Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread.

brady · 01-28-08, 11:13 PM

I had a day one console which lasted about a year before I got the rrod. Microsoft support was helpful and the repair process was fast. I ended up with a refurbished console which lasted about another year before the DVD drive stopped reading discs.

At that point I was outside of the warranty period. I decided to crack the thing open and try to fix the problem myself. I managed to get it working just fine again by adjusting the POT setting on the disc drives laser. A few days later Microsoft extended the warranty. Oops.

The system has been chugging along just fine since I took matters into my own hands...until today. I tried to watch an HDDVD today with the addon I recieved as a gift for Christmas and about 5 minutes into the movie the screen froze. Upon restarting the 360 I was greated with the rrod.

So, in a last ditch effort I've completely taken the 360 appart. I've decided to try, as a little hobby over the next few days, to fit the 360 with some aftermarket cooking. I managed to get the GPU and CPU heatsinks off. I noticed the thermal paste looked as if it had been applied by a 3 year old. There was crap everywhere. There are a few places where it looks like somebody lit a little firecracker and actually burned the underside of the CPU heatsink.

I'll be letting everyone know how this goes. It'll be a miracle if new cooling manages to save this thing. Yet, at the same time, I wont be all that surprised.

As for the HDDVD drive...It's hooked up to my gaming rig now. Movies actually seem to appear a little crisper. It's probably because it's connected through DVI to my TV now instead of component.

This could be the end of 360 gaming for me. I'm sure I'll be missing some fun games but I've got my new gaming rig and PS3 to keep me occupied. There's no way in hell I'll be buying a new 360.

**MowTin** · 01-29-08, 12:08 AM

Is there any way you can make it appear untampered with? Those M$ people owe you a new one.

I feel for you.

Lfctony · 01-29-08, 12:11 AM

Good luck with the x-clamp fix, many have managed to save their boxes using it.

Am_I_Evil · 01-29-08, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brady

At that point I was outside of the warranty period. I decided to crack the thing open and try to fix the problem myself. I managed to get it working just fine again by adjusting the POT setting on the disc drives laser. A few days later Microsoft extended the warranty. Oops.

wouldn't have mattered....wasn't the extended warranty only for RRODs anyway?

brady · 01-29-08, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Am_I_Evil

wouldn't have mattered....wasn't the extended warranty only for RRODs anyway?

Yeah, I think you're right.

LycosV · 01-29-08, 01:16 AM

Mine RROD on me the weekend before the warranty extension so I feel your pain. After replacing the graphics card's X-Clamp with some screws and washers though it came back to life.

My best advice is that if it doesn't work after you hook it all back up after replacing the X-Clamp, don't fret. Unplug the fan's power plug then turn it on for about a minute. The thing will heat up like crazy. Turn it off and let it sit. Then plug the fan back in and give it a go. I had to do that to get the thing working again the first time, and I've had to do it once or twice since.

01-29-08, 02:02 AM

amazing piece of tech....

Toss3 · 01-29-08, 05:08 AM

You know cooking it might not be the solution here!

Quote:

as a little hobby over the next few days, to fit the 360 with some aftermarket cooking.

brady · 01-29-08, 12:12 PM

Yeah, I think I'm going to try to avoid burning up the GPU/CPU. I'm thinking about giving water cooling a go. If it doesn't work I can throw it on my gaming rig for MAXIMUM OVERCLOCK! Any recommendations?

Lyme · 01-29-08, 03:03 PM

Koolance has a water cooling kit http://www.svc.com/kit-xb360bk-sys.html

Buenamos · 01-29-08, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterJensen

amazing piece of tech....

oh god, just leave. we don't need your lame anti-xbox remarks. The last thing we need is another fanboy fight here, find something else that is actually worthwhile to debate.

LycosV · 01-29-08, 04:20 PM

No matter how much cooling you add now though it may not make a difference without heating it up first. That was my whole point.

Through the thermal cycling the solder balls on the bottom of the graphics chip loose their connection with the main board. You could set dry ice on top of the thing and it won't work if the connections are already busted. By heating it up the solder will expand and crack around a little perhaps remaking the connections.

