Hardware Preserving your ps3

Deleted member 42501 · Aug 19, 2017

My slim is running fine but am thinking about getting it reballed and dropping in a new gpu along with new thermal paste just to keep it running smoothly for as long as possible as with cfw this has became one of my most played platforms and I've still got tons of titles to work through.

Anyone else done the same? Also you think it's overkill getting all that done when it's running fine already? My thoughts are prevention is better than cure plus once all those bits have been done its technically a better than factory machine.

What say ye?

shadoom · Aug 19, 2017

Slims dont ylod as much, if ever if treated right. Reballing while it's still working sounds overkill and probably would ruin more than it fixes. Never touch a running system

CrakrHakr666 · Aug 19, 2017

I still have a launch 60GB. All I have done is new thermal paste and cleaning. It still works beautifully.

Deleted member 42501 · Aug 19, 2017

shadoom said:
Slims dont ylod as much, if ever if treated right. Reballing while it's still working sounds overkill and probably would ruin more than it fixes. Never touch a running system

You think? It's a professional reball and not a diy oven slash hairdryer job? Was going to just get the thermals done but thought I might as well go the whole hog. My gpu can get up to 74 degrees when gaming using standard fan mode and that's what got me thinking about long term durability. That said I'd never even checked the temp before then as I unaware of the shortcut.

sirrokr said:
I still have a launch 60GB. All I have done is new thermal paste and cleaning. It still works beautifully.

I generally dislike reapplying thermal paste. Done it a couple of times before and end up using way too much hence I was going to get it done via a pro when he said he can do a reball with a new gpu too. What kind of temp difference did you see before and after?

CrakrHakr666 · Aug 19, 2017

replicashooter said:
I generally dislike reapplying