360 Running Cooler, Possible Break-in Period?

[bapenguin]

Could there be a breakin period with the 360? Head on over to the AvsForum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=610790) and read about some user's expierence with the 360 and it "cooling down" over time. I've noticed similar. My 360 is in an equipment closet, and before when I opened the door I could really feel the heat coming out of the closet...now I no longer feel it as drastic as it was.

Could there have been an update via Live to fix some heat related issues? Possibly thermal paste on certain components "breaking in"?

How bout you guys? Anyone notice their 360 seems to be running a bit cooler than before?

[CapnAJ]

Maybe users are becoming acclimatized to the Saharan temperatures?

[Savok]

New computers always seem to have weird problems that just seem to disappear over time as it "settles in". I think electronics have a soul.

[Vandenh]

I said stuff like this before in another thread.

A product failure has a curve... higher in the beginning, slowly going down and going up again at the end of the product life cycle. So yes... an new 360 is more likely to malfunction in the beginning of its life.

[CapnAJ]

I'd be interested to hear if anyone who is going to pick up an XBOX360 could monitor the temperature of their machine over a period of time and see if it does actually 'bed in' or if the onset of Winter is an attributing factor in peoples interperation of how 'hot' the machine is.

Or maybe not... ;)

[crashedout]

If the production facilities are running as fast as possible maybe their testing/breaking in is minimal at best. IF MS did update your 360 I would hope there was a notice or log somewhere that you can check.

[Hignaki]

It's called the power of suggestion. Is your X360 really cooling down, or do you think it is because some forum guys said so; even when it's not?

[fitbabits]

Huh, and I thought I was the only one.

When I first powered up my 360, the noise was deafening. I even had to turn the volume up on my TV to compensate for it. It has since gotten prpgressively quieter (and cooler) over time, so much so that I can now watch DVDs on it without tinkering with the volume. In fact, my original Xbox is louder than it now. Go figure.

[CapnAJ]

It's called the power of suggestion. Is your X360 really cooling down, or do you think it is because some forum guys said so; even when it's not?

It's all down to the powers of suggestion. ;)

[ZeroTactics]

I don't think it has to do with the power of suggestion.

The first day I had my 360, it was fucking loud and the top of it was really hot after I played for like 2 hours and when I took the disc out, it was really freakin hot.

After a week, my 360 barely makes any sound and the disc are cool even after hours of play.

Strange.

[nfwolfpryde]

I seriously doubt it's actually getting any quieter. It's your ears acclimating. To see this effect, try watching TV with what is typically "low" volume in a quiet room. In ~5 minutes, it'll sound like a comfortable "medium." Turn it back up to where you normally think medium volume is, and you'll find it loud. Also, settling "thermal paste" is a real stretch. Good thermal paste doesn't make the machine produce less heat, it just lets it get rid of it faster (in theory making the room EVEN HOTTER). My guess is it's just all in your head.

That said, I wish it was in my head. I didn't get a 360.

[fitbabits]

I seriously doubt it's actually getting any quieter. It's your ears acclimating. To see this effect, try watching TV with what is typically "low" volume in a quiet room. In ~5 minutes, it'll sound like a comfortable "medium." Turn it back up to where you normally think medium volume is, and you'll find it loud. Also, settling "thermal paste" is a real stretch. Good thermal paste doesn't make the machine produce less heat, it just lets it get rid of it faster (in theory making the room EVEN HOTTER). My guess is it's just all in your head.

That said, I wish it was in my head. I didn't get a 360.
But it is! So there. :D

[bapenguin]

Good thermal paste doesn't make the machine produce less heat, it just lets it get rid of it faster (in theory making the room EVEN HOTTER). My guess is it's just all in your head.


Not true, if the thermal paste isn't making good contact with the heatsink, the heat is dissapaiting (sp?) into the air, instead of the heat sink. Therefore the air around the processor would be hotter and the fans would suck that air out. With it dissapaiting (sp?) into the heatsink, it takes longer before it hits the air and is sucked out by the fans. Remember, the 360 fans don't sit on the heatsink, but on the back of the box. My guess is it might be like the Artic Silver Ceramique stuff which takes 1-2 weeks to reach it's optimal form.

