Some Questions about buying an XBox 360

[Elessar]

So I'm looking into getting an Xbox 360, but in the past, people have always advocated getting a certain shipment of Xboxes, or waiting a couple more months for a new CPU / DVD Drive / fan / power brick etc. All of this was to avoid an overheating system that lead to the Xbox's red rings of death issue.

Given how many years its been since the Xbox 360, is this still an issue? Should I still be researching serial numbers and shipment lots just to find some CPU that will reduce the risk of red rings of death?

Or can I just go out to the nearest retailer and buy one with full confidence?

[Archaic`]

Still an issue. To my knowledge, it impacts on all shipments to some level, and researching a shipment that's had less reported red rings of death is ultimately pointless.

Having said that, I do believe an SKU with a new HDD has just been released, and it has a new CPU board that's supposed to reduce the risk. If you're going to get one, you may as well get that.

[Stark]

Yeah, the Elites are supposed to have better cooling all round. Finding a 'newer' build 360 is going to vary based on where you are - I bet it'd be easy in the US, but much more difficult elsewhere.

[SpacedTeddyBear]

Finding one that won't ( or reduces that chances) give you the R.R.o.D is going to be easier now since the new motherboard was released in August of last year. If it also has an HDMI output, than it most likely has it as well.

[Vendetta]

If you want to make absolutely sure you get the Falcon chipset, look at the power rating on the box. All the Falcon chipsets have a 175W power supply.