Written by Joe Comunale  on January 10, 2007

Accessory Review: The Xbox 360 was a hot gift this holiday season, but are you afraid it might get too hot? Then check out our review of Nyko's Intercooler.

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The release of the 360 brought with it numerous reports of overheating problems, especially with the first few batches at the system's launch. Since then, the overheating debacle hasn't been quite as widespread, but the threat of seeing the red-rings-of-death pop up on your console still leaves many worried. Nyko (as well as other third-party companies) jumped on the scare by releasing an external fan to improve the system's internal ventilation.

Nyko's external fan add-on, the Intercooler, plugs into the back of the system, so no need to worry about a complicated or demanding installation. You can use it with the 360 in the vertical or horizontal position. But if overheating is a concern, avoid the vertical stance as this position blocks off the system's biggest source of ventilation. Not only that, it's detrimental to your game disks and console. With no on/off switch, the Intercooler turns on and off in conjunction with the actual system, but while it is easy to use, it's not as easy to install. The one-piece device fits perfectly to the rear end of the console, but the problem comes when you try to plug the AC cord into the adapter hole. It's difficult to muscle the plug into a fit that's snugger than you would like, and unfortunately, the cord never seems to be completely inserted. The connection works in the end, but it's fragile enough that you'll want to be extra careful when handling the system. It's also worth noting that those with a wireless network adapter may find it troublesome to have both connected.

Once everything is tightly fastened, it's ready to go. We ran NBA 2K7 for over three hours straight--first without the intercooler, then with it. After the first run, the system felt like molten lava, and there was a noticeably warmer change in room temperature. The second three-plus-hour run (with the Intercooler) yielded a system that, to the touch, felt very close to room temperature. There is a noise factor with the Intercooler. The fans aren't terribly noisy while using a surround sound setup or with the volume notched up, but noise from the three fans is more palpable when the volume is low. And over time the gathered dust on the fans make them a bit noisier. But even so, more noise for a stabilized internal climate is a worthy tradeoff.

While Nyko's product may in fact be one of the better cooling systems on the market, there also are a few problems with Nyko's hunk of plastic, starting largely with the fact that, by attaching the Intercooler to your 360, you effectively void your console's warranty with Microsoft. The problem here is that many who have employed the Intercooler reported subsequent problems with their system. On Amazon.com, for instance, there are currently (as of January 4, 2006) 127 customer reviews for the product, and nearly half state that the Intercooler continuously froze and/or completely broke their console. In all fairness, though, there is an equal amount of positive feedback, and the unit that we tested (over a four month time span) was effective in its job and not at all the console killer that some have claimed it to be.

Many skeptics have another concern. One of Nyko's selling points is that there are no power cords that come along with it, meaning the Intercooler feeds directly off the system's AC cord, which is the console's power source. Some complain this feature can bring harm by not allowing the system its allotted amount of energy, but the bridged connection doesn't withhold the console from its needed power, because the Intercooler's three 80mm fans are hardly demanding. Besides, if that were the case, then controllers and similar accessories would be a similar threat. But regardless, issues like this shouldn't dissuade your decision simply because, even though you void your warranty with Microsoft, you hand over full responsibility to Nyko in the event that its cooling system damages your 360. So if you have any problems, they will fix your system free of charge.

A cooling system for the horizontal position is the better route to take over a vertical stand fan, but aftermarket accessories by third parties haven't always been so reputable, and a faulty design on Nyko's part makes the Intercooler no different. The hardware could have been sculpted differently to better bridge the console and the AC cord, and its position on the back of the console interferes with the possible connection of additional accessories. But with the threat of your system overheating, the Intercooler does a sound job (no pun intended) to keep the system at a cool temperature. For the best results you can use additional precautions, too. You can start by keeping your 360 in a horizontal position, making sure that all its vents have breathing room, and giving it a cool surface to rest on. Enclosing it behind a glass or wood entertainment center door is a no-no.