[mpsmith]

It may be a case of post hoc, ergo propter hoc, or an illusory correlation for you lay people.

[Jacob Singer]

On the first day of use for my 360 disks would be pretty damn warm to the touch upon opening the drive bay. After a week of pretty intense usage, I noticed this past Wednesday that the disks weren't nearly as warm when I'd change one out.

Purely anecdotal evidence, but I'd say it's certainly possible. I haven't noticed anything with the loudness of the drive, other than some disks (PGR3) seem much louder than others.

[51|RandoM]

Could be whatever heatsink compound they're using needed to cure a bit for optimal performance. The difference usually isn't so drastic, though, at least not with a pc.

Now we wait for the machines to get clogged with dust and end up even hotter than they started. You might want to clean the dust out periodically, if you can do it without invalidating your warranty.

[Montolio]

I completely agree with bapenguin, fitbabits, ZeroTactics and can confirm their story.

[Kelegacy]

It may be a case of post hoc, ergo propter hoc, or an illusory correlation for you lay people.

Get out of here with your sensible, rational explanations. :)

[pomeroy]

Yeah...mine's definitely quieter.

[Mysterio]

Not true, if the thermal paste isn't making good contact with the heatsink, the heat is dissapaiting (sp?) into the air, instead of the heat sink. Therefore the air around the processor would be hotter and the fans would suck that air out. With it dissapaiting (sp?) into the heatsink, it takes longer before it hits the air and is sucked out by the fans. Remember, the 360 fans don't sit on the heatsink, but on the back of the box. My guess is it might be like the Artic Silver Ceramique stuff which takes 1-2 weeks to reach it's optimal form.

Actually, the reason thermal paste and heatsinks are used is because thermal paste is a better "conductor" of heat than air and heatsinks disperse the heat over a greater surface area. Without thermal paste and a heatsink, the heat would remain in the component moreso than it would if thermal paste and a heatsink were used. Therefore, the air surrounding the component would be cooler when thermal paste and a heatsink aren't used, since the heat radiates from the component more slowly, thereby causing the component's temperature to remain high. The extremely large surface area and material of a heatsink allows the heat to disperse into the air more quickly than the component alone.

After heat is created by a component, it's just moved from one volumetric space to another via fans and ambiant airflow; it does not dissipate unless energy is used to eliminate the heat (for example, an air conditioner).

[zangster]

I did notice it took slightly longer than usual to make my Jiffy Pop Popcorn on the back of my 360 last night.

Seriously though, I think you guys might be right about it running a little cooler.

[CapnAJ]

I'll test this hypothesis next christmas when I get my own XBOX360, I'll monitor room temperature and the temperature of the console aswell, oh and the sound levels during play.

Or I could just play it :)

[Slack3r78]

Actually, the reason thermal paste and heatsinks are used is because thermal paste is a better "conductor" of heat than air and heatsinks disperse the heat over a greater surface area. Without thermal paste and a heatsink, the heat would remain in the component moreso than it would if thermal paste and a heatsink were used.

And to be more precise, thermal paste is only used to fill whatever gaps are left between the component and the heatsink. It's a better conductor than air, but not as good as the heatsink itself, which is why too much heatsink compound can be worse than none at all.

Which is why I have to believe that this is about the least likely possible explanation. Thermal paste will make a few C difference at best (I'd consider 2-3C to be above average) but nothing noticeable to the touch. The Live patch is a possibility (ever played with the fan controller setting on a modded XBox? It can make a huge difference) but I'd have no way of commenting on the likelihood of that.

