Fix the Red Ring of Death! (without towels!)

Step 10 Afterthoughts and Shoutouts

Now that you've resurrected your console, what can you do to prevent such a travesty from happening again? As you see in the main photo, I attached a small fan from a PCI graphics card onto the CPU heatsink, and wired it into the 360's fan power supply. With it pushing air through the heatsink (or pulling it in if that's your view), the air coming out of the exhaust is actually cool!

NOTE: There is word on the interwebz that Microsoft will ban you from Xbox Live for installing new fans. You have been warned.

Since there's no room to easily add a fan to the GPU heatsink, the next best thing you can do is optimize airflow. While the 360 has dual exhaust fans, most of the airflow goes to the CPU heatsink. By adding cardboard to the fan shroud and covering the top of the GPU heatsink as depicted, you can improve airflow even more, as you've just devoted a whole fan to it.

And if you really don't like the stock fans in the 360, you can always buy 3rd party replacements. There's Talismoon's Whisper brand of fans, with LED accents. I can't say anything on quality, as I haven't used one. But they seem to be quite popular. They can be found at http://www.Divineo.com .

And now onto the shoutouts.
Thanks to Google first and foremost. LOLz.
Xbox-Scene.com and it's members, for their endeavors in resolving this issue.
RBJTech for the idea of adding cardboard to the fan shroud.
Thanks to both those sites for all the info that I mixed and matched to create this tutorial.
Oh yeah, and a special thanks to Cheerios for providing better airflow than Microsoft could.

Instructables FTW!

-Dr. Professor Jake "Biggs" Turner

Comments

[kirkyboy2005]

I know i'm gona get some grief for this but i owned two 360's both died. just in the process of an attepted fix on one for my dad, and all i can think through these times is, why not buy a ps3, before slating me please give one good reason why they are worse than 360 because to me the biggest of them all is it actually working

[kdude63]

Because 1: The PlayStation's controller format has always sucked. 2: PS3's don't work with the Kinect. and 3: The new 360, from my knowledge, doesn't have this issue. And what mlah said. :3

[killerjayman97]

the new 360s r awesome because they dont even have red lights on the controller selector so its imposible for it to rrod.

[mlah]

The 360 is cheaper and the games you want to play might just be for the 360 not the ps3. No point buying a system just because it has better hardware if you can't find the games you want to play.

[pyrorower]

Actually PS3's have gone down alot in price. I can understand the point about games, however, assuming the game(s) you want are available for both systems, there is no significant reason why you should choose one over the other.
In response to Kdude63, the PS3 controller format is slightly different from the Xbox's and the controllers are slimmer. I think the issue is just that you are not used to the PS3 layout just like I am not used to the 360 layout. Also, the kinect won't work with the ps3 because it was made for xbox. Sony actually came out with something similar years ago called eyetoy for the ps2. I don't know anything about RROD and the new systems, so I'll take your word for it.
In comparison, I find the systems to be more or less equal. Graphics and game wise there is a minor difference. The ps3 wireless is free, but the 360's has more users. The ps3 controllers have batteries built-in and power meters, the 360's do not. The PS3 has something like the wii wand, the 360 has something like the eye toy. The 360's extra capabilities (netflix, etc) is more developed than the PS3's. I can go on and on with this, the point is that when you look at them from a neutral view, both systems are very good, and the costs/benefits of each balance out quite nicely. Hence, I feel both systems are equivalent in quality.

[mberg1]

The eyetoy sucked. Just because there existed something similar does not mean it is the same. Kinect is of a much higher quality than the eyetoy was and there weren't any games whatsoever that were any fun with the eyetoy.

[gamer360]

First I have to interject here. Of course the Kinect is higher quality, its technology is over a decade newer than the eyetoy (2003). The simple fact that you are talking about comparing a PS2 paltform to a new addition to the XBOX 360 should speak enough to that. And as for the controllers, PS3 has "XBOX" type controllers that are built for the PS3 for those that like the feel of those controllers - like myself. Dont get me wrong, I am an XBOX fan all the way but I dont feel as though anyone on this forum has offered any reason to NOT purchase a PS3 - other than personal opinion.

[pyrorower]

Glad to see somebody can give an objective opinion on these systems.

[jcee3]

i cant see in all honesty how microsoft can ban you from having extra fans because in all honesty if there hooked to them main power supply you cant count how many fans are there.... just my 2 pennys worth

[jimmythegeek]

Just tried this excellent guide (coupled with Llama's guide) and my $25 rrod 360 is working like a champ. The original x-clamps were nowhere near holding the heatsinks on. Probably 1/16" play between the heatsinks and the chips... the result was ZERO cooling for the CPU/GPU. The manufacturer apparently made up for slop in the design by using a ton of thermal paste, but even that couldn't provide the needed heat transfer to the heatsink in the end.

I'm happy that I can give this better-than-original xbox 360 to my nephew!

[jchanis]

improving the airflow is a great idea great guide

[NewXbox360Owner]

I signed up to instructables just so that I can say that this guide really helped me out.

A friend gave me a broken (RROD) Xbox 360 and said that It'll never run again. How wrong could he have been ;)

Thanks to you I am now a proud owner of a Xbox 360!

[save_the_turtles]

I'm happy that I get ot be one of the people that writes "Thank you this guide is ******* awesome"!

[kylerq]

you could just stop at the part where you have it taken apart see those 4 little badage thingys remove those and replace with 8 pinnies wraped togather with electrical take in groups of two life made simpler your welcom

[Indexcow]

After I tightened he bolts all the was I still has the red rings do I unscrewed the heat sinks to find that if you tighten them all the way you squeeze the thermal paste right out from underneath them:( still don't work

[2+2=5]

I have tried doing this and it won't work. I removed the old paste, applied new, fitted screws and washers (only nylon on the board) overheated the xbox but it can't run for more than 30-60 minutes. Any suggestions?

