My XBox has been sitting here broken for 6 months bacause I could not afford the 140 dollars to send it in to have it repaired. This guy taught me how to fix it in an hour AMAZING!!!!! thank you so much. Cost me about 8 bucks in supplies.
It is a permanent fix. The problem starts when the inside of the xbox gets to hot and causes the motherboard to expand (and then contract when the system is off). This loosens the screws and eventually causes a gap between the heat sinks and the cpu and gpu. This slight gap causes air to dry the thermal grease diminishing its purpose which is to transfer heat from the chip to the hsink. The rubber washers are the key, because they contract when mobo expands and prevents the air gap to form.
@MGrill3 This is done to deal with to much heat effecting the GPU and CPU. It's also about the same repair that most shops would do, and charge a goodly amount for their time. The repair should hold for quite a while actually. Just ensure the system is kept "dusted", as dust build up on the heat sinks and fans will kill the system again. (I'm also an electronic tech for the last 20 years, sure it would have been nice to see anti-static in use, but just ground yourself out before starting.)
I was still getting 3 lights and then I went back and re-did 2 things. 1. I cleaned the chips really, really thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol and then reapplied the paste. 2. Make sure that you do not screw the screws too tightly, I did the first time and still had 3 red lights, 2nd time they were screwed on less tightly and viola perfect !! Thanks for the great vid, saved me a lot of hassle
The video shows 2 different 360's...maybe for demonstration purposes, but at 7:11 (RROD unit) the right side-front grey panel of the unit has marker on the side. At 7:47 (Fixed unit after camera break), the marker is now at the top of this same panel. NOT the same units, for what it is worth. It may still work...just FYI
@mdelavega19 the problem is that the console isn't getting rid of the heat. When it heats up the board flexes thanks to how the case was built. So the flexing combined with the heat is enough to mess with the soldering and basically lifts the CPU/ main chip ( not sure what one ). That causes the red rings. Just heating it is enough to reset it for the most part but the issue just comes back to how it was built.
@DNL1012 mercury grease is just a thing of "lubercant" you buy from Lordco (any car part store) that you just apply a little on each chip like you would with expensive thermal paste and apply a little on the heatsink as well where the chip fits under and it gives a perfect heat conductive connection. That and the washers you should be set. And unlike thermal paste this stuff lasts a VERY long time and a huge squeeze bottle of it is $8 (canadian, cheaper elsewhere).
I got this box (non-HDMI) dirt cheap from someone that didnt want to fool with it since it had RROD. When I cracked it open, it had a ton of flat washers, and 16 nylon washers in it. I bought Artic Silver, and pulled the heat sinks off, cleaned up the surfaces, and applied the goop. Did the 10 self-bake, and was able to get it to fire up once. Then, when actually put the damn thing back together, RROD was back. I've not tried "the penny trick" yet.
One red light Indicates an "E" error. The most common is the E-74. That means that there isn't enough pressure on the GPU/Scaler chip. An E-73 is virtually the same thing. If it is an E-71 it needs the cache cleared, so hold the Sinc button down while you power it up all the way until the dashboard shows up. If it is an E-60-69 error, it means that one of the DVD drive components is bad.
Yeah he plugs the fans back in after the two lights come on, and the thermal paste is exactly that, thermal paste. It's used on computer chips to coolen the contact between the chip and the heat sinks. It's sometimes called thermal compound or thermal grease. I got a tube at radioshack.
@GGAlice1 because the solders in the chip expand and contract and without the heat sink actually working effectively, the solders disconnect. When you heat the chips up, the solders start to melt and they melt together (or should do). Then when you restart all the solders are in place and the chips work
@MrGrumpyGinger Yeah I noticed point 2 as well, the mark is in a different place on the case. I don't know about the 360s, I was just looking at related mod work and came across this vid but I think it works like overheated laptop cards. The 8800M GTX for example was prone to dying, because the heat over time caused tiny little cracks in the solder. To temporarily fix it you can stick the card in an oven until the solder starts to soften, when it solidifies the cracks are gone for a while.
I got it all apart ,cleaned up put the new screws and rubber washers on the heatsinks. Plugged it in to heat it up and see the 3 red lights waiting for the 2 red lights to come on, and it went right to all GREEN!!! I am up and running again! NO heat up necessary for me.THANKZ this worked like a charm!
@keenu - you have to overheat it to get the "new" thermal paste to adhere to the heat sinks...and it only takes like 2 minutes once you cut it on to get the 2 blinking red lights...
Brilliant instructions. May i just add that if you search for how to take x clamps off in 45 seconds is an easier way of doing the clamps part. No need for screws on anything like that It just springs on and off
basically what your doing when it flashes from 3 lights to 2 lights is making the xbox 360 "reboot" because even though the thermal has been replaced it still thinks its over heating. BTW GREAT VIDEO MAN I'VE FIXED OVER 100'S OF CONSOLES AND THIS IS A GREAT STEP BY STEP THUMBS UP
I have no clue why or how, but after doing the xclamp fix, I got to the part where you said to plug it in, turn it on, and heat it up, I had GREEN Lights without overheating it!! I'm so excited! Imma be playin' tonight!!
i honestly didnt think this would work but i thought instead of buying a new one its worth a try. to my total amazement it actually worked. it took about 45 from taking it apart to putting it back together. so worth it give it a try. i didnt use screws i just replaced the x clamps. for all who is asking about him plugging the fan back up yes you do plug it back up. he shows you that in the last video where he puts the xbox back together. you can use and thermal(heatsink compound)paste you want.