[Morrolan]

It's called the power of suggestion. Is your X360 really cooling down, or do you think it is because some forum guys said so; even when it's not?
Is it really down to the power of suggestion, or did some psych professor just TELL you that it was, even when it's not? :)

[ruprect]

Mine hasn't gotten quieter, but for the first few days when I would shut the 360 down the fans would run for before it completely turned off. It doesn't do that anymore.
I will say this though: the DVD drive is pretty darn loud when it spins.

[trip1eX]

Wow a guy thinks his 360 is running cooler now and it's news. muhahahaha.


Now that his whole house is 5 degrees warmer and the whirring of the fans have been ingrained into his brain sure it's not as bad as before.

You guys are leaning a bit too heavy on the crack pipe.

[fitbabits]

Wow a guy thinks his 360 is running cooler now and it's news. muhahahaha.


Now that his whole house is 5 degrees warmer and the whirring of the fans has been ingrained into his brain sure it's not as bad as before.
Oh hush!

It's news, I think, because there was such a furore following the launch of the Xbox 360 surrounding overheating issues.

If you can't accept that, then that's fine. However, there are better ways to get your post count up.

Edit: You, sir, need to remove the crack pipe from your ass and go get some air.

[trip1eX]

Yeah I'm trying hard to get my post count up. lol. I want to be like you. lol.

Guy in his room with 360.......

Yeah I swear man. My 360 is like cooler man. I opened up my closet and I felt the air and it was cooler. Yeah so like it's just breaking in I guess man. Just takes a few days is all. Yeah so like that's why I want to report this. ah what? ...Oh wait just a minute I need to close the window. Yeah be right back.

[fitbabits]

Yeah I'm trying hard to get my post count up. lol. I want to be like you. lol.

Guy in his room with 360.......

Yeah I swear man. My 360 is like cooler man. I opened up my closet and I felt the air and it was cooler. Yeah so like it's just breaking in I guess man. Just takes a few days is all. Yeah so like that's why I want to report this. ah what? ...Oh wait just a minute I need to close the window. Yeah be right back.
So it lol would seem, lol.

I suggest you read the replies and think again about what you're having issues with. My own Xbox 360 has gotten quieter and cooler since I bought it and it's been in the same place as always. Plus, my air conditioning remains at a constant temperature. No windows open, no fans blowing on it.

If people reporting overheating is news, surely people experiencing the opposite is news? Or is there some other agenda behind your unwillingness to accept this as news?

[OUX]

Yeah be right back.


Don't.





The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

[trip1eX]

So it lol would seem, lol.

I suggest you read the replies and think again about what you're having issues with. My own Xbox 360 has gotten quieter and cooler since I bought it and it's been in the same place as always. Plus, my air conditioning remains at a constant temperature. No windows open, no fans blowing on it.

If people reporting overheating is news, surely people experiencing the opposite is news? Or is there some other agenda behind your unwillingness to accept this as news?

I would suggest you grow a brain. And hey good news, if your 360 can suddenly run cooler and quieter than it could be possible.

Anyway it's quieter now because you're half-deaf and it's cooler because your room temperature is now 5 degrees warmer. (yes i'm exageratting so don't lecture me about blah blah blah...) It's called acclimation. Geese get a clue.

People of course want to believe it's cooler and quieter because then it makes them feel better about their purchase.

That whole b.s. about the thermalpaste or pad between the cpu and heatsink taking a week to suddenly become efficient at transferring temps is total bs. It's all bs. But I guess that's why I read this site. To watch a bunch of idiots talk total bs.

[OUX]

Have a mirror by your monitor do you?

[bapenguin]

But I guess that's why I read this site. To watch a bunch of idiots talk total bs.

And that sir, is why you fit in so well.

It IS a huge difference. It's not acclimation, it's a bigger difference. Trust me...I have no need to "justify my purchase."

[*Legion*]

That whole b.s. about the thermalpaste or pad between the cpu and heatsink taking a week to suddenly become efficient at transferring temps is total bs.

Spoken like someone that obviously knows jack shit about computers, electronics, and thermal compound.