[2+2=5]

I didn't use arctic silver like everyone seems to be doing (I used another thermal paste), is there a reason for that?

[downsouth420]

Arctic Silver is simply a better compound than the average Radio Shack paste. It transfers heat better and has been proven to cool the processor an extra 1 degree C over regular thermal compound. 

[thirtyfivefox]

 But I bought my arctic silver 5 and ceramique FROM radio shack ;-)  It's pretty cool that they are actually carrying it now.  I would also like to mention that ceramique is a three phase thermal compound that actually changes its structure after being exposed to heat, it literally has to be cooked in for it to set and provide maximum thermal conductivity.  That being said, even after just being applied it is still a great paste in comparison to most.

[Jake Turner]

I noticed that the shack is carrying it too, I had to pick up a tube tonight to fix yet another RRoD xbox. I actually got it to boot on the first go-around too. I'm getting good at this. :)

[thirtyfivefox]

I guess so... I have yet to get a stable xbox after applying "the fix." That said... my ps3 seems to be running just fine ;-)

[kdude63]

D:

[mcintyrefootball]

I have done all of the steps except putting back together and powering up. I have two problems to solve first. The large silver heatsink actually bottoms out and shorts out a couple of caps (verified with DMM). Can I back out a little bit or do I need a shimmy in there or another nylon washer or what? I will probably try all three in order if no one gives me an answer in the next few days.

The second problem is my replacement bolts do not allow the mother board to re-seat properly. I will need to drill holes to let the bolt heads drop down lower.

Also, do you need to completely reassemble or will the box work with just the boards connected (without metal cage)?

[psyoper22]

i'm going home to try this tonight...i'll relay back whether it works or not...

seems promising though!! =)

[themadtreky]

for all those like me who were unable to revive our dying funboxes. I wold suggest recycling, as you see in the pictures, and when you open yours up; the 360 has several toroidal inductors that can be re-wound as a joule thief, as well as a boat load of other components that can also be re-purposed (I've been cutting up the frame for buildings for warhammer).
that being said, I give props to biggs for a very informative able.

[C.Craigen]

Huh. It actually worked. You just netted me a free Xbox. cookie++

[GMer56]

I tried securing my heatsinks (w/ aluminum foil instead of wasters... that shouldn't cause too much of a problem, should it?) and reapplied the thermal paste.
Adapter turns green for a second, then goes orange.
And when turned on, a slight whirring noise much like a motor is heard from underneath the flattest heatsink (the one with the copper piping).
And have the standard 3 red rings.
Can anyone save the day?

About the banning thing with an extra fan: why tap into the power supply? just attach the fan terminals to a USB connector.  Any USB port can power a small fan (you get around 3.5v from one).

[RSHastingsIV]

You used aluminum foil? I... I guess that MIGHT work. Assuming you managed to compress it just right and trimmed it to the exact size and are extremely lucky. Personally I would just go to home depot and pop out 5 or so bucks for 40 #10 nylon washers. (the metal ones will NOT work for this application. They are to large.)

[Madrias357]

I know for a fact that you get 5v from a USB port (at least, standard USB). If you're getting 3.5, you've got shot voltage regulators.

[[ODST]Falchion]

5volts from a normal usb port, yes. Xbox360's usb ports run on less power, ~3.5v. Ask Microsoft why O.o

[Madrias357]

Probably so no one could use the ports for traditional USB items, or so no one got the wise idea to plug a 360 controller into a PC. (not knowing the Xbox at all, I could be wrong on the connectivity due to wireless, but I know what happens when someone plugs in a gamepad into a rigged USB port. My friend hooked the FireWire into the USB plugs to be a pain.)

[BedriddenMidget]

I'm thinking about doing this because my 360 is no longer under warranty. I just have one question and maybe someone will know the answer. If this fix doesn't work for me can I reassemble the 360 and send it to microsoft and pay the $99 to have it repaired, or do they reject any consoles that have been tampered with?

[RSHastingsIV]

Once you remove the faceplate you will see a bit of silver tape covered the seam between the two halves of the plastic chassis... The moment you remove that sticker, Microsoft will no longer touch your system. Warranty or no.

[zach_duckett1234]

THANKS MAN THIS REALLY WORKED YOUR A LIFE SAVER

[mickey89]

Fantastic instructable! Sofar I have fixed two RRoD 360s using this method. You do have to remember to be patient though when you are messing with the screws. The second one I fixed needed a bit more work. After the three rings went away there was still one ring lit with the E74 error message, this tutorial (http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=646900) seemes to have held the final answer. Really the only thing you would need besides the items needed for this instructable is a heat gun. Thanks a lot for the help!

[messex]

Joe have patience, it took about 3 hours of tweeking, and reapplying the thermal compound until I got it just right.

[joegravelle]

still have rrod even after doing the entire instructable. I've spent about an hour adjusting the heat sink pressure and nothing works.

[CosmoSpira]

worked through all the steps just fine but was still getting rrod...tried pushing on the heat sinks in different areas and pressures..nothing....was about to give up hope when i tighened the screws down as tight as they would go....eureka!!!

360 works great!

[Mstocker]

congratz....but id loosen those puppies up JUUUUUST a bit. tightening them too much will just damage the chips more over a long period of time......

[CBCxWhiteKnight]

Ok so we did this tutorial to the letter and the red lights went away. But now, when we start it up none of the green lights flash on in the usual way they are supposed to during startup. No red lights, no green lights. We have not tested it on a tv yet so we dont know if any of the graphics are going through, but we just think this is unusual because normally the green lights always show up. Any suggestions? BTW we started out with the E 74 error code and one red ring in the lower right corner.