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[jimbobjim]

Hi folks,

I just wanted to share a new method that I came up with for fixing the dreaded ring of death. I haven't tested this extensively as I only developed it a few days back, but I successfully repaired three consoles with it and all have survived rigorous testing ever since.

Basically, for a while now, i've felt that there is an unbalance of pressure on the GPU when using either the Microsoft clamping system or the popular x-clamp replacement. I've made up a few super technical drawings to illustrate what I mean





The aim of my method is to create a balance of pressure above and below the GPU.

Things needed:-

. 8 M5 washers
. 2 thermal transfer pads (found on underside ram chips)
. Thermal compound (I recommend AS5)
. Tools for dismantling console.

Step 1... Completely dismantle your console (there are tuts everywhere for this) then clean up your CPU/GPU and heat sinks. I always do both chips as it's a more complete job.



Step 2... Take two of the heat transfer pads off your ram chips and place them like in the picture. In my opinion they are a completely useless bandaid that MS used to prevent the ROD (they failed) so they won't be missed by the RAM. If you like you can leave yours where they are and source some more. Consoles manufactured prior to may 06 may not have them.



Step 3... After applying fresh thermal paste to your chips, pop one of the heatsinks back on and turn the board upsidedown. Put an M5 washer around each leg. See picture below.



Step 4... Remove the black plastic tab from the centre of your x-clamps. These are what cause board warpage in the MS method.




Step 5... This is the tricky part, you now have to put the x-clamp back on. Apply strong, controlled pressure and snap each leg on carefully.



Step 6... repeat for the other chip.



Step 7... Put your console back together exatly as it was before, this includes the 8 small screws underneath that hold the heatsinks in place.

Step 8... Try your console, if it works you're done and can start playing , if not, then you need to overheat the GPU to soften the solder. To do this simply put a fan on your CPU and leave the GPU uncooled... this will make your console think it is ok as the CPU is the only temperature controlled chip. Leave it this way for about 10-15 mins then let it cool for 20 mins. Your machine should now hopefully boot up.

Here's another highly technical drawing of what should be happening with your console after the fix.



Oh, just for fun here's the console in the pics again. It was dead prior to the repair.



That's about all from me, I hope to hear some feedback on this and I hope a few of you find the time to have a crack at it. I am in no way saying any of the other fixes posted here are crap, I have used many of them myself with great success. I just wanted to make a small contribution to the scene and give an alternative method to anyone that is hitting a dead end.

Lastly... I accept no responsibility if you break your console even more.

Cheers.

[Wilhelm_I]

First of all, nice finding and good job mate.

The fact that the pressure is shared up to a larger area under the GPU really improves the X-Clamps.
I doubt though that this will be a permanent solution, sure it will be much more permanent than using the regular X-Clamps but there will still be flexing caused by the X-Clamps.
This simply happens because the center solder balls are taken under twice as much pressure than the outer ones(force from the top[heatsink] and from the bottom[x-clamp])
So this pressure difference will cause the chip to flex slightly at the outer parts and take the outer solder balls under pressure.

You might want to check my tutorial out it provides even pressure on all solder balls from above only so there will still be slight flexing no matter how you take it.
Me and M2X had a little conversation on the 3rd page about finding a way to take the chip under pressure from below we ended up finding no way.
Obviously you have found one, maybe we can combine mine and yours to an over all one.
For this to work we would have to prepare the X-Clamps first though and increase the size of the area that the X-Clamp takes under pressure.
I thought about making  the area as big as the GPU itself, probably a metal plate and below some foam to prevent damaging the capacitors on the bottom side of the mainboard.
This would result in even pressure from below and above and provide a perfect even pressure on every single solder ball

If we can manage to get this to work somehow this will be the ultimate fix

This post has been edited by Wilhelm_I: Aug 4 2008, 04:21 PM

[relaxxx]

I don't think there is any need to use those soft ram pads, they are not firm enough to provide any decent preassure, also not all 360's even have them. I do agree that replacing the x clamp with bolts switches pressure and can cause the board to warp if bolted too tight. An easy fix for this that I would use when replacing the x clam with M5 bolts is to bolt through the metal case after drilling out the 8 holes. Before placing the board back in the metal case, stick the black plastic spacers back on the board with the right amount of duct tape to create sufficient back pressure when the board gets bolted in to the case. Now when the heatsinks are bolted down with even pressure using the credit card method the black plastic provide PCB back pressure as they were intended and board will not warp. There is no need to provide peassure evenly behind the whole CPU/GPU, just in the center. The PCB is not so weak that it will warp in a donut shape under the CPU/GPU.