Hey you guys! Stop trying to score points off each other! I've just found these videos as a last resort of how to fix my sons' X-box. As a Dad I'm suposed to be able to fix things, but I couldn't even get into the box. Now I know how, I stand a chance. Microsoft use Computer aided design, which doesn't tell the operator about expansion of different materials due to heat. By putting in these rubber washers, the bits can move, without connections failing. Thanks ever so much for the videos, FYOX
this worked awesome for me, i just went to canadian tire, bought replacemant screws and rubber washers then went to a computer store for the thermal paste. took me about 20 minutes to take it all appart, put paste on, let it heat up and put it back together! Back on live! Thanks a lot!!
Lastly, as per my comments from the first video. Thermal compound doesn't "help the xbox get cool". I mean.. In a sense that is what it used for.. modern thermal compound is a compound with the GREATEST heat transfer conductivity. But it's main purpose is to prevent the GPU/CPU from being fried by static electricity transfer and build up within the heat sink. Basically it prevents the heatsink from becoming a big ass electro magnet.
@Tyleruppole the chip thats really everything you have on the xbox (besides harddrive) is over heated so all you really do is change the screws and washers and add more thermal paste which keeps the chip cool
ATTENTION: For this project you will need 10-32, 1/2 inch size bolts (stainless steel), 10-32 size rubber washers, and, optionally, same sized NORMAL nuts (lol). You will need 8 of each. Everything can be purchased for around $5 at Lowe's, Menards, Ace Hardware, or any similar hardware store. Sorry xboxslave if I am taking away from your business, but it is a LOT more convenient for some people to just buy the stuff at hardware stores.
xclamps are part of the set, try chagning it and see if it works. also the paste you need is called arctic silver polysynthetic thermal compound. but you could also use this grease which is for cars which keeps the CPU and GPU processer chips cool and it also lasts longer alot longer
@3woods6 Yes after deliberately overheating it to get the chip pins to realign giving you the 2 red lights, turn it off -let the xbox cool down for around 10mins, then reconnect the fan and check to see if the fix has worked. If you leave the fan unplugged you will overheat your system again and risk permanent damage to the xbox if it's left that way.
On the second heat sink, you installed the washers between the motherboard and heat sink. The washers should be on top of the heat sink and under the nuts, as you done on the first heat sink.
@J0HND4v15 Well, in short, it pretty much collects/absorbs heat given off so then the heatsink can do its job and get rid of it. It there is no thermal paste, a lot of the heat will just stay with the chip, and hence, making overheating easier. Plus, it is not flammable and doesn't dry out, so you don't ever really have to change it unless you are going to remove the heat sink like what he is doing there.
Had this problem on my Xbox. Followed instructions, everything worked except when I plugged mine in all 4 lights came on. Apparently, this just means that it recognizes your display adapter is not plugged in. Re-assemble the Xbox and plug it into your TV, and PRESTO!!! It works. Thanks for the help!
It works wonderful, I have fixed about 45 Xbox 360's now. Buy them for 35.00 and sell them for 100.00. They only suggestion is dont cheap out on the thermal paste. I purchase Xeon Thermal Paste. That is crucial, as it can take the huge heat as Xeon processors create big heat. Good luck all, and great video demostration.
@emoneyblue after u let it overheat and get to two red lights u turn off the console and dont put the plug the fans in yet then let it cool down for like 10+ minutes then turn it back on and the red lights should be gone then u can plug the fan in and put on the cover and reassemble the whole console after u trun it back off dont keep it on while reassembling it
Your XBOX is overheating. It needs thermal paste on the Graphics Processor, the Scaler Chip, and the CPU. The three rings is an error code. If you hold the Sinc button and press the eject button, the code will change. When the ring goes to 2 lights, it is indicating an overheat. The overheat sensor will only allow so many overheats before it fails, so don't turn it back on until you have the thermal paste.
This helped so much, I have an elite so the inside was a little different, and I had to use the X clamps again instead of new screws and washers, but it worked all the same! Also, I had to use a clear adhesive instead of the paste, which I was worried about because of flammability, but no fires to date! Thank you so much!
one of ur bolts might not be tight enough which will make it have an un even heat sync. one trivk is to open the xbox back up and unscrew each bolt a 1/2 turn. then try and turn on the xbox. if it red rings, turn it off and push down on one corner of the sync and turn it on. if it fixes it, tighten that bolt and then tighten the others gently. do that for both syncs.
I thought 4 lights meant missing video output cable... not sure.. I did this Yesterday, remove heatsinks, clean processors, and use thermal compound... Still had 3 red lights... Heard some bad things about oveheating so was hesitant to try, but I did it like in this video, with the top off (no towel trick), and it worked like a charm... I didn't even replace the screws or clips... It was probably the lead-free solder that dried out and cracked, the overheating of the CPU & GPU did the trick!
I have a newer xbox so the heat syncs looked a little different and i didn't replace any screws or washers but replacing the thermal compound worked. I didn't let it overheat again like you did. figured because i didn't replace screws or washers or anything i'd skip that step also and just try it out.
