Xbox 360 Repair Methods
Here are three methods for repairing your Xbox 360. The towel trick is listed because it is so popular but I think it destroys consoles. Whenever I hear of repair that utilizes the X-Clamp fix and does not work inevitably someone tried the Towel Trick with the console already. So I guess what I am saying here is the X-Clamp repair, Penny Fix and Heat Gun Fix are legitimate methods of repair and in fact can be used together. Do not use the Towel Trick.

X-Clamp Repair
The X-Clamp repair is probably the most reputable of all the different methods developed to date. In a nutsell, you open your Xbox 360 console, remove the DVD and fans, remove the X-Clamps (hence the name), remove the heat sinks, replace the thermal paste, reinstall the heat sinks, replace the X-Clamps with screws and washers, overheat the console (to re-flow solder). After over heating you let the console cool down and reassemble. All the kits sold on this website follow this same pattern. You can watch the videos on this site to see how this entire process is done.

Penny Fix
This fix requires 12 copper pennies. You dis-assemble the Xbox 360 just like the X-Clamp fix. But instead of removing the X-Clamps your place the pennies on the smaller processors to act as heat sinks. The intent is create better heat sinks than the band aid looking sponges that are on the motherboard to begin with.

Three pennies are wrapped up in electrical tape, The old sponge heat sinks are removed, the tape is removed off of one side of the sponge and placed on the wrapped up pennies. The wrapped up pennies are then hot glued to the small processors. Again, you can watch the video on this website.

You do not need a kit for this fix. One of things you do need to use are pennies made before 1982. They are copper and absorb the heat better. Another thing you could do is if you are going to go to the trouble of dis-assembling your Xbox 360 anyway you could do the X-Clamp fix and the Penny Fix at the same time. Remember heat is the problem. Anything you can do to help dissipate the heat from your console the better off you will be.

Heat Gun Fix
As the name implies you use a heat gun. Take the console completely apart just like the other fixes. You will be removing the X-Clamps and the heat sinks. The intent of this fix is to re-flow the solder wherever the problem may be on the motherboard.

Essentially you take the heat gun and blow the hot hair all over the board on each side for four minutes (each side). You let it cool down for six hours, replace the thermal paste, heat sinks etc. and it is supposed to work. Again, you could combine this fix with the X-Clamp fix and the Penny Fix.

Towel Trick
Wrap you Xbox 360 in a towel, turn it on and let it cook. Maybe I should say toast it because if you do this that is what it will be....toast. Do not use this method.