Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:10 am Post subject: Improper Installation of SmartXX?
Hello, again.
Now that I've fixed my dashboard problems, I think I should attempt to settle the hardware problems, which, I believe are caused by improper soldering and/or damaged traces.
I've looked in a few places (llama's web site was a valuable source for me), but I'm unsure of whether or not my suspicions are founded or just fear. (I've never done hardware modifications before, and, well, I think I want to learn).
Now, I don't have pictures, yet, but I can supply them if it's needed. However, I will give a brief explanation of my issue.
Ever since I've received this box, (xbox 1.6) it has a little struggle turning itself on. 7/10 times (more recently 10/10), rather than boot up, it goes into what I learned is called FRAG'ing. It starts, flashes green, restarts, flashes green, and then does the wonderful dance of green and red.
After about 2 days of struggling with it, (it tended to turn on when i had the front-half elevated, if that counts for anything), I opened the box, and took a look at the soldering job, seeing as I heard that that is a common cause for FRAGs.
Upon close inspection, I noticed a few sprinkles of silver where there shouldn't be none, and I assumed that that was soldering splashes. But I'm new to everything here, even soldering, and I was wondering if it is safe to scratch off of the motherboard's surface.
Also, there is a darker spot, looking somewhat like a burn, a little off-side one of the soldering points, just below actually, and one of the soldering points is a little messy, going over a trace (am I using correct terminology? Please be patient with this poor newb.)
There are not many people in my city who mod x-boxes anymore, as most of the focus on gaming, and whatnot, is more towards PCs and other such things. I prefer the original Xbox to the 360, but that is just me.
What kind of tools will I need to fix this?
Should I buy myself a new v1.6 motherboard, and resolder the SmartXX v3 modchip myself?
Will a busted retail (unmodded) Xbox that no longer works be a good resource for a motherboard, should I choose to replace it?
If this is not the correct forum for this, please accept my apologies. I'll learn my way around here soon.
Hello,
Your best bet is to post a couple of pictures so we can see how bad the soldering job is.
I wouldnt risk just picking the solder splashes off the board, theres a chance you could lift a trace doing it like that, what you need is a low watt soldering iron (15 to 18 watt) and some desolder braid (solder mop) - Place the desolder braid over the splashes and touch it with the iron and it will soak up all the excess solder.
Have you checked the D0 wire ? as this could cause the FRAG (this will be a single wire coming from the chip soldered to the D0 point on the mobo)
also on a 1.6 board the LPC bus needs rebuilding, this is a bit tricky to do and can cause a few problems. like i say, get a couple of pics of the chip area top and bottom and we`ll advise you from there. _________________
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