Just bought a brand new Xbox 360? It may be a good idea to think about getting the maximum mileage from your game console. If you got a console that uses the Jasper chip set, then you probably don’t need to worry about overheating.

But overheating isn’t the only thing that you need to address. If you’ve experienced overheating problems before with your console then proper care and maintenance is probably a bigger priority for you now. The following is a list of some proper maintenance and care tips:

1.) Don’t throw away the packaging that your console came in. Someday you’ll want to bring your Xbox on your travels and packing it in the box that it came in will protect it from damage. It is simpler than building a container of your own.

2.) Many people will put game cases and other things on the console. This is very handy but can be harmful. There is a tendency for the console to get overheated after several hours of play.

Any clutter on top of or stacked against the console, prevents proper cooling. Something else to keep in mind is that your Xbox needs lots of open and well ventilated space. Keep it away from any sources of heat including direct exposure to the sun.

3.) Your entertainment center should be wide open on all sides. This ensures that there will be adequate ventilation so that the console remains cool.

4.) This suggestion’s obvious but still should be taken seriously. Don’t allow cables and wires to get spread out over the floor whether they’re controller wires or power cables. Clumsy or distracted people as well as pets can accidentally or deliberately (in the case of your pet) snag them and give the console a good yank.

5.) Keep the area next to the console clean and free of grit and dust. The cooling vents may draw in the dust which can degrade the consoles cooling system.

6.) If you’re thinking about modifying your console, remember that you will forfeit your warranty if you open your console. You may not care about the warranty now, but they’re nice to have if your Xbox gets the three red light error.

Marc Sandford is a gaming enthusiast and author. Get Xbox trouble shooting information about repairing the Xbox 360 red ring of death.