QUOTE(shambles1980 @ Jan 16 2012, 06:00 PM)
please dont use a xclamp replacment..
They use the pressure of the connection to press the chip(s) down on the board this sometimes reconnects the solder to the pad. but the bigest thing that happens is that the chip presses down on the board and it heats up and flexes then cools and contracts and because the chip is pressing down on the area you find that it eventualy creates a dent about the size of the chip under the heat sink.
this dent only ever increases the rate of RROD after it has happend.
This is a really good point. When reading a guide to RROD repair, this was noted to be the most logical explanation for why RROD happens. Each time I personally attempted to fix the RROD, rather than replacing the XClamps, I was removing them and using machine screws + washers (this was to "Evenly distribute the pressure") and like I said, it only lasted a couple weeks. Is it possible that using machine screws and washers is just as bad as the XClamp/XClamp "replacements"?
I am a newbie to this as well, as I've only followed guides and practiced without much success on a few Xbox 360s.
DrunkenNinja, as far as the oven reflow goes, did you find the thread I mentioned before on llamma about the "oven reflow"? To be honest, after reading it and seeing the photos, plus reading the ENTIRE thread of other peoples comments / experiences / tips I felt a lot more confident about the oven reflow (despite how ridiculous of a method it is). I also don't have the microwave/oven combo. The topic on llamma had the specific temperatures w/ "cooking times" for each specific temperature. Not sure if the person who explained the method used a regular oven or a microwave/oven combo, but I seriously suggest trying to find that thread if you haven't already.
I'm also in the same spot, I don't have money for a reflow station and at this point, I refuse to even drop the $50 (nor do I have the money to anyway) to have it reflowed / reballed considering that my NES and Genesis still work perfect, yet out of 5 of the Xbox 360s I've bought, none have lasted longer than a year each.