QUOTE(jeffrey1790 @ Jan 6 2012, 11:08 AM)

If you take the xclamps off and put new thermal compound on, is it worth it just to do the xclamp fix?
If you have the supplies then yes, replace the x-clamps with sturdy M5 bolts for a better hold. You can re-use the stock x-clamps and the Xbox will run ok, but probably not for as long as if you did the x-clamp mod. The stock x-clamps work but a big reason as to why Xboxes started failing left and right all those years ago was because the clamps didn't provide proper support to hold the heatsinks in place, which causes movement of the heatsinks and less efficient cooling and then overheating issues like Rrod. Not the only cause of Rrod, but a substantial one.
Bottom line, if you have the ability, do the mod.
QUOTE(relaxxx @ Jan 6 2012, 08:31 PM)

For the love of Jesus Christ and mother virgin Mary do NOT BOLT the ****ing HS on a good motherboard!!!
+1
On another note, why are you removing the heatsinks anyways?
QUOTE(GoTeamScotch @ Jan 7 2012, 05:17 AM)

Okay hold the phone, why would you not replace the clamps with bolts? I was under the impression this was the commonly method of the community. Is this untrue?
It is an unfortunate internet myth that the X-clamp causes the mobo to warp. It does not. It was the steel cage and black screws warping the older consoles but the primary BGA damage of course was from heat. Bolting the GPU "fixed" RROD because it DOES warp the mobo and forces the broken BGA contacts together with pressure. The common practice of M5 bolt + 1 steel washer + 1 nylon washer does not equal the total height of a GPU's BGA + Substrate + Die. The two washers come up about .5mm short and the mobo warps to accommodate. Pretty much all processor heatsinks in the PC industry have spring tension mounts to allow for some heat expansion, even the PS3 has a leaf spring type bracket. Only the Xbox 360 has the retarded design to cancel out the clamp spring balance with black screws. This leaves all the pressure on the motherboard, it's like microwaving an egg, it's a bad design.