Overheating is a common problem with the Xbox 360. When this happens, it usually comes about gradually. Often it will take several hours of intense gaming before the problem shows up. In the more severe cases the console can heat up in a matter of minutes. But it's not that unusual to get overheating or the two red light error within of seconds of starting up.
Many people may be inclined to disregard the 2 red light error and think that something else is at fault. But they would be wrong because rapid overheating (within seconds of startup) can be caused by bad or dried up thermal compound. Thermal compound is a paste like substance that is applied between the GPU (or CPU) and it's heat sink. What it does is allow heat to rapidly flow out of the GPU and into the heat sink which dissipates the heat with its fins.
The purpose of thermal compound is to fill the tiny microscopic air gaps in the mating surface between the GPU and its heat sink. These air gaps would otherwise act as insulators that prevent heat from escaping the GPU and thus prevent its cooling. While the mating surfaces of the two components appear to be smooth to the naked eye, they are actually quite rough when viewed under magnification.
There is a lot of electrical power flowing through the GPU which means it's generating lots of heat. It's also a small object which means it will get hot very fast. Small objects will always get hot faster than larger objects when exposed to the same amount of heat. This phenomenon can be seen everyday when you boil water. We all know that a cup of water will come to a boil faster then a gallon of water when you place it on the stove at the same heat setting.
So it should come as no surprise that the GPU heats up rapidly when it's heat sink is unable to do it's job because of bad thermal paste. This causes the console to turn off and show a two red light error. This shutdown happens before this heat is able to spread out to the rest of the console. This is why people get confused about what is going on because to them, the Xbox still seems to be cool. They have no way of sensing the intense heat that is localized at the GPU.
When your Xbox exhibits this instant two red light error, the thermal compound will have to be replaced. This can't be done without opening the console so you will have to use your warranty if you have one or you will have to do the job yourself.
Many people may be inclined to disregard the 2 red light error and think that something else is at fault. But they would be wrong because rapid overheating (within seconds of startup) can be caused by bad or dried up thermal compound. Thermal compound is a paste like substance that is applied between the GPU (or CPU) and it's heat sink. What it does is allow heat to rapidly flow out of the GPU and into the heat sink which dissipates the heat with its fins.
The purpose of thermal compound is to fill the tiny microscopic air gaps in the mating surface between the GPU and its heat sink. These air gaps would otherwise act as insulators that prevent heat from escaping the GPU and thus prevent its cooling. While the mating surfaces of the two components appear to be smooth to the naked eye, they are actually quite rough when viewed under magnification.
There is a lot of electrical power flowing through the GPU which means it's generating lots of heat. It's also a small object which means it will get hot very fast. Small objects will always get hot faster than larger objects when exposed to the same amount of heat. This phenomenon can be seen everyday when you boil water. We all know that a cup of water will come to a boil faster then a gallon of water when you place it on the stove at the same heat setting.
So it should come as no surprise that the GPU heats up rapidly when it's heat sink is unable to do it's job because of bad thermal paste. This causes the console to turn off and show a two red light error. This shutdown happens before this heat is able to spread out to the rest of the console. This is why people get confused about what is going on because to them, the Xbox still seems to be cool. They have no way of sensing the intense heat that is localized at the GPU.
When your Xbox exhibits this instant two red light error, the thermal compound will have to be replaced. This can't be done without opening the console so you will have to use your warranty if you have one or you will have to do the job yourself.
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