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[bezzzerk]

Started off with the graphics going crazy / corrupted a short way into any game. Did the xclamp replacement fix. It seemed to work and I got a few hours of gameplay before the system started freezing up again. I've tried everything... re-replacing the thermal paste, tightening, loosening the screws attaching the heatsinks.. keeping the case open while playing. So far, nothing seems to work. I usually run into one of the two problems while the 360 logo is showing while booting or while starting a game. Afaik, this seems to be a GPU problem as when the graphic corruption problem occurs, the system still appears to be running fine in the background (dashboard etc reacts with sounds). Right now, I've got the GPU held real tight onto the board. Should I
a) Try fiddling with the AS5 because the GPU is overheating
b)Try doing the towel trick to reflow the solders
c) Fiddle around with screws and washers as the problem relates to pressure not temperature

[nannou]

same problem here but with no x-clamp fix! if u come in to any solution please let me know!

thanks

[bezzzerk]

Bump for the sake of GTA4
It seems everytime I open the console and fiddle with the screws, the connection gets loose and I get the 3RLOD. Then, as mentioned in the xclamp fix, I leave the fan off and let the thing bake for 2 mins after overheat(2RLOD). The console starts off fine after cooling off and I get a decent amount of gameplay(tried 1 hour of halo with no issues).
The next day though, its the same story all over again. I start up a game... about 5 mins into it, the display kicks out with either extreme corruption or no display at all. Now when I start the system, I can still hear the sounds though the display is pink dots flying diagonally across the screen.
I'm going to try the towel trick as a last ditch effort (overheating the system seems to be helping). Any suggestions?

[Wilhelm_I]

QUOTE(bezzzerk @ Apr 29 2008, 11:32 AM)

Bump for the sake of GTA4
It seems everytime I open the console and fiddle with the screws, the connection gets loose and I get the 3RLOD. Then, as mentioned in the xclamp fix, I leave the fan off and let the thing bake for 2 mins after overheat(2RLOD). The console starts off fine after cooling off and I get a decent amount of gameplay(tried 1 hour of halo with no issues).
The next day though, its the same story all over again. I start up a game... about 5 mins into it, the display kicks out with either extreme corruption or no display at all. Now when I start the system, I can still hear the sounds though the display is pink dots flying diagonally across the screen.
I'm going to try the towel trick as a last ditch effort (overheating the system seems to be helping). Any suggestions?

Sounds like its not the X-Clamp-fix thats fixing your 360.
I assume that the heat caused by the GPU heats up the connection between the ANA-chip and the GPU which gets it to work temporarily.
The fact that you get no video but sound and colored artifacts underlines that.

Dont do the towel trick this will only damage it even more.
To reflow the solder you need at least 220°C, the towel trick only cooks the components and doesnt help much...
So go get a heatgun and try this fix it should fix it permanently. http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=646900

[CSamp022]

Hey man, when you mean graphic corruption do you mean stuff like this?



I have been getting alot of this lately, and I have already performed the xclamp mod for a RROD I got like 3 months ago. Also getting the freezing mentioned. If so, I will try and use that heat gun trick.

[bezzzerk]

QUOTE(CSamp022 @ Apr 29 2008, 08:41 PM)

Hey man, when you mean graphic corruption do you mean stuff like this?



I have been getting alot of this lately, and I have already performed the xclamp mod for a RROD I got like 3 months ago. Also getting the freezing mentioned. If so, I will try and use that heat gun trick.

I'm not on a HDTV, so cant confirm that. I get pink dots flying across the screen. I guess heat gun is the only way to go. Does your screen become like in the image randomly while playing a game? That's how it started out for me. Now the vids whacked right from boot time.

Also to Wilhelm_I:
I tried applying pressure to the ANA chip and it didn't help with the issue. Does the heat gun trick still have a chance of working? I'm guessing yes.

[CSamp022]

Yeah like randomly in the middle of the game I'll get the game freeze and then this would randomly appear. IF not an outright freeze, I would get this.

[bezzzerk]

QUOTE(CSamp022 @ Apr 29 2008, 10:20 PM)

Yeah like randomly in the middle of the game I'll get the game freeze and then this would randomly appear. IF not an outright freeze, I would get this.

From what I know, the heat gun method should work on the problem you are having

[Wilhelm_I]

QUOTE(bezzzerk @ Apr 29 2008, 06:18 PM)

I'm not on a HDTV, so cant confirm that. I get pink dots flying across the screen. I guess heat gun is the only way to go. Does your screen become like in the image randomly while playing a game? That's how it started out for me. Now the vids whacked right from boot time.

