OKay this is the honest truth, the new chipset called "JASPER 12.1" is providing a lower failure rate for the XBox 360 pro because of its lower amperage rating compared to the other chipset (Falcon 14.2 , Zephyr 16.5)
Now the best thing you can do is buy the system with the new chipset, as for now only the pro's will have this chipset.
Here is how to identify the systems with it
Click for exact details
This is for MIKE Microsoft is still shipping the crappy chipsets with newer systems thats just wrong
Sneaky Microsoft: Still Shipping Zephyrs
In my Jasper hunting I came across a strange beast, I found an Xbox 360 Pro with lot number 0843X. I figured it was new enough that it could be a Jasper, but looking at the 12V current rating I found that it was a 16.5A unit. I thought perhaps it was mislabeled and I'd heard about some newer systems having a 16.5A 12V rating, so I thought I'd buy it and take a closer look.
Once I got it home I confirmed: the machine was a Zephyr, that's the original Xbox 360 hardware with HDMI support, meaning a 90nm CPU, 90nm GPU and 90nm eDRAM - the very configuration most likely to Red Ring. I'm guessing it's a reworked Xbox 360 that never made it out of the factory in the first place due to an instant failure; something Microsoft fixed and sent out at a much later date.
Even if you don't care about getting a Jasper, it may be worth looking into what it is you are getting to make sure that you're not stuck with a box that's more likely to fail.
Now the best thing you can do is buy the system with the new chipset, as for now only the pro's will have this chipset.
Here is how to identify the systems with it
Click for exact details
This is for MIKE Microsoft is still shipping the crappy chipsets with newer systems thats just wrong
Sneaky Microsoft: Still Shipping Zephyrs
In my Jasper hunting I came across a strange beast, I found an Xbox 360 Pro with lot number 0843X. I figured it was new enough that it could be a Jasper, but looking at the 12V current rating I found that it was a 16.5A unit. I thought perhaps it was mislabeled and I'd heard about some newer systems having a 16.5A 12V rating, so I thought I'd buy it and take a closer look.
Once I got it home I confirmed: the machine was a Zephyr, that's the original Xbox 360 hardware with HDMI support, meaning a 90nm CPU, 90nm GPU and 90nm eDRAM - the very configuration most likely to Red Ring. I'm guessing it's a reworked Xbox 360 that never made it out of the factory in the first place due to an instant failure; something Microsoft fixed and sent out at a much later date.
Even if you don't care about getting a Jasper, it may be worth looking into what it is you are getting to make sure that you're not stuck with a box that's more likely to fail.
i'm jk idk anything bout the chips but seriously my xbx has been great for the past years (KNOCK ON WOOD) and i never heard of this chip incident, sooo....