Does Microsoft still use Thompson drives in new Xboxes?

[jerkov]

I'm thinking of taking advantage of that EB deal by trading in my PS2 and Xbox to get a PStwo and a new Xbox. I bought my Xbox used a few months back and it has a Thompson drive. I want to unload this thing before the drive dies and I have an expensive doorstop. Have they woken up and stopped using the Thompson, or do I still run the risk of getting stuck with one if I get a new Xbox?

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Yup, they still make Thompson drives.

[jerkov]

Goddammit.......just one more reason to hate Microsoft. Is there ANYTHING I can do to help ensure that I don't get stuck with one of those again?

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Just get a refurbished one and ask to see the drive first. Or hope that you get lucky.

[LiquidX01]

Just get a refurbished one and ask to see the drive first. Or hope that you get lucky.

Thats really the only way you can ensure yourself you wont get the Thompson.

Im having minor issues with mine right now, Im not gonna worry until it absolutely croaks on me. :o

[MegaDrive20XX]

yup I've caught a few of those ugly drives still, saw this poor kid at the UPS office and he claimed it was the second time sending it back to Mircosoft.

I wish they would stop

[JR]

I got my Xbox on release with a thompson drive, and god is it shit! I cant even play True crime cuz it all of a sudden stops reading the cd. Most games its fine, but some I got to edject, reload a few times b4 it will read it. It hasnt died on me yet, so I cant totally complain. Ive been occasioally looking for a sammy drive on ebay for cheap, but people pay 70+ for em! Ide just rather go get another xbox for that price!

[SoulBlazer]

And THAT, my friends, is why I got a REFURBISHED XBox and asked the Manager at my local EB to check EACH system until we found one with a Samsung drive. ;) LOL

[classicb]

this is good too know because I was totally thinking about finally picking up a new Xbox. I would have thought they would have fixed this by now

[goatdan]

If you've already got an Xbox and have some technical know-how, it might be worth picking up a Samsung drive on eBay. You can get them pretty cheaply sometimes. Here is one for $50.00:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41016&item=8139357297&rd=1

While it isn't the perfect solution, it is the one that will work. Replacing it will cost less than returning it and getting another one.

Thank *god* that I decided to purchase a Halo set. I know two people now with Thompson DVD drives and neither works properly. I haven't had one problem with anything (movies, CDs, DVDs, etc.) but THUG!

[devils advocate]

Just to play my name a little,


Not all Thompsons are bad.

I have a box with a Thompson that I just use as a dedicated server for Rainbow. It has logged over ONE THOUSAND hours in the first one, and has currently logged over SEVEN HUNDRED hours in Black Arrow.............Nary a problem yet.

The real problem with the Thompson, IMHO, is that it can't read CDR's.

I purposely used this box for my dedicated, during it's warranty period to kill it, fearing all I had heard of the Thompson. No such luck.

On the other hand, I have killed my Samsung once. Not a drive issue though. It was a power supply issue.

It's obvious that there IS some problems associated with the Thompson. But I think like any other problem that is documented on the net, people LOOK for any issue, and relate it to the drive.

As a sidenote, my dedicated server runs at 3 megs up, and 7 down. I'm in Canada(central), and have hosted people as far away as Texas and England simultaneously, with zero lag.

If anyone wants to join, the GT is CRAZYDOGPOUND.


Regards,

[sisko]

Just to play my name a little,


Not all Thompsons are bad.

I have a box with a Thompson that I just use as a dedicated server for Rainbow. It has logged over ONE THOUSAND hours in the first one, and has currently logged over SEVEN HUNDRED hours in Black Arrow.............Nary a problem yet.

The real problem with the Thompson, IMHO, is that it can't read CDR's.

I purposely used this box for my dedicated, during it's warranty period to kill it, fearing all I had heard of the Thompson. No such luck.

On the other hand, I have killed my Samsung once. Not a drive issue though. It was a power supply issue.

It's obvious that there IS some problems associated with the Thompson. But I think like any other problem that is documented on the net, people LOOK for any issue, and relate it to the drive.

As a sidenote, my dedicated server runs at 3 megs up, and 7 down. I'm in Canada(central), and have hosted people as far away as Texas and England simultaneously, with zero lag.

If anyone wants to join, the GT is CRAZYDOGPOUND.


Regards,

Color yourself lucky. My extremely-well-cared-for-never moved Thompson crapped out after about 60 hours use. Not 600, sixty.

I was lucky enough to have the manager at a game store hook me up and get it swapped out for a Samsung at the cost of warranty.

[jerkov]

It's not worth it for me to put a new drive in, because I only paid about $60 for my Xbox. So I'd actually be making out a lot better by trading it in with 5 cheap sports games to get the $150 in credit and get a new or refurbished one. So I'm still making out great no matter what happens.