From Arctic Silver Inc.'s page (http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm): "During the CPU's initial use, the compound thins out to enhance the filling of the microscopic valleys and ensure the best physical contact between the heatsink and the CPU core. Then the compound thickens slightly over the next 50 to 200 hours of use to its final consistency designed for long-term stability."

From another page (http://www.xoxide.com/arcticsilver5.html): "Due to the unique shape and sizes of the particles in Arctic Silver 5's conductive matrix, it will take a up to 200 hours and several thermal cycles to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity."

(and no, none of this is unique to Arctic's compound)

But don't let facts get in the way of your complete idiocy.

[PSyMastR]

Maybe because its getting cooler outside?

[Kelegacy]

In related news, I could swear my penis has gotten bigger over the past couple days.

[OUX]

In related news, I could swear my penis has gotten bigger over the past couple days.
Its called an infection.....my bad

[CapnAJ]

Spoken like someone that obviously knows jack shit about computers, electronics, and thermal compound.

From Arctic Silver Inc.'s page (http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm): "During the CPU's initial use, the compound thins out to enhance the filling of the microscopic valleys and ensure the best physical contact between the heatsink and the CPU core. Then the compound thickens slightly over the next 50 to 200 hours of use to its final consistency designed for long-term stability."

From another page (http://www.xoxide.com/arcticsilver5.html): "Due to the unique shape and sizes of the particles in Arctic Silver 5's conductive matrix, it will take a up to 200 hours and several thermal cycles to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity."

(and no, none of this is unique to Arctic's compound)

But don't let facts get in the way of your complete idiocy.

Not that this bedding in of thermal paste and components would have any perceptible change to air temperature around someones XBOX360.

[Lint of Death]

In related news, I could swear my penis has gotten bigger over the past couple days.

Did that require over 200 hours of use, too? :eek:

...and how many thermal cycles?

[Murmillo]

My bet is on the thermal paste. When I built my computer, my CPU was running at 50'C idle,- the follow week it was at 47'C Idle, and 2 weeks after that, it was running at 35'C idle. (all tests taken between 30 minutes after boot up). And this was happening in the middle of summer when the temperatures were getting hotter in my house.

Thermal paste needs time to cure, anybody who has built thier own computer knows this. Why I didn't think of it when it came to the 360 I don't know....
I guess they only ran the 360 long enought to make sure it got past a boot cycle and could read a harddrive and a DVD. When you get your hot running xbox back, what did MS do? just let it sit and run for a few hours a day.

[Murmillo]

Not that this bedding in of thermal paste and components would have any perceptible change to air temperature around someones XBOX360.
Your wrong, the hotter eletronics are the more heat they put out. If they are kept cool, the internal eletronic resistance is lower = producing less heat. As temp rises, so does the amount of heat that it produces. To electronics, heat = friction. More heat means more friction, more friction means more heat.

[CapnAJ]

My bet is on the thermal paste. When I built my computer, my CPU was running at 50'C idle,- the follow week it was at 47'C Idle, and 2 weeks after that, it was running at 35'C idle. (all tests taken between 30 minutes after boot up). And this was happening in the middle of summer when the temperatures were getting hotter in my house.

Thermal paste needs time to cure, anybody who has built thier own computer knows this. Why I didn't think of it when it came to the 360 I don't know....
I guess they only ran the 360 long enought to make sure it got past a boot cycle and could read a harddrive and a DVD. When you get your hot running xbox back, what did MS do? just let it sit and run for a few hours a day.

The computers I have built haven't had a marked temperature change as yours, maybe 5' at the very most in difference. Times of the year definately have an effect on my computers temperatures.

[CapnAJ]

Your wrong, the hotter eletronics are the more heat they put out. If they are kept cool, the internal eletronic resistance is lower = producing less heat. As temp rises, so does the amount of heat that it produces. To electronics, heat = friction. More heat means more friction, more friction means more heat.


