At a cost of nearly $400 for the Xbox Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition Elite Console and around $300 for the regular Elite Console, the Xbox 360 can be a significant investment for gamers. Including the cost of important accessories such as extra controllers and a universal remote, the price of a top of the line Xbox system can be hundreds.
However, during the excitement and enjoyment of the games, users often forget about proper maintenance of their Xbox 360. You may place it anywhere, bring it any which way, and just leave it be until you realize that the dreaded “ring of death” has manifested itself on your gaming console. By then, it will almost be too late to rectify the errors of your past ways.
Thankfully, it is really not all that difficult to keep your Xbox 360 in good shape with some preventative maintenance. You need to keep your console well protected from the three things which cause many systems to fail: dust, dirt and heat.
In order to keep your Xbox 360 from overheating, it is essential to give your console a rest from time to time, especially during those marathon gaming sessions. Just taking a 30 minute break every couple of hours can make all the difference. Keep your Xbox 360 away from heaters and direct sunlight and off of blankets, carpets and other materials which tend to trap heat to prevent overheating.
You should also keep your Xbox 360 away from electronics such as amplifiers; these can generate enough heat to cause trouble for your Xbox as well. Make sure not to keep your Xbox in an enclosed space such as a closed entertainment center while you play – your console needs adequate ventilation to stay cool. The best place to use your Xbox is in a room which is air conditioned or somewhere that you can point a fan directly at the console. There are cooling accessories which you can use to keep your console from overheating, but you need to make sure not to power these accessories from the Xbox 360 unit, since this will actually cause, not prevent overheating.
To prevent dust and dirt from damaging your Xbox 360, do not keep it near any places which dust collects such as open windows. One place which a lot of gamers tend to store their Xbox is a definite no-no: underneath the bed. When you are not using your Xbox 360, consider using a protective cover to prevent dust and dirt from getting into the unit.
If you must travel with your Xbox 360 in tow, be sure that you have a special carrying case for it. This way, you provide protection for the console from the dirt, dust and grime as well as the bumps and grinds of transportation.
As for dirt, always clean the area around the gaming console. You want it to be as clean as possible with as little dust and dirt as humanly possible. This way, you can delay the appearance of the “ring of death”. This also applies to the discs used in the Xbox 360, which must also be kept away from dust and dirt by placing them in protective covers. Plus, don’t smoke your cigarettes around the unit as smoke can damage the Xbox 360, too.
You have made a significant investment in your Xbox 360, so why not treat it like one? You can enjoy your console for much longer if you simply follow the common sense maintenance tips given here; the extra gaming excitement you will receive more than makes up for the small amount of maintenance.
Wanna check out how to perform the XBOX 360 3 red lights repair by yourself to save money? Check this out to learn about the XBOX 360 rrod as well as other repairs. Do it yourself and you can play games later today!