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0 pointschasil10d ago0 comments

The main issue was revealed to be solder.

"Microsoft did not reveal the cause of the issues publicly until 2021, when a 6-part documentary on the history of Xbox was released. The Red Ring issue was caused by the cracking of solder joints inside the GPU flip chip package, connecting the GPU to the substrate interposer, as a result of thermal stress from heating up and cooling back down when the system is power cycled."

0 comments

timw4mail10d ago

And there was the same problem with early PS3s, on Nvidia's GPU package...it was a fairly widespread problem at the time.

rwmj10d ago

And Apple iBook G3s too. There's a whole thing with owners reflowing the GPU: https://www.instructables.com/Fixing-the-infamous-iBook-scre...

keyringlight10d ago

I seem to recall baking PC nvidia GPU boards in your oven was a reasonably common out-of-warranty fix around that era.

Moosdijk10d ago

I had to do this with my MacBook Pro models early 2015 and late 2017.

It seems like there was a period in time when solder just wasn’t done well, it seems like.

1 more reply

hbn10d ago

I don't have any solid numbers on me, but I believe early 360s failing wasn't just widespread; it was straight up most of them dying within the first couple years. It's honestly insane they more or less got away with that. And I guess also speaks to how much Microsoft was killing it in that era that people were willing to go through multiple console RMAs (which I heard was a terrible, slow, and unreliable process) to play 360 games. How far they've fallen.

mrguyorama9d ago

It was something like 25% - 50% of all first version 360s died.

Microsoft spent over a billion dollars replacing and repairing consoles to maintain the good brand name of Xbox.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_technical_problems

rustystump10d ago

Family got first gen 360. Still works to this day. We hit the jackpot with that console. It out lasted 2 wiis and a ps2

Aarostotle10d ago

Simple answer: Halo 3.

kjkjadksj10d ago

Whenever we lost a 360 we got a pre owned 360 from gamestop. I think they went for like $70 for one without any hdd.

1 more reply

thenthenthen10d ago

Sounds like the 2012(?) Macbook Pro after the switch to leadless solder (?). I had to cook my motherboard 3 times in the oven to revive it.

chasilOP10d ago

Funny!

I've heard that flash memory can also be revived with heat, either long duration or high intensity.

https://www.extremetech.com/science/142096-self-healing-self...

thenthenthen10d ago

Some macbook hacks involved disabling sleepmode, running a benchmark and putting it in a pile of blankets for a few hours

esaym9d ago

When did the industry transition to different/lead free solders? Wonder if that was part of the issue?

monocasa9d ago

Yeah, it was the transition to RoHS.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

timw4mail10d ago

And there was the same problem with early PS3s, on Nvidia's GPU package...it was a fairly widespread problem at the time.

rwmj10d ago

And Apple iBook G3s too. There's a whole thing with owners reflowing the GPU: https://www.instructables.com/Fixing-the-infamous-iBook-scre...

keyringlight10d ago

I seem to recall baking PC nvidia GPU boards in your oven was a reasonably common out-of-warranty fix around that era.

Moosdijk10d ago

I had to do this with my MacBook Pro models early 2015 and late 2017.

It seems like there was a period in time when solder just wasn’t done well, it seems like.

1 more reply

hbn10d ago

mrguyorama9d ago

It was something like 25% - 50% of all first version 360s died.

Microsoft spent over a billion dollars replacing and repairing consoles to maintain the good brand name of Xbox.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_technical_problems

rustystump10d ago

Family got first gen 360. Still works to this day. We hit the jackpot with that console. It out lasted 2 wiis and a ps2

Aarostotle10d ago

Simple answer: Halo 3.

kjkjadksj10d ago

Whenever we lost a 360 we got a pre owned 360 from gamestop. I think they went for like $70 for one without any hdd.

1 more reply

thenthenthen10d ago

Sounds like the 2012(?) Macbook Pro after the switch to leadless solder (?). I had to cook my motherboard 3 times in the oven to revive it.

chasilOP10d ago

Funny!

I've heard that flash memory can also be revived with heat, either long duration or high intensity.

https://www.extremetech.com/science/142096-self-healing-self...

thenthenthen10d ago

Some macbook hacks involved disabling sleepmode, running a benchmark and putting it in a pile of blankets for a few hours

esaym9d ago

When did the industry transition to different/lead free solders? Wonder if that was part of the issue?

monocasa9d ago

Yeah, it was the transition to RoHS.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse