flat for disc-based stuff. Lately, I've been playing more digital stuff.

    LBD_Nytetrayn on
    qjWUWdm.gif1edr1cF.gifINPoYqL.png
    Like Mega Man Legends? Then check out my story, Legends of the Halcyon Era - An Adventure in the World of Mega Man Legends on TMMN and AO3!
  • Dirty DrawersDirty Drawers Lord of the undie world Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I keep mine, like I keep my women...horizontal. GIGGITY!

    Dirty Drawers on
    Fools shall not be pitied.
  • Shoegaze99Shoegaze99 Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I keep mine down, on an open, backless shelf.

    When I got my RRoD, it was standing up next to my router and modem. I also found DVDs to be a little more fussy when it was standing up.

    Shoegaze99 on
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  • fragglefartfragglefart Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Vertical.

    Oh yeah, I'm a badass.

    fragglefart on
    fragglefart.jpg
  • DaebunzDaebunz Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Mine's vertical, but it's inside an entertainment center so having it laying down blocks the side vents a little.

    I learned my lesson after it overheated and shut down right at the end of an hour and a half long level of Bioshock.

    Daebunz on
    7yh4xczljsym.png
  • TiemlerTiemler Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Wetsun wrote: »
    I keep it laying down, on a baker's cooling rack.

    And I copied you after you mentioned that in the last thread.

    Found a nifty black cookie sheet that blends into my entertainment center, too.

    Tiemler on
  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Vertical here, behind my hdtv standing on top of my dvd player and right next to my ps3 all in a tiny enclosed space.

    red ringed 5 times so far, going for the sixth soon (still on the same console, power off for a day, come back and it works again for a few months woooo)

    The_Scarab on
  • scootchscootch Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    standing up. I save space this way.

    scootch on
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  • gogglesgoggles Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I keep mine safely boxed up on a store shelf.

    goggles on
  • FreddyDFreddyD Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Flat on the floor on top of a laptop cooler, with plenty of space around it.

    FreddyD on
  • InzignaInzigna Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    If you're thinking of prolonging your 360's life span, then a good bet would be to place it horizontally, since as it has already been mentioned, it has vents on both sides.

    But after having gone through 3 360 and having tried both vertical and horizontal, the differences in lifespans are negligible. Like they all say, it'll probably fail sometime anyway.

    That said, it's an awesome machine, just terribly temperamental.

    Inzigna on
    camo_sig2.png
  • MisterGrokMisterGrok Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Vertical, Standing on my nifty entertainment center made out of those wire squares held together with plastic pegs. Between my PS3 (also vertical) and my Wii (still, vertical).

    The cable box above them has died more often than anything else, but I don't turn on my Wii or PS3 unless my 360 is on it's way back to the Mothership.

    MisterGrok on
    GamerTag: aintnodancer
  • NailbunnyPDNailbunnyPD Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Standing it vertical blocks one of the intake vents. The HDD blocks a good portion of the other.

    Horizontal is the way to go.

    NailbunnyPD on
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  • MarvellousMMarvellousM United StatesRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Flat on a laptop cooling pad so I have extra fans underneath sucking out hot air nearer the chips n' stuff. Seems to stay nice and cool.

    MarvellousM on
  • InzignaInzigna Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Just to side track a little, has anyone had a 360 for two years without breaking down?

    Inzigna on
    camo_sig2.png
  • LibrarianThorneLibrarianThorne Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    LBD_Nytetrayn wrote: »
    Question for Xbox 360 owners, particularly those familiar with the console's defects and getting the most life out of the system.

    Is it better to stand it up, or have it laying down? I had read before that laying it down was the best way to go, as supposedly the fan is set to blow out the bottom when standing, preventing better circulation.

    But now, I'm reading this article (which was linked from this one), in which the person being interviewed says the following:
    But the cooler you can keep it, the longer it will probably last. So stand it up, keep it in free air, etc.

    ...so, does anyone know which way is actually better for keeping it cooler?


    Laying horizontal on a plastic crate thate allows for the vents on the side facing the ground to circulate air. Standing it vertical, especially on older systems, is asking for the DVD drive to bite it in my experience.

    LibrarianThorne on
  • Nihilistic LemonNihilistic Lemon Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Inzigna wrote: »
    Just to side track a little, has anyone had a 360 for two years without breaking down?

    Had it since launch. I have only had to get the disc-drive replaced.
    Oh and mine is positioned horizontally with a flat-screen monitor on top of it.

    Nihilistic Lemon on
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