I think you have an unnecessary step here. If it was caused by the X-CLAMPS loosening up, you should only need to do a standard replacement. Clean up thermal paste, re-coat it, and do the Machine Heads and Washers. Should work fine. If it is because the Solder joints cracked, look up "heatgun trick" then go through the standard replacement just mentioned. I normally don't have to do the heatgun, or heat the Xbox up because it's normally because the X-CLAMPS screw up.
It really depends on the unit. I've seen ones that fail on the on the first overheat, and I've seen ones that have taken ten overheats. Buy some thermal paste (I use Arctic Silver) and coat the chips under the heat sinks.
if you watch at 7:25,the ring to the bottom left of the heat sync is dark orange. but at 7:30 when he comes back, it is a brighter yellow..... i wonder!
@InfiniteSpawn the 3 red lights mean its a overheating problem and thats when u use this method that he shows in this video one red light means ur xbox 360 has a hardware problem and not a overheating problem but now ur console has more problems sometimes this method works on whichever ring you get but most of the time you have to use a different method to fix the one red ring its easier to get it fixed by microsoft if you have the warranty
@slingshot2427 the Machine Screws have to be Flathead other wise the pan head or the round head is too high for under the board and it will not sit flush in the case.
I used rubber washers and the original x clamp -- worked fine for me.... Also no need to overheat completely, heating it up for 7-10 mins without using the fans did it for me. thx for a very good video
@mchenry1212 Ur problem could be a few things. It is best to know where it problem lies by holding the sink button and pushing the eject four times. Each time u push it, different lights will come on around the power button. You can pin point the location of the problem by getting the four number code. 4 lights,= 0 3 lights,= 3, 2 lights,= 2 1 light = 1. Let me know what ur code is.
@rednavaju that is because you have to put more thermal pound to the chips... trust me, the thermal pound just squeeze to outside the chip, you have to disassembly and put more thermal compound, in both chips (cpu gpu) and then reassembly, see what happen!!!! good luck!
@boomerman124567 Thermal paste doesn't need time to set. However it will set in roughly a year or so. It should be cleaned off and replaced because it is less effective when it is set.
@nicholassklavenitis might as well use generic thermal paste seeing how you applied it. AS5 only works like its supposed to when the surfaces have been completely purified.
@brazell1231 You will need 5mm screws and depending on washer thickness they should be no shorter than 10mm. You need Teflon (plastic) Washers or rubber. Rubber is better because it let's the board flex when it gets hot. You will need arctic silver thermal paste. Let me know if you have any more ?'s Good Luck.
I need to correct you on a couple of things, the heat paste needs to be as thin as possable your only filling inthe crevases in the top of the chips too much thermal paste can actually hold the heat in, also when your tightning the screws up you need to do then ins a star pattern to avoid warping the board or heat sink example start from lower right them to upper left and then from lower left to upper right. that will keepthe board from warping and keep an even contact on the chip
@jazzpianist2011 no that means its working when u get to two red lights u turn the power off and let it sit and cool down then turn it back on and see if it works
Also...Thank you for the video! Like i had said to the PS3 video creater, its awesome to see you put this out there for ppl who are curios and would rather save the money. Some of us cant afford to buy another xbox or ps3. Once again thank you very much for the video!
ALSO have your fan pluged in and on top of your cpu fan that way you dont unsolder the cpu aswell and reflow that it also causes the rrod if that breaks its solder remember and take the fan off again after 5 mins cuz then you wont know that the 2 lights are flashing saying you have over heated the xbox or not as the cpu contains a thermostat as such to let you know that its too hot or not :) ask quetions if you like :)
@rulezian1 The new screws definitely is. I've had to send mine to Microsoft a few times, now that it is out of warranty I decided to fix it myself and find that all the screws are completely warn down. Which added much more hassle than necessary.
Ty so much. My xbox is running fine now with no rrod. For everybody else, my xbox had a history of overheating so this fixed it and the new coat of thermal paste helped. Also, take a good look at your hardware to make sure there wasn't any serious damage caused by overheating.
Well I did what u said and after doing it wrong a few times I figured out what I was doing wrong and finally got my green lights on..one blew out but the xbox still turns on and I'm happy with the results of your video also the comment the guy made about cleaning the extra thermal paste from around the chip worked too..thanks!
in the set you receive screws to replace the xclamps. It took me under an hour to fix my xbox using xboxslaves set. Xbox works now, but keeps freezing for some reason. The rrod is gone (for now). If you follow his directions and are somewhat good with your hands, you'll be able to fix it.
This works by the GPU getting overheated and being knocked out of place by the loose heat sinks causing vibrations. Putting thermal paste helps conduct heat so the xbox works properly.
