In 2009, both Harlem and I were in need of repairs for our PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively. We sought out a local individual that repairs game systems. After our repairs were done, he gave us some tips to keep our system in working condition. Why take his word over Sony or MS? Because unlike them, he doesn't have a bunch of PR to hide behind. He's personally worked on systems and seen them with all the problems you can think of. So here are 5 tips that our repair guy, Robert, said to make sure your systems keep running strong.

5. Keep your systems vertical

Robert: Take advantage of the fact that both the PS3 and Xbox 360 can be set vertically. In both cases, the motherboard, hard drive, and optical drive are right top of each other causing a lot of heat. Leaving them horizontal keeps all that heat right below the system letting that heat buildup and causes damage over time. On the other hand, standing it up vertically will let air freely move through the system and doesn't create a hot spot under the system itself.

4. Don't turn off your PS3 from the back

Robert: Nothing pains me more than people casually turning off their system using the switch in the back. That switch in the back is not going to save you a significant amount of power or wear-and-tear on the system. Turn off your system using the controller or the power button in the front. By doing this, the fan will keep going even after the system is off in order to cool it down. Using the switch in the box shuts off that fan preventing your system from properly cooling down.

3. Keep your Xbox 360 playtime around 5 hours at most

Robert: Unless you have a system that was purchased in the past 6 months, you want to limit your playtime on the 360. The system simply does not cool off well, and long periods of gaming will take a toll on the system. Limit your time on the 360 for 5 hours and then let it cool off for an hour before playing again.

2. Stop using your system for anything other than games

Robert: While this applies to both systems, blu rays on the PS3 is the major offender with this tip. Fact is with blu ray being such a new technology when the PS3 first came out; the lasers were not the quality that you see today where blu ray is more common. Last year, the repairs I had to the most for the PS3 was replacing blu ray lasers. It got so bad that the supplier for the laser was sold out for weeks because so many people were ordering them to replace PS3 lasers. With blu ray players being so cheap now, spring for one of those instead of wearing out your PS3.

1. Save up your money

Robert: If your system is not the newest motherboard from MS or the PS3 slim, then start saving up. Your systems may last but it's better to be prepared for the worse. If this is too much of a downer for you, then save enough to get your system a cooling upgrade. Either way, save up money in preparation for getting an upgrade, replacing the system or depending on when your system breaks down, getting the new system that comes out.