xbox360 - somethings do come back to life

[si-skyline]

Hi all,

So I have had a xbox for about two years now. recently it had stopped working with the good old red ring of death. out of warranty and a console as good as a paperweight I got experimental :)

I tried the x-clmap fix and here is my results..

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8113/19082009001y.jpg

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/9983/19082009.jpg

Oh yeah baby, its back to life :) and surprisingly it is MUCH quieter then when I bought it.

Was wondering if any one else has tried this fix and still enjoying their xbox

[Collinstheclown]

I know lots of people that have done this with success. (online forums) I also know people that have them professionally reflowed when the X-Clamp inevitably fails.

Just wondering... Did you know Microsoft offers a free repair for the RROD, for up to 3 years after you buy it?




-CollinstheClown

[si-skyline]

Yeah I did know about the warranty after I cracked open the box :P

At the time I thought the warranty still did not cover but already know of the fix so I set about cracking it open.

I'm happy with it tho. it allows me to do other magical stuff now the warranty is void.

I would strongly recommend this way if there is no other path to take. I would stay clear of the towel trick also.

[BuzzKillington]

Now that it's open, may as well do a 360 window/lighting mod. :D

[SXRguyinMA]

or go all out and get an entirely clear case

http://www.xoxide.com/xbox-diamond-case-controller-combo.html

[si-skyline]

Hi,

A window and light mod would be nice, but it would only be used as a media terminal as i have got a media server on the network serving to other clients and my elite.

I was recently in a crash and had another xbox in the boot of the car what got trashed. I was thinking of gutting it out and putting a small pc in it.. that will confuse people.

If you cant see the trend, i like xbox 360s

[Omega]

I want to get that chrome case for my 360... i bet it picks up fingerprints like crazy, though.

Clear case + blue fans + blue ring LED conversion = wintastic, imo

[Collinstheclown]

If you cant see the trend, i like xbox 360s

As do I...:whistler:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/CollinstheClown/Console%20Mods/Xbox%20360%20Elite/DSC00027.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/CollinstheClown/Computer%20Mods/Full%20Case%20Mods/PC-360/Process/Old/DSC00138.jpg


If you need any modding help on it let me know. :)




-CollinstheClown

[Oneslowz28]

Console mods are making a comeback on TBCS. Nice

[BuzzKillington]

Ya really. Why have we not been addressed about these mods guys?! What you do in your personally modding lives IS our business. :P

[Axis Machine]

Collin can you post a picture of the other side of that computer I would like to see the inside thanks. ;)

[Collinstheclown]

Sadly thats the only picture I have of it. (completed) Circa April 06.

That project had/has so many ups and downs I don't even know if I want to post the worklog I had over at twistedforums. Currently it's canceled, but may be revived for like the 7th time..

PM if you want details or more pictures, I don't wanna thread jack. ;)




-CollinstheClown

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

towel trick = reflowing solder.... by frying everything else inside..

[si-skyline]

The towel trick only temp solves the problem. the more its done the less change of success.

its poor that you have to over heat the damn thing before it will work again. 15mins with no fans = scary times for me.

Tho it is good when you want particular results with out voiding the warranty, wink wink, say no more :whistler:

I want to more of that collins. looks interesting the way its integrated with the computer in there.

anyone seen the watercooled version and the super huge heat sink what sticks out of the case. i love em both :P

[Collinstheclown]

I want to more of that collins. looks interesting the way its integrated with the computer in there.
That was the only picture I had of when it was first made. It was my senior project for Vo-Tech. Pictured is a very poor mod IMO, the pump and res are in a terrible and extremely inefficient spot. I was able to do my presentation but as soon as it was over the 360 overheated. Noob me used F-connectors to split the loop between the xbox and the pc. Water took the PC path because it was easier.
:facepalm:

It was called project "PC-360", I put a 360 and a full PC in the same case under a single watercooling loop. The P-180 actually work very well for the size that it is. Back then I had a GeForce 5500, so fitting the 360 mobo was no big deal. Now I have dual 9800 GT's, so the P-180 is out of the question.

I did come accross a Lian Li that work really well for a redesign for the whole mod, but funds came up short, and time was little. Plus I had just moved and never had time to work on it so I canceled it and chucked the case.

I have everything set up in a way that I really have no need to have the 360 right here, it's currently behind me on my HDTV. I will be moving all the stuff out of the basement within the next couple months or so which would give me a reason to pick this thing up again.

Watercooling the 360 was a mod in itself, I had 3 or 4 different versions for mounting blocks. I wish TF would open up the mod section again, this way I could just link you guys to the worklog. It's a journey, thats for sure... lol

anyone seen the watercooled version and the super huge heat sink what sticks out of the case. i love em both :P

Yeah haha! Did you see the 360 Slim?




-CollinstheClown

[si-skyline]

Yeah, not too sure the one you seen.. came across two designs of the xbox-360 slim

http://www.blogcdn.com/xbox.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/360slim24.jpg

and..

http://uknowbigsean.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/xbox360slim.jpg

The first looking like nothing.. a rip of a ps2 slim xD of course that's where the idea came from.

the second looks realistic and quite an attractive piece.

The problems I could see with it is the current 360 has heating issues, one of the main factors causing it was a last minute decision to swap the heat sinks out for a smaller set. so they cannot swap for a smaller set again without under powering.