[IcewynG]

Just curious... any way to see what kind of drive you have in your Xbox, beside opening it? By serial number, code, or anything...

[unbroken]

just buy a philips or samsung drive off ebay and replace it your self

[bargora]

Just curious... any way to see what kind of drive you have in your Xbox, beside opening it? By serial number, code, or anything...
The disc trays are different.

http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/xbox_dvd_version_comparison.htm

[IcewynG]

The disc trays are different.

http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/xbox_dvd_version_comparison.htm

Thx for the info. That's very useful... didn't know that website btw.

Got a Samsung drive so, nothing to complain about. :)

[pr8cjb]

This is all new to me (only just bought a box last week). Just checked my new crystal and I've got a Phillips one - what's the story on those - good or bad?

[Lemmy Kilmister]

This is all new to me (only just bought a box last week). Just checked my new crystal and I've got a Phillips one - what's the story on those - good or bad?

Don't worry, their good. I actually heard that phillps has a second drive now that is actually better then the samsung.

[Ninja Blacksox]

Hrm.

I bought my XBox new in January of this year...

...and it has a Samsung drive.

What's the deal?

-A Boy

[The Manimal]

What is the percentages of getting each drive?


Say I were to buy one at Circuit City, return it if the drive is wrong, go for a new one, return if the drive is wrong, etc...


I don't know how I would go about this. The refurb thing sounds alright, but the prices for those are almost NEW price, and with my luck, everything else will be fucked up. Is the drive just a standard PC DVD-ROM drive? :o

[jonjandran]

Is the drive just a standard PC DVD-ROM drive? :o

No it's just a better quality drive with a better laser in it.

The only way a standard PC DVD-Rom drive would work in an XBox is if you re-wire the motor to spin backwards.

[LiquidX01]

Is the drive just a standard PC DVD-ROM drive? :o

No it's just a better quality drive with a better laser in it.

The only way a standard PC DVD-Rom drive would work in an XBox is if you re-wire the motor to spin backwards.

My friend actually bought a PC DVD-Rom drive with the thougths it would actually work in his Xbox out of the box. Needless to say it didnt work, I ended buying the drive from him for $10 for my PC. LOL

[goatdan]

The Thompson drives are definitely worse for playing DVD movies and for music CD scratches. My friend that ended up with a Thompson drive has it stop on about 20% of his movies. I have yet to find one problem, even with the exact same DVDs.

I guess considering that I bought my Xbox for that reason more than gaming, I feel that the other drives are very important. If I was only using it for gaming though, not that big of a deal...

[JR]

Anyone that has a thompson drive and True Crime SoLA have the problem of disk read errors when loading missions? Hell mine could barely load the intro on that game! Believe me Im meticulous with my consoles and never took it anywhere. A few other games that have trouble reading are NFS Underground, and oh I cant remember the other one. So the issue isnt just the dvd movie end, its games too! On the getting a sammy drive, I would, but hell I spent $300 on my Xbox! :(

[LiquidX01]

Anyone that has a thompson drive and True Crime SoLA have the problem of disk read errors when loading missions? Hell mine could barely load the intro on that game! Believe me Im meticulous with my consoles and never took it anywhere. A few other games that have trouble reading are NFS Underground, and oh I cant remember the other one. So the issue isnt just the dvd movie end, its games too! On the getting a sammy drive, I would, but hell I spent $300 on my Xbox! :(

I have no trouble with True Crimes, but with Need for Speed Underground Im lucky if I can even get it to boot.

I have constant trouble with,

Triple Play 2002
Madden 2004
NFSU

[Pedro Lambrini]

Having not paid much attention to the Xbox scene I had no idea this problem was so prevalent. I've now looked at my recently acquired box and found it to contain a Philips drive so I can breathe a sigh of relief. Out of interest doesn't philips own Thomson?

[allsport11]

I've got two Xbox's. Both with Thompson drives, and luckily have never had a problem with either one. Hopefully can get my hand on a Philips or Samsung drive just in case of any future problems.

[sisko]

Anyone that has a thompson drive and True Crime SoLA have the problem of disk read errors when loading missions? Hell mine could barely load the intro on that game! Believe me Im meticulous with my consoles and never took it anywhere. A few other games that have trouble reading are NFS Underground, and oh I cant remember the other one. So the issue isnt just the dvd movie end, its games too! On the getting a sammy drive, I would, but hell I spent $300 on my Xbox! :(

I have no trouble with True Crimes, but with Need for Speed Underground Im lucky if I can even get it to boot.

I have constant trouble with,

Triple Play 2002
Madden 2004
NFSU

I haven't played any of those, but Crimson Skies would always randomly lock up on me. Usually when I was 45 minutes into a mission :/

[klausien]

Not to kill this thead, but doesn't it suck that the newer generation of systems is so problematic?

Between the disc read errors of the PS2 and the issues with the XBox, it's really sad.

