What is RROD?

RROD (Red Ring of Death) is an Xbox hardware error, usually shown by three flashing red lights  on the Xbox 360 front display. A variation on this is one flashing light (usually also showing an "E79, E65 or similar) code on your screen, or "No video but sound" - it all amounts to the same thing - RROD.

RROD is basically the Xbox360 telling you it has a hardware error. The error is most commonly a failure of the solder connection between the GPU (graphics processor) and the Xbox360 motherboard. Depending upon the secondary error code (hold the sync button and press the eject four times) you can narrow down the actual fault - GPU, memory (RAM). HANA, southbridge or CPU. Less common (and much harder to diagnose) is the failure of components such as resistors and capacitors. These handle the flow of current around the motherboard and are responsible for ensuring that each of the main components (GPU, RAM etc) are being driven at the correct voltage (amongst other tasks).

How does RROD happen?

The Xbox360 is a complex beast, and packs a lot of heat generating components in a very small space. Over time, these components heat up and cool down many, many times. This stresses the solder holding the components to the motherboard. Microsoft use a lead-free solder to connect the components, and this solder fatigues and oxidises over time and under the stress created by extreme changes in temperature. Eventually the connection between the component and the board degrades to the point where it fails - and then you have RROD.

Can I prevent RROD?

The best way to prevent RROD is to minimise the things that cause it; Heat, flexing and corrosion (oxidization).

HEAT
1. Make sure your Xbox 360 is in a well ventilated area.

2. If you are getting or doing an RROD repair then consider a 12V mod on the fans. Its a bit noiser (because the fans run at full speed) but it will keep the box much cooler.

3. As part of an RROD repair use a QUALITY thermal compound - Arctic Silver or similar. Applied correctly, this will greatly improve the heatsinks ability to draw heat away from the GPU and CPU and out of your Xbox.

FLEXING
As the board heats up and cools down it flexes slightly, which adds stress to the components. The X-Clamp design that holds the heatsink to the board does nothing to minimise this from occuring. As part of an Xbox repair most people either bolt the heat sink directly to the motherboard, or perform a "Hybrid fix" where the case is drilled and the heatsink bolted through the case (supported correctly by spacers). This is a little more difficult to perform (and more time consuming) but it holds the board and heatsinks firmly in place and offers increased heat dispersement.

CORROSION
Corrosion is a little like rust on a car, and is responsible for degrading the quality of connection that can be achieved by the lead free solder. Again, you can minimise this by ensuring that the Xbox360 is in a well ventilated and dry atmosphere. If you are repairing your console, ensure that a quality flux is used as part of any reflow (or reball) process. Simply heating up the solder does nothing to drive out oxidisation.