3 Red Lights for Boosty (Elite) - Page 2

Boost King · 27-04-2008, 09:28 PM

I gave microsoft a call today to verify the conflicting information.

Apparantly I just box it up myself, and print the label that was emailed to me and take it to the post office.
Thats it.

Expect it back in 30 days.

I also asked the service rep to put notes on the call reference that I want only my 360 returned and repaired or a new unit issued. I do not want another pre-repaired unit. I mentioned I dont want someone elses towel tricked 360, I want mine back.

She said no worries.
So its all on file now and I guess I just have to wait n see.

Fingers crossed.

Boost

rabbitc · 28-04-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Its just a shame to see this happen to my ELite, given it was supposed to not receive this sort of trouble since it has better heat syncs, drives and all that other tech mumbo jumbo.

Ummm - correction: Elites with the Falcon board do not have this problem (as often)...

Based on your time of purchase, there was a very high surplus of Zephyr Elites floating around. Check your power supply - if it DOESN'T say 175w output, then you DON'T have a Falcon. Your manufacturing date does not guarentee that it was a Falcon board unfortunately - only the power supply can confirm this.

I do have a Falcon and it's been rock solid (knock on wood)

vote4fairtax · 28-04-2008, 08:38 AM

i just had to order a coffin too boost. Im in the exact same boat!! My first out the door, launch day console has decided to retire (while playing COD4 as well!!!) I've gotten the RROD to go away about 5 times now. Now if it turns on i might get 20 mins of play on it before it freezes or RROD again. BOOOO!!!... oh well, atleast MS is still covering the RROD which is more than any other company has done for a 3 yr old system

Boost King · 28-04-2008, 04:15 PM

Hey vote4fairtax,

Sorry to hear for your loss as well. Darn COD4, whats it doing to us hey!
If I was in your shoes (and I think I've made reference to this already), I'd be totally happy and accepting if I still kept my launch system and it died now. At least I'd say wow, a solid 2 years with this machine, and it dies. Yours launched in Nov 05, so really its 2.5 years old in the US vs Australia. So you've gotten and even better run out of it. You gotta be happy with that.

But still, a console should never die. My Super Nintendo still works a treat, and its well, a good 16 years old.

But I also think its fantastic of MS to support its customers for the additional 2 years over the standard warranty for RROD. I just advise you also to not perform any towel tricks, cause if they manage to fix your existing unit, you may cause other potential problems instead. Remember the towel trick is designed to melt inside components to re-affix that GPU. Only drawback is you wind up nuking everything else inside that machine, which MS may or may not pick up on when performing your service request.

I am just about to leave for work, and I am stopping past the store to collect my copy of GTA4 at 8:30am this morning. Pity I wont be playing it for a while, but I am still going to collect it and hopefully I might stop past my bro or nephews house for a quick bit of gameplay on one of their consoles.

Boost

Boost King · 28-04-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbitc

Ummm - correction: Elites with the Falcon board do not have this problem (as often)...

Based on your time of purchase, there was a very high surplus of Zephyr Elites floating around. Check your power supply - if it DOESN'T say 175w output, then you DON'T have a Falcon. Your manufacturing date does not guarentee that it was a Falcon board unfortunately - only the power supply can confirm this.

I just checked, its definately a 203w power supply.

So my question then is what does MS do to fix my console? Do they replace the chips with lower output ones, ie these Zephyrs? or do they just put the same old parts in so failure again is just a few months away?

I personally hope they just send me a whole new XBox with a new power supply. That would rock.

Boost

Bobby Roc · 28-04-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blasterpez

MS sent you a FED Ex ground box? all the returns via UPS 2nd day must have been driving MS into the ground with shipping costs.

fed ex ground...guaranteed to delivery within 10 days--one way!

UPDATE:

Yup, they sent it Fedex Ground and I just got the box today (exactly 10 days >.<). On a better note, the return label was marked overnight delivery so hopefully this repair will be quick. I just it off at the airport Fedex this morning and it is going to the Texas repair center.

Blasterpez · 28-04-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Roc

UPDATE:

Yup, they sent it Fedex Ground and I just got the box today (exactly 10 days >.<). On a better note, the return label was marked overnight delivery so hopefully this repair will be quick. I just it off at the airport Fedex this morning and it is going to the Texas repair center.

hmm, maybe they are balancing the costs with an overnight return.

hey rabbit and boost, when you guys are talking about those power supply wattage, is that for england and such? or does that include US too? i am assuming US would be different?

vote4fairtax · 28-04-2008, 08:32 PM

generally they keep a list of all watages for every country on the power supply, so they dont have to print diff stickers which costs more money, blaster.

either its bad timing or there is somethin with COD4 (like its kickass and we play it alot), but i was talkin to a co worker, and his brother's 360 bricked while i was on vacation, during COD4 playtime.

Blasterpez · 28-04-2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vote4fairtax

generally they keep a list of all watages for every country on the power supply, so they dont have to print diff stickers which costs more money, blaster.

either its bad timing or there is somethin with COD4 (like its kickass and we play it alot), but i was talkin to a co worker, and his brother's 360 bricked while i was on vacation, during COD4 playtime.

cool, i'll check it out. i got a release elite, so i am sure it isn't new newer chip, but it would be good to confirm.

