The Xbox is one of the best gaming systems around, but it is not necessarily cheap. With prices of up to $300-$400 for consoles like the Elite Console and the Xbox Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition Elite Console, an Xbox 360 can be a serious investment. When you factor in necessities like a universal remote and extra controllers, the price tag for a high quality system can be in the hundreds of dollars easily.

However, during the excitement and enjoyment of the games, users often forget about proper maintenance of their Xbox 360. You may place it anywhere, bring it any which way, and just leave it be until you realize that the dreaded “ring of death” has manifested itself on your gaming console. By then, it will almost be too late to rectify the errors of your past ways.

Thankfully, it is really not all that difficult to keep your Xbox 360 in good shape with some preventative maintenance. You need to keep your console well protected from the three things which cause many systems to fail: dust, dirt and heat.

In order to keep your Xbox 360 from overheating, it is essential to give your console a rest from time to time, especially during those marathon gaming sessions. Just taking a 30 minute break every couple of hours can make all the difference. Keep your Xbox 360 away from heaters and direct sunlight and off of blankets, carpets and other materials which tend to trap heat to prevent overheating.

Electronics like amplifiers are also sources of heat which can cause overheating in your Xbox 360; keep your console clear of these products. You should also avoid using your console while it is in an unventilated area such as a closed entertainment center. Your Xbox 360 needs adequate ventilation in order to disperse heat - the best places for using your Xbox are rooms where there is air conditioning or where you can position a fan to provide ventilation for your console. If you use external cooling accessories with your Xbox 360, make sure to power them from a wall outlet rather than using your console for power.

To keep your Xbox 360 safe from dust and dirt, you should keep the console away from any place which tends to get dusty, such as open windows and especially underneath beds; a place where many Xbox owners seem to stash their consoles. It is recommended to use a cover to protect your Xbox 360 from dust when it is not actually in use.

Some gamers bring their Xbox on the road with them. While not recommended, you can do this as long as you use a good carrying case for your console which gives it ample protection from bumps, dirt and dust.

As for dirt, always clean the area around the gaming console. You want it to be as clean as possible with as little dust and dirt as humanly possible. This way, you can delay the appearance of the “ring of death”. This also applies to the discs used in the Xbox 360, which must also be kept away from dust and dirt by placing them in protective covers. Plus, don’t smoke your cigarettes around the unit as smoke can damage the Xbox 360, too.

You have made a significant investment in your Xbox 360, so why not treat it like one? You can enjoy your console for much longer if you simply follow the common sense maintenance tips given here; the extra gaming excitement you will receive more than makes up for the small amount of maintenance.

Wanna check out how to perform the XBOX 360 3 red lights repair yourself instead of paying someone to do it? See this to learn all about the XBOX 360 rrod as well as other repairs. Do it yourself and you can play games later today!

Tags: entertainment, fun, games, gaming, hacking, How to fix a Xbox, Microsoft, movies, music, online, software, video, video games, xbox, xbox 360