Might get a 360, have a question

[AliasX]

I might get an Xbox 360, and if so I would get a refurbished one. My primary concern is that I will get one of the first made ones that has an overheating problem or something like that.

Do you guys see any real concerns in purchasing a refurbished Xbox 360 from gamestop or ebgames?

thanks

 

[Sniper82]

Unless you can get one for $100+ less than retail I wouldn't bother. Even alot of ppl complain getting refurbs back from repair and dieing hours afterward. I think all MS does when they get a RROD is slap the new GPU cooler on it and go on with little to no testing. With the new Falcon boards pretty common now just buy new and be done with it. But it might be worth the risk if you can save $100 or more. Thats if it still has the 3 year RROD warranty.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Odds are high with a refurb that you'll end up needing to send it off to Microsoft and wait 2-4 weeks for a replacement. That replacement currently will be another first-generation motherboard with a similar chance of failure.

If you can save $100 and don't mind a (guess) 1-in-3 chance of having to send it off for repairs, then go for it.

However, in my opinion the only safe 360 to buy is a HDMI model, so you at least get a Zephyr motherboard if not Falcon.

Something to consider: if you buy a new Premium with HDMI in the "Go Pro" box, you get HDMI, Zephyr or Falcon motherboard, 1-year warranty (3-year RRoD), -and- Forza 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

 

[AliasX]

Thanks for the input, I'm definitely convinced that the new one is the way to go. Now, it is likely that if I get an HDTV it will be after the 360. I understand the 360 still looks better than the xbox on CRT tv's. Will I be at any sort of a disadvantage in online gaming if others have HDTV's and I have SD?

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: AliasX
Thanks for the input, I'm definitely convinced that the new one is the way to go. Now, it is likely that if I get an HDTV it will be after the 360. I understand the 360 still looks better than the xbox on CRT tv's. Will I be at any sort of a disadvantage in online gaming if others have HDTV's and I have SD?

No. You'll just get black bars.

 

[MDE]

Don't get the refurb 360 from GameStop\EB. It doesn't come with a hard drive, and when you add that cost in, you're only saving $20-30 over a new Pro, which comes with Forza 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance for free, plus a full warranty from Microsoft.

 

[Kirby64]

Originally posted by: AliasX
Thanks for the input, I'm definitely convinced that the new one is the way to go. Now, it is likely that if I get an HDTV it will be after the 360. I understand the 360 still looks better than the xbox on CRT tv's. Will I be at any sort of a disadvantage in online gaming if others have HDTV's and I have SD?

Besides not being able to see anything on the fuzzbox you call an SDTV, no

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: nycxandy

Originally posted by: AliasX
Thanks for the input, I'm definitely convinced that the new one is the way to go. Now, it is likely that if I get an HDTV it will be after the 360. I understand the 360 still looks better than the xbox on CRT tv's. Will I be at any sort of a disadvantage in online gaming if others have HDTV's and I have SD?

No. You'll just get black bars.

I'd say that it can be beneficial in some cases. i.e. seeing enemies at a long distance in FPSes.

 

[CKDragon]

If you can afford new, definitely get new.

That said, MicroCenter has been running refurb 360 deals for $229 with a 1 year instant, in-store replacement plan that would at least be tempting if I were on a budget. Some customers have needed to exchange them 2 or 3 times to get a unit they're happy with, but $120 off might be worth the gamble/hassle to some.

 

[TecHNooB]

Then a year later, Microsoft releases their integrated wi-fi, internal HD-DVD, 150GB 360 Elite and we're all screwed.

 

[dclive]

So it's wise to spend the least you can.

So that $229 Microcenter referb (with on-the-spot exchange warranty for one year) looks better and better. If it was an HDMI model and included the two games, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. As it is, it's more difficult... with the Office Depot 15% off sale, the new $350 elite is around $300, includes HDMI, and includes the 2 games..... plus it's probably a new Falcon (no way to be sure) so for $70, I get at least a little bit of value there...

 

[dclive]

FWIW, the Microcenter model is the Premium with HDD.

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: dclive
So it's wise to spend the least you can.

So that $229 Microcenter referb (with on-the-spot exchange warranty for one year) looks better and better. If it was an HDMI model and included the two games, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. As it is, it's more difficult... with the Office Depot 15% off sale, the new $350 elite is around $300, includes HDMI, and includes the 2 games..... plus it's probably a new Falcon (no way to be sure) so for $70, I get at least a little bit of value there...

$350 Elite?

 

[dclive]

Oops - $450 -> $400.

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: dclive
Oops - $450 -> $400.

Regardless, which coupon do you speak of? A 360 Pro for $320 after tax would be just fine by me.

 

[prism]

I heard from an admittedly unreliable source that all Elites have the Falcon boards, even the first batch that came out. I bought my Elite in May, so would this have the Falcon board or does it still have the same innards as the older 360's?

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: Prism
I heard from an admittedly unreliable source that all Elites have the Falcon boards, even the first batch that came out. I bought my Elite in May, so would this have the Falcon board or does it still have the same innards as the older 360's?

Not true at all.

I bought an Elite on launch day. You and I both assuredly have the Zephyr board, which IS much better than the original, but only time will tell how much better. FWIW, I'm personally rather confident in my the Zephyr because it came out well after MS became aware of the RRoD issues.

Not until a few months ago (September/October) did ANY Xbox 360 have a Falcon platform.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

About playing on SDTV, one of the guys on my friends list plays on a 27" and in GoW MP he is god like with the sniper rifle fwiw.

BTW, anyone confirm if there are 65nm CPUs showing up in Zephyr boards? The one I just got back with a 11/06/07 manu date, runs substantially cooler than my other 2, if "the hand on back of case" method of temp evaluation I use is any judge. Very quite too, but the DVD drive is more finicky about reading a less than perfectly clean disc than the other 2 were.

Anyways, I vote buy new.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
About playing on SDTV, one of the guys on my friends list plays on a 27" and in GoW MP he is god like with the sniper rifle fwiw.

BTW, anyone confirm if there are 65nm CPUs showing up in Zephyr boards? The one I just got back with a 11/06/07 manu date, runs substantially cooler than my other 2, if "the hand on back of case" method of temp evaluation I use is any judge. Very quite too, but the DVD drive is more finicky about reading a less than perfectly clean disc than the other 2 were.

Anyways, I vote buy new.

I don't believe 65nm will ever show up on a Zephyr board, they will only be in Falcon.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

I still use an SD tv and have no problems with any games except the Dead Rising demo where the text was a little hard to read.

COD4 plays great and although there may be a disadvantage in mP, I don't notice it and do fine.