Xapter on a solder-filled LPC

[andwhutnot]

Ok, let me first start off by saying that I SUCK at soldering. I avoid soldering irons at all costs...

My version 1.0 xbox has solder plugging up the LPC holes. Every tutorial I have seen so far for the proper installation on the Xapter includes the vital step where the thing will sink down into the motherboard and "click."

Well, seeing as how my LPC is plugged up with solder, my Xapter will never be able to sink into the motherboard.

I am not a n00b to solderless chips... my other version 1.0 xbox has an "xecuter 2.3 lite +" solderless chip on it. I did not have to desolder those LPCs. And I know for a fact that the pins are lined up properly. So, why isnt my chip getting power?

Please someone help. Is there anything I can do short of desoldering? Can I just push harder? Has anyone gotten this to work on a 1.0?

Thanks.

 

[andwhutnot]

Ok... I will attempt to remove the solder. Should I do it from on TOP of the motherboard or from BELOW? Thanks in advance...

 

[Shortacid]

Well, the 1.o usually had solder filled holes, so you will have to get desoldering braid or a solder vacuum to remove it as you heat it. I forget what the 2.6 comes with in the package, but if it has a wire install kit, this would be applicable hear, it would be easier to heat and put the wire in the liquid holes than to desolder it. But it isn't that hard to desolder either.

 

[andwhutnot]

dude... I have been sitting here with my soldering iron and my desoldering braid for like 45 mintues. I just cant get it to work. I might have to grow a pair and try doing the wire install. Damn I hate soldering.

 

[Shortacid]

It helps to first "tin" the solder braid to tranfer heat. Apply a little solder to the braid, give yourself about half an inch of lead and then apply solder there. Hold it over the lpc and just heat the solder you have and it will draw up into it, just keep advancing more desoldering braid as it flows upward.

 

[andwhutnot]

sorta getting it to work... this is not as easy as I thought. Should I be de-soldering from below the motherboard?

 

[mmicrosysm]

You need FLUX for this

 

[andwhutnot]

wtf is FLUX?

 

[Ascoe]

Try a wire install.

All you gotta do is folow the diagram and heat up the solder point and the wire, then push it in.

I'd do that over desoldering anyday

 

[Fantmx]

I never understand why people remove the solder to do a solderless install. It makes absolutely no sense. You are already heating it up, just push a wire in while the solder is hot.

 

[Catalyst]

DOn't use flux to desolder and for god sakes don't tin your soldering braid!


Soldering braids get hot and suck up solder... what do you think will happen when you tin it? It'll just suck up that solder... and since only so much solder can be sucked up by so much braid...

Just don't do that ok!

Also you do not have to take all the solder out to do a solderless install!!!

At most you have to level out a few holes... which should be retardedly easy with a braid... just stick the braid over the hole... press down on the braid with the iron... thus pressing the braid right into the hole, wait for a little puff of smoke and your done.

Don't try to get all the solder out! You don't need it out!

Lastly, get some contact cleaner... it's a pen... clean up all the pin holes, and stick in your Xdapter!!

 

[andwhutnot]

Thanks for all of the advice guys... I do have one more question. Please forgive my ignorance:

If I am doing a wire install (which ironically seems way easier than installing the freakin xapter) what exacly is involved besides simply matching the colors on the diagram? To clarify: on the stickied tutorial it only shows the color matching, but a picture is posted lower in the thread with some other wires coming from what appears to be underneath the motherboard. Is that a necessary step? And what ever happened to the d0 point?

Thanks again for answering my questions.

 

[Fantmx]

The D0 is the gray wire, and it is the only necessary wire of the three (red, green and gray). The red and green are for hard drive and LAN activity leds on the switch. To see where they go, check out this picture: http://www.teamxecuter.com/x3/tutorials/pinheader/v10v15/x3_bottom.jpg

 

[andwhutnot]

What does the brown wire do?

I'm trying a wire install on a 1.0 xbox... EVERY other wire went right in, but I cant get the dang brown wire in the hole! Is it vital? Can I do without it? It's like the LPC is plugged with some amazingly strong solder on this one corner.

Oh, and what is the 5v and how do I insulate it?

Thanks guys...

 

[CCR]

Not to sound kina smart but yes its needed it would have been there if it was not. and use tape or heatshrink tubing to insulate

 

[Shortacid]

I didn't mean to tin the whole damn desoldering braid. Some people have sh*te for irons, with nasty dirty tips. Sometimes they will sit there so long they will overheat the board.

I have seen 2 of my a**h**e friends do it. Then I put a small dab, not bigger than the tip of the soldering iron pencil tip, for heat transfer alone. I personally dont need it, I always keep mine nice and neat. I just can't account for everyone elses. And they would move the desoldering braid up so the "only so much solder" problem wouldn't be existant. It all depends on the soldering skills of that guy.

I just didn't want to see a BBQ'd motherboard comparable to the one's my buds have.