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[RobwDav]

Wow, long time since I posted here....

At any rate, I have a 360 which has the Xclamp fix as stated in the tutorial above.  When using upstairs, I can play for hours, leaving on for days w/out issue.  However, when I take to my basement (approx 56º), it locks and upon reboot and attempt to read a disc, displays 3 reds.  If I bring to console only and leave 15-20 mins before playing, will work w/out error.

The only variable I see here is temperature;  I'm using artic silver on the PUs, so I hope it's not an issue of the paste drawing away in a cool environment.  Has anyone experienced similar issues?

[SphtKr76]

I use mine exclusively in my basement also, and although its not quite as cold as yours, they work just fine. Ambient temps around 62F.

[brandogg]

Get the error code next time it happens.

[SniperZoz]

QUOTE(RobwDav @ Apr 4 2008, 08:30 PM)

The only variable I see here is temperature...

... and humidity! It's a basment ... is it a humid one!?

[RobwDav]

QUOTE(SniperZoz @ Apr 4 2008, 11:17 PM)

... and humidity! It's a basment ... is it a humid one!?

Good point!  -I hadn't thought about that, but I don't believe it to be an issue.  All other equipment (PS3, Wii, Xbox, projector...blah blah) works well.  If anything, it's probably too dry, though I haven't measured.  I really can't explain it.  When it's upstairs, it's in a tighter area, but I can turn it on and immediately play for hours.  I take downstairs, a freeze it almost guaranteed.

Thanks to everyone for your input,

[thepwnage]

Well...try heating it up! Like...put a space heater near the box, or maybe something like block the fans...or...geez...idk...cover up the side vents, just enough so that it will warm up but not give you the 2 red lights and see if it will play for longer than normal...then maybe you can truthfully say it is the heat or lack of

[RobwDav]

QUOTE(thepwnage @ Apr 6 2008, 03:15 PM)

Well...try heating it up! Like...put a space heater near the box, or maybe something like block the fans...or...geez...idk...cover up the side vents, just enough so that it will warm up but not give you the 2 red lights and see if it will play for longer than normal...then maybe you can truthfully say it is the heat or lack of

Thanks for pointing out the obvious  .  I've done that, -crowded a towel around (while in the basement).  -works.  However, we know why the towel trick works.  That's not really a fix is it?

[MMaster23]

what error is it?

i have an 0022 here and it has an "cold boot bug". When it's cold, it won't boot. Won't even give you an 3ROD 9 times out of 10. After trying to start it multiple times it goes and works 100% perfectly.

This one still has warranty so it's going roundticket MS.

ps... 0022 according to the error thread is an cold solder joint or messy soldering...

[jimwross]

LOL

OK.

 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I would put money down that all you need to do is re-heat your GPU.  Its crucial that you do this properly to perm. fix the 3RLOD.

Pop the fans out of the back, remove the fan shroud.  Keep the DVD Drive in and plugged in.  Place the fan ON TOP of the DVD drive and resting on the CPU.

This will mean the GPU is covered by the DVD drive and not getting any air flow, while the CPU stays cool.  Let this run for 10-15 minutes.  You'll notice you won't get the 2 red lights, and that the GPU got really hot.

Let it cool down, re-assemble everything properly, and you should be good to go.

This post has been edited by jimwross: Apr 7 2008, 11:57 AM

[RobwDav]

QUOTE(jimwross @ Apr 7 2008, 10:57 AM)

LOL

OK.

 

I would put money down that all you need to do is re-heat your GPU.  Its crucial that you do this properly to perm. fix the 3RLOD.

Pop the fans out of the back, remove the fan shroud.  Keep the DVD Drive in and plugged in.  Place the fan ON TOP of the DVD drive and resting on the CPU.

This will mean the GPU is covered by the DVD drive and not getting any air flow, while the CPU stays cool.  Let this run for 10-15 minutes.  You'll notice you won't get the 2 red lights, and that the GPU got really hot.

Let it cool down, re-assemble everything properly, and you should be good to go.

Is this legit?  -Seems plausible, -I'm looking around for those w/the hidden cameras  
Have you had luck w/this?  -Thanks for the input!

[jimwross]

Yeah man, I'm not kidding.

Heres a link to back up my claims:


http://www.llamma.com/xbox360/repair/ring_...x-clamp_fix.htm

"Now for the most important part and most likely the point where the majority of people who were unsuccessful completing this fix failed.
This step requires you to overheat your GPU.  Many tutorials tell you to unplug your fan and turn it on until it overheats.  There is one major flaw with this approach.  The thermosistor for the overheating protection of the 360 is contained within the CPU.  The problem is that the CPU overheats without any airflow before the GPU is able to get sufficiently hot to "reflow" the BGA solder connection that has failed.
 
 In order to cool the CPU but not the GPU it is again important to have your fan shroud removed.  Now take your fan that IS plugged in and lay it on top of your DVD drive with one of the fan's over the top of the CPU.  This will keep the CPU plenty cool to prevent it from overheating while the GPU will get smokin' hot; like burn your finger hot! "

[brandogg]

While Llama is a pretty respectable site, the GPU will never get anywhere near hot enough (it needs to be around 423 degrees Fahrenheit, IIRC)  to reflow the lead-free solder. The system will overheat and shut down before this happens. All that happens in this process is a good amount of warping on the motherboard right under the GPU.

[RobwDav]

jimwross, thank you for the great info...I hope to try this today and will post my results.

[RobwDav]

Okay, I've tried this fix and testing for a couple of months.  My results are:

If I play daily, the device works w/out fail.

However, if weeks go by w/out use; I exhibit the same symptopms:

 Dashboard operation is fine
 If playing a game, I lock repeatedly w/in 2-3 minutes; several reboots result in 3lrod.
    -to correct this, I must do the towel trick, or leave on for an hour or so at the dashboard.

So I guess this didn't actually work....at least for me.  I don't want to keep trying for fear of overheating the board.

To recap, afer disassembling to flash the rom, I began receiving the 3rlod.  I completed the xclamp mod and things got better for a while, but have resorted to freezes when the machine is cool.


Ideas anyone?


Thanks in advance,

R Davis

[Wilhelm_I]

QUOTE(RobwDav @ Jul 4 2008, 08:37 PM)

Okay, I've tried this fix and testing for a couple of months.  My results are:

If I play daily, the device works w/out fail.

However, if weeks go by w/out use; I exhibit the same symptopms:

 Dashboard operation is fine
 If playing a game, I lock repeatedly w/in 2-3 minutes; several reboots result in 3lrod.
    -to correct this, I must do the towel trick, or leave on for an hour or so at the dashboard.

So I guess this didn't actually work....at least for me.  I don't want to keep trying for fear of overheating the board.

To recap, afer disassembling to flash the rom, I began receiving the 3rlod.  I completed the xclamp mod and things got better for a while, but have resorted to freezes when the machine is cool.
Ideas anyone?
Thanks in advance,

R Davis

At first the secondary error code might be interesting to determine if the problem is still GPU related...

Since you already did the x clamp replacement your last option will be reflowing the solder with a heatgun.
Use this tutorial to do that http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=651407
Dont do anything before checking the error code or you wont know what you have to concentrate on.