@Sephiroth0232 the guy was worried he was going to get banned for removing his hard-drive while the unit is still on, i see two issues with this: A: why would you remove the hard drive while the units on anyways? B: it will log you off your xbox account, if you have the xbox live acc'nt on the HD, it wont ban you. thats silly. and removing the hard drive while its on you do have a chance that the whole shebang might corrupt itself.
i think the problem is the thermal paste deteriorates over time and stops transfering heat to the sink. all i did was basically replace the paste and bent the x clamps slightly so they held the heatsink tighter against the chips and its good as new.
look go to ebay type in xbox 360 intercooler and look for the ones with intercooler on the side it should be in gray or green writing ad it also has a plug in for the xbox power supply
try using thermal paste i wouldnt use silicone.. you can use the porcelain kind but try to get the silver one if all possible....goto ur local computer store and ask for thermal compound artic silver is highly recommended or a brand similar to it..btw radio shack sells it too
@uphill248 no but the keyboard could be used to control the dashboard and sending messages, and some games ( gta for example allow you to use a keyboard to type, ( like gta, on the computers in the tw@ internet cafe )
the plastic air vent of the other bit. if that does not work try towel trick do if for a min of 15 mins and a maz of 30 i reccomend you do 30 as it works most of the time. if that does not work buy an intercooler fan that clips on to the back of the xbox and let it run for a couple of days(Without the towel)
@505WIL did you plug in video? I could be mistaken, but I think there has to be a video load (even if it is not connected to a monitor/tv, the video cable has to be plugged in. I could be mistaken, but hey, give it a shot. :) Cheers!
Since the new models have come out (PS3 Slim) there has not been a case of YLOD, to my knowledge, and NO the games on PC don't suck, since almost every game that comes out on the 360 comes out on PC, and trust me, the gaming experience on a PC is much better than a 360, the graphics are now DX11, which is much better, and also with a good PC you can set the graphic filters at MAX, so there are no jagged edges in the games, no matter how close or far you sit from the screen
Take 1 X clamp and put two sides first then the other two push it down with finger then use a screwdriver flathead and twist where it curves like when u removed them then push down and it should clip on. Also u might want to use pliers to squeeze the curved part. APPLY VERY LITTLE TO NO FORCE or else will be problem. If ur scared just lv it alone should be fine. Mk sure the xclamps are sort of tight (not that much play). Msg me if u need more help. Mine working still since 12/5/09
To those with 2 lights, you need to tighten the screws a little bit more to regain the 3 rings. A question of my own: What size screw do you use for the new heatpipe heatsink? My screws fit the big one, but the new one over the GPU is different and the screws don't fit.
@kasumisman yeah I noticed that too. I dont get why people would open the entire system up, only to half ass the most important part of the fix. The reason xbox's get RROD's is from overheating, and a poor thermal paste application will just make it heat up quicker.
everyone, you dont have to buy the kit, you can just buy everything on ebay. t10 and t8 torx screwdrivers, thermal paste and the nuts, bolts and washers. you can get them very cheap.
@nathanielnderson Slaineypop was asking was size was the hardware that the guy sells, not the size of the tools used. They are Torx bits. A T10 is used for half, and in the video he says to use a T9. I have 3 different T9s and all of them were too big. But i could not find a T8 at any hardware store or radio shack. I highly doubt the video maker is going to give you all the details of the hardware so that you can go buy it yourself for under a dollar when he sells the kit for 20 shipped.
the X clamps are gone bro. Those x-clamps, and the orginal screws (I am guessing) were gone before I bought the box. And you last post was cut short, so I am guessing you were suggesting I apply the AS to the 4 memory chips on the bottom of the board and put the pennies on there then bolt the board back to the bottom of the metal cage?
I have a Halo Edition 360 and got the RROD yesterday. (I thought that this was imossible seeing how they were supposed to have a different chipset.) I took it apart and noticed one of my heat sinks looks different from the regular 360's. Also I don't think 16mm screws will work in the GPU heat sink either....they're too long. I will have to go get 10MM screws in the morning. I'm using silicone heat sink too....maybe It will work.
IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM! BUT TO ALL WHO VIEW THIS YOU DONT NEED THE SCREWS- just use the old x clamp and screws as long as the arctic is on it and you put it back together correctly your good to go!
My XBox has been sitting here broken for 6 months bacause I could not afford the 140 dollars to send it in to have it repaired. This guy taught me how to fix it in an hour AMAZING!!!!! thank you so much. Cost me about 8 bucks in supplies.
It is a permanent fix. The problem starts when the inside of the xbox gets to hot and causes the motherboard to expand (and then contract when the system is off). This loosens the screws and eventually causes a gap between the heat sinks and the cpu and gpu. This slight gap causes air to dry the thermal grease diminishing its purpose which is to transfer heat from the chip to the hsink. The rubber washers are the key, because they contract when mobo expands and prevents the air gap to form.
@MGrill3 This is done to deal with to much heat effecting the GPU and CPU. It's also about the same repair that most shops would do, and charge a goodly amount for their time. The repair should hold for quite a while actually. Just ensure the system is kept "dusted", as dust build up on the heat sinks and fans will kill the system again. (I'm also an electronic tech for the last 20 years, sure it would have been nice to see anti-static in use, but just ground yourself out before starting.)
