The fact is not every gamer has their console in a prime location. Some folks throw caution to the wind and pile A/V equipment (and pizza boxes) on top of each other, while others place their Xbox 360 in a cramped home theater cabinet. What if you’re playing Oblivion for 10 hours straight in a non-air conditioned house in South Florida? There are literally millions of variations for video game setups around the world and most of them aren’t ideal for a high-end consumer electronic like the Xbox 360. Any time a multi-core processor is involved, you can expect plenty of heat to be generated which mean ventilation is key.
It can be assumed that for the majority of Xbox 360 owners, overheating issues won’t become a major factor. As long air is circulating around the console, Xbox 360’s internal fan usually gets the job done. To date, we’ve only encountered one overheating problem, and that was in the extreme case when the temperature at one editor’s home rose to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Some advice…when it’s over 100°, skip the video games and try swimming!
That being said, after dropping $400 or so on a new console, many consumers would like a little bit of added confidence that their Xbox 360 won’t pull a burnout. Nyko has recently released the Intercooler 360, a snap-on cooling device that claims to increases air flow, thereby reducing heat throughout the Xbox 360.
Nyko’s Intercooler 360 shipped to stores at the end of March, and seems to be a hot commodity with most retailers being out of stock. The MSRP of the Intercooler 360 is $19.99; a relatively paltry sum as far as accessories go.
Measuring 8” tall by 2.5” wide by 2.5” deep, the Intercooler 360 is fairly impressive looking device. Its eggshell white molding matches the exterior of the Xbox 360 almost perfectly and, when attached, could be mistaken for a regular extension of the console.
Features:
* Powered by Xbox 360 console, no extra AC adapter needed
* Snap-on assembly for easy installation, no tools required
* Increases air flow and reduces heat throughout the Xbox 360
* Improved protection for internal circuitry
* Enhanced performance for your Xbox 360
* Cooler temperatures mean extended life and reliability
* Fits in entertainment centers with the console in either the horizontal or vertical position
* Auto or manual power on and off
The Intercooler 360 primarily consists of three 12V DC fans that are powered directly by the Xbox 360 console. The concept is relatively simple – by complementing the internal Xbox 360 fan, the Intercooler 360’s fans provided added airflow and ventilation.
Installation
With absolutely no tools needed, the Intercooler 360 is a snap (literally) to install. You must first disconnect the Xbox 360 power cord, video cable, and Ethernet cable from the back of the console. If you are using the Xbox 360 wireless network adapter, we recommend removing that as well – just to have a clean slate.
The male plug on the inside of the Intercooler 360 is then inserted into the Xbox 360’s power plug. Two sets of security pins at the top of the unit then are inserted into the vent holes on the back of the console. The security pins might need realigned slightly in order to fit, but for the most part the Intercooler 360 fits snug, and isn’t an eye sore.
The Xbox 360 power cord is then inserted into the female port of the Intercooler 360. Nyko recommends to first power up the Xbox 360 and then flipping the power switch on the Intercooler. After the initial power up, the Intercooler 360 automatically shuts off when the Xbox 360 is powered down. You always have the option of manually turning the Intercooler 360 on/off, but it isn’t necessary.
The removal process is just as easy as the Intercooler 360 pulls right off. For most, there won’t be a need to remove the accessory, except for cleaning purposes. Nyko recommends using a dry cloth – no chemical based cleaning agents.
Performance
Nyko is dead-on in their claims of increasing air flow. It is immediately noticeable how much heat is dissipated using the Intercooler 360. The internal Xbox 360 fan, which gets the job done in most situations, tends to blow air at a modest speed. The Intercooler 360 pushes air at a comparable speed to a high-end PC. As you’d expect, the addition of three fans also mean increased noise. Some consumers claim that the Xbox 360 is already loud, and adding the Intercooler 360 certainly isn’t going to help. It is a give and take situation – the side effect of increased air flow is fan noise. If you’re experiencing overheating issues, then we’d expect that a slight increase of noise is a fair tradeoff in keeping the Xbox 360 cool.
According to Nyko’s reports, the Intercooler can cool the Xbox 360 as much as 10 degrees or as little as 1 degree, depending on the area of the console. Obviously, this temperature will differ depending on the surrounding room temperature. The Intercooler 360 isn’t an air conditioner, so its cooling effect is only as a result of increased airflow – just like a room fan.
While we didn’t have the luxury of using a pyrometer to accurately measure temperature changes, our readings did show a fluctuation of at least a few degrees in each of 15 areas of the Xbox 360 console. There’s no doubt about it – the Nyko Intercooler 360 increases airflow and reduces the console’s internal temperature.
The Bottom Line
For the most part, the Intercooler 360 performs as advertised. We still question the overall need for this type of accessory, especially when providing proper ventilation for the Xbox 360. Still, not all gamers are able to adhere to ideal A/V conditions, and so the Intercooler 360 could be the answer.
Visually, the Intercooler 360 aligns with the Xbox 360 perfectly and doesn’t look gaudy. We did experience some slight spacing issues when attaching both the Intercooler 360 and the Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter, but they will both fit with minor adjustments.
Expect the noise level to rise, thanks to the three additional fans running in concert with the Xbox 360. While the fan noise isn’t any louder than that of a high-end PC, it might be an annoyance to some gamers.
If your Xbox 360 happens to be in tight quarters, or if you live in an overly hot location then Nyko’s Intercooler 360 might not be a bad investment. It definitely increases the airflow through the Xbox 360, and for $20, it’s cheap insurance. If airflow isn’t an issue in your home entertainment setup, then this is one accessory that you can probably skip on.
Source:http://hardware.teamxbox.com
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