Hey guys TTG_Alvo here, I decided to make a tutorial using different techniques and tips from xbox-experts.com and general locations. This is a tutorial on how to reflow your Xbox 360 motherboard with an oven and some home made insulation so you do not mess up the plastic parts on your motherboard.

This method is very effective and important for a lot of fixes. As you know sometimes the x-clamp fix has no effect or a short effect on your console, but with this method you could still have hope. After performing the standard x-clamp fix it is possible that you have flexed the board even more than the original x=clamps did, from over tightening the screws, backing your Xbox, etc, etc.

There are 1000's of console that we gave up on/sold/etc because they could not be fixed. Well this just might be your answer for fixing those consoles.


Before reading any further please follow one of these tutorials on how to open your Xbox 360:
Afterdawn.com Guide

OR

MadLittleMods of 7Sins

*ALSO REMOVE ANY THERMAL PASTE FROM YOUR CPU OR GPU*


What You Will Need

Xbox 360 With The Dreaded 3 Ring of Death
Liquid Flux & a Pipette (IF YOU CANNOT FIND LIQUID FLUX LOCALLY JUST GET SOME LEAD FREE SOLDER FLUX [2-3OZ.] & MIX IT IN A JAR [16OZ.] OF 91% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL UNTIL IT IS DISSOLVED)
Aluminum Foil
An oven or a microwave that has an oven-only function (NO MICROWAVING!!!)
A cookie sheet
Something to keep the motherboard from touching the cookie sheet: I think it is best to just use screws and metal washers (Just put a screw in the 8 slots like you would do for the x-clamp fix with 2 metal washers in between the screws and the motherboard, so 8 screws and 16 washers.


*The following steps are for AFTER you have already fully disassembled your Xbox 360*

Step 1

Cleaning the Motherboard

Clean your motherboard of anything (Dust, scraps,ANYTHING)
The best way to clean your board is to take 99% or 91% isopropyl alcohol and poor it under your CPU, GPU, RAM Chips, Southbridge, and just on the board in general. Let dry (The alcohol will NOT mess up your motherboard)

Step 2

Applying the Liquid Flux

Once your motherboard has been cleaned and dried completely you need to apply liquid flux under the chips (I would do it for everyone-CPU, GPU, ANA chip, Southbridge, RAM chips)
Here is a excellent video on how to apply the liquid flux:

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2R_NqF5wAc&feature=player_embedded"]http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded[/url]


Step 3

Insulating the Motherboard

This is where you need the cello tape. There is 6 main areas that you want to cover
1) The front of the motherboard where you see the ports, buttons, etc.
2) To the left of that-the area from the ports up to the Southbridge, SATA port
3) Ethernet, AV-port, and fan plug
4) The caps next to the ANA chip
5) The area from the PSU plug to the USB ports
6) The caps to the left of the USB port and above the area that we covered in #1

Start wrapping those areas one by one, in the end there should be at least 3 layers for each area.
It is very important to give the the SATA port, fan plug, eject button, sync button, anything plastic extra insulation because they melt very easily.

This is what your motherboard should look like when you are done with the 1st layer:

Then move on to the 2nd, then 3rd layer of insulation (Only use cello tape for the first layer- After you do the first layer use electrical tape!)


Your motherboard should now look like this after you finished the 2nd & 3rd layer with electrical tape:

Next step in insulating the motherboard is to use aluminum foil. Do the same thing as the above insulation steps: insulate the noted parts with aluminum foil.
Here is what your motherboard should look like after you have finished insulating it completely:

Step 4

Preparing the Xbox for the Oven

Install the 8 screws and 16 metal washers like noted above (DO NOT INSTALL THE HEATSINKS OR ANY THERMAL PASTE)

Get your cookie sheet and lay the Xbox motherboard down on it making sure that the ONLY thing touching the sheet is the screws that you installed. You do NOT want the motherboard it self touched the sheet.

Step 5

The Reflow Process

I am going to try to explain the temperatures as best as I can.
1) Put your Xbox 360 on the cookie sheet in the oven
2) Let the oven heat up to 302F (150C). Let heat at 302F for 1 minute
3) Turn the temperature up to 356F (180C). Let heat at 356F for 1 minute
4) Turn the temperature up to 392F (200C). Let heat at 392F for 1 minute. You will probably get
a burning smell. This is most likely your tape melting and/or burning so its okay!
5) Finally turn the heat up to 446F (230C). Let heat at 446F for 5 minutes. You may see a little smoke in the room. Open the windows-Put a fan in the room.


*For big ovens: Preheat to 356F (180C), then put the motherboard in once heated to 356F and increase the temperature to 446F (230C). Once at 446F leave the motherboard in for 5 minutes.*

Step 6

Letting the Xbox Cool

After a few minutes turn off the oven and leave the motherboard in it for about 5 minutes to let the smoke come out.

Then open the oven door, but DO NOT touch the motherboard! Let it sit in the oven for about 2-3 hours to cool completely, if you move it you could mess up the solder joints.

OR

Leave the oven door closed and let the motherboard cool (Will take longer but is better!)

Step 7

Removing the Insulation

Once you have let the motherboard cool, carefully remove the insulation, avoid bending the board this would break the solder balls again.

Step 8 (FINAL!)

Install the X-Clamp Fix or the Stock X-Clamps & Put that Xbox Back Together

Follow this tutorial by Scar on how to perform the X-Clamp fix if you do not know how: X-Clamp Fix By Scar

***BUT DO NOT PERFORM THE OVER HEATING PROCESS IN HIS TUTORIAL YOU WILL JUST MESS UP THE OVEN REFLOW-JUST INSTALL THE SCREWS AND WASHERS***



I DO NOT take any responsibility if you break your console, hurt yourself, burn your house down, etc. You do this at your own risk!
This fix is for when you have given up on a Xbox 360 with the 3 red rings.


Credits for pictures & idea for tutorial:
xbox-experts( Wilhelm )

Scar for his X-Clamp tutorial

*Images from xbox-experts-re uploaded to imgageshack for correct format


Thaks Everyone I Hope This Helps You Fix Some of Those 'UN-FIXABLE' Consoles You Have!

If this does not work post your secondary error code and I will give you specifics on what to do! Some error codes may require more attention to certain parts of the motherboard.