Followers

Monday, June 13, 2011

Fix the RRoD with X-clamp replacement

Today I'll walk you through an easier way to fix the Red Ring of Death. This is commonly known as an X-clamp replacement because you replace the 2 x-shaped clamps holding the heat sinks onto the motherboard.

The theory behind this is that the clamps do not provide enough pressure to keep the heat sinks firmly attached to the board. Because of this, the heat causes the motherboard to warp and the CPU and GPU pull away from the board - causing the dreaded RRoD!




Here you see the underside of the motherboard along with the dreaded x-clamps in place! Remove them using the method I described in my disassembly tutorial.


Clean off the thermal paste on the CPU, GPU, and the two heat sinks. Rubbing alcohol works great for this.


Now gather your supplies! I'll link to all needed materials at the end of this post. You should have (at least) 16 washers and 8 screws.


Remove the "feet" from the heat sinks, these will be replaced with machine screws.


Reapply your thermal paste.



From the under side of the board, insert the 4 screws with 1 of the thinner nylon washers in between.


Place the thicker nylon washers on the top side of the board. The order from bottom to top should now be: Screw head, nylon washer, motherboard, nylon washer.


Lastly, place the appropriate heat sink on top of the screws. In this case I'm doing the CPU, so I'll use that heat sink. Make sure you put it on in the right direction!


Now apply pressure to both the bottom screws and the top of the heat sink and flip it over!


Using a screwdriver, screw the machine screws in LIGHTLY until they barely start to resist (it should be pretty much flat against the washer. Do this in a criss-cross pattern. Example: top-right screw then bottom-left screw, after that do top-left and bottom-right.

Once they are all BARELY tightened. Going around 1 more time in the same order and screw them in a quarter or half-turn.. until it feels snug. Do not over-tighten these! It could cause the RRoD to become worse!

Repeat this process with the other heat sink and your Xbox should look like this.






Plug in your A/V cable, power cable, and power button, and push the power button. Pray!


Success! If you still have the RRoD, try loosening and tightening your screws until it works. If this does not work for your 360, please refer to my heat gun tutorial - it is a much more thorough and permanent fix.

Amazon.com sells the supplies needed to perform this x-clamp repair at a great price... check out the link! If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask!

Until next time...
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

82 comments:

  1. ChaelaJune 13, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    I think I may buy the parts! I hope I am able to do this correctly! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The ProJune 13, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    i had this happen twice... i hate the RRoD...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pinecone StewJune 13, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    Have a SUPER week !

    ReplyDelete
  4. JoshJune 13, 2011 at 11:06 PM

    I've had to do this twice now, but it took me forever to find good instructions. Great website, keep it up bro!

    ReplyDelete
  5. SpaderJune 14, 2011 at 12:21 AM

    I so hope I dont get RROD.. Great tutorial though!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Vince^_^June 14, 2011 at 12:34 AM

    Thanks for the advice!

    ReplyDelete
  7. DouglasJune 14, 2011 at 12:43 AM

    Good tip, looks easy to follow.

    ReplyDelete
  8. DejchJune 14, 2011 at 1:04 AM

    i don't need that but hey it's a grea tip and thank you i might need it someday who knows

    ReplyDelete
  9. KopiteJune 14, 2011 at 1:18 AM

    Glad i got the newer version that have less chance of a RRoD. Staying strong after 2 years of gaming :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. TriperJune 14, 2011 at 1:36 AM

    Helpfull post!

    ReplyDelete
  11. NeonJune 14, 2011 at 1:43 AM

    I don't have a 360, but this is definitely useful. :D

    ReplyDelete
  12. ZedJune 14, 2011 at 5:25 AM

    Mine still hasn't RRoD'd yet :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. JHJune 14, 2011 at 6:57 AM

    Cool I am so glad someone posted about this and included such good photos.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Stuck In SyndeyJune 14, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    cheers for this, are there some other workarounds i should know?

    ReplyDelete
  15. D3N00B1F13D™June 14, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Quality post! might come in handy somday.

    ReplyDelete
  16. BrickJune 14, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    very good post, fighting the evil Rrod.

    ReplyDelete
  17. iceyJune 14, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    PS3, yo!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AllenTeschJune 14, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Does this happen a lot?