Point and missed, you and your skin wouldn't notice a small degree change in temperature from the surrounding air, unless there was a significant drop or rise in temperature; in which case something very major has happened to the device. A thermometer would be a far more reliable source of information on temperature change. :)

[Murmillo]

The computers I have built haven't had a marked temperature change as yours, maybe 5' at the very most in difference. Times of the year definately have an effect on my computers temperatures. Ahh, so you do now admit that thermal compound gets better with time. You may not think 5' is much, but I suggest you take a class dealing with Theory of Thermal Dynamics.

[rainbowblack]

So far the only problem my 360 has had since the 22nd had been while playing Fable. After 2 hours the game froze, later the same day fable froze again after 2 hours of play.
Since then everything has been dandy with my 360. Although my disks are scalding hot when removed, hotter than the console itself which is odd cause the system does not seem all that hot. Just maybe a smidgen over lukewarm

[trip1eX]

Spoken like someone that obviously knows jack shit about computers, electronics, and thermal compound.

From Arctic Silver Inc.'s page (http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm): "During the CPU's initial use, the compound thins out to enhance the filling of the microscopic valleys and ensure the best physical contact between the heatsink and the CPU core. Then the compound thickens slightly over the next 50 to 200 hours of use to its final consistency designed for long-term stability."

From another page (http://www.xoxide.com/arcticsilver5.html): "Due to the unique shape and sizes of the particles in Arctic Silver 5's conductive matrix, it will take a up to 200 hours and several thermal cycles to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity."

(and no, none of this is unique to Arctic's compound)

But don't let facts get in the way of your complete idiocy.


Of course what you don't realize is this doesn't make heat disappear from the inside of your 360 case or the air blowing out of it.

So here's your dunce cap back.

Everyone who's not part scarecrow knows this is just one of those cases where folks are mislead by their own senses.

It doesn't feel as hot? It's not as loud? YOu're used to it gall damnit. That's why.

****
About that data... you don't have any sense of context I take it? That settling doesn't produce a night and day difference in temperatures. You'd be hard pressed to notice it. And a temperature sensor could tell you if there's a difference.

[fitbabits]

I would suggest you grow a brain. And hey good news, if your 360 can suddenly run cooler and quieter than it could be possible.

Anyway it's quieter now because you're half-deaf and it's cooler because your room temperature is now 5 degrees warmer. (yes i'm exageratting so don't lecture me about blah blah blah...) It's called acclimation. Geese get a clue.

People of course want to believe it's cooler and quieter because then it makes them feel better about their purchase.

That whole b.s. about the thermalpaste or pad between the cpu and heatsink taking a week to suddenly become efficient at transferring temps is total bs. It's all bs. But I guess that's why I read this site. To watch a bunch of idiots talk total bs.
Hey, thanks for the concern, but my brain is in good shape as evidenced by the fact that I’m able to look at things objectively and not resort to exaggeration (note correct spelling) to make a whisker-thin point more substantial.

I feel fantastic about buying my Xbox 360, not justification is needed on my part. You, however, really should think about justifying your replies so far.

[Mason]

Okay genius children, time to quit bickering.

There are indeed scenarios in which increasing the thermal conductivity of the paste would both quiet the fans and cool the case.

Noise is simple. It all depends on where the thermal diode controlling the heatsink fan is placed. If it is on the processor instead of the heatsink itself, then yes better conductivity would make the fans run at a lower RPM. Hence quieter.

And of course the 360 isn't producing less heat as a closed thermodynamic system, but the question is what is getting hot? If the heatsink isn't absorbing as much heat as it should, there's less heat being dumped into the air, and thus the motherboard and quite likely case will be heating up instead. So to touch a 360, you'd certainly have the impression that it is cooler, even though it is because the same amount of heat is being shunted into the air directly, and not being dissipated through the device itself. This doesn't amount to less heat, but it is certainly doing better things with the heat.

Christ triplex, what a stupid thing to be flaming people about.

[Murmillo]

Christ triplex, what a stupid thing to be flaming people about.
People have been flamed for less... much much less. Still, it's no excuse.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

In related news, I could swear my penis has gotten bigger over the past couple days.


