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Posted by Braxton Colongione on Jul 5, 2011

Tuesday’s Tech Tip Of The Week: Positioning Your Xbox 360

Comparing the ads and pictures of the first Xbox 360 from several years ago to the recently released slim model, the console is always pictured standing vertical (up right). A lot of people wonder, is this the best, most efficient way to position the console? Almost every Xbox gamer will tell you no, but can’t always tell you why. In this week’s Tech Tips, I’ll tell you what I find to be best and why.

For the most part (except when space did not allow), I position my 360 horizontally, and it’s what I recommend for the older model as well as the slim. My reasoning behind this is a mixture of common sense and product knowledge. However, there are two Xbox 360 versions to talk about.

There really are no technical advantages to having a 360 vertical. Sure it looks nice and saves space but, it can cause issues as well. The following are the reasons for my recommendations for horizontal placement:

  • Disk scratching: Leaving the console vertical can cause a disk to occasionally touch the tray and scratch.
  • Over heating: On 360s’s, heat vents from several places. On older models, one vent site is on the right side of the console (or bottom if its vertical), and heat rises so, the vented heat rises to get sucked back into the console. On the slim there are vents on the top if it’s horizontal or side if it’s vertical; the rising heat factor still applies.
  • Noise: The console’s disc drive can be much quieter when it’s horizontal and not fighting gravity.
  • Risk of falling: By having the console vertical its base surface area is less than a fourth of what it is horizontal. Therefore, increasing its chances to be knocked over. If you have cats, the chances get even higher.

In my opinion, it’s just a better, more sensible idea to leave it laying horizontally, versus having it stand up vertically. Have a different opinion? Leave a comment and let us know. Until next week, remember to never set a console on a padded surface. This will almost always cause it to overheat.

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