Xbox 360 Intercoolers - Yay nor Nay?

Every video gamer who owns a next-gen console lives with the constant worry in the back of their mind that their marvelous console is going to “explode” unexpectedly. Whether it be a Playstation 3, Xbox 360, or even a Wii, the most likely cause of a console’s death is usually overheating. Such is generally the cause of Playstation 3 malfunctions and Xbox 360’s infamous red rings of death.

If there is one thing marketing strategists know about sales, it is that fear is an excellent purchase motivator. In response to gamers’ fears about their systems overheating intercoolers have been developed to provide additional airflow and thereby a supposed increase in cooling capacity. Perhaps the most popular of these intercoolers is the Nyko Xbox 360 intercooler, which is essentially an attachable fan for the back of the console. The great debate out there is whether or not such an intercooler is effective, necessary, or even safe.

My reading on the topic suggests that no, placing an intercooler like the Nyko Xbox model is neither necessary nor completely safe.

For starters, Microsoft has told Xbox users NOT to use the intercooler systems. They are not factory equipped and therefore they void the three year warranty against the red rings of death. Don’t you think if Microsoft thought the 360 needed a set of cheap fans attached to its back they would have placed them there themselves?

Another scary thing about the Nyko intercooler is the astronomical number of negative reviews the thing has gotten. Users have reported everything from lowered voltage delivery to the system itself all the way up to unit actually melting to the Xbox. Some users even say the additional airflow over the stock fans caused them to wear out because they were forced to operate at RPMs they were not designed for. Spending money for an attachable unit that is going to void the system’s warranty and potentially damage the unit at the same time seems completely irrational.

That being said, the cooling needs of console systems cannot simply be ignored. Any game player has to know the limitations of their equipment - just like you have to know the limitations of an automobile to be a good driver. The Xbox, for example, expels warm air out of the back of the system and draws air in through the top (if the unit is placed vertically - which i suggest it should be). The design is such that placing an Xbox in an enclosed area with the front facing out will develop a heat loop where the hot air is pushed out the back, filtered to the front, then drawn into the machine again to be heated even further.

Avoiding problems like a heat loop does not require the use of an intercooler at all, it simply requires the use of some common sense. Consoles should be placed in the orientation that leaves the most surface area in contact with the air (vertical), the heat vents should not be obstructed in anyway (nothing behind or against the unit), and they should be given the chance to cool from time to time. Six hour game stints are not out of the question, i just suggest you let the machine rest once in awhile. Take your game manuals advice and rest your eyes for a bit every hour.

~Skyler Dowling

High Definition Television Breakdown

The new wave of console gaming systems has added a new, and ultimately necessary, tool to the video game player’s already lengthy list of expensive accessories. High definition televisions have gained impressive popularity within the last year largely because of improved availability of high definition programming, falling television prices and the stunning graphics provided by next gen console games.

People tend to be a bit scared when they go to buy a high definition television because there are several different kinds with labels that lack any sort of explanation for comparative quality. On top of that it seems like every salesman working in an electronics department anywhere in South Dakota failed out of high school 30 or more years ago. This post is created largely in disgust that I actually heard the words “720p resolution is the same as 1080i resolution” come out of a salesman’s mouth.

Perhaps the quality of the image in his local news show was nearly identical with both resolutions – but when it comes to gaming the difference in the two types – and thereby there performance under video game stress is similar but not “the same.”There are basically 3 major types of high definition resolutions: 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. The Native resolution on a 720p television (the actual number of pixels displayed) is 1,280 x 720 the 720 in 720p standing for the number of vertical lines of resolution. Similarly both 1080i and 1080p televisions have a pixel resolution of 1,920×1,080. The difference in “p” and “i” resolutions is where thing get a little more complicated. The “p” stands for progressive scan, televisions with this capability refresh each line of resolution from top to bottom every time the frame is refreshed. The “i” denotes interlaced refreshing. With interlaced refreshing only every other line is refreshed at the beginning of a refresh cycle, the remaining lines are refreshed in the next pass. 720p and 1080p televisions are known for their preservation of motion over “i” televisions due to their complete frame refreshing each refresh period.

With all that technical jargon out of the way its important to note that resolution when comparing high definition televisions is not generally recognized as the most important quality. According to CNET reviews contrast ratio (difference between lightest light and darkest dark) is the most important quality of televisions once a high definition resolution is achieved. Resolution is certainly somewhat important, but do not get tricked into buying a 1080p television with a poor contrast ratio.

~Skyler Dowling