That's strange, because it felt just as small as ever last night. :(

[t3g]

This is why I am waiting around March-May for an Xbox 360. Hardware issues will be resolved (hopefully runs cooler!) and devs will show their top games around E3. Also, its a good time to compare it to the PS3 and Revolution to ensure that you don't waste your money. Plus there will probably be a price drop around $50-$100.

I am having a lot of fun with my original Xbox now. Playing through Half-Life 2 and the occasional game of NCAA Football 06.

[TrackZero]

It's called the power of suggestion. Is your X360 really cooling down, or do you think it is because some forum guys said so; even when it's not?

Or did you think it was hot in the first place, because some forum guys said so?

[XenonCJ]

It's probably cooler because it's actually getting cooler outside (wintertime so avg. temp in your house is cooler). The fans are probably variable speed based on temp, so they are running slower (quieter).

[TrackZero]

It's probably cooler because it's actually getting cooler outside (wintertime so avg. temp in your house is cooler). The fans are probably variable speed based on temp, so they are running slower (quieter).

The comments so far are largely that these are air conditioned circumstances and the temp is the same.

[Sykus]

This is why I am waiting around March-May for an Xbox 360. Hardware issues will be resolved (hopefully runs cooler!) and devs will show their top games around E3. Also, its a good time to compare it to the PS3 and Revolution to ensure that you don't waste your money. Plus there will probably be a price drop around $50-$100.

I am having a lot of fun with my original Xbox now. Playing through Half-Life 2 and the occasional game of NCAA Football 06.

Hear, hear.

[CapnAJ]

Ahh, so you do now admit that thermal compound gets better with time. You may not think 5' is much, but I suggest you take a class dealing with Theory of Thermal Dynamics.

Again nothing that is going to be perceptible to you as a device for monitoring temperatures with any accuracy, which leads me to believe that this "bedding in" period is in actual fact nothing to do with reality, but an misplaced observation of other factors that have nothing to do with the device itself.

As for "5'C" that is the absolute maximum difference I have observed over 10 years of building computers, but that change can also be attributed to a number of other factors and not to mention the usual change I have observed (not physically felt, but observed through temperature gauges) is so miniscule as to not be a significant change above or below the law of averages.

I am more readily inclined to believe a small update to the XBOX360 system could be a cause (if there is any actual change in temp) to the temperature changes, adjusting fan speeds, etc...

Is the name of the new XBOX360 coincidently the operating temperature of the console?

[CapnAJ]

Not that a surreptitious update from Microsoft, one that goes without notice, seems very likely. Why would Microsoft leave their console open to hacking by such a route, but then again IE and Windows have a long history of security holes. ;)

[trip1eX]

hehe this is good stuff. You can't get more entertainment per buck than by skimming this thread. Why read boring 'ole explanations when you can read outrageous speculation? This is kind of like if the National Enquirer covered the 360. Someone said so it must be true.

[fitbabits]

hehe this is good stuff. You can't get more entertainment per buck than by skimming this thread. Why read boring 'ole explanations when you can read outrageous speculation? This is kind of like if the National Enquirer covered the 360. Someone said so it must be true.
Get back to your cave, troll! Unless you have something productive to add to the thread and not the keech you've been spewing out your ass so far.

[Raizer]

I seriously doubt it's actually getting any quieter. It's your ears acclimating. To see this effect, try watching TV with what is typically "low" volume in a quiet room. In ~5 minutes, it'll sound like a comfortable "medium." Turn it back up to where you normally think medium volume is, and you'll find it loud. Also, settling "thermal paste" is a real stretch. Good thermal paste doesn't make the machine produce less heat, it just lets it get rid of it faster (in theory making the room EVEN HOTTER). My guess is it's just all in your head.

That said, I wish it was in my head. I didn't get a 360.

