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Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

13

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

1

  • Power supply Cooling Fan
  • 13 steps

Flags

2

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              The Problem !
  • This is how my power brick sounded when I decided I couldn’t bear it anymore

This is how my power brick sounded when I decided I couldn’t bear it anymore

1024

Step 2

              Taking off the Screws
  • Be sure to unplug the power supply before you begin the procedure.
  • To take off the 4 screws, you need to pry off the rubber feet
  • Most of the time, the rubber part will become detached from the plastic one
  • Use pliers if necessary

Be sure to unplug the power supply before you begin the procedure.

To take off the 4 screws, you need to pry off the rubber feet

Most of the time, the rubber part will become detached from the plastic one

Use pliers if necessary

Step 3

              Open up the case
  • After removing the 4 screws, pry along the edge to get the two halves separated

After removing the 4 screws, pry along the edge to get the two halves separated

Step 4

              Remove PCB from main housing
  • Lift up the light diffuser
  • Lift up the power-connector & DC out wire
  • The main board should come out relatively easily now.

Lift up the light diffuser

Lift up the power-connector & DC out wire

The main board should come out relatively easily now.

Step 5

              Disconnect the Fan
  • Disconnect the fan from under the main heatsink.
  • Be careful when pulling the wire out, as it usually gets stuck between the heatsink and capacitors - patience is, as always, key

Disconnect the fan from under the main heatsink.

Be careful when pulling the wire out, as it usually gets stuck between the heatsink and capacitors - patience is, as always, key

Step 6

              Taking Fan Assembly Out of Upper Case
  • First - just take out the two smaller screws, whilst leaving in the two bigger ones
  • After that’s done, only a few clamps hold the assembly in

First - just take out the two smaller screws, whilst leaving in the two bigger ones

After that’s done, only a few clamps hold the assembly in

Step 7

              More Screws ...
  • There is yet another sub-assembly holding the fan in - I tip my hat to whoever designed this

There is yet another sub-assembly holding the fan in - I tip my hat to whoever designed this

Step 8

              Fan Size
  • The dimension of the fan-holder in my unit might differ from yours, as Microsoft seems to use different suppliers each day for good reasons (such as probably getting more air-flow related complications packed in)

The dimension of the fan-holder in my unit might differ from yours, as Microsoft seems to use different suppliers each day for good reasons (such as probably getting more air-flow related complications packed in)

Step 9

              Removing the Fan
  • To actually get to the fan, the faceplate needs removing as well
  • Once that’s done, there’s a pin holding the wire down
  • As you probably won’t be reusing the piece of junk fan that brought you to this guide, I suggest you go medieval prying it out - works a treat

To actually get to the fan, the faceplate needs removing as well

Once that’s done, there’s a pin holding the wire down

As you probably won’t be reusing the piece of junk fan that brought you to this guide, I suggest you go medieval prying it out - works a treat

Step 10

              Replacing the Fan
  • With the fan out, the next step is fitting in a replacement
  • !!! Make sure to get a 12V fan, of correct dimensions
  • I got mine from an old laptop cooler

With the fan out, the next step is fitting in a replacement

!!! Make sure to get a 12V fan, of correct dimensions

I got mine from an old laptop cooler

Step 11

              Mounting new Fan
  • I first sanded down the little protrusion which held the old fan in place
  • Then used some epoxy resin (Poxipol) to glue down the new fan
  • To maximize airflow, mount it skewed to the right (from 2nd picture’s point of view)

I first sanded down the little protrusion which held the old fan in place

Then used some epoxy resin (Poxipol) to glue down the new fan

To maximize airflow, mount it skewed to the right (from 2nd picture’s point of view)

Step 12

              Connecting & Testing
  • Before the resin sets - make sure your fan can spin freely
  • Prep the wire ends by applying solder to them
  • Next, feed some tiny shrink wrap over the cable, THEN solder them together (somehow I always end up having to desolder stuff …:)

Before the resin sets - make sure your fan can spin freely

Prep the wire ends by applying solder to them

Next, feed some tiny shrink wrap over the cable, THEN solder them together (somehow I always end up having to desolder stuff …:)

Step 13

              Done !
  • Just put everything back together, and hopefully you found the right fan that’s weak enough to not be louder than your XBOX

Just put everything back together, and hopefully you found the right fan that’s weak enough to not be louder than your XBOX

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                                                                                      17 other people completed this guide.

Author

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                    Darie H

Member since: 11/20/2012

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Navy Vet 2015 - Aug 9, 2016

Reply

This is a well written guide. I stopped at step 7 as I only wanted to open the power supply in order to clean it out. I was quite surprised to see how much dirt/dust was trapped inside. Using a can of air duster in the vent holes is not even close to being sufficient to clean out the inside alone. I highly suggest that anyone who owns this system disassemble and clean their power supply, and console, at least every couple of years to increase longevity of your Xbox. Remember, dust and dirt build up is one of the biggest killers of these devices. I had a different variation of the Xbox 360 power supply then what is shown in this guide. Nonetheless, the process is simple. After I got the rubber boots off, which isn’t hard, it only took me 1hr 7min 4.5sec to disassemble, clean and reassemble the power supply. I didn’t start timing until the boots were off, don’t ask why. It’s now just as clean as the day I bought it. Thanks for the guide!

William Anderson - Dec 18, 2016

Reply

where can i get another fan?

honfu2000 - Aug 29, 2018

Reply

thanks for the reference, i found a new fan on Ebay, ADDA AB4512HX 4$$$$ ;-) great.

Marcello - Dec 19, 2020

Reply

Could it be used without the fan at all? I had my PSU serviced, and I think they removed the fan completely (it’s 100% silent). Should I be worried?

Bean Nuggett - Apr 24, 2022

Reply

Hello so my power brick looks just like this one however it looks different on the inside. I can’t get to the fan part. There are no screws and it’s all covered with plastic. I don’t know how to open it up without breaking the plastic.