We've just listed an item on Ebay!
The link to the listing is :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200545019529
The listing ends at 15:46 GMT on the 25th November 2010
The listing is for a Xbox 360 HD Component Cable:
The listing is for a genuine Xbox 360 cable as shown above. The below image is merely a diagram of how to connect the cable to your TV, and not the cable that is for sale.
Just to clarify, the cable that is for sale is a genuine Microsoft product.
The item is only available to local buyers, and products will only be released to international customers on request (by email).
After learning from my first console, I decided to install neon lights inside the console, which provided much more light. The top cover of the DVD drive was also customized. I believe that the paint job went really well with the rest of the console, and was much better than looking at a solid grey metal block.
This Xbox 360 Pro had the following mods:
- Internal blue neon lights
- A custom painted DVD drive
- A complete blue ROL
- A modified fan shroud to cover more of the GPU
- Reflowed ICs with the x-clamp fix applied
- Upgraded ram heatsinks
- A 2mm thick perspex window
Ok, so as promised, here are pictures of my first Xbox 360 mod. The console I used was a Xbox 360 Arcade. The console had the following modifications:
- The x-clamps were removed and replaced with bolts and washers. The thermal paste was also replaced and the CPU/GPU (ICs) were reflowed to correct the RROD
- A 2mm thick perspex window was installed into a hole that was cut in the top half of the console
- The fans were upgraded to a constant 12v
- The fan shroud was modified so that it covered more of the GPU
- 60 green smd leds were installed inside the case to give it a green glow
- The heatsinks on the RAM chips were replaced with heatsinks which dissipated the heat in a more effective manner
This is what the finished product looked like (sorry about the bad quality of the last 2):
The ROL was left standard, which complemented the green glow from the internal leds.
This console made it apparent that internal leds were not bright enough and were very ineffective at showcasing the internals of the Xbox.
I would just like to point out to people that applying this type of washer directly to your motherboard:
Is not a good idea. Either when you are tightening, or loosening the screw holding the heat-sink in place, the sharp edge of your washer WILL score your motherboard. There is a second layer to your mother board which supplies positive power to your ICs. If the first layer is penetrated and the two layers come in contact, you will fry your motherboard when power is present in the board again (hopefully you're not repairing it while it's plugged in...).
I recently had a customer supply me with an Xbox elite to repair which his brother had attempted to fix. As usual, before I opened it, I plugged it in to diagnose the fault and was quite surprised when smoke started coming out of it. The board was repairable (possibly) with fault testing, but with spares being not too expensive at the moment, it was cheaper (end easier) to replace the whole board.
When I was having problems fixing the RROD, it occurred me that the fans weren't performing as well as they were able to. I considered investing in the custom "whisper" fans available on the market, but they seemed to have mixed reviews as to whether they actually cooled down the console enough to make much difference...
I decided to test the voltage that the fans were using and discovered that they were running below the 12v they were capable of running at. If the fans constantly ran at 12v, the fan speed would dramatically increase, therefore increasing the air flow and decreasing the internal temperature.
It seems that the excess heat inside the console, in conjunction with the x-clamp not providing enough pressure on the board, allowed the board to flex and form small cracks in the solder connecting the CPU and GPU to the board. These cracks would then adversely affect the connection, causing the RROD to occur.
When the x-clamps are replaced with screws, the pressure on the board becomes more even, lowering the flexibility of the board. Microsoft did start releasing Xboxs with epoxy on the ICs, holding them in place. Unfortunately, this was not sufficient enough to hold them in place, which is why the RROD still occurs.
The increase in voltage from the fans being hard-wired to the board lowered the internal temperature and was very successful at inhibiting the RROD from occurring. The downside of this however, is a console which is constantly running at full fan speed. This turned out to be quite noisy, which kind of upsets the "gaming atmosphere". I still fix consoles in this manner for people who would like a more reliable console and who are not bothered by the noise. It is offered to all my customers who would like their consoles repaired, but I do not recommend it because of the noise.
Firstly, I'd like to thank you for looking at my blog.
I started off modifying consoles when I decided that my phat psp would be a lot better if it could charge through the usb port, like the newer slim models. My background in computers greatly aided in my quest for a better console, and this spawned a new passion in my life.
When I moved onto the Xbox 360, I thought gaming couldn't get any better. The graphics and games seemed so much better than what I had had before and I really enjoyed playing with it... Until I experienced the downfall of most Xbox 360's... The red ring of death (RROD). Those 3 flashing red lights raised a feeling of disappointment in Microsoft for releasing a console that would break like it did (and I believe the PS3 is no better...).
Anyway, this lead me onto discovering many "fixes" for the RROD, including the "towel method" which I'm sure anyone who has experienced the problem has read about. These solutions towards fixing the RROD worked, but unfortunately the errors always seemed to return...
After many trials and lots of testing, I developed a method for fixing the RROD on my console which has been running perfectly for over a year now. This is the same method I use for all the consoles I supply to buyers and am always willing to assist with any queries they have with their purchases.
I have sold quite a few consoles on ebay so far (pictures and list of modifications to follow with more coming soon), and have fixed many more.
Keep watching my blog for updates and links to my modified consoles.
custom.consoles@rocketmail.com
