Quiet Your Xbox 360


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http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558...2129TX1K0000532

There are plenty of reasons to love the Xbox 360. It's a truly next-gen system with hi-def visuals costing less than the PlayStation 3 competition (not to mention you can actually find them in stores). Since it's been out for a year, the software library is already pretty expansive, and some of those new titles are second-generation software that really starts to show off the power of the system (? la Gears of War and Viva Pi?ata). Then there's the lauded Xbox Live service, downloading free demos from Live Marketplace, and plenty of great cheap games on Xbox Live Arcade. With all the hubbub surrounding the launches of the PlayStation 3 and Wii, it's easy to ignore the awesome next-gen system that already shipped.

But it's not all sunshine and roses. Certainly, the Xbox 360 has its faults, like the tendency for developers to nickel-and-dime players for add-on downloadable content, and the terrible mushy D-pad on the controller that makes certain types of games an exercise in frustration.

The most noticeable fault of the system, the one you'd be most likely to hear about from the largest number of users, is how loud it is. Sitting idly in the Dashboard system interface, the 360 isn't so bad: It's not whisper-quiet, but not annoying. Pop in a game, and it's a whole other story. When that DVD-ROM drive spins up to full 12x speed, it puts out a ton of noise. Fortunately, it spins slower when playing DVD movies, and the HD-DVD add-on drive is very quiet.

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It is a shame that you can not just swap out the DVD drive yourself without being banned from Xbox live, that would probally make it a zillion times quieter :p

Can you use the HD-DVD drive as the main drive?

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I dont understand how this is problem unless you play with 2 watt speakers.

Not everyone uses thumping speakers, at night i use headphones and the drive rattling away is distracting.

It is a shame that you can not just swap out the DVD drive yourself without being banned from Xbox live, that would probally make it a zillion times quieter :p

Can you use the HD-DVD drive as the main drive?

You probably can swap the drive, each drive contains a key that is checked by the xbox that you could flash to the new drive, but you run the risk of Microsoft eventually banning you for running a modded 360.

You cant use the HD-DVD for anything other than playing movies.

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I had my Xbox replaced. My original one had a build date of 09/05 and my new one is 06/06. There is an incredible difference between the 2. The newer one is much quieter, of course.

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I think that the Xbox being loud is a really moot point. The noise my 360 makes doesn't bother me at all, because i've been used to hearing gaming pc's make that much noise (and more often, more noise) for years now. Turn up your speakers a little bit and stop being so anal.

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My warranty is up, im tempted to strip it and replace the fans with some quieter ones that push more air and try and make the drive vibrate less.

you can buy a 360 extended warranty through microsoft as long as your 360 is in working condition...dont know if that helps, but I'd buy it just in case something happens....or you can open it up :devil:

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One thing you guys need to realize is that there are more then one model of DVD-ROM for the 360.

If you have the launch 360, you have the WORST sound producing of the bunch. The Hitachi-LG drive is extremely loud at 12x and is very distracting. However, most 2006 models have the Samsung model, which is very quiet in comparison. So hopefully you aren't stuck with the Hitachi eh? (Like me :p).

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So hopefully you aren't stuck with the Hitachi eh? (Like me :p).

I am, but it's in a cabinet so I rarely hear it. Especially not over the sound my TV is blaring when I'm playing games. :p

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One thing you guys need to realize is that there are more then one model of DVD-ROM for the 360.

If you have the launch 360, you have the WORST sound producing of the bunch. The Hitachi-LG drive is extremely loud at 12x and is very distracting. However, most 2006 models have the Samsung model, which is very quiet in comparison. So hopefully you aren't stuck with the Hitachi eh? (Like me :p).

Tell me about it, i have the Hitachi and my xbox is currently 3 foot away from me, rather distracting :(

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I am, but it's in a cabinet so I rarely hear it. Especially not over the sound my TV is blaring when I'm playing games. :p

I'm crossing my fingers that the replacement 360 I'm waiting for has a Samsung. Mine is pretty close to my couch and is very audible.

In fact, I had to return the first replacement I received because of it's noticeable louder fans (not DVD-Rom) not to mention some very odd framerate issues.

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no noise complaints here, but i play with headphones.

spacer they're not being anal it's a legit complaint altho i agree that those who are also PC gamers should be more than acclimated to noisy rigs.

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Are people playing 360 with no volume? Why would this be an issue at all..

Maybe because they dont want the damn thing rattling away, theres no reason for it to be that loud.

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