Product Description

Snap on installation for easy setup

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7062 in Video Games
• Brand: Nyko
• Model: 86022
• Released on: 2007-05-15
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 9.70" h x 3.20" w x 4.00" l, .85 pounds

Features

• Significantly cools the interior of the console
• Cooler temperatures extend the life of the console
• Color matches Xbox 360 Elite

Customer Reviews

Works great initially, but will cause failures later on
I had purchased the original Intercooler for my 360 last year. Initially, it worked like a charm, keeping the system cool to the touch. After awhile, my console started having issues. Thinking it may have been a defective unit, I swapped it out and got another one. In almost the same time frame, the second console started having problems. The only constant was the Intercooler. Save yourself some grief. Buy a USB powered laptop cooling pad. I use an Antec one that is frequently on sale for $10. It works like a charm and doesn't harm the 360.

--Some analysis for those who care--

First, an observation. On several units, plugging in the intercooler caused the CD tray to open poorly. It was sluggish and sometimes didn't open up completely. Unplugging the intercooler immediately fixed the issue.

Thinking about the design, it makes sense why my console was failing.

1. The extra device was under-volting the 360. Anyone who has taken high school physics knows that a fan can be simplified as a resistor. By putting an extra resistor between the 360 and the power supply, you are creating an unexpected voltage drop before the power even gets into the 360. Less voltage = less power.

2. The 360 is a computer, not an appliance. It has a motherboard, drives, and all that fancy stuff. Inside a computer, power goes into 2 places: motherboard and drives. Drives are fairly tollerant to power fluctuations. Hence, you can put fans and other devices in the same power line as a hard drive or optical drive without too much issue (up to a point). The motherboard and all components on it, are far more sensitive to fluctuations. Therefore, power coming in first runs through a regulator on the motherboard. These regulators expect a certain amount of voltage and current. Power that comes out of these regulators is clean and at the right amount. By reducing the amount of power going into the regulators, not enough power can be supplied to the components, causing damage. Ultimately, this can lead to failure

3. While the power supply is rated for 203 watts, anyone who has built a computer knows that the rating usually means the peak power the supply can put out. The constant output is typically lower than that. Under no circumstances should the power supply be constantly run at the peak power (unless explicitly stated, like an Antec TruPower). Given this, the supply can easily supply the ~180 watts necessary for 360 peak performance. It can probably safely supply somewhere up to 185-190 watts. Any more than that and the supply will become unstable if constantly asked for that load.

Misconception that I've seen all over: "The 360 can power all these extra devices like battery chargers and wired controllers, why shouldn't it be able to handle a couple fans?"

Reason: The issue isn't if the 360 can handle it, but rather where the fans are placed. All of the peripherals for the 360 are powered by USB, which runs through the motherboard. This means the power is drawn from the board and through the voltage regulator on the board. The board controls where the power is sent. USB power is a standard, and each port is rated for a certain amount. If the draw on a port exceeds the rated amount or there is a short, it shuts off to protect the other components. An external device bypasses all regulation and safety measure.

Plug Connection is Incompatible with new XBOX 360 Elites
The plug pass through on the Intercooler 360 EX IS NOT compatible with the new XBOX 360 Elites (my XBOX 360 Elite was manufactured in Oct 2007.) There is a prong within the Intercooler EX plug slot which prevents the original XBOX 360 Elite plug from being plugged into the back of the Intercooler 360 device.

Microsoft may have changed their plug design to make it incompatible - since I cannot believe Nyko would be this messed up.

Nyko does it right with the Intercooler EX
My 360 Elite has yet to have any issues. Mine was manufactured in 3/07, so it was before they modified the internals that were causing the overheating issues.

My cousins Elite, however does give him random red lights (not the RRoD). I purchased one for him as well to see if this helps his Elite in any way. I have yet to hear any updates, but they will come.

As an extra precaution, I purchased Nyko's NEW Intercooler EX to use as what I called "preventative maintenance".

I have read a good amount of the comments regarding the first generation Nyko Intercooler's causing meltdowns. The EX clearly addressed these issues by a much higher build quality with not only the fans but also the metal connectors that your 360 power supply connects to.

Using an infrared thermometer, I measured some of the hottest points on the case with and without the EX. The temperate was a good 5-15° Fahrenheit cooler when using the EX.

This is by no means a scientific form of measurement, but it worked for this simple test.

I will give you some more specific number. When I measured the temperature of the 360's case (on top when laid on its side) where both the CPU and GPU are located side by side I got a reading of 109° Fahrenheit to 114° Fahrenheit. This was after playing Halo 3 for roughly 3 hours non-stop. After installing the Nyko Intercooler EX, I played Halo 3 yet again for roughly 3 hours. The CPU area measured 90° Fahrenheit to 101° Fahrenheit. These lower numbers are not staggering by any means, but the EX is doing its job by reducing heat. If you want drastic heat reductions look elsewhere.

The point is the EX provided a substantial amount of cooling, rather venting, to the 360.

Just to clarify for the people out there: The EX does not blow air into the 360: The Intercooler EX uses three fans lined in exhaust mode. This means the EX pulls the hot air from the already existing two fans inside the 360. In simpler terms, the EX fans pulling the heat being blown onto my hands is a lot warmer than just the 360's fans alone. Remember that this is a good thing: more heat being exhausted from the 360 means a cooler 360.

One more note. The 360 game discs and DVD's that pop out of the tray are now room temperature instead of either warm or hot thanks to the EX.

Will this prevent my Elite from bricking on me in the future? Who knows?

I purchased the two year extended warranty from Microsoft, so I am not concerned.

Only time will tell how long my 360 will last, but for $20 and active cooling you cannot go wrong.

I will update my review in the future if anything "unexpected" happens to my 360 with the use of the EX.