Also to Wilhelm_I:
I tried applying pressure to the ANA chip and it didn't help with the issue. Does the heat gun trick still have a chance of working? I'm guessing yes.

Whenever you see artifarcts or dots flying accross the whole screen or anything else like the bars it will always be a problem with the scalerchip that is loosing contact or has got a cold solder joint.
If it was the GPU you would also get artifarcts but they wouldnt be everywhere only on certain objects of the screen like a table or something for example in extreme cases it can also be the whole screen but this only happens if you let it heat up even more...
So apply this fix. As the pressure didnt fix it it will be the connection between the GPU and the ANA-chip.
I am not sure if I posted the link to the tutorial yet so here it is http://forums.xbox-s...howtopic=646900

Make sure you remove the heatsink before heatgunning the board and do it from both sides until the solder really melted, a sign for that is that the solder gets a golden glance once you melted it.

Good luck!

[Wilhelm_I]

QUOTE(CSamp022 @ May 1 2008, 02:21 AM)

Could you account for the fact that it only happens with certain games? That's what really has me stumped. Like if it was the scaler chip, wouldn't it effect all games? Instead I'm only getting it with games that at least I would deem push the console (GTA4 being one).

You kind of anwered the question yourself.
The fact that it only happens for certain games and that the screen freezes indicates that it rather a problem with an overheating GPU than the scaler-chip connection.

[CSamp022]

Interesting, thanks for the clarification. Maybe I'll try the 12v fan mod since I already got my xclamp mod in...I recently replaced the thermal paste under one of the heat syncs...I don't get any RROD or anything nor the 2 lights, but it could still overheat right? I also tried playing it without a case on and everything, I thought I had ruled out overheating...hmm.

[Wilhelm_I]

QUOTE(CSamp022 @ May 1 2008, 04:37 AM)

Interesting, thanks for the clarification. Maybe I'll try the 12v fan mod since I already got my xclamp mod in...I recently replaced the thermal paste under one of the heat syncs...I don't get any RROD or anything nor the 2 lights, but it could still overheat right? I also tried playing it without a case on and everything, I thought I had ruled out overheating...hmm.

Well it is different from controlled overheating when it shows the 2 red lights.
When the GPU heats up its solder balls the material changes so it can happen that one of them looses contact, thats when your 360 freezes.(unless it is a problem with the disc you are using or so) When it cools down it usually gets contact again but if it doesnt get contact after cooling down again it shows the ROD.
Replace the X-CLamps this will fix it.

[bezzzerk]

Thanks a lot for the advice Wilhelm I. I heatgunned it once at 300C for about 2 mins both sides. Reapplied the AS5 and attached the heatsinks. Worked like a charm. The console also runs a LOT cooler now. I'm assuming its the AS5

[Wilhelm_I]

QUOTE(bezzzerk @ May 9 2008, 08:17 PM)

Thanks a lot for the advice Wilhelm I. I heatgunned it once at 300C for about 2 mins both sides. Reapplied the AS5 and attached the heatsinks. Worked like a charm. The console also runs a LOT cooler now. I'm assuming its the AS5

With AS5 applied the exhaust air should be much hotter.
If it is cooler it doesnt conduct the heat to the heatsink properly.
Make sure that you used the right amount of thermal compound  -> size of a rice grain and spread it out evenly with a creditcard, the finer the layer the better it conducts the heat...
Also make sure that you cleaned the chip dies properly using alcohol googone or so.
The tightness of the screws is also a criteria but as the 360 isnt instantly overheating I doubt that this is the reason...

[bezzzerk]

Thought it had worked for a while. Got a decent 10-15 hours of gameplay(over 4 days) before an entirely new problem arose. Was playing GTA IV which I burned at home on a Moser Baer DVD-DL. The game froze thrice, requiring me to keep rebooting. After a while, the console refused to boot up. It either got stuck on the X animation (locking up with a clicky sound). On some occasions, I also got: E71, E79, 3RROD.  
Now the reason I mentioned the brand of the DVD-DL was that I had the EXACT same problem while playing crackdown on the same media(burned at home) after which I had to give it in for repairs(not to MS).

A ray of hope: I tried ejecting the GTA disc while booting. Got stuck on the X. Powered off and on again, got the 3rrod. Powered on again, it booted up. Tried playing SVR2007, worked without a hitch (kept it on for 5 mins, get too nervous to keep it longer, dunno why). Right now, the console is booting up to the dashboard atleast.
When I got the E71 and E79, I tried the hard drive cache clear and stuff. Right now, the drive isn't even plugged in.
Also, I've redone the AS5 as Wilhelm I suggested.