got a 360 that has 3 red lights with no video when i turn it on. fans work, dunno if they are spinning too fast though. from what i have read online, the xclamp fix should do the trick?
thanks for reconfirming me. I have one question about the xclamp fix. after putting on new thermal paste, can i use the xclamps that i removed? or is it better to do what they did in the guide and replace the old clamp with screws and washers?
I had the exact same problem last month. Except I didn't get the RROD (only a month before which went away the next day). I was playing Halo Reach and as soon as I started a match, a lot of the pixels turned bluish. I restarted my 360 elite, I got sound but no picture. I searched for many youtube x-clamp fix guides much like the one dave posted. This one seems to be the best out of all other youtube uploads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_u5ZGCmVMQ&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
I used m5 x 10mm screws, 1.05mm (1.00mm is perfectly fine too) thick m5 washers, and rubbing alcohol to clean. I didn't used Artic 5 Silver thermal paste like many have used. I used Innovation Cooling IC7 Thermal Compound which is one of the best on the market. Artic Silver contains a lot of silver (which is obviously conductive) so getting any on the motherboard could fry it. IC7 isn't and it also has a lot better heat transfer than most thermal pastes. It's a little tricky to smooth it out, but if you heat it up in some hot water it becomes very pliable.
You don't need a lot but you definitely don't want too little. The main reason I think why many of these guides say a very very thin coat is because they're all using artic silver(which is conductive).
Don't use the xclamps, they're taken off for a reason because they're cheap and don't secure the heatsinks enough. I didn't use nylon washers but I'm sure those will work perfectly fine too.
thanks. i checked out all of the videos you posted in that youtube link. after seeing the reflow vid, it reminded me that the error code i got on this 360 was 0110 which is a problem with the ram chips. can i reflow with a hair dryer? also would silicone heat transfer compound work? or is it better to get arctic silver or some other known brand thermal paste?