It sucks that some of the games I own will be unplayable someday.

Does anyone else share the same fears?

[Pedro Lambrini]

Not to kill this thead, but doesn't it suck that the newer generation of systems is so problematic?

Between the disc read errors of the PS2 and the issues with the XBox, it's really sad.

It sucks that some of the games I own will be unplayable someday.

Does anyone else share the same fears?

Yeah, I wish they were as reliable as, say, the NES! :D

Seriously though, I do think that it's a bit shitty that you spen hundreds on technology and then worry that it might not work if you use it for a bit. Although I have to say I don't really worry aobut my 'Cube!

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Not to kill this thead, but doesn't it suck that the newer generation of systems is so problematic?

Between the disc read errors of the PS2 and the issues with the XBox, it's really sad.

It sucks that some of the games I own will be unplayable someday.

Does anyone else share the same fears?

Indeed it is, I don't know what the problem has been with the last two generations on consoles. Not to sound like a "fanboy" but i blame sony and it's use of cheap lemon products. Well, atleast i can still rely on my snes going 15 years strong.

[shopkins]

My Xbox has a Thompson drive and gives me tons of problems. It's the only console I've ever had that needs 20 minutes to warm up before it will even play a game, then I get periodic crashes during certain games. It just seems like it takes an extreme effort for it to load anything, so the more loading a game has the more likely it is to crash.

I went through three copies of Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon trying to find one that worked before I gave up. All the voices overlapped. I had to give up on Fable, too, because of crashes and disk drive errors. I did have problems with True Crime, but it was still playable.

I want a brand new one, but I don't want another Thompson drive. Are there any special editions guaranteed to have a Samsung?

[LiquidX01]

I dont think so, Since the Thompsons are still being used. Like others have said, your best bet is to buy a used/refurbished system form EB or whatever and ask for one with a philips or samsung drive.

[omnedon]

I can sell new Thomsons, and used (cleaned, warrantied) Samsung drives. Not hard to install if you are comfortable doing PC upgrades.

I can install as well.

[SoulBlazer]

I've read that only 10 percent of XBoxs have Samsungs and 10 percent have Philips. For some reason, Microsoft insists on using Thompsons for the most part and they jsut use the other two to help to keep up demand.

As for the systems, it's not their fault. CD drives by nature are kind of fragile and picky. How many discman and DVD players have we had break as well? It's just the ammount of wear and tear they take.

[Richter]

I can sell new Thomsons, and used (cleaned, warrantied) Samsung drives. Not hard to install if you are comfortable doing PC upgrades.

I can install as well.how much would a drive cost us?

[JR]

If you have new samsung drives Ide be interested As for used, Ill have to pass.

[The Manimal]

If you have new Samsung drives, I'd also be interested LOL I don't even have an X-BOX yet, but if I get a NEW one and it isn't in there, then there's the option.. :)

[sisko]

Not to kill this thead, but doesn't it suck that the newer generation of systems is so problematic?

Between the disc read errors of the PS2 and the issues with the XBox, it's really sad.

It sucks that some of the games I own will be unplayable someday.

Does anyone else share the same fears?

Indeed it is, I don't know what the problem has been with the last two generations on consoles. Not to sound like a "fanboy" but i blame sony and it's use of cheap lemon products. Well, atleast i can still rely on my snes going 15 years strong.

Well, the difference is that current gen systems all use moving parts and all moving parts WILL break, its just a matter of when.

Solid state machines will run and run until something extremely gradual like chip creep fries them out in about 50+ years down the road.

That being said though, the Gamecube is one solid bit off machinery. I've hear several horror stories where the unit still came out functioning fine. On the same token, I've never heard of a GCN giving a DRE through normal use yet.

[omnedon]

PM for details


No new Samsungs. Anywhere. Ever, as far as I know, except for in a new Xbox, and you are lucky.

The used Samsungs I have are recovered from Xboxes that had some other serious problem, like motherboard failure. Perfectly great drives. :)

[DigitalSpace]

This is the biggest reason why I haven't bought an Xbox. I absolutely DO NOT want a Thompson drive. I wish Microsoft would switch to one or both of the other drives permanentely.



http://www.llamma.com/xbox/Repairs/xbox_dvd_version_comparison.htm

Thanks, that link is very helpful. :)

[SoulBlazer]

Then just do what I did -- go down to a local store like EB, ask the manager what he has in stock for refrubished XBox's, and ask him just to make a quick check to see what drives are in there. I found one with a Samsung drive on the first try. ;) Make it worth their time by buying the warrenty and some games also. I got my system, five games, and the one year warrenty for under $200 -- NOT a bad price for a console bundle. :D

[omnedon]

You won't likely need the extended warranty with a Samsung.

My drive prices are a lot cheaper than the Llamma's as well. 8-)

http://secure.llamma.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=40