This post has been edited by relaxxx: Aug 4 2008, 04:50 PM

[jimbobjim]

Hi gents/ladies?, thanks for the feedback, it's much appreciated (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Wilhelm_I I see what you're saying about it being ideal that the upward pressure have the same surface as the GPU it's self. However, I believe that my method increases the area so much (700% at a guess) that any warping would be minimal and cause no problems.

I like your way too mate, I can really see how those credit card spacers will help stop the bow effect near the GPU. I wish there was a bit of a tidyer way to stick the spacers down though, sticky tape looks a bit messy. But hey ho, who cares if it works?

Only time will tell for both our methods I suppose.

relaxxx

The ram pads are soft but when they are compacted under the pressure of the x-clamp they are quite hard.

I did also say that not all boards have them.

This post has been edited by jimbobjim: Aug 4 2008, 05:08 PM

[bonzof.pl]

Hello
+
They will pierce on farthest plan of forum M$ fastly .Rapid fire controler (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ....................

Pro-X/clamp bonzo.pl

This post has been edited by bonzof.pl: Aug 4 2008, 06:54 PM

[chadives]

the super hybrid xclamp fix:  very good thinking here.  Between this and wilhelms new one,  should be a winner.  There is a lot of room for installer error, but I think you have Done as much as possible, to make sure the board doesn't flex(if you use willhelms in addition).  Only time will tell an honest 6 month update will make worlds of difference for this method,  as people are a little shy about honestly informing others of failures.

Good work though, I hope this works well. I will definately try it when the next RROD comes across my plate.(wont be for a while cuz I only do them for friends and most of them warranty anyway) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

WOW, just looked at Bonzof.pl's pics and this guy has done some really interesting stuff.  I looks like he as actually reballed the chips, as well as a modified x clamp replacement with a potting procedure that does similar to what is done here and in wilhelm's.  Someone should work with this guy/gal on putting his method in a tutorial.....someone who speaks polish would be the key.

This post has been edited by chadives: Aug 4 2008, 07:01 PM

[chadives]

bump, no one is givin these guys any love or hate. Check out Bonzof's picture links in his post

[jimbobjim]

I had a feeling that keeping the x-clamps in the console would put people off this fix  It's a common misconception that they are the number 1 cause of the ROD. The only thing that the clamps do wrong is apply pressure on a very tiny surface area underneath the GPU... This only becomes an issue when added to the excess heat produced, insufficient cooling, cheap solder and the wafer thin motherboard.

Basically, taking away any of the above factors before failure will probably ensure that your 360 lives much longer.

[HackerSupreme]

This is like that Jewel Case method...Temporary at best in my opinion. And it is hard as FUCK to get the X clamps back on the system, without the washers, with them on...wow...

[bonzof.pl]

SYLWIA temperatur

[bonzof.pl]

(IMG:http://obrazki.elektroda.net/39_1217966378_thumb.jpg)


free Pb problem

This post has been edited by bonzof.pl: Aug 5 2008, 10:10 PM

[jimbobjim]

QUOTE(HackerSupreme @ Aug 5 2008, 09:41 PM)

This is like that Jewel Case method...Temporary at best in my opinion. And it is hard as FUCK to get the X clamps back on the system, without the washers, with them on...wow...

I'd say getting the clamps on is tricky, but it's not that hard.

Whether the fix is temporary or not remains to be seen, and only time will tell. I just felt like coming up with something a bit different in the hope that a permanent solution may come of it. Lets face it, there is currently no such thing as an easy, permanent fix as yet. Certain people may claim that the x-clamp replacement mod is permanent but after fixing well over 100 consoles using this method, I can safely say "it isn't". My method is merely another attempt at stopping these pos consoles doing what they do best.

BTW... Can sombody possibly translate for bonzof.pl? I think he may have some good points but can't understand him.

[bonzof.pl]

Mix thermal paste(no ac/dc) +auto kit
silikon Ph.

This post has been edited by bonzof.pl: Aug 6 2008, 06:01 AM

[calefz]

where can i get those ram pad at ?

[Chimp5000]

DAMN!!!  This method and Wilhelm's method within like a week!!  Great find, however, all of the 360's I have left don't have those thermal pads...  *cries*

Nice find though!