    ReplyDelete
  19. KamatacciJune 14, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    Great looking tutorial. I'll need this once I can actually break away from my PS3.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mile2MarathonJune 14, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    Will have to link this to my friend, he recently got this as well!

    ReplyDelete
  21. ShawJune 14, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    This was going to be my preferred fix if I ever did red ring.

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnmonkeyJune 14, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    That's how I fixed my ol' arcade , still died on me after a while though.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thundering Blog.comJune 14, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    You should see the kind of stuff people I know have done to try to fix their Xboxs. Absolutely awful.

    ReplyDelete
  24. UnknownJune 14, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    What great timing, I just got Red Ringed.

    ReplyDelete
  25. BobJune 15, 2011 at 12:41 AM

    Those clamps suck. I always used the bolt/washer method. Never fails as long as you use good thermal paste.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Corb MacLarenJune 15, 2011 at 1:27 AM

    Ah cool, I kind of wish I didn't sell my 360 now

    ReplyDelete
  27. AndrewJune 15, 2011 at 1:34 AM

    Nice tutorial, I'll keep it in mind ;)

    ReplyDelete
  28. HashJune 15, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    Thanks.. i hate the rrod!
    +follow

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousJune 15, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    I need to get me a soldering iron stat!

    ReplyDelete
  30. BarnezillaJune 15, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    thats pretty hard core!

    ReplyDelete
  31. JackJune 15, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    I've been having this problem for a while, thanks for the tip.

    ReplyDelete
  32. KakaduduJune 15, 2011 at 2:40 AM

    interesting, bro

    ReplyDelete
  33. JDOGMMAJune 15, 2011 at 3:48 AM

    Wish I had this awhile ago, had to send it in, two weeks without xbox :(

    ReplyDelete
  34. RileyJune 15, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    Great tutorial! touch wood i never get RROD!
    followed

    ReplyDelete
  35. SonofUglyJune 15, 2011 at 4:29 AM

    Also make sure the screw heads aren't too thick, otherwise the mobo wont sit in the cage properly afterwards.

    ReplyDelete
  36. naknakJune 15, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    and this really works?

    ReplyDelete
  37. bluesphinxJune 15, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    great guide, thanks man

    ReplyDelete
  38. JasonJune 15, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    Cheers for the info now i know what to do lol.
    +followed.

    ReplyDelete
  39. AndyJune 15, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    wish i had found this last week. just chucked out an RROD xbox :(
    +1 Follow for the future

    ReplyDelete
  40. LinksZeeJune 15, 2011 at 5:17 AM

    okay this one looks a little easier than the last one i saw. And the kit isnt very expensive i may need to try thi!

    ReplyDelete
  41. kefmasterJune 15, 2011 at 5:32 AM

    My xbox 360 lays in 9000 parts here, so I'll give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  42. mensJune 15, 2011 at 5:33 AM

    hope my skills will allow me to do this without screwing everything up!

    ReplyDelete
  43. kailusJune 15, 2011 at 5:39 AM

    I see you have usefull posts around here. Must keep thayt in mind for sure :) thanks mate

    ReplyDelete
  44. PocketsJune 15, 2011 at 5:41 AM

    This looks much more professional than the heat sinking pennies to my processor thing...

    ReplyDelete
  45. Skinny GuyJune 15, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    Wow, I could have used this a while back.

    ReplyDelete
  46. UnknownJune 15, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    Very useful post! Those game consoles are like personal computers, you can even change the thermal paste for better cooling.

    ReplyDelete
  47. zephyrJune 15, 2011 at 8:33 AM

    I've had 4 boxes with RRD. Wish I had found you sooner.

    ReplyDelete
  48. AnonymousJune 15, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    useful info!

    ReplyDelete
  49. AnonymousJune 15, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    How many ways can you fix an XBOX? We find out here.

    ReplyDelete
  50. KaworuJune 15, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    Thanks for the tip!

