What makes this such a moving tribute to cheapness is not that Cheapy D will go to these lengths, it's that Cheapy D will go to these lengths every four days or so to avoid buying a new 360. Now that's a man who hates spending money.
Cheapy D fixes red ring with towel in video
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What makes this such a moving tribute to cheapness is not that Cheapy D will go to these lengths, it's that Cheapy D will go to these lengths every four days or so to avoid buying a new 360. Now that's a man who hates spending money.
Reader Comments (100)
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:08PM (Unverified) said
Guys, I asked him about that a while ago. If I remember correctly it's because Cheapy lives in Japan and his is an American 360. Hence, (and again, this is from memory) he'd have to pay to ship it to America and then have Microsoft ship it to some one in the U.S. who would then re-ship it to him, the sum total of which would be about as much as a system.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:09PM vidguy said
Cool. I fixed mine with a little heat-conductive paste and a piece of cardboard to extend the heatsink. $8.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:25PM RyanLN said
Funny and informative- but I still haven't heard an adequate explanation as to why it works. Do the hampsters inside powering the hard drive pass out and awaken reenergized from their short, heat induced naps? What gives?
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:37PM (Unverified) said
Apparently the 360 has poor solder joints that connect one of the chips to the board.
The towel trick works by purposely overheating the console to expand the solder joints. This causes temporary contact with the metal.
Some people have been saying that it 'melts' the solder and reconnects it, but I that's a load of bull. For the 360 to actually melt the solder, it would have to reach temps of over 190 degrees Celsius, which in return would damage the GPU and CPU.
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The towel trick works by purposely overheating the console to expand the solder joints. This causes temporary contact with the metal.
Some people have been saying that it 'melts' the solder and reconnects it, but I that's a load of bull. For the 360 to actually melt the solder, it would have to reach temps of over 190 degrees Celsius, which in return would damage the GPU and CPU.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:28PM ikiryou said
Erm...couldn't he just use a hair dryer? It would definitely work faster than the 20-min. towel trick.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:32PM accolade said
I laugh at all of you guys who's Xbox 360s broke and you have to resort to doing such stupid acts.
You should have bought a warranty with it when you paid for it at the store.
I got a 2-year warranty with mines from Best Buy and I may not need to use it because my X360 still running strong. Bought it Nov. 06.
You should have bought a warranty with it when you paid for it at the store.
I got a 2-year warranty with mines from Best Buy and I may not need to use it because my X360 still running strong. Bought it Nov. 06.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:32PM ForbidenMaster said
According to MS I have a warranty until 2010 for my launch console, but why should I send it in if I can get it to work in 20-30 min?
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Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:56PM (Unverified) said
I agree...
If you know about RRoD and yet you still bought a 360 without a warranty thats YOUR PROBLEM.
@ForbiddenMaster
Thats good for you. But have you ever thought that maybe just maybe if you had sent it to MS they would have returned it in better condition and it would have lasted you even longer than the towel thing?
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If you know about RRoD and yet you still bought a 360 without a warranty thats YOUR PROBLEM.
@ForbiddenMaster
Thats good for you. But have you ever thought that maybe just maybe if you had sent it to MS they would have returned it in better condition and it would have lasted you even longer than the towel thing?
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:58PM (Unverified) said
You're a dick-fart-fuck-face, the_game_master. I truly hope you don't find pleasure in other people's misfortunes.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:04PM (Unverified) said
Oh martin....you represent why evolution is a necessary evil.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:24PM JimmyTheMonkey said
The only laughing here should be at you for buying an extended warranty from Best Buy.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:33PM ForbidenMaster said
@ForceUnleashed
"Thats good for you. But have you ever thought that maybe just maybe if you had sent it to MS they would have returned it in better condition and it would have lasted you even longer than the towel thing?"
Actually I think the opposite. And I just towel tricked and my 360 that I thought was broken (even after toweltricking) is working.
Reply
"Thats good for you. But have you ever thought that maybe just maybe if you had sent it to MS they would have returned it in better condition and it would have lasted you even longer than the towel thing?"
