I've been bidding on xbox 360's on eBay, trying to get one cheap. Well, the other day I was in a rush and didn't notice I bid on an accessory bundle instead of the actual console, and I won it. I was wondering what parts are missing from this bundle, and if it would be possible to buy a broken xbox or some parts, and put one together, or if I just lost my money. The accessory bundle came with: Power Supply

XBOX 360 component cable (YPbPr)

Microsoft 512MB memory card

NYKO INTERCOOLERts cooling fan

Original Xbox 360 Faceplate

I know nothing about how an xbox 360 works, so can anyone help me out?

Sorry to say this, but you are pretty much going to need to buy a another Xbox 360 Other than the cooling fan and the cable, all of that stuff is cosmetic. Even then the cooling fan and cable are just small replacements for existing hardware int eh xbox 360.

Sorry, I don't think it's possible to put together an Xbox. The power supply, the component cable and the faceplate come with the Xbox anyway, and the memory card is unnecessary, I think. So I'm afraid what you bought is mostly useless if you don't own the console already.

May I ask how much you got the bundle for?

Yeah, the actual machine is missing from that bundle. You have a video cord and memory card.

I hope you didn't put up any serious money for these things. It's basically Xbox sans xbox.

Even if you could use the parts, going back after being burned once and again trying to buy a used Xbox 360 on eBay is sorta like buying a used Chrysler on eBay. You're getting a system that had serious hardware problems from the start, that somebody else had enough trouble with that they are willing to get rid of it on an auction site. You may be getting a system that has been repeatedly towel-tricked or doesn't actually work at all.

If you got those parts cheap, put them in your spare parts bin and count your blessings.

^This. You may want to take a break from online auctions in general. Vid cable can still be used and you could ghetto-rig the fan to your computer ;)

As people have said.... it's best not to buy a used one, it could be banned permanently for illegal modding etc, and you don't know the conditions it's been kept in. The damn things simply don't last. As far as making one.... I doubt it'd be worth the time and effort. I've fixed 3 that'd Red Ringed but it's not really worthwhile to be honest as the damage tends to be done already and you have an unhappy console for a few months followed by another death as the damage has already been done to the chip through heat stress.

Best to get a new one.

$15. I was tired when I was bidding, should have just got off the computer.

The reason I'm buying an xbox is because I want to buy Skyrim when it comes out, and I know it will murder my computer. I figured I might try to get a xbox or ps3 cheap on ebay. I've looked at upgrades for my pc, but its going to cost a lot.
Does banned mean it can't play online, only single player. If that's the case, do you think I might be able to pick up one cheap, because Elder Scrolls games only have single player.

I would not put any money at all toward a used Xbox 360 of unknown provenance. (And by that, I mean you had better have known the guy who bought the Xbox 360 when it was new, ever since he bought it.)

Not only do you run the risk of the console being badly maintained, having failed in the past, being one of the models known for ruining DVDs, or being DOA outright, you also run the risk of it being a tampered or hacked unit.

All Xbox 360's are going to get a firmware update so they can handle the new DVD format. You won't be able to play new games without the firmware update. If you have a tampered or hacked 360, the firmware update may brick your 360, and you will have no recourse.

And if you think PC DRM is draconian, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

I'm pretty sure I read multiple times that the fancy cooling fans may do more damage than good even if you actually got an Xbox 360.

You're missing pretty much the whole thing, all you got is a wire and a memory card really.

I agree with everything, but I'm confused on how the drm is even worse than on pc

The new firmware has new technical means of detecting forged discs and new APIs for doing things like rescanning the disc while the game is playing.

DRM on PC games is actually much less restrictive than DRM on the Xbox 360. It's just that the many ways a PC can be configured make it very hard to write DRM software for the PC that isn't intrusive and buggy.

Yea, the DRM is meaningless unless your a pirate. With consoles, when you put in a game, It works. You never even need to be connected to the internet. You can move the game to another console with no problems. You can let your friend borrow a game without having to crack it.

Edit:

I get it, your a pirate.