I just checked the power connector and the voltage on the back. It is,
16,5A.
Chart says:
12V Current Rating------------------------- Xbox 360 Revision
16,5A..........................................................Zephyr
14,2A..........................................................Falcon
12,1A..........................................................Jasper
That would suggest the model is in fact, a Zephyr - not a Falcon. A Zephyr build uses the same die size for the CPU and GPU that the release model uses. That would not be good and, as you suggest, would fit the fact that is is very loud.
Problem is, the power connector on the console itself is missing the black square block in the middle, which suggests the unit is a Falcon, not a Zephyr.
The mftr date of Spetember 29/07, being after August 24/07 suggests that it is a Falcon as well.
I expect what is really going on here is explained by a build date of within about 5 weeks of when the Falcon's first started coming on to the market, At that time, there were parts shortages and a mix of parts in the mftr plant. Or perhaps better said, plant
S. (i.e., they were assembling these in more than one mftring location at the time).
They were using the parts they had in inventory at the time, and were using up old stock when they could, newer parts when they had run out of old parts.
I got a new power connector as they had run out of old ones. The way Micrsoft's power connector design works is that a new power bar cannot be used to power an older design, but an older power bar can always be used to power a newer design. So. They may simply have run out of old power connectors at the time and I got a new Falcon one, but that, in itself, means nothing.
So I think it's fair to say that I really don't know what model my "newish" 360 is. What we do know is that it's really, really loud on idle.
I have read up on the Jasper and, given the price point on a new Arcade model, this seems like sensible advice.
Keep the used hard 120 GB drive, bring back the rest. Apply refund to purchase of new Jasper model Arcade version of a 360 - assuming I can find one to buy. That gives me a reduced die fab on both the CPU and the GPU and should result in significant noice reduction.
Currently, both the Jasper and the Falcon models are in the distro chain for the Xbox Arcade bundle. There are ways to check if it is a Zephyr or a Falcon from the info near the bar code, (so the article says), but I can tell you from my own odd experience in checking the above discussed "loud Flacon", that at least some of the info in this article which presents itself as
certainty could well be wrong.
Anyways, the Jasper route + used hard drive seems to be good advice. It gives the added bonus of a new warranty, too. I think I'll go that route instead of an XB-01.
