Print

[Marmite]

So do we have to desolder these chips? or are they already desoldered, and ready to be soldered in? I will take a set, if you have any left. PM sent. Have these been verified to work with the xbox? You can IM me at Marimite00 if you wish.

This post has been edited by Marmite: Oct 21 2003, 08:05 PM

[Perplexer]

QUOTE (ReKlaTs @ Oct 21 2003, 04:12 PM)

- I'm actually wondering about removing the old memory chips in order to replace them with these new ones so saving the PCB is crutial, the old chips can go to hell.

You're not removing your existing memory and replacing it; you are ADDING these memory chips to the four unpopulated memory pads on your motherboard.

[Marmite]

does it matter in which direction they are soldered in, as in, do the chips have a front and a back? or does either way work?

[sulfur]

wow! the video makes it look so easy! /me is thinking about it!

[Marmite]

That video really does make it look easy. I was going to add solder, glad I watched the video first.  

[dink]

QUOTE

does it matter in which direction they are soldered in, as in, do the chips have a front and a back? or does either way work?

All chips have a pin 1 mark.  There is usually a pin 1 marking on the PCB too.  All 4 empty memory spots are the same.  Each chip takes up 1 memory location on the PCB.

I recommend try soldering some other SMT chips first before doing these.  e.g. Take an old Video card and slowly apply heat to the back side with a blow torch.  The chip will fall off.  Then clean the pads with some solder braid, and then try re-soldering it back on.

Once you thin you are ready, start soldering the memory chips on the back of the Xbox MB first.  Less components to get in your way.

QUOTE

I was going to add solder, glad I watched the video first.

If anything, you need to take away solder.  On the most of the MB I have seen.  If you look very close and feel the solder pads, you notice a small amount of solder, on each of the pads.  This is plenty of solder to do the job.  Be sure to add some flux to the pads first.

This post has been edited by dink: Oct 22 2003, 07:42 PM

[dink]

Update

0 memory sets left.

When they're gone, they're gone.

I will NOT be ordering anymore.

[dink]

Yes I do take paypal.  Send me a PM if you still want them after reading the manufacturing date.

They are labeled:

SAMSUNG 337

Which indicates, that they were manufactured in 2003 the 37th week of the year.  Which converts to the week of Sept 15, 2003.

[dink]

Thanks!

I will ship it out tomorrow

[dink]

Here is a  PDF file on how to upgrade to addtional 64 meg of memory, bummer its in German.  But the Pictures are in great detail!

[dink]

0 sets left!!

[dink]

For those of you that have bought a set of memory chips.  I have just completed installing 2 sets.

Once you have soldered them and the pins look good,  double check each voltage pins with an ohm meter to ground.

In a previous post, the german PDF shows which are the VDD and VDDQ pins.

You can do a quick test by only powering up the MB. You don't need to connect up the drives yet.
Once powered up, you should get a GREEN LED and the "X" logo. Does not matter which bios you load

If you get FRAO (Flashing Red And Orange) you have a short or an open!

You can then reassemble the box and boot up XBMP.  Goto System, Status and at the bottom you will see 95/128MB.

I am think of installing the last 5 sets, in to other XBOXs for people.  
If you are interested, let me know.

[dink]

Before adding the memory or doing any other mods, make sure your box is unplug and you have grounded yourself from any Static Electricity!!

 Since the XBox MB I have, have little mound of solder on each pad, I used solder wick to remove it first.  The other link (NEWBIES) mentions this.  I think the newer MB, don't have this problem.
 You can tell by looking at the memory spot and running you finger across the pads.  

Here are the steps I used.

1. Removed the extra solder on each of the memory pad with solder wick.  The video show the pads as being tinned, not with a mound solder on them.

2. Placed a small amount flux around the pads. (just like in the video, but use less)

3. Line up pin 1 of the chip with pin 1 on the MB.  Look at the another memory chip on the MB as a comparision.

4. Align the pins

5. Double check the alignment of the pins.  I used a pair of extra fine tip tweezers.

6. Check alignment of the pins on each sides.

7. Check alignment of the pins again!!!  (get the point)

8. Tack down one pin in a corner with the Solder iron.  (DO NOT ADD ANY SOLDER)

9. Check aligment.

10. Tack down one pin on the opposite corner.  (DO NOT ADD ANY SOLDER)

11. Check alignment.  (After this point there is NO turning back!!)

12. Now slowly move the solder iron along the pins on each side, just like in the video.

13. Double check for any shorts between pins with a magnify glass.  I used my wife's embroidery magnify glass.

If you compare the pins on the chip you just soldered in, with other memory chip, you will see that there is less solder on your chip.  This if fine.  With the solder still tinned on the pad and the solder tinned on pins of the chip, there is plenty of solder to do the job.

As for difficulty, it was challenging.

My suggestions:
DON'T RUSH IT!
Take you time!
Do 1 chip an hour!

The 1st time I did this, it took over 4 hrs. (I did not remove the mounds of solder first) Afterwards, I found lots of shorts.
The 2nd time it took an hour. (This time I removed the mounds of solder first) Afterwards, I found 3 shorts.
The 3rd time it took 45 mins. Afterwards, I found No shorts  

Here is a sample one of the chips I soldered in.  As you can see, very little solder is used.

[dink]

In case you did NOT notice, there is a short between 2 pins in the picture!

Pins #85 and #86.  Count 5 pins up, starting from the bottom right corner.

And Pins #64 and #65.

The point being, you have look very very close for shorts!

[dink]

Bump