I was still getting 3 lights and then I went back and re-did 2 things. 1. I cleaned the chips really, really thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol and then reapplied the paste. 2. Make sure that you do not screw the screws too tightly, I did the first time and still had 3 red lights, 2nd time they were screwed on less tightly and viola perfect !! Thanks for the great vid, saved me a lot of hassle
The video shows 2 different 360's...maybe for demonstration purposes, but at 7:11 (RROD unit) the right side-front grey panel of the unit has marker on the side. At 7:47 (Fixed unit after camera break), the marker is now at the top of this same panel. NOT the same units, for what it is worth. It may still work...just FYI
@mdelavega19 the problem is that the console isn't getting rid of the heat. When it heats up the board flexes thanks to how the case was built. So the flexing combined with the heat is enough to mess with the soldering and basically lifts the CPU/ main chip ( not sure what one ). That causes the red rings. Just heating it is enough to reset it for the most part but the issue just comes back to how it was built.
@DNL1012 mercury grease is just a thing of "lubercant" you buy from Lordco (any car part store) that you just apply a little on each chip like you would with expensive thermal paste and apply a little on the heatsink as well where the chip fits under and it gives a perfect heat conductive connection. That and the washers you should be set. And unlike thermal paste this stuff lasts a VERY long time and a huge squeeze bottle of it is $8 (canadian, cheaper elsewhere).
I got this box (non-HDMI) dirt cheap from someone that didnt want to fool with it since it had RROD. When I cracked it open, it had a ton of flat washers, and 16 nylon washers in it. I bought Artic Silver, and pulled the heat sinks off, cleaned up the surfaces, and applied the goop. Did the 10 self-bake, and was able to get it to fire up once. Then, when actually put the damn thing back together, RROD was back. I've not tried "the penny trick" yet.
For those who asked the little black screws are of no use with the new ones and the thermal paste keeps the 2 chips cool from overheating and frying.
One red light Indicates an "E" error. The most common is the E-74. That means that there isn't enough pressure on the GPU/Scaler chip. An E-73 is virtually the same thing. If it is an E-71 it needs the cache cleared, so hold the Sinc button down while you power it up all the way until the dashboard shows up. If it is an E-60-69 error, it means that one of the DVD drive components is bad.
Yeah he plugs the fans back in after the two lights come on, and the thermal paste is exactly that, thermal paste. It's used on computer chips to coolen the contact between the chip and the heat sinks. It's sometimes called thermal compound or thermal grease. I got a tube at radioshack.
@GGAlice1 because the solders in the chip expand and contract and without the heat sink actually working effectively, the solders disconnect.
When you heat the chips up, the solders start to melt and they melt together (or should do).
Then when you restart all the solders are in place and the chips work
@MrGrumpyGinger Yeah I noticed point 2 as well, the mark is in a different place on the case. I don't know about the 360s, I was just looking at related mod work and came across this vid but I think it works like overheated laptop cards. The 8800M GTX for example was prone to dying, because the heat over time caused tiny little cracks in the solder. To temporarily fix it you can stick the card in an oven until the solder starts to soften, when it solidifies the cracks are gone for a while.
I got it all apart ,cleaned up put the new screws and rubber washers on the heatsinks. Plugged it in to heat it up and see the 3 red lights waiting for the 2 red lights to come on, and it went right to all GREEN!!! I am up and running again! NO heat up necessary for me.THANKZ this worked like a charm!
@keenu - you have to overheat it to get the "new" thermal paste to adhere to the heat sinks...and it only takes like 2 minutes once you cut it on to get the 2 blinking red lights...
Brilliant instructions. May i just add that if you search for how to take x clamps off in 45 seconds is an easier way of doing the clamps part. No need for screws on anything like that
It just springs on and off
basically what your doing when it flashes from 3 lights to 2 lights is making the xbox 360 "reboot" because even though the thermal has been replaced it still thinks its over heating. BTW GREAT VIDEO MAN I'VE FIXED OVER 100'S OF CONSOLES AND THIS IS A GREAT STEP BY STEP THUMBS UP
I have no clue why or how, but after doing the xclamp fix, I got to the part where you said to plug it in, turn it on, and heat it up, I had GREEN Lights without overheating it!! I'm so excited! Imma be playin' tonight!!
i honestly didnt think this would work but i thought instead of buying a new one its worth a try. to my total amazement it actually worked. it took about 45 from taking it apart to putting it back together. so worth it give it a try. i didnt use screws i just replaced the x clamps. for all who is asking about him plugging the fan back up yes you do plug it back up. he shows you that in the last video where he puts the xbox back together. you can use and thermal(heatsink compound)paste you want.
Hey you guys! Stop trying to score points off each other! I've just found these videos as a last resort of how to fix my sons' X-box. As a Dad I'm suposed to be able to fix things, but I couldn't even get into the box. Now I know how, I stand a chance. Microsoft use Computer aided design, which doesn't tell the operator about expansion of different materials due to heat. By putting in these rubber washers, the bits can move, without connections failing.
Thanks ever so much for the videos, FYOX
this worked awesome for me, i just went to canadian tire, bought replacemant screws and rubber washers then went to a computer store for the thermal paste. took me about 20 minutes to take it all appart, put paste on, let it heat up and put it back together! Back on live! Thanks a lot!!
Lastly, as per my comments from the first video. Thermal compound doesn't "help the xbox get cool". I mean.. In a sense that is what it used for.. modern thermal compound is a compound with the GREATEST heat transfer conductivity. But it's main purpose is to prevent the GPU/CPU from being fried by static electricity transfer and build up within the heat sink. Basically it prevents the heatsink from becoming a big ass electro magnet.
