Hi all!
I just succesfully installed the SX core on my Switch [XKW Serial] with OFW 10.1.0 and the SXOS v3.0.4.
I want to share my experience, some steps and preparation before to do it. I Know there are threads about this, but I want to highlight the importance of the right tools, patience and safety (TPS) to get this job done succesfully. This was not my first time soldering, but I'm also not an expert. I just made sure to have the TPS!!!
I recommend to have these tools, some are essential and others can help to have a better experience. Some items have links to amazon if you want to see or buy them.
1. Side cutter plier: It will help to cut small pieces of tin if you want to pre-solder the chip, like in the next image. If you do not have much experience putting on the soldering iron tip, then it can help you to control the amount of tin. Do not worry if you exceed the amount of tin, you can always use the item #6.
2. Tin: Of course, we are going to need tin. I don't know what size it is, and it didnt matter for me because I did pre-soldering on the SX core before to install it. See next image.
3. Forget about this item LOL (You can replace it with a cup of coffee).
4. Polyimide tape: It provides thermal protection. Useful when soldering and helps to protect components around of your soldering target.
5. Soldering iron with adjustable temperature and fine tip. I set the temperature at 350-370°C
6. Solder-wick or desoldering braid. If you need to erase any sign of tin you should have this!! I used it during the pre-soldering because I was adding too much tin. It can save your life if you spread tin on other caps.
7. No-Clean Flux. Do not confuse it with soldering paste or other flux. Make sure you buy this, it will make things very easy when soldering. Just add a small drop on the caps before to solder. It is called no-clean beacuse there are other types of flux that helps to clean your soldering tip by preventing tin to get sticky on the tip (Item #10). If you put this on your caps you won't be able to solder.
8. Thermal paste: make sure to get a thermal paste of quality. I used ARCTIC MX-4 which has thermal conductivity of 8.5 W/mK. It is required to add thermal paste because the original thermal paste will be cleaned with alcohol.
9. Anti-static tweezers for manipulate small and delicate objects.
10. Soldering paste: this is also called flux and can be confused with Item #7. This soldering paste helps to clean your soldering tip. I did not use it during this installation. But it can be useful if you want to make sure that no tin gets stick on your soldering iron when soldering small objects.
***Note: I have this soldering kit which is very useful and you can find items 1, 2, 5, 9 and 10.
This is the pre-soldering job. I prefer to do this before to reduce errors and overheating exposition to avoid burn any cap and other components. The less time you use to solder things on the Switch, the better.
Other important items before to open your Nintendo:
1. Cotton swabs to clean old thermal paste.
2. Nitrile or latex gloves to reduce risk of burning any electric component from the Switch. If you didn't know our hands can be charged with static electricity. So to avoid some short circuit, I recommend to use this. In theory, latex is not an electric conductor so it can help. But, the right thing to use is an anti-static wrist strap, get one if you can.
3. Opening Kit with screw drivers and plastic crowbars.
4. Isopropyl alcohol >90%
5. Our Swtich =)
This is how my Switch looks from inside
(Do not forget to unplug the battery cable). Also, you can use your mouse pad (or other soft surface) to protect the screen of your Switch from scratches.
Here, I used the thermal tape to keep the flex in position and protect sorrounding areas from heating. Note the cables in the bottom, it is very importan to protect them as well.
A closer view of the job done. The SP1 had a bad soldering but I was very patient and did the job again. Also, I left my Switch drop (it hurts), fortunately it survived.
Then, I turned on my Switch and got the green light of success!!!
Also the BOOT.DAT? in the screen.
I have not finshed yet, I am waiting for the back up of the SysNAND, then create EmuNAND, etc. But the hardest part was already done!!!
This is it. I hope anyone can find this info helpful. Do not forget TPS!!!
I just succesfully installed the SX core on my Switch [XKW Serial] with OFW 10.1.0 and the SXOS v3.0.4.
I want to share my experience, some steps and preparation before to do it. I Know there are threads about this, but I want to highlight the importance of the right tools, patience and safety (TPS) to get this job done succesfully. This was not my first time soldering, but I'm also not an expert. I just made sure to have the TPS!!!
I recommend to have these tools, some are essential and others can help to have a better experience. Some items have links to amazon if you want to see or buy them.
1. Side cutter plier: It will help to cut small pieces of tin if you want to pre-solder the chip, like in the next image. If you do not have much experience putting on the soldering iron tip, then it can help you to control the amount of tin. Do not worry if you exceed the amount of tin, you can always use the item #6.
2. Tin: Of course, we are going to need tin. I don't know what size it is, and it didnt matter for me because I did pre-soldering on the SX core before to install it. See next image.
3. Forget about this item LOL (You can replace it with a cup of coffee).
4. Polyimide tape: It provides thermal protection. Useful when soldering and helps to protect components around of your soldering target.
5. Soldering iron with adjustable temperature and fine tip. I set the temperature at 350-370°C
6. Solder-wick or desoldering braid. If you need to erase any sign of tin you should have this!! I used it during the pre-soldering because I was adding too much tin. It can save your life if you spread tin on other caps.
7. No-Clean Flux. Do not confuse it with soldering paste or other flux. Make sure you buy this, it will make things very easy when soldering. Just add a small drop on the caps before to solder. It is called no-clean beacuse there are other types of flux that helps to clean your soldering tip by preventing tin to get sticky on the tip (Item #10). If you put this on your caps you won't be able to solder.
8. Thermal paste: make sure to get a thermal paste of quality. I used ARCTIC MX-4 which has thermal conductivity of 8.5 W/mK. It is required to add thermal paste because the original thermal paste will be cleaned with alcohol.
9. Anti-static tweezers for manipulate small and delicate objects.
10. Soldering paste: this is also called flux and can be confused with Item #7. This soldering paste helps to clean your soldering tip. I did not use it during this installation. But it can be useful if you want to make sure that no tin gets stick on your soldering iron when soldering small objects.
***Note: I have this soldering kit which is very useful and you can find items 1, 2, 5, 9 and 10.
This is the pre-soldering job. I prefer to do this before to reduce errors and overheating exposition to avoid burn any cap and other components. The less time you use to solder things on the Switch, the better.
Other important items before to open your Nintendo:
1. Cotton swabs to clean old thermal paste.
2. Nitrile or latex gloves to reduce risk of burning any electric component from the Switch. If you didn't know our hands can be charged with static electricity. So to avoid some short circuit, I recommend to use this. In theory, latex is not an electric conductor so it can help. But, the right thing to use is an anti-static wrist strap, get one if you can.
3. Opening Kit with screw drivers and plastic crowbars.
4. Isopropyl alcohol >90%
5. Our Swtich =)
This is how my Switch looks from inside
(Do not forget to unplug the battery cable). Also, you can use your mouse pad (or other soft surface) to protect the screen of your Switch from scratches.
Here, I used the thermal tape to keep the flex in position and protect sorrounding areas from heating. Note the cables in the bottom, it is very importan to protect them as well.
A closer view of the job done
. The SP1 had a bad soldering but I was very patient and did the job again. Also, I left my Switch drop (it hurts), fortunately it survived.
Then, I turned on my Switch and got the green light of success!!!
Also the BOOT.DAT? in the screen.
I have not finshed yet, I am waiting for the back up of the SysNAND, then create EmuNAND, etc. But the hardest part was already done!!!
This is it. I hope anyone can find this info helpful. Do not forget TPS!!!