Actually I think the opposite. And I just towel tricked and my 360 that I thought was broken (even after toweltricking) is working.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:17PM cwfutureboy said
Wait...CHEAP-ass gamer??? He's got a flat-panel tv, a home theater, a PS3, 2!!! freaking wii's and remote-controlled air conditioning. Hmm...sounds like he should be called the "Pampered Gamer" now.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:48PM cwfutureboy said
Wow, Grant...aren't you late to your cross burning ceremony?
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Posted: Aug 10th 2007 12:40AM (Unverified) said
WOW. It's totally awesome that I get voted down for snide but valid comments, and Jared can toss around baseless anti-semitism like it's going out of style with no recourse.
Bravo.
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Bravo.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:49PM ForbidenMaster said
I have kept my 360 running using the towel trick since late April. It has finally given out, but it works.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:34PM ForbidenMaster said
HA HA HA HA HA!!! It will never die! I just towel tricked (this time for 25 min) and now my 360 is working again! YAY!
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Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:44PM (Unverified) said
So new Xbox 360 elite come with 3 towels??? Man, MS really create unique unit.
At least they have to give you options to choose different towels color. Something like “halo edition 100 x 40” and so on.
At least they have to give you options to choose different towels color. Something like “halo edition 100 x 40” and so on.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:08PM (Unverified) said
yes! an ugly halo towel to match my halo xbox 3FixMe that doesn't even come bundled with the game...
but it's all about "choice" here's some choices
"3 towels or four?"
Reply
but it's all about "choice" here's some choices
"3 towels or four?"
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:33PM ForbidenMaster said
By "it," I meant the towel trick.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 12:54PM (Unverified) said
Cheapy D is a racist along with his sidekick wombat... yet I still enjoy their podcast.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:26PM (Unverified) said
He says racist... or stereotypical things. Do you ever listen to their show? It's real blatant.
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Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:47PM (Unverified) said
TX2Step
Who are you? Reverend Al Sharpton.
This topic has nothing to do with race.
F U
Reply
Who are you? Reverend Al Sharpton.
This topic has nothing to do with race.
F U
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:08PM VampireHunterZ said
LOL everyone on here fails if they think he is a cheap gamer. He comes up with things for cheap gamers to do. That doesn't mean he is a cheap gamer.
Anyway, wrapping your 360 in towels is an evil thing to do. Had me scared for a minute.
Anyway, wrapping your 360 in towels is an evil thing to do. Had me scared for a minute.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:35PM hvnlysoldr said
Pirates wore eye patches for night vision.
Robocop ruled! My brother and I watched Robocop and Terminator movies all the time as kids.
Robocop ruled! My brother and I watched Robocop and Terminator movies all the time as kids.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 1:50PM (Unverified) said
If I stacked coupon after coupon and took advantage of online price mistakes enough, I'd have enough money left over for all those nice things too. Cheap doesn't mean poor, folks.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 2:06PM (Unverified) said
MS should include a towel with the 360 ;)
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 2:09PM WackyCoffee said
Sorry, a similar towel "joke" has already been used by AKM a couple of comments ahead of you on this post.
Reply
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 3:06PM (Unverified) said
Now there's a hoopy frood who knows where his towel is.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 3:23PM (Unverified) said
Whoa now.. He actually has a point about the store warranty over the one offered by MS. He just was a dick about how he said it.
I feel very good knowing that IF my unit breaks in any way, I'll be able to cruise into my local FRY's and have it swapped out for a new on off the shelf. As a extra bonus, I'll be possibly getting a newer unit with the quiet drive and HDMI. Let's not forget the hassle of getting into the refurb/return spin with MS once you send it in. Now that the repair times are taking 1-2 months (as of 7/09), I'm glad I spent the extra on that ESP.
In fact, I'm hoping my unit breaks soon so I can "upgrade".
I feel very good knowing that IF my unit breaks in any way, I'll be able to cruise into my local FRY's and have it swapped out for a new on off the shelf. As a extra bonus, I'll be possibly getting a newer unit with the quiet drive and HDMI. Let's not forget the hassle of getting into the refurb/return spin with MS once you send it in. Now that the repair times are taking 1-2 months (as of 7/09), I'm glad I spent the extra on that ESP.