Dude!!!! I actualy fixed my xbox now u never thought in a million years I would be able to fix it.
@Tyleruppole the chip thats really everything you have on the xbox (besides harddrive) is over heated so all you really do is change the screws and washers and add more thermal paste which keeps the chip cool
Not many people are willing to share their knowledge for free, and you are among those exceptions. May the gods bless you for that bro!
ATTENTION: For this project you will need 10-32, 1/2 inch size bolts (stainless steel), 10-32 size rubber washers, and, optionally, same sized NORMAL nuts (lol). You will need 8 of each. Everything can be purchased for around $5 at Lowe's, Menards, Ace Hardware, or any similar hardware store. Sorry xboxslave if I am taking away from your business, but it is a LOT more convenient for some people to just buy the stuff at hardware stores.
xclamps are part of the set, try chagning it and see if it works. also the paste you need is called arctic silver polysynthetic thermal compound. but you could also use this grease which is for cars which keeps the CPU and GPU processer chips cool and it also lasts longer alot longer
@3woods6 Yes after deliberately overheating it to get the chip pins to realign giving you the 2 red lights, turn it off -let the xbox cool down for around 10mins, then reconnect the fan and check to see if the fix has worked. If you leave the fan unplugged you will overheat your system again and risk permanent damage to the xbox if it's left that way.
On the second heat sink, you installed the washers between the motherboard and heat sink. The washers should be on top of the heat sink and under the nuts, as you done on the first heat sink.
@J0HND4v15 Well, in short, it pretty much collects/absorbs heat given off so then the heatsink can do its job and get rid of it. It there is no thermal paste, a lot of the heat will just stay with the chip, and hence, making overheating easier. Plus, it is not flammable and doesn't dry out, so you don't ever really have to change it unless you are going to remove the heat sink like what he is doing there.
Works like a charm. Took off both heatsinks, applied new paste and put it back together.
Got a working xbox again, thanks!
Had this problem on my Xbox. Followed instructions, everything worked except when I plugged mine in all 4 lights came on. Apparently, this just means that it recognizes your display adapter is not plugged in. Re-assemble the Xbox and plug it into your TV, and PRESTO!!! It works. Thanks for the help!
@slingshot2427 Thanks for supply assistance. Just FYI the screws were a bit long so I had to make the old x clamp holes a little bigger.
very good video I just done an xclamp fix on mine and done this so 3 weeks and working like a charm. THANKS
It works wonderful, I have fixed about 45 Xbox 360's now. Buy them for 35.00 and sell them for 100.00. They only suggestion is dont cheap out on the thermal paste. I purchase Xeon Thermal Paste. That is crucial, as it can take the huge heat as Xeon processors create big heat. Good luck all, and great video demostration.
@emoneyblue
after u let it overheat and get to two red lights u turn off the console and dont put the plug the fans in yet then let it cool down for like 10+ minutes then turn it back on and the red lights should be gone then u can plug the fan in and put on the cover and reassemble the whole console after u trun it back off dont keep it on while reassembling it
Your XBOX is overheating. It needs thermal paste on the Graphics Processor, the Scaler Chip, and the CPU. The three rings is an error code. If you hold the Sinc button and press the eject button, the code will change. When the ring goes to 2 lights, it is indicating an overheat. The overheat sensor will only allow so many overheats before it fails, so don't turn it back on until you have the thermal paste.
This helped so much, I have an elite so the inside was a little different, and I had to use the X clamps again instead of new screws and washers, but it worked all the same! Also, I had to use a clear adhesive instead of the paste, which I was worried about because of flammability, but no fires to date! Thank you so much!
Followed your steps man, cost me roughly $10 and worked like a charm on my 360 elite! thank you for posting this!
one of ur bolts might not be tight enough which will make it have an un even heat sync. one trivk is to open the xbox back up and unscrew each bolt a 1/2 turn. then try and turn on the xbox. if it red rings, turn it off and push down on one corner of the sync and turn it on. if it fixes it, tighten that bolt and then tighten the others gently. do that for both syncs.
I thought 4 lights meant missing video output cable... not sure..
I did this Yesterday, remove heatsinks, clean processors, and use thermal compound... Still had 3 red lights... Heard some bad things about oveheating so was hesitant to try, but I did it like in this video, with the top off (no towel trick), and it worked like a charm... I didn't even replace the screws or clips... It was probably the lead-free solder that dried out and cracked, the overheating of the CPU & GPU did the trick!
I have a newer xbox so the heat syncs looked a little different and i didn't replace any screws or washers but replacing the thermal compound worked. I didn't let it overheat again like you did. figured because i didn't replace screws or washers or anything i'd skip that step also and just try it out.
I think you have an unnecessary step here. If it was caused by the X-CLAMPS loosening up, you should only need to do a standard replacement. Clean up thermal paste, re-coat it, and do the Machine Heads and Washers. Should work fine. If it is because the Solder joints cracked, look up "heatgun trick" then go through the standard replacement just mentioned. I normally don't have to do the heatgun, or heat the Xbox up because it's normally because the X-CLAMPS screw up.
It really depends on the unit. I've seen ones that fail on the on the first overheat, and I've seen ones that have taken ten overheats. Buy some thermal paste (I use Arctic Silver) and coat the chips under the heat sinks.
if you watch at 7:25,the ring to the bottom left of the heat sync is dark orange. but at 7:30 when he comes back, it is a brighter yellow..... i wonder!
