Xbox360, Finally did it

[Rootstonian]

I had been PC gaming for a long time, but just to dang tired of keeping up with the latest and greatest video cards (and their cost!). And I knew I wanted a console, but I didn't want to play out in the family room, nor spend the money for a TV for my computer room.

So I bought the Xbox 360, the VGA adapter cable and the RCA to mini sound adapter plug. Running into a 19" Samsung monitor @ 1280x1024 and it works just fine. This monitor had VGA and DVI inputs so my computer is on the DVI...I can just hit the Analog/Digital button on the monitor and switch from running the Xbox to the computer. I love it!!

Yeah, I could dual-screen it too, but space is an issue and really, I can either play or be on computer. Anyways, I'm having a blast with it!!!

[Aaron_8015]

running it pretty much the same.

[Rootstonian]

Any advantage of running the Xbox with a vga to dvi adapter and going through that port for the games?

[KarmaKiller]

Awwww... another PC gamer gone.
j/k

Enjoy man. They are fun I will admit. Just hope you got a good revision of the 360, or your gonna be seeing the inside of that thing soon.

[Aaron_8015]

Any advantage of running the Xbox with a vga to dvi adapter and going through that port for the games?

I did'nt notice any difference between the two.... Then again the monitor's were different.

[Rootstonian]

Yeah, I know there had been issues all along with the 360, can you tell what's a good version vs. bad. And for the lousy $30, I got the extended warranty.

[Aaron_8015]

If it has an hdmi port on the back, (all new ones do) It has an upgraded heatsink, Newer models have a much better motherboard, only way to tell what one you have is to look how many watts the power pack puts out.

[Rootstonian]

Looks like a HDMI port right above ethernet port; power pack is Revision A, 175 watts

[Aaron_8015]

Falcon motherboard then, so much less chance of it doing crazy red lights on ya.

[Rootstonian]

I figured if I waited long enough they would get the bugs worked out of it

Codename CPU GPU HDMI Power Consumption[
Falcon 65nm 90nm Yes 120W 175W Power Supply, 14.2A

[GroundZero3]

Do you have an Xbox live account?

[Rootstonian]

Not yet GZ Not sure if I'm going to get one or not (it's not a cost factor for sure, you know me ). Can you give me the pluses/minuses if any? I'm pretty much a loner when it comes to game playing; I just like to relax at home and frag zombies and aliens. But I've heard that game playing online is one of the most fun things that you can do.

Karma: I'm still "playing" on the PC, so I didn't abandon it completely It's a win-win situation. I can put the delivered hdmi cable on my TV in the living room. If I want to play in there all I have to do is unplug the Xbox power and move it in there and hook up video to the back of the Xbox and power cable...5 minutes max. Hard to do with a PC LOL

If the Xbox is HD, is it 720p or 1080p?

[GroundZero3]

It depends on the game, the online gaming is a lot of fun. Also if you have netflix you can stream some of the movies on the team.

[Rootstonian]

I knew about the netflix stream, but as it's not on my main tv, I don't care. I just watch netflix movies in here (computer room).

Been playing Halo 2 for like 5 hours today geez, I gotta take a break! I must admit as a computer programmer by trade, I do like getting my hands OFF the keyboard and mouse and into a controller, leaning back in my chair and playing. If I would have played 5 hours on the keyboard and mouse, I would be in traction or taking pain pills (I've already had one tendonitis surgery on one of my wrists ).

Know, just gotta talk that wife into that 22" widescreen monitor! ROFL

[RedFury]

Y'know, I'm an idiot. I was going to buy an Xbox 360 ( still plan to, and really want one ) , but I got suckered into buying a BluRay player from Walmart for $98

After thinking about it, I could have put the $140 I put out for it and the movie and posters I bought ( transformers ) towards an Xbox! D-oh!

Worst part is, my brother keeps bringing his Xbox over to play, but always takes it home with him!

[KarmaKiller]

A little off topic, but Roots, you do know that any 360 controller will work in your PC, right?
Some games won't support it, but most of the games I've tried it on works.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

As far as the Xbox live thing, If your really a multi player kind of guy, then it would be well worth it. If you like the games for the single player missions, then it's not worth it.

[Rootstonian]

Well, my friend, my purchase was a little over that. Xbox with 60 gig drive is $299. 2 free games Lego Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Pand (yippie skippie...anyone wanna buy? $10 ea.) VGA cable was $30. $5 for sound adapter. Tax and extended warranty zapped my Best Buy card for just a tad over $400

But, my son, daughter and her boyfriend probably have about 20 games between them...yeah, do the math on that one! LOL I'll be borrowing a LOT of games!!!!

[glendalf81]

Falcon motherboard then, so much less chance of it doing crazy red lights on ya.

unfortunately no revision of the 360 is immune from the red ring of death, i fix them for those who's console is either out of warranty or the user cant be arsed waiting for micro$oft to fix it, have done about 50 or so this year and about a 3rd of them have been with the newer heatsink, but if you keep your console horizontal and reasonably clear on all sides you should be ok.

A little off topic, but Roots, you do know that any 360 controller will work in your PC, right?
Some games won't support it, but most of the games I've tried it on works.

i use a 360 controller on my pc, its alot better than most "pc only" controllers and better than my old modded 1st gen xbox controller, the wireless controller receiver is a bit dodgy though, after a while it loses connection and wont reconnect but hey why do you need a wireless controller sat at your desk anyway

[Rootstonian]

Why do I need a wireless controller at my desk? I HATE wires

I'm happy with my setup. Yes, I know of the "red ring of death" for the 360. Like I said, I paid the $30 to get 2 years of warranty out of it and will play the the he$$ out of it to make sure it it does blow, I'm getting my money's worth of what I put into it Giving it a nice 48 hour burn-in in very warm computer room right now. Back of the unit is blowing out some nice hot air; desk is a little warm...might find some way a jacking it up to allow some airflow underneath.

Anyone know the problem with the "red ring"? Is it a chip overheat problem? Bad mobo design? Capacitor going bad? Any way MS can't fix this with a heat sink or fan or something or are they just too stuck up (read: rich) to care about it?

Yeah, I need to get this thing off an inch or 2 from my wood desktop; needs a little airflow underneath. that's an easy fix

[Aaron_8015]

90% of the time its the rubbish x-clamps they have on it holding the heatsinks on, replacing them with bolts will fix the 3 red ring most of the time. New thermal paste will do wonder's, they just literaly pour cheap stuff on the chips and its all a bit messy.