Boost King · 28-04-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vote4fairtax

generally they keep a list of all watages for every country on the power supply, so they dont have to print diff stickers which costs more money, blaster.

I just checked again, it only shows Input and Output voltage. It only shows Australia.
Input is 200 - 240 watt
Output is 203watt.

All other info is codes and other languages, but thats the only numerics.

Boost

Boost King · 28-04-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Roc

UPDATE:

Yup, they sent it Fedex Ground and I just got the box today (exactly 10 days >.<). On a better note, the return label was marked overnight delivery so hopefully this repair will be quick. I just it off at the airport Fedex this morning and it is going to the Texas repair center.

THats quick surprising.

In Australia, they ask you to box it up, and send it reply paid to MS direct.
So from the moment I logged the call on Xbox.com, the email arrived within 30 minutes, and all I had to do was box it, pack it, print the shipping label and take it to the post office.

In my opinion, that just saved 10 days waiting for a coffin.

Boost

vote4fairtax · 29-04-2008, 04:59 AM

wow.. lucky you! I'd definatly splurge for a box, if they would send me a recipt or something to take to fedex and pay for the shipping, to get it 10 days faster!

rabbitc · 29-04-2008, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Output is 203watt.

ahh...yeah, that's what i suspected, Boost...that sucks.
You've got one of the dreaded Zephyr Elites, mate. 203w output is the giveaway there.

Unfortunately - they can't replace the 90nm chips (Zephyr) with 65nm (Falcon) chips because it's a different type of motherboard so it will either have to be a Zephyr chip - or if you're lucky, they'll pull the entire board and install a Falcon (this would presume a new power supply too)

Only think I can suggest is to call them and see if they can ship you a Falcon - just make sure you get your hard drive back.

Boost King · 29-04-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbitc

ahh...yeah, that's what i suspected, Boost...that sucks.
You've got one of the dreaded Zephyr Elites, mate. 203w output is the giveaway there.

Unfortunately - they can't replace the 90nm chips (Zephyr) with 65nm (Falcon) chips because it's a different type of motherboard so it will either have to be a Zephyr chip - or if you're lucky, they'll pull the entire board and install a Falcon (this would presume a new power supply too)

Only think I can suggest is to call them and see if they can ship you a Falcon - just make sure you get your hard drive back.

Hi,

Yeah, kind of what I figured. But when I got my elite, still not that many falcons were out there, but thats cool. I also did not send my Hard Disk in. MS specially makes you not include it. You only send the bare console back. SO i have my HDD sitting in front of me as we speak.

Lets hope they send me a 100% new console.

Boost

Blasterpez · 29-04-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost King

Hi,

Yeah, kind of what I figured. But when I got my elite, still not that many falcons were out there, but thats cool. I also did not send my Hard Disk in. MS specially makes you not include it. You only send the bare console back. SO i have my HDD sitting in front of me as we speak.

Lets hope they send me a 100% new console.

Boost

hehe, hold it to your ear and see if you can hear your games inside.

sorry, that's mean while your console is away.

i hope your wishes come true man, and you get a spiffy new model rather then some other persons re-furbed junk.

vote4fairtax · 29-04-2008, 09:16 PM

im hoping that since i gots a day 1 console, they will just go ahead and give me the new chipset too (should i beleive in santa and the easter bunny as well?!) to just save the hassle of trying to refurbish. I was so darn proud of my launch day console too.. oh well, guess it had to happen sooner or later.

Boost King · 29-04-2008, 10:09 PM

It cost me $1 for a box to mail my 360 in on my own. I'd pay that to save 10 days for sure.

Personally in regards to MS repairs lets think this through logically.
My elite has the 90nm chip inside it right. But the elite also had better heatsyncs etc as well. Its not entirely the chip only that made the difference, it was many other factors. So if MS restores my console to the same specs as it was sold to me, they are 100% guaranteeing themselve that my console will fail again, guarenteed. I think MS may have to insert the new motherboard and chip, plus issue me with a new power supply, then I am sure my 360 wont break. But what is the cost to do this? Are there other tricks used by MS to improve the original machines life? Do they put 10 times as much thermal paste to stop that GPU detatching? I dont know. But I do think MS will do what they can given its a) Cost effective and b) viable and certain it will imrpove the machines reliability so that future returns are less likely.

I also told MS that I DO NOT WANT A REFURB UNIT. I dont want someother twats console. I want mine fixed. Period.

I can only hope. Put it this way, if my serial number is different, MS is going to get a stern phone call.

If all else fails, I'll buy a new core console with a MF date of 2008, thats what I found in our local store.

Surely one can assume all 2008 models are falcons?

rabbitc · 30-04-2008, 02:01 AM

May your repair be speedy and prompt, Boost.
Sorry to hear about your woes.

Quote:

Surely one can assume all 2008 models are falcons?

It's likely - but not a certainty. Best thing to do is to check the box when you're buying - look at the power rating on the side and find that magic '175w output' and you're safe. The input is irrelevant.