Xbox 360 S Exhibits Overheating Problems, "Red Dot of Death"

Microsoft 'confident of shipping a high quality product'.

Posted by Staff
Well this isn't good. A user on NeoGAF has discovered that the new Xbox 360 'S' models are prone to overheating.

As these pictures detail, when an overheating situation arises the console 'helpfully' switches itself off, while the power button exhibits a red light in the centre - a trait that is now being dubbed the "Red Dot of Death."

Technically, it's not a red dot of "death" if the console isn't dead - but then again, one has to wonder why it's even having such issues with overheating in the first place. There are great big hoofing vents on the thing, after all.

Of course, the photos could just as easily been created for the purpose of spreading fanboy flamebait - but is the human race really that shallow? Debate about this one in the forum below, if you please.

So, the "Red Dot of Death," then. Microsoft, for its part, has issued as statement responding to the pictures - here's what it says, courtesy of NowGamer;

"We couldn't be more proud of the consoles we are building now, as well as the new Xbox 360. This console is the culmination of years of continuous innovation in design, testing and learning. Today we are confident we are shipping a high quality product."
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Comments

Showing the 20 most recent comments. Read all 25.
Mr Lavboobies 27 Jun 2010 22:02
6/25
The 2nd picture shows the old dashboard... But how in hell is that supposed to work when the 360S doesnt even use the old dashboard?
Scott hackney 22 Jul 2010 19:05
7/25
If you have a look at the top image you will see why it is over heating. The new xbox has 3 fan areas 2 are on the sides and the last is on the back. This person that is not that clever has put the xbox flat and put the back of the xbox against the wall, meaning that ono one fan is working. So it makes me think that the xbox can't run with one fan. So if you have if flat that's not a problem as long as the back fan can breath swell. It's it really that difficult. That's why the poor little xbox popped up with the ventilation message, in other words it's telling you that it needs to breath
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Deano 23 Jul 2010 14:03
8/25
@Tone got new 360 last week got a new one yesterday because first one kept over heating switching off and damaged two games. new one has been okay so far
Good 2 Sep 2010 15:11
9/25
Hello Everyone,

My XBOX 360 Arcade had the red ring and I waited till I had enough money to buy the 360 S. So I ended up purchasing the new 360 S last night and trading in my old XBOX for like 13 bucks! I get home and start downloading stuff to my new 360 S. After about 2 hours, my S powers off and the 'power supply brick' smells like burnt plastic! So at this point I'm like WTF! After only 2 hours! I did everything on the manual! I have my S placed in a well ventilated area, I don't have it connected to a power strip (it's connected straight into the wall outlet), and it's only been on for no more than 2 hours! So, I go online and find that this issue has been going on. They tell me to remove all the cords from the S and unplug the power. I wait about an hour and retry. Once I start hooking the power back up, I get that 'Amber' light on the power brick like I'm supposed to, but as soon as I try to turn on the XBOX, the light becomes red on the brick and my S never powers back on! I'm furious! Now I have to go back to GameStop and see if they'll swap the system out.
redlightsofdeath 23 Oct 2010 12:18
10/25
@zs450 FAKE i thought the new xbox never had a red LED plus the same xbox is on youtube and it really does look like a photoshop!!..
Deck 23 Oct 2010 16:52
11/25
@zs450 My xbox 360s which I only bought 2 months ago and play with rarely died last night...red dot of death... I'm not very happy with microsoft at the moment!!
orion 5 Dec 2010 20:19
12/25
@Good my x box 360 s did the same thing after a week the "brick"on those are a pice of crap, as soon as microsoft sends me a new one im putting some cpu fans on it.
rainmakerrr 25 Dec 2010 02:43
13/25
i hope this controversy end soon... i open my new XBOX 360 S tomorrow. im worried! :/
Death 25 Dec 2010 17:44
14/25
Hey someone tell me weather I should get an arcade or s?Im really confused so give a brother a hand.
Davidh 2 Jan 2011 08:51
15/25
well i msorry to inform all the non believers it is true just a couple minutes i got the red dot with an error message saying that it will be shutting down due to insuficient ventilation and i look around the xbox while its still on and notice the fan from inside was not on so i let it turn off and cool down then turned it back on again but seconds later it did the same thing and the fan still wasnt on....
Davidh 2 Jan 2011 09:10
16/25
@Scott_hackney u are terribley mistaken u couldnt be any more wrong..... there are 3 vents on this new xbox. and if u stand it up how u say it should be u are actualy blocking on of the 3 vents. if it is standing up there is on vent with a fan on the right hand side and a vent without a fan on the top and one on the bottom which if the console is in the upright position u are blocking that vent so point is the best way 2 position this xbox is laying down and it doesnt matter if u have it againt a wall becuase there is no vent back there....
So Obvious :L 4 Jan 2011 20:00
17/25
ANYONE cold have tinted the button red on photoshop, and all the vents are open dont forget the 360 S is angled at the middle, this helps more cool air enter throught the semi-covered fans and btw i was looking for a solution to a problem but your having a debate about overheating on the new 360 S. Jesus play the games and get on with it instead of bitching over silly little problems NO CONSOLE IS GOING TO BE PERFECT
lee 5 Jan 2011 18:59
18/25
im having a problem wiv my xbox s its lost its colour and is in by helack n white :S any help??? thanks
lee 5 Jan 2011 19:00
19/25
Black n white'
rainmakerrr 5 Jan 2011 20:43
20/25
@Death i had just got my Xbox 360 S 250gb and it is amazing. (No, i am not biased, my opinions are based upon past experiences). it all depends with what you will be using your 360 for. The new 360 has built in Wifi so you DO NOT have to purchase a wireless adapter to hook up to the back, as you would have to do with the Arcade. btw it cost $100 :( its a pain. plus if u decided to go that route and purchase the Arcade w/ adapter, it would average out at about the same price as the 360 S. Overall, get the Xbox 360 S, its compact, has built-in wi-fi, touch sensitive buttons (not a big fan of that though....), a much less chance of getting the red ring of death, more USB ports (five), and a much much much better body design. hope this helps.
rainmakerrr 12 Jan 2011 16:01
21/25
@lee ???. 360 discoloration? haha. post a picture of it and i might be able to help.
Simon James 23 Jan 2011 18:18
22/25
Having similar issues… Used the xbox S a total of 3 times then the machine turned off.. The power supply light didn’t come on so I unplugged and left for ten minutes… I plugged back in and the orange light appeared so we reconnected; however, the xbox then turns off after a minute or two… have done this several times… Called Microsoft and they’re sending a new power supply, although reading online, I’m not sure if this will correct the issue… The annoying piece is that we just bought some new games, controllers and xbox live…
ro 3 Feb 2011 22:29
23/25
yo stupid the red dot is indicating that the HDD is not pluged in corectly just open the cover take it out shake it and put back in the dot will go away. People not knowing what they are talking about making a bid deal out of nothing. The new 360 has heat scensor which would shut down the xbox when it gets too hot so it doesn't harm the system. No more red ring of death or red dot.
xboxguy 9 Nov 2011 11:00
24/25
@redlightsofdeath i have had my 360 s for about 6 months and at month 5 it started freezing in game it happened more and more frequently then started giving me the red dot so i assure you this is not fake im pretty livid because this is my 5th xbox and first 360s and they still cant get it right goddamn
me 26 Jan 2012 04:02
25/25
my xbox 360s is a F**KING LEMON!!!
wont connect to wifi, receiving a "Ghost controller input", and now is died!!
its 1 month old
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