    ReplyDelete
  51. GermsJune 15, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    Tried this a few years ago with my xbox, sadly it didnt work, i did everything all the guides said :(

    ReplyDelete
  52. TomJune 15, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    Nice guide, except letting it cool down seems a lot easier haha

    ReplyDelete
  53. BarbequeJune 15, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    *sob* my friend said he should've tried this before he sent it to the A/S center
    nice post

    ReplyDelete
  54. JonnyJune 15, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    X-Box... get it... X Box. :D

    ReplyDelete
  55. DIYgamingJune 15, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    @Tom -

    Letting the console cool down will only solve the 2 flashing red lights - not 3 (RRoD). 2 lights means it's simply overheating.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Max SilverJune 15, 2011 at 5:35 PM

    Great post! Followed :D

    ReplyDelete
  57. wickeRJune 16, 2011 at 12:43 AM

    nice tutorial

    ReplyDelete
  58. minecraft129June 16, 2011 at 1:05 AM

    I did this with my friends Xbox and it seemed to fix the problem.

    ReplyDelete
  59. TreJune 16, 2011 at 1:33 AM

    This was soooo helpful!! thank you

    ReplyDelete
  60. Nicholas AlbertsJune 16, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    I can see ur a smart fellow, nice tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Ante BabajaJune 16, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    damn, thats great :D

    ReplyDelete
  62. ThiagoJune 16, 2011 at 8:50 AM

    Duuuude... Really awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  63. JordanJune 16, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    Wow this is super useful, I bet you're a handy friend to have in RL.
    To bad I sold my RRoD Xbox for 20bucks before I saw this. :(

    It's okay though, I bought my self a gaming PC and am much happier.

    +follow!

    ReplyDelete
  64. AmeridionJune 16, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Tried this a long time ago, failed miserably, i think i messed up somewhere and the console never turn on again

    ReplyDelete
  65. AlexisJune 16, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    A very interesting mod, keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  66. AlnairJune 16, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    Awesome mod man, keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Tommy.-June 16, 2011 at 5:56 PM

    this is very useful information! Thanks a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  68. FateITJune 16, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    I had to replace the heatsink on one of my 360's a few years ago. It ended up getting stolen by a girlfriend so I bought one of the shiny slim 360's which less than a year later the hard drive crapped out on, I lost 5 years worth of save games I had transfered to it (she didn't get the hd hehe).

    ReplyDelete
  69. WillJune 17, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    wow! awesome tutorial, followed!

    ReplyDelete
  70. mensJune 17, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    dont have the guts to try it,
    nice tutorial anyways!
    follow'd

    ReplyDelete
  71. AppleJune 17, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    Very clear tutorial, you really help people like me with your blog. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  72. JimJune 17, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    After having my third box RRoD, i took out the sodering iron and fixed it myself, great guide.

    ReplyDelete
  73. CharlesJune 17, 2011 at 3:20 PM

    Bought a pre owned 360 years ago, sometimes the disc tray wont come out, and it makes awful noises, but no RROD yet, sort of wish it would.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Dunriel GalathadosJune 17, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    Looks professional and legit. Very helpful!

    ReplyDelete
  75. ShinmeiryuuJune 22, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    I have a friend who own a repair shop, he does this kind of thing all the time. Neat stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  76. AnonymousJune 30, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    Well these seems sort of hard for some reason, i think i would prefer doing the "PENNY TRICK".

    ReplyDelete
  77. DoubleRainbowGuyJuly 4, 2011 at 3:32 PM

    Great guide, but I used the penny trick myself and it actually worked. But my Xbox hasn't RROD on me again....yet.

    ReplyDelete
  78. AnonymousJuly 4, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    I've done this, but it failed to work for me. Maybe I did something wrong? Either way, I've had a Slim for a year now, no problems there.

    Still, if I could get the other one working again.....

    ReplyDelete
  79. M FawfulJuly 5, 2011 at 3:28 AM

    Why can't Microsoft just make quality hardware?

    ReplyDelete
  80. JonJuly 10, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    because people want a cheap super graphics machine
    like they say you get what you pay for
    and they lose money on consoles they make it back from third party licensing
    just something to think about

    ReplyDelete
  81. a7xchefJuly 27, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    I am most definitely going to look into this!!! I just the RRoD for the 3rd time now, and I'm sick of microsoft just refurbishing or sending me a new one just to get the ring just after the warranty expires! Mos Def follow'd.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Ready to GrowJuly 31, 2011 at 11:16 PM

    detailed stuff. Thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)