There has also been talk about a new chip what will fly into the xbox slim with the size of 45nm and house both the CPU and GPU what will allow them to make the overall size smaller.

be prepared for a high price for the new technology, Its not coming cheap

[Collinstheclown]

I'm refering to this one:
http://www.modsnbits.com/?page_id=17

The ones you posted look like fake mock-ups.




-CollinstheClown

[Luke122]

The problems I could see with it is the current 360 has heating issues, one of the main factors causing it was a last minute decision to swap the heat sinks out for a smaller set. so they cannot swap for a smaller set again without under powering.

There has also been talk about a new chip what will fly into the xbox slim with the size of 45nm and house both the CPU and GPU what will allow them to make the overall size smaller.


I was just going to say "unless they used more powerful hardware, and underclocked it."

Then I read the rest of your post.

..back on topic now..

I've x-clamped a dozen or so xboxes for friends. Some were out of warranty, some just didnt want to wait for shipping. I got a free one that was RRoD'd so I tried it on my own first, and it worked!

Certainly there will always be the exception to the rule, but sometimes you get lucky.

Maybe we should post this type of thread into the "Other Mods" section? Maybe I could post a worklog of an Xclamp mod that I did?

[billygoat333]

I think a worklog of the xclamp mod would be wonderful! :)

[Luke122]

I'll get on it tonight. :)

[HackSore]

Can someone post a link to an x-clamp tutorial, as my xbox has been sat around useless for ages now, and i need to get around to fixing it!

[si-skyline]

The bast thing to do is go to this ebay buyer (I do not know him) and get the parts for less then a fiver.

with the parts you get a piece of paper to a private web space and you can follow the instructions on there.

most tutorials on the net are pretty much the same with a quick google of x-clamp fix for xbox 360 you will find what you need..
if you need any more help just ask and im sure to help :)

[Luke122]

I'm just polishing up my Xclamp tut. I should have it online tomorrow!

[HackSore]

Awesome, cheers guys!

I do remember looking into the x-clamp fix actually, and i was gonna go for it, just needed to get the tools and stuff. Then i discovered a lot of people saying that just running a heat gun around the ram chips was the best way to fix the problem. (3 red ring)

What do you guys think?

[Luke122]

The problem is caused by the heat causing the motherboard to flex, and break the contact between the CPU/GPU and the mobo. The xclamp fix will actually anchor the heatsinks and the chips to the board, and ensure that even if the mobo still does flex, it wont be able to flex enough to break the contacts.

I'd say that the heatgun on the ram is not likely to fix "all" RRoD cases, but it may work in some. I'd rather not cook my ram. Thats just me. :)

[Collinstheclown]

The X-clamp is also not a 100% fix, sometimes it won't work and even if it dooes work it has a decent chance of failing later.

The best fix out there (aside from a MS replacement) is a reflow. One the chips are reflowed, then you can do the X clamp to prevent failure and well as add some fans to keep it extra cool. Shuch as my method:
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d133/CollinstheClown/Console%20Mods/Xbox%20360/Resourceful%20Cooling/DSC00053.jpg

Note the cardboard over top of the GPU heatsink. That makes the blower fan only blow air over the heatsink and not waste it else where.




-CollinstheClown

[Luke122]

I should clarify that I do the xclamp, then reflow the chips by killing the fan and overheating the system. After it cools down, it's good to go. :D

[HackSore]

What are the sizes for the screws and washers? and how long do you over heat the box for after doing the fix? might head to my local hardware store and get the stuff to try it today, sick of the damn thing being sat around usless.

[si-skyline]

I am so sorry.. I was ment to post a ebayer account who I bought my parts off. after checking again the same person is not selling anything at the moment..

the likes of this kit will work.
ebay item (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/X-Clamp-Kit-Xbox-360-Repair-Rrod-E-74-XCLAMP-w-Paste_W0QQitemZ270446166306QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_V ideoGames_VideoGameConsoles_VideoGameConsoles?hash =item3ef7d90122&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14)

Any kit with nylon (not plastic), metal washers, spring washers and the screws should work, unless you live close to a industrial estate where there is a shop what can manufacture screws you need it will be hard to get hold of the correct screw what is listed on the internet. When shoping at two BnQ stores I have not found the parts needed

Collins, The DVD Drive covers that section up. does it help at all?

[Collinstheclown]

The DVD drive sits a few mm above it, so there is a gap.




-CollinstheClown

[si-skyline]

ah right, I was thinking that but was unsure.. where did you pull your fans from or did you buy em.

I was also wondering if you have noticed your 360s being quieter after doing the x - clamp fix?
Mine are almost none audiable

[si-skyline]

ah right, I was thinking that but was unsure.. where did you pull your fans from or did you buy em.

I was also wondering if you have noticed your 360s being quieter after doing the x - clamp fix?
Mine are almost none audible

[Collinstheclown]

Double post FTL. Actually, it's 'resourceful' mod. The blower fan came from the PSU brick, and the other fan was one of 3 from the cursed Intercooler. The other 2 fans went into the PSU brick. :)

At that time people were just figuring out the Intercoolers terrible secret, so I decided to find a use for the fans in it.




-CollinstheClown