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PSA: Original Xbox thermal paste replacement vs just cleaning the fan
I got two old Xbox consoles from a garage sale in Phoenix for $40 total. First one I just cleaned the fan and vents, second one I actually replaced the thermal paste on the CPU and GPU. The cleaned one still overheated after 45 minutes of Halo 2. The one with new paste ran cool for 3 hour sessions no problem. Has anyone else found paste replacement makes way more difference than just dusting things out?
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vals381mo ago
Oh man, I had a buddy who did the same thing with his old Xbox. He cleaned the fan first and it still shut down mid-game. Then he swapped the paste on the CPU and it ran like a dream for years. I mean, it's a total game changer.
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davis.casey1mo ago
Haha, "total game changer" is putting it mildly (though seriously, it really is). I bet your buddy was cussing at that Xbox for a good hour before he figured out the paste was the issue. It's funny how we always assume it's the obvious stuff like dust, when really the thermal paste is just sitting there being all dried up and useless. Like, I've done the same thing with my old PlayStation 4, cleaned everything, and then it still sounded like a jet engine until I hit that CPU with new paste.
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