01-28-08, 11:13 PM	#1
brady I'm like everyone else. Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,376	Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. I had a day one console which lasted about a year before I got the rrod. Microsoft support was helpful and the repair process was fast. I ended up with a refurbished console which lasted about another year before the DVD drive stopped reading discs. At that point I was outside of the warranty period. I decided to crack the thing open and try to fix the problem myself. I managed to get it working just fine again by adjusting the POT setting on the disc drives laser. A few days later Microsoft extended the warranty. Oops. The system has been chugging along just fine since I took matters into my own hands...until today. I tried to watch an HDDVD today with the addon I recieved as a gift for Christmas and about 5 minutes into the movie the screen froze. Upon restarting the 360 I was greated with the rrod. So, in a last ditch effort I've completely taken the 360 appart. I've decided to try, as a little hobby over the next few days, to fit the 360 with some aftermarket cooking. I managed to get the GPU and CPU heatsinks off. I noticed the thermal paste looked as if it had been applied by a 3 year old. There was crap everywhere. There are a few places where it looks like somebody lit a little firecracker and actually burned the underside of the CPU heatsink. I'll be letting everyone know how this goes. It'll be a miracle if new cooling manages to save this thing. Yet, at the same time, I wont be all that surprised. As for the HDDVD drive...It's hooked up to my gaming rig now. Movies actually seem to appear a little crisper. It's probably because it's connected through DVI to my TV now instead of component. This could be the end of 360 gaming for me. I'm sure I'll be missing some fun games but I've got my new gaming rig and PS3 to keep me occupied. There's no way in hell I'll be buying a new 360. __________________ C2Q @ 3.6GHz \| GA-P35-DS3L \| 8GB DDR2 \| EVGA GTX 580 SC 1.5GB \| Windows 7 Ultimate x64 C2D @ 3.0GHz \| GA-P35-DS3L \| 4GB DDR2 \| HIS AMD 6990 4GB \| OS X Lion 10.7 \| Windows 7 Ultimate x64

01-29-08, 12:08 AM	#2
MowTin Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,205	Re: Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. Is there any way you can make it appear untampered with? Those M$ people owe you a new one. I feel for you. __________________ i7 920 @ 3.6Ghz \| 480 GTX \| 3x2GB OCZ Gold \| x58 3SLI \| X-Fi Extreme Gamer \| Samsung 226BW \| Samsung 4665F LCD HDTV \| Kenwood 500W receiver PS3 \| Xbox 360

01-29-08, 12:11 AM	#3
Lfctony Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Larnaca, Cyprus Posts: 4,152	Re: Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. Good luck with the x-clamp fix, many have managed to save their boxes using it. __________________ Fafnir: Intel Core 2 Quad 6600@3.2Ghz\|eVGA 780i SLI\|PNY GTX480 \|Kingston DDR667 4096MB\|WD Black Caviar 500GB\|Seagate SATA 250GB\|Seagate SATA 200GB\| Seagate SATA 160GB\|OptiArc AD-7173S DVDRW\|Nec 3351 DVDRW\|Creative X-FI XM\|LG Flatron W2261V\|Logitech X-530\|Thermaltake Armor\|Amptac 850W SLI PSU\|Logitech G9 Mouse\|Xigmatek HDT S-1283 CPU Cooler\|Windows 7/FW 257.21 PS2 - Wii - Xbox - Xbox360 - PSP - GC - PS3 Owner Boycott Starforce... Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?

01-29-08, 01:16 AM	#6
LycosV Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 888	Re: Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. Mine RROD on me the weekend before the warranty extension so I feel your pain. After replacing the graphics card's X-Clamp with some screws and washers though it came back to life. My best advice is that if it doesn't work after you hook it all back up after replacing the X-Clamp, don't fret. Unplug the fan's power plug then turn it on for about a minute. The thing will heat up like crazy. Turn it off and let it sit. Then plug the fan back in and give it a go. I had to do that to get the thing working again the first time, and I've had to do it once or twice since.

01-29-08, 02:02 AM	#7
PeterJensen Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. amazing piece of tech....

01-29-08, 12:12 PM	#9
brady I'm like everyone else. Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,376	Re: Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. Yeah, I think I'm going to try to avoid burning up the GPU/CPU. I'm thinking about giving water cooling a go. If it doesn't work I can throw it on my gaming rig for MAXIMUM OVERCLOCK! Any recommendations? __________________ C2Q @ 3.6GHz \| GA-P35-DS3L \| 8GB DDR2 \| EVGA GTX 580 SC 1.5GB \| Windows 7 Ultimate x64 C2D @ 3.0GHz \| GA-P35-DS3L \| 4GB DDR2 \| HIS AMD 6990 4GB \| OS X Lion 10.7 \| Windows 7 Ultimate x64

01-29-08, 03:03 PM	#10
Lyme Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,682	Re: Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. Koolance has a water cooling kit http://www.svc.com/kit-xb360bk-sys.html

01-29-08, 04:20 PM	#12
LycosV Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 888	Re: Yes, another "my 360 is dead" thread. No matter how much cooling you add now though it may not make a difference without heating it up first. That was my whole point. Through the thermal cycling the solder balls on the bottom of the graphics chip loose their connection with the main board. You could set dry ice on top of the thing and it won't work if the connections are already busted. By heating it up the solder will expand and crack around a little perhaps remaking the connections.