Powering Up with the Xbox 360 Power Supply
With great power comes, well, great power. Most gamers probably never think about how much electricity their video game consoles eat up, but on average, some systems require more wattage than any other electronics in the living room. The Xbox 360 especially requires substantial power, more than twice that of the original Xbox and other consoles on the market. In order to fuel such a hunger for electricity, the Xbox 360 power supply is huge, and is the butt of many jokes. The Xbox 360 power supply is so large in fact that many gamers own multiple AC adapters to leave at different houses just so they do not have to carry it around. However, with so much power in such a condensed space, it is no wonder that the Xbox 360 suffers from many power-related issues.
Troubleshooting the Xbox 360
The Xbox 360, a relatively new video game console, has already racked up numerous complaints. It is frequently plagued with problems, from general hardware failures to overheating. A lot of these problems, however, can be pinpointed to the power supply. Put bluntly, the Xbox 360 power supply overheats a lot, especially when it is hidden beneath shelves, in cabinets or on carpets. With such a large frame and such a large current, the AC adapter needs to breathe; it needs to be exposed to fresh air in order to cool down. Some gamers even hang their AC adapters on strings, exposing them to air on all sides. As ridiculous as this image is, many players contest that their Xbox 360 systems no longer freeze every 20 minutes; instead, they can play happily for hours without experiencing any overheating.
Many third-party companies have sought to introduce an Xbox 360 power supply less prone to overheating. Modeling the units after PC equipment, many of these AC adapters come with built-in fans. However, these supplies have proven even less reliable than the official Microsoft versions, although Microsoft claims they are developing a better, more resilient Xbox 360 power supply. Many gamers have taken the issue into their own hands, especially when their AC adapters burn out and they are required to purchase new ones. By modifying existing PC power units and other technical equipment, they have literally constructed, from scratch, supplies that appear to work better than the originals. While there is always a risk in modifying the Xbox 360, including the loss of the warranty, desperate times call for desperate measures, and many players refuse to suffer through interrupted game play anymore due to the poorly-designed Xbox 360 power supply.