Actually it is very possible. Certain thermal compounds are designed to seal with heat; filling in tiny imperfections in the heatsink and processor and then hardening up. The heat is provided by the CPU when you run it the first time. The thermal pads found on the heatsinks that come with retail-boxed CPUs work like this.

While it is true that the overall heat output of the CPU would not change, it would affect the temperature of the system, and if the fans are controlled by the system, the temperature of the CPU would affect the speed they run at as well. That would explain how the system could get both cooler and quieter at the same time. I don't own a 360 either though, so this is pure speculation on my part.

[mister_slim]

How fine is the filtering on the air intakes? Is pet hair going to be a problem?

[Kelegacy]

How fine is the filtering on the air intakes? Is pet hair going to be a problem?
Better not be, because I'm getting hairier by the day. I think I have some growing in my mouth and even my urethra.

[bapenguin]

It's like someone else pointed out, if you have a higher thermal conductivity the processor temp will drop. Because it drops it's not putting out heat, it can't be measure on a linear scale either.

Basically, the cooler the processor can run the more effecient because the less electrical resistance it needs. The reason heatsinks work so well is because of the large surface area of them compared to the smaller surface area of the CPU die. So in theory, if you aren't transferring that heat to the heatsink, it's trying to be transferred into the air through the die directly, which isn't very effecient. When the paste settles into the air gaps and the transfer is more effecient it cools the die faster than before. Because it's being cooled faster and the processor itself isn't speeding up the temperature goes down. Because the temperature goes down of the CPU, the fan speed can go down as well. There forequieter, and therefore cooler air as well.

read some more info here (http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:DMO6IyfrJewJ:www.jaycar.com.au/images_uploaded/heatsink.pdf+how+heatsinks+work&hl=en&client=firefox-a) and here (http://www.maxpc.co.uk/tutorials/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=5488&subsectionid=705).

[trip1eX]

NIce explanation. It has no bearing practically speaking tho. Anyone that has built a few pcs knows this. That's the problem with all these arguments. Folks take a bit of science and decide their own rules on how the variables are related or to what degree would they have an effect.

The most likely explanation is a person's internal reference point has changed from the first day of owning a 360 to a week later.

The first day you're comparing it to your previous console or to no noise and room temperature.

A week later you're comparing it to that first day's shock of hearing the 360 and feeling how hot it was.

The 2nd time around it doesn't seem as bad. To some it probably feels a bit cooler and a bit quieter.

But most likely and in all reasonableness it's the same.

There's a reason they use placebos when doing medical studies. There's a reason a great game maybe isn't as fun the 2nd time around. There's a reason we use sensors to measure noise & heat instead of going on our human touch or feeling.

[Kelegacy]

NIce explanation. It has no bearing practically speaking tho. Anyone that has built a few pcs knows this. That's the problem with all these arguments. Folks take a bit of science and decide their own rules on how the variables are related or to what degree would they have an effect.

The most likely explanation is a person's internal reference point has changed from the first day of owning a 360 to a week later.

The first day you're comparing it to your previous console or to no noise and room temperature.

A week later you're comparing it to that first day's shock of hearing the 360 and feeling how hot it was.

The 2nd time around it doesn't seem as bad. To some it probably feels a bit cooler and a bit quieter.

But most likely and in all reasonableness it's the same.

There's a reason they use placebos when doing medical studies. There's a reason a great game maybe isn't as fun the 2nd time around. There's a reason we use sensors to measure noise & heat instead of going on our human touch or feeling.
I'm not placing my feet on either side of this discussion, but for a "troll" you have to admit trip1eX is coherent, rational, and at times practical. Though he's prone to outbursts and attacks, I've enjoyed his posts in this thread as much as I've enjoyed the ones opposing him. A decent, informative thread read today, all in all. I can't honestly say that most days.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

There's a reason they use placebos when doing medical studies. There's a reason a great game maybe isn't as fun the 2nd time around. There's a reason we use sensors to measure noise & heat instead of going on our human touch or feeling.


To add to that - there's a reason that those around me are no longer bothered by the putrid stench after twenty or so minutes in my presence.