In fact, I'm hoping my unit breaks soon so I can "upgrade".
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 3:35PM Mabui said
Educational to say the least.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 3:57PM (Unverified) said
how cheap are you when your blowing $150 on a shitty robocop replica
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 4:09PM PixelPerfect said
Haha I love watching CheapyD's videos.
One thing is for sure, the 360 is a piece of shit...I'm afraid to get one...my roommate just sent his back for repairs.
One thing is for sure, the 360 is a piece of shit...I'm afraid to get one...my roommate just sent his back for repairs.
Posted: Aug 12th 2007 7:02PM (Unverified) said
I've been able to simply remove the power cable from the back of my 360 (while turned on with the red ring) and then reconnect it and power it back on, and it fixes the ring instantly. This seems like the long way about it.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 6:21PM (Unverified) said
What, so you Xbots have to do this just to get a couple more days out of your shit? I roflmao at you all. xD
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 6:26PM (Unverified) said
El cheapo wouldn't have a heating problem to begin with if he had the 360 laying flat. By positioning it the way he does, he has effectively blocked off @2/3 of the intake. The only other main draw is that small area just ahead of the hard drive. Plus now the motherboard is pointing toward the ceiling just enough to let the hot solder run down or displace enough to cause a prob. The rushed design of the thing means ya gotta have the best splints on the market-ya gotta help it along, kids. doi!
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 7:45PM mophie said
For such a cheap ass, why does he have 2 Wiis?
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 9:15PM GoonieGooGoo said
Man....I'm glad I'm not that cheap or poor to have to deal with anything like this.
If it breaks....I get a new one. Send the old one in for repair....hand it or sell it cheap to a friend....or just put a system in another room or my beach house.
The circle of Video Game Life Continues and the market expands......
If it breaks....I get a new one. Send the old one in for repair....hand it or sell it cheap to a friend....or just put a system in another room or my beach house.
The circle of Video Game Life Continues and the market expands......
Posted: Aug 10th 2007 4:24AM ill trooper said
It's just an explaination of how to perform a 'quick fix' to get you through the night, like the little mini spare-tires all new cars have now.
This is something that might allow you to still play in that clan match you have in an hour, something that can be tried right then and there, without waiting weeks for a replacement.
Then if it doesn't work, or if it konks out again, THEN you can send it in.
Reply
This is something that might allow you to still play in that clan match you have in an hour, something that can be tried right then and there, without waiting weeks for a replacement.
Then if it doesn't work, or if it konks out again, THEN you can send it in.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 9:29PM (Unverified) said
Does it matter if he is cheap? It's a demonstration. Just because he doesn't need to be cheap, doesn't mean he can't teach others (me) to be cheap.
Posted: Aug 9th 2007 10:33PM (Unverified) said
looks like the guy from deal or no deal.
Posted: Aug 10th 2007 12:57AM jorojoserojas said
I don't have a 360 yet, and I would really, REALLY like to buy one...but the whole RRoD thing scares me.
Does anyone know why it does this? Would unplugging the system when not in use keep it alive?
Does anyone know why it does this? Would unplugging the system when not in use keep it alive?
Posted: Aug 10th 2007 1:24AM (Unverified) said
At 10:55 AM on 08-09-2007 my Christmas 2005 Xbox 360 suffered a RROD incident on a cold boot. Tried different things like disconnecting HD, Video cable, LAN, HD-DVD and PSU along with rebooting under various connections and console positions (upside down). Still RROD. Most of the time I have it standing vertical. I decided to let it run 20 minutes or so with no towel. Then I turn it off and reposition horizontally (flat) after reading a post that things might shift on the MOBO in a vertical position from the heat. My thought was to run it 20 minutes or so in this position. But when I power on, it booted OK. Then I proceeded with the update, and it rebooted fine afterwards. I'm letting it run for a while right now and I plan on leaving it horizontal. Whether this holds up for awhile I don't know, but I'm looking to trade it in or hopefully a MAJOR RECALL.
Posted: Sep 1st 2007 4:52AM (Unverified) said
Well i try this towel thing...and my 360 shuts off after like 5 min...lol.... i guess it doesn't like towels :)
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