Introduction: Proper Care for Your 360 and 360 Hardware

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If you're one of those people who want to take really good care of your 360, then this is the Instructable for you.


This is my first instructable, so please give me some feedback on how I did or how I can improve.

Step 1: Gathering Materials

Here is a list of materials that you will need for the process:

Needed:
scissors
compressed air
polishing cloth


Optional:
Nyko Intercooler (EX model)
small screwdriver (the ones for glasses usually work best)

Step 2: 360 Dusting

Take your can of Compressed air, point at the 360 as shown in the pictures. Only give bursts of air as this is more effective than holding down the trigger. Holding the trigger down also creates a layer of frost on the outside if your aren't careful. If the bottle does get cold enough, then the air pressure will be cut down to less than 10%. The main targets are the vent holes and the cracks between the 360's case parts.

Also, you should think about getting that dust out of the disc drive. Even though you are spraying the dust back in the disc drive, it is also coming out of another place, because you have so much air pressure. The disc drive is sealed up pretty tight, so you can guarantee that the dust is not getting inside of your 360.

The AC adapter also has vent holes and a fan inside of it, so don't forget to dust the vent holes on the adapter.

The dust that you blow off will not enter your system, it only bounces off of the plastic it's sitting on and gets into the surrounding air.

Step 3: Polishing

Polishing is not difficult on the 360. Just polish the parts that are shiny, such as the power button, disc drive faceplate, infrared receiver, and if you have one of the earlier models instead of the new ones, the side of the HDD. You can find a polish cloth at your local convenient store for less than a buck.

Step 4: Xbox 360 Motorized Filter

Dust can easily get inside the 360. I tried just placing filters on the vent holes, but it still got dust inside of it (I guess the filters weren't rated for small dust particles).I did, however, build a motorized one. Just take a look at the pictures below. It also didn't work as well as I thought, but that is just the filter. I will be replacing the filter on it with a better one. If you're interested, I will be making a Instructable in the near future for one. It won't look like this one though. Mine broke after these pictures were taken, but that was from me accidentally stepping on it when it wasn't in use. Just goes to show: Watch where you're stepping!

Step 5: Keeping Your 360 Dust/Debris Free

The simple way to do this is take some of the filter material(shown below(i will include a picture later, I'm having to spend some time with my grandparents, so I don't have my camera right now)) and cut it into pieces, those resembling the size and shape of the vent holes on the 360. You can just place them on the vents or you can tape down the sides with a little tape. If you're using tape, use painter's tape or some of that other tape you usually find in schools, it's like "Scotch" brand "Magic" tape or something like that. I have tested this filter material on multiple projects and the airflow is actually better than that blue filter material you saw in step 1! It also catches the dust better too.

Step 6: Inserting the Intercooler (optional)

Because of many rumors around that Microsoft can run secret tests over Xbox Live, this step is to be avoided. If you have a 360 with an intercooler, take it off immediately. If you do want an intercooler, but don't want it to void the warranty, look around the internet and try to find someone that has modded one of these to hook up through a wall adapter, instead of the 360's. This has the same effect at cooling you system, without Microsoft knowing. If you would like me to mod or make an intercooler forthe 360, please leave your suggestions and ideas in the comments section, and I will get to them ASAP.

Step 7: Cleaning the Controller's Cracks (optional)

Take the screwdriver and place it down into the crack. Turn the screwdriver so it fills as much of the gap as possible (see picture below). Gently scrape the gunk out of the crack, take it out every once in a while and blow out the loose crud with the compressed air. The gunk that normally builds up is the oils from your skin as you play. It's not toxic sludge or anything like that, so don't be grossed out (cause it's probably yours).

Step 8: Extra

Always keep your batteries charged (unless they're disposable), this gives you an upper hand when you're in mid combat in Halo3 or Call of Duty and your battery runs out. And keeping your battery charged will keep up it's "memory" or how much juice it can hold. It's memory decreases over time, but keeping it charged makes it take longer to deplete.

If you're taking your 360 different places, don't just put it in a cardboard box or in a bag. Get a good reliable case for it, it keeps it protected and if you get the right one, it allows you to play it while it's inside of the case. The one that I have is Naki-World's G-Pak 360. This is the only one so far that I have found to do exceptionally well. It's cheaper than other cases, but does a lot better. It also allows you to play the 360 inside the case without it overheating, because they have large vent holes on the sides. Intec has an aluminum case, but I have 2 of them and they have already broke. The aluminum also bends very easily. In a shortened note, DON'T BUY THE HARD CASES!!! They don't last very long.

And if you have a Memory Unit... Keep the case!!!! The case protects it from humidity and dust in the air.

I believe that concludes my instructable. Thanks for reading guys... and also the girls out there who also play video games.

Step 9: Upcoming Instructables

Well, it looks like plans have changed again. This time I'm keeping it this way. I will not be able to work on the Xbox projects I have wanted to do for reasons unknown. Because of my career choice and other stuff such as college, I am changing my plans to PC building/modding/etc.

I am sorry for any of you who were looking forward to those projects.

My first Instructable for PC Building will be a Portable, High-Powered, PC. Most of you might be thinking: "That's what laptops are for!"... Yeah you have part of a point, but for most of us energy users out there, we want something with much more "kick" if you catch my drift. I'm not letting out any more details until it is built. Date of completion: No later than the end of this summer. Reason for taking so long: budget, custom case, custom cooling system, and custom modding. All worth the wait.