View Full Version : Xbox as DVD player?
crunchewy
09-01-2009, 12:07 PM
As I understand it, the DVD drive in the 360 is really noisy, but is that only the case for games? What about DVD movies? Do they play quietly or does it still make a racket?
I'm wondering if, if I were to buy a 360, could I get rid of my DVD player.
It plays DVD's as well, but the drive is still very loud (this is because they are using a $5-10 drive). I'd hold on to the dvd player myself unless you have a computer to hook-up to the TV.
flameofdoom666
09-01-2009, 12:15 PM
It is loud. The only reason is because the internal fan kicks in.
When installing a 360 game, that sound is not there. I am not aware if you can install DVD's- but I am assuming.. no.
wakawakawa
09-01-2009, 12:18 PM
Depends on your exact 360, usually the older ones are loud and the new ones are quieter. I use my PS3 for playing DVDs because it's whisper quiet, but I've read about some people who have noisy PS3s.
rapsodist
09-01-2009, 01:14 PM
With my 360, watching movies hasn't been as loud as playing games. But I'd advise against using it as your primary DVD player just so that you don't wear out your system.
I use my 360 (launch console) as my primary DVD player and its not loud at all. I can hear the television just fine even when its at a low volume.
SlimJim0725
09-01-2009, 01:33 PM
With my 360, watching movies hasn't been as loud as playing games. But I'd advise against using it as your primary DVD player just so that you don't wear out your system.
This! The disc drives in the 360 are pretty low quality, so the less you use it the better chance you have of prolonging the life of your 360.
If you have the HD DVD add on it is really quiet
DiscoDuck8k
09-01-2009, 02:04 PM
I use my 360 (launch console) as my primary DVD player and its not loud at all. I can hear the television just fine even when its at a low volume.
Same. I watch a lot of movies on mine and it usually stays pretty quiet.
It's louder than any standard DVD player, and louder than the PS3. As mentioned above, it's because the fan kicks in.
naiku
09-01-2009, 03:36 PM
keep your dvd player. the 360 is loud as hell as mentioned.
Recently my 360 drive died. the laser is burnt out. so its good to have a dvdplayer just to keep you entertained.
CapAmerica
09-01-2009, 07:09 PM
I've personally have not had any issues with it being loud, but I'm watching movies and playing games on it in my living room. If you're not sitting real close to the system the noise shouldn't be a issue.
bigdaddybruce44
09-01-2009, 09:03 PM
Depends on your exact 360, usually the older ones are loud and the new ones are quieter. I use my PS3 for playing DVDs because it's whisper quiet, but I've read about some people who have noisy PS3s.
Indeed. Even though, as others have said, a lot has to do with the fans, the older drives themselves are real pieces of shit. The original console I bought was a "newer" pre-Falcon Pro model with HDMI, and the drive wasn't too bad. When that kicked the bucket, though, they sent me a model that was manufactured a few months before, and it had one of the older drives. As soon as I booted it up, I could tell the difference.
If you have the HD DVD add on it is really quiet
Yep, it's not too bad.
hostyl1
09-01-2009, 09:16 PM
My (refurb'ed) non-HDMI core 360 is loud as fuck even when I'm just in the dashboard. I remember when we first could install games to the HDD and ppl talked about how quiet it was without the game disc spinning. I cant tell a difference as my system is always loud even when download stuff while "off". I'd never use it as a DVD player. My cheap 20 buck standalone player is just fine (and virtually silent).
Keep the DVD player and use the 360 for games only.
crunchewy
09-02-2009, 09:22 AM
Thanks for the input, folks. Sounds like I better not ditch my DVD player yet. Much appreciated!
mogamer
09-02-2009, 09:39 AM
Get an original Xbox and turn it into a media center. Buy two, they're cheap!
thrustbucket
09-02-2009, 10:35 AM
The reason to not use your Xbox as a dvd player is because anything with moving parts will eventually die. Every time your dvd drive in the xbox is spinning, you are playing Russian Roulette. Play dvd's in something cheaper and easier to replace.
tankass
09-02-2009, 10:48 AM
Yea, with the 360s track record, Id avoid using it as a DVD player unless its your only option. Interesting note: The other day I put a DVD into my 360 instead of my PS3 (which I normally use for dvds and blu rays) and ended up switching to my PS3 because the drive was so loud. Also noticed that the PS3 actually upscales DVDs which made a noticable difference on my 47 LCD. Not sure if anyone on a smaller or SD tv would notice, but thought Id put that out there.
Galego23
09-02-2009, 11:35 AM
The 360 I'm pretty sure upscales DVDs as well.
rapsodist
09-02-2009, 11:55 AM
The Xbox 360 does indeed upscale DVDs, so the PS3 isn't special in that regard, though I believe the PS3 does a better job.
tankass
09-02-2009, 12:03 PM
The Xbox 360 does indeed upscale DVDs, so the PS3 isn't special in that regard, though I believe the PS3 does a better job.
That sounds about right, all I know is that the xbox version looked butt ugly compared to the ps3 version. Im not trying to get the fanboys all riled up or start a flame war, Im just speaking of what I noticed. And FYI I was using the HDMI for both and yes, I know how to enable the HDMI signal on my systems.
thrustbucket
09-02-2009, 12:17 PM
The Xbox 360 only kicks in it's upscaling when it's using HDMI or VGA. If your using component cables, it will never upscale and look ugly as hell.