[bapenguin]

I'm not placing my feet on either side of this discussion, but for a "troll" you have to admit trip1eX is coherent, rational, and at times practical. Though he's prone to outbursts and attacks, I've enjoyed his posts in this thread as much as I've enjoyed the ones opposing him. A decent, informative thread read today, all in all. I can't honestly say that most days.

I don't think he's a troll at all.

For me personally my 360 is in a closet, I don't see it, I don't hear it, anything. But what I do notice is overall the closet is cooler, and there are at least a dozen other people that have responded that they feel their 360 is running cooler too.

[LogainAblar]

The only way to solve this is to invite a friend over and find out whether they find the noise or heat intrusive.

BTW TripleX and CapnAJ, you guys act like a couple of angry12 year olds (the kind who talk trash over Xbox-Live), and yet you claim that people actually let you work near electric/electronic equipment? It's a wonder neither of you have fatally injured yourselves yet.

[Stryfe01]

It may be a case of post hoc, ergo propter hoc, or an illusory correlation for you lay people.

My GOD...I was just reading that in the chapter covering Case\Effect writing...erie.

No it doesn't have anything to do with the the cooling issue, but damn...just weird.

[Thenetcase]

Gawd. You people are friggin' retarded!

Vote for Pedro!

I love lamp!

It's like afternoon delight.

Get a friggin' clue man! GAWD!

-TNC-

[zangster]

Man trip1ex, it must've been tough waiting out in the cold all night for an Xbox 360 only to be too far back in line.

[mister_slim]

Man trip1ex, it must've been tough waiting out in the cold all night for an Xbox 360 only to be too far back in line.
See, the nice stores set up a few 360s by the line to keep people warm.

[Kelegacy]

See, the nice stores set up a few 360s by the line to keep people warm.

We had a bunch of snow around Thanksgiving and now there is NONE here in Central Maine. The 360's killed it all.

Goddamn snow murderers.

[Nath5000]

I did notice it took slightly longer than usual to make my Jiffy Pop Popcorn on the back of my 360 last night.

Seriously though, I think you guys might be right about it running a little cooler.

LOL. I can definetly say that my 360 is cooler now, but I cant say its because it passed its break in period. When I first got the system I had it and still have it inside of a stereo cabinet. I made sure I had a big space for it. Its enough room for the 360 to stand up and have maybe 3-4 inches on top of it standing until the shelf on top of it, and probably like 6 inches of room on both sides. It basically looks like a 360 in a display case because there is absolutely nothing around it, but the stereo cabinet isnt ventilated in the back. When I first got my 360 I had the power bar inside of the cabinet with the 360 and If I put my hand into the cabinet the entire inside of the cabinet ceiling would be very hot. After a few days I moved the power brick to outside of the cabinet next to my tv in the open and I was dissapointed because the 360 was still making the inside of the cabinet ceiling really hot. Today my brother was playing it since 8am and it really hasnt been off until now 11:54 all day becuase one person or another has been using it and I went to feel the cabinet ceiling and it wasnt hot at all, and i felt the back of the 360 itself and the case wasnt even as hot as it was before. I cant say its any quieter though, I didnt really notice the sound in the first place, I always have the volume up too loud.

My samsung HDTV set top box runs 10x hotter then the 360 ever did and now the 360 is seemingly cooler then ever. It was something that had crossed my mind as I checked for the heat in the cabinet today and the ceiling was barely room temp when last week even without the power brick in the cabinet the ceiling of the cabinet was scorching hot. My 360 has never frozen either. I wouldve never had it in the cabinet, but there is really no other flat table top-like place in the room to put it except 1) on the carpet (disaster) and 2) on top of the subwoofer (mentally retarded)

I really honestly think that its running cooler, maybe not by much, but when I first got it, it would heat up in no time flat, now I have it running all day (in games too mind you, not just low fan speed menu's or dvds or anything) and it seriously seems less warm, but I wouldnt use the term cooler.