Game Informer Hardware Reliability Survey

[Timber]

Seriously?

Don't the Jasper units work fairly perfectly now?

[Grave]

While I can't say one way or the other about that, I'm more concerned that they'll shoot the 360 in the head when its successor comes along like they did with the original Xbox.

[wip3outguy7]

I refuse to believe that anyone who put in at least 5-10 hours a week on a PS1 1001 model had a system that worked perfectly after about a year or so. I've still got my launch 1001 system and it sorta works if it's turned on one side while it's running, however all FMV skips.

I still think that the N64 is the best built system ever. I've seen those things work perfectly after some really hardcore abuse. And the Gamecube is the best built disc system ever. I've been in video game retail since the system launched and I've only encountered or heard about maybe a half dozen of them crapping out.

Yeah, 1001s had heat dissipation problems. It didn't help that the CDrom assembly was resting on foam/rubber legs and was located right next to the power supply. The most common failure scenario would have the legs warping, throwing the drive off center. The extra vibration loosens the laser's calibration screw causing happy fun time in skipping FMV land with a side of "games just won't fucking load". Flipping the system would work for awhile but the drive would eventually die, no matter how many times you calibrated the laser. We took a lot of 1001s apart before coming to this conclusion when I worked at Software Etc.

Sony fixed the problem later by making one leg hard plastic (or maybe two, I forget) and relocating the drive as far away from the power supply as they could without changing the external looks of the PS1.

The N64 may be tough but it's a cartridge based system so that's expected. When it comes to bullet proof optical drive based systems I vote the Saturn. The thing is a fucking brick. The only comon issue with the system is the cheap cartridge port in the back that tends to go out if you look at it wrong. Other than that, the drives are tough and the guts are tougher. I have a model 2 that I've owned for over 10 years and you have to put your ear to it to tell if it's accessing.

[RoleTroll]

The Saturn's internal memory wasn't very reliable. IIRC, lots of Saturns with busted RAM were sitting in GameStops.

[Uriel]

My N64 was thrown out of a 2nd story window (don't ask). The case literally broke in half where the two main pieces join, but it works perfectly.

[Grave]

The Saturn's internal memory wasn't very reliable. IIRC, lots of Saturns with busted RAM were sitting in GameStops.

Are you sure they didn't just have dead batteries?

[Thief Silver]

Well having the batteries die and losing everything did suck.

[Grave]

Smart people* had backup memory carts!

*people who played Dragon Force

[wip3outguy7]

^^wrd

If a memory card or 4 in 1 isn't an option then you can replace the CR 2032 while the Saturn is powered on and you will not loose your saves. The battery usually lasts around 2 or 3 years so just make a habit of replacing it before it's expected to go out and you'll be fine.

[SpoDaddy]

Try not complaining in 10 years when you want to play a classic but no working hardware exists and emulation is wonky.

The 360 still has at least 3 more years before a new Xbox comes out, and MS will probably figure out how to make a decent 360 by then. And if not, people have figured out how to mod their 360s to not overheat. There are replacement fans that keep the system from getting too hot, and some people are installing watercooling systems into their 360s. When my warranty runs out next year the first thing I'm doing is installing a new fan.

BTW the GameCube is the most durable optical disc-based console ever. I took mine on a cross-country flight to California in 2002, loose in my luggage, and it was the only thing the baggage handlers couldn't break. I've also seen one thrown into a brick wall; the plastic shell got busted up but it still worked.