@InfiniteSpawn
the 3 red lights mean its a overheating problem and thats when u use this method that he shows in this video one red light means ur xbox 360 has a hardware problem and not a overheating problem but now ur console has more problems sometimes this method works on whichever ring you get but most of the time you have to use a different method to fix the one red ring its easier to get it fixed by microsoft if you have the warranty
@slingshot2427 the Machine Screws have to be Flathead other wise the pan head or the round head is too high for under the board and it will not sit flush in the case.
I used rubber washers and the original x clamp -- worked fine for me....
Also no need to overheat completely, heating it up for 7-10 mins without using the fans did it for me.
thx for a very good video
@mchenry1212
Ur problem could be a few things. It is best to know where it problem lies by holding the sink button and pushing the eject four times. Each time u push it, different lights will come on around the power button. You can pin point the location of the problem by getting the four number code. 4 lights,= 0 3 lights,= 3, 2 lights,= 2 1 light = 1. Let me know what ur code is.
@rednavaju that is because you have to put more thermal pound to the chips... trust me, the thermal pound just squeeze to outside the chip, you have to disassembly and put more thermal compound, in both chips (cpu gpu) and then reassembly, see what happen!!!! good luck!
@ewzzyBR You might not have the heat sinks mounted flush. also make sure to check your codes. might be power brick as well.
@boomerman124567 Thermal paste doesn't need time to set. However it will set in roughly a year or so. It should be cleaned off and replaced because it is less effective when it is set.
Dude...I don't fix things. But I followed the video and totally fixed my xbox! Thanks a bunch, man.
@nicholassklavenitis might as well use generic thermal paste seeing how you applied it. AS5 only works like its supposed to when the surfaces have been completely purified.
Just wanted to say THANK YOU!! It worked. Make sure you plug in your a/v plug into the x-box.
@brazell1231
You will need 5mm screws and depending on washer thickness they should be no shorter than 10mm. You need Teflon (plastic) Washers or rubber. Rubber is better because it let's the board flex when it gets hot. You will need arctic silver thermal paste. Let me know if you have any more ?'s Good Luck.
I need to correct you on a couple of things, the heat paste needs to be as thin as possable your only filling inthe crevases in the top of the chips too much thermal paste can actually hold the heat in, also when your tightning the screws up you need to do then ins a star pattern to avoid warping the board or heat sink example start from lower right them to upper left and then from lower left to upper right. that will keepthe board from warping and keep an even contact on the chip
@jazzpianist2011
no that means its working when u get to two red lights u turn the power off and let it sit and cool down then turn it back on and see if it works
Also...Thank you for the video! Like i had said to the PS3 video creater, its awesome to see you put this out there for ppl who are curios and would rather save the money. Some of us cant afford to buy another xbox or ps3. Once again thank you very much for the video!
ALSO have your fan pluged in and on top of your cpu fan that way you dont unsolder the cpu aswell and reflow that it also causes the rrod if that breaks its solder remember and take the fan off again after 5 mins cuz then you wont know that the 2 lights are flashing saying you have over heated the xbox or not as the cpu contains a thermostat as such to let you know that its too hot or not :) ask quetions if you like :)
@rulezian1 The new screws definitely is. I've had to send mine to Microsoft a few times, now that it is out of warranty I decided to fix it myself and find that all the screws are completely warn down. Which added much more hassle than necessary.
Ty so much. My xbox is running fine now with no rrod. For everybody else, my xbox had a history of overheating so this fixed it and the new coat of thermal paste helped. Also, take a good look at your hardware to make sure there wasn't any serious damage caused by overheating.
Well I did what u said and after doing it wrong a few times I figured out what I was doing wrong and finally got my green lights on..one blew out but the xbox still turns on and I'm happy with the results of your video also the comment the guy made about cleaning the extra thermal paste from around the chip worked too..thanks!
@terroboy the reason it does that is because it overheats, just buy thermal paste wich is like 2 dollars on ebay. it should work again.
in the set you receive screws to replace the xclamps. It took me under an hour to fix my xbox using xboxslaves set. Xbox works now, but keeps freezing for some reason. The rrod is gone (for now). If you follow his directions and are somewhat good with your hands, you'll be able to fix it.
This works by the GPU getting overheated and being knocked out of place by the loose heat sinks causing vibrations. Putting thermal paste helps conduct heat so the xbox works properly.
@Sephiroth0232 the guy was worried he was going to get banned for removing his hard-drive while the unit is still on, i see two issues with this:
A: why would you remove the hard drive while the units on anyways?
B: it will log you off your xbox account, if you have the xbox live acc'nt on the HD, it wont ban you. thats silly. and removing the hard drive while its on you do have a chance that the whole shebang might corrupt itself.
I love how he isn't using any static mats or any protection at all.
hey, thanks for the help i just fixed 5 360's! made me 125$ thanks man.
i think the problem is the thermal paste deteriorates over time and stops transfering heat to the sink. all i did was basically replace the paste and bent the x clamps slightly so they held the heatsink tighter against the chips and its good as new.
Make sure you connect everything back, ie. video cables and other inputs.outputs.
look go to ebay type in xbox 360 intercooler and look for the ones with intercooler on the side it should be in gray or green writing ad it also has a plug in for the xbox power supply
@BadRick951 The solders may have dried so much that it cracked. Try buying flux and apply for both processors.
@xJealousyBreedsEnvyx 3 red lights means that there is a connection problem somewhere within your consol
Two green lights indicates an overheat. You probably don't have enough thermal paste, or the heat sinks aren't tightened down enough.
try using thermal paste i wouldnt use silicone.. you can use the porcelain kind but try to get the silver one if all possible....goto ur local computer store and ask for thermal compound artic silver is highly recommended or a brand similar to it..btw radio shack sells it too
@uphill248
no but the keyboard could be used to control the dashboard and sending messages, and some games ( gta for example allow you to use a keyboard to type, ( like gta, on the computers in the tw@ internet cafe )
the plastic air vent of the other bit. if that does not work try towel trick do if for a min of 15 mins and a maz of 30 i reccomend you do 30 as it works most of the time. if that does not work buy an intercooler fan that clips on to the back of the xbox and let it run for a couple of days(Without the towel)
@505WIL did you plug in video? I could be mistaken, but I think there has to be a video load (even if it is not connected to a monitor/tv, the video cable has to be plugged in. I could be mistaken, but hey, give it a shot. :) Cheers!
i just did it and it worked great for me, thanks a lot man. make sure to use just enough thermal compound and don't over-coat it
usually that means you have to tighten the screws, if they are very tight then loosen them.
Yes 100% it is a T8 torx drive that remove the screw from the "RF Modulater" or power button and the X clamp screws.
Many thanks a lot for the video series. After being on the shelf for about a year I got the parts and fixed it in just over an hour. Works like new =)
Since the new models have come out (PS3 Slim) there has not been a case of YLOD, to my knowledge, and NO the games on PC don't suck, since almost every game that comes out on the 360 comes out on PC, and trust me, the gaming experience on a PC is much better than a 360, the graphics are now DX11, which is much better, and also with a good PC you can set the graphic filters at MAX, so there are no jagged edges in the games, no matter how close or far you sit from the screen
Take 1 X clamp and put two sides first then the other two push it down with finger then use a screwdriver flathead and twist where it curves like when u removed them then push down and it should clip on. Also u might want to use pliers to squeeze the curved part. APPLY VERY LITTLE TO NO FORCE or else will be problem. If ur scared just lv it alone should be fine. Mk sure the xclamps are sort of tight (not that much play). Msg me if u need more help. Mine working still since 12/5/09
I wonder if the new screws are the saGme size as the old ones. It would be helpful to know the size of the screws used. Gonna try this TONIGHT.
To those with 2 lights, you need to tighten the screws a little bit more to regain the 3 rings.
A question of my own: What size screw do you use for the new heatpipe heatsink? My screws fit the big one, but the new one over the GPU is different and the screws don't fit.
@kasumisman yeah I noticed that too. I dont get why people would open the entire system up, only to half ass the most important part of the fix. The reason xbox's get RROD's is from overheating, and a poor thermal paste application will just make it heat up quicker.
@hondavtec2000 check your heat sinks, if they arent heating up then they might not be tight eanough.
NOTE! you do need to remove the old thermal paste or it might not work..... and its better in the long run.
everyone, you dont have to buy the kit, you can just buy everything on ebay. t10 and t8 torx screwdrivers, thermal paste and the nuts, bolts and washers. you can get them very cheap.
@nathanielnderson
Slaineypop was asking was size was the hardware that the guy sells, not the size of the tools used.
They are Torx bits. A T10 is used for half, and in the video he says to use a T9. I have 3 different T9s and all of them were too big. But i could not find a T8 at any hardware store or radio shack.
I highly doubt the video maker is going to give you all the details of the hardware so that you can go buy it yourself for under a dollar when he sells the kit for 20 shipped.
the X clamps are gone bro. Those x-clamps, and the orginal screws (I am guessing) were gone before I bought the box. And you last post was cut short, so I am guessing you were suggesting I apply the AS to the 4 memory chips on the bottom of the board and put the pennies on there then bolt the board back to the bottom of the metal cage?
I have a Halo Edition 360 and got the RROD yesterday. (I thought that this was imossible seeing how they were supposed to have a different chipset.) I took it apart and noticed one of my heat sinks looks different from the regular 360's. Also I don't think 16mm screws will work in the GPU heat sink either....they're too long. I will have to go get 10MM screws in the morning. I'm using silicone heat sink too....maybe It will work.
IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM! BUT TO ALL WHO VIEW THIS YOU DONT NEED THE SCREWS- just use the old x clamp and screws as long as the arctic is on it and you put it back together correctly your good to go!
Any computer store should be able to sell you some, a small tube of it will run you anything from $5 to $20 (depending on brand)
The video skipped and the 20 min wait time and I did not see when you plugged the fans back up... am I missing something?
A nice well made, informative video. Thanks for posting, I'm sure this has helped many many people as well as myself. keep up the good work man!
disagree - a heat gun cost £13 of ebay including p&p.
Its around 20 bucks from walmart too
You might have to make sure the washers and all is on correctly, it's been two years and mine haven't came back