Xbox 360 News and Tips

The 3 Red Lights Of Death

The Xbox 360 is a fantastic gaming machine. It's like a high end computer, only, it's designed to focus on providing the best gaming experience possible. It is supported by the best online infrastructure for multiplayer goodness, called the Xbox Live. It has a deep library of games that include exclusives and non-exclusives.

So what's stopping some people from buying an Xbox 360?

Well, just like any other console in the history of video gaming, the console has its share of Xbox 360 problems. However, the biggest of these Xbox 360 problems is, without a doubt, the reason why people are hesitant to invest on an Xbox 360.

What is this particular problem?

It's called the 3 red light. In many circles, it is simply called 3RL. Some even label it the RLOD, the "red lights of death". Morose but accurate, considering that once those 3 red lights flash on the outer rim of the Xbox 360's power button, the console will stop working.

Of all the Xbox 360 problems, the 3RL is the most serious. It is an error code that indicates general hardware failure. What kind of hardware failure? Gamers can only guess, as Microsoft itself has not released an official statement on the matter which led many people to think that the giant company itself doesn't know what causes 3RL, exactly.

When a system is hit by the dreaded 3RL, Microsoft advises owners to send over their affected consoles and the company will replace them with new ones. Microsoft has extended the warranty of the Xbox 360 for this purpose. It now stands at an unprecedented period of 3 years.

Just like other Xbox 360 problems, the 3RL can be prevented: or so many avid gamers believe. Below are some tips on how to avoid getting the biggest of the Xbox 360 problems to date.

• Do not play your Xbox 360 for more than 3 straight hours.
• Do not play your Xbox 360 for more than 8 hours a day.
• As much as possible, keep the Xbox 360 in a well ventilated area.
• Place some even elevations on the four corners beneath the Xbox 360. This will allow the exhaust fan underneath the unit to accomplish its purpose of cooling down the interiors of the console.
• Keep the right side (the side opposite the side where the hard disk is attached) unimpeded at all times.
• Keep the back side of the Xbox 360 open so that the exhaust fan on this side of the console can also do its job.
• When you exit a game, let the system park on the dashboard. This will allow the Xbox 360 to gradually cool down before shutoff.

Many Xbox 360 owners swear to these tips. They claim that these guidelines have helped them avoid a variety of Xbox 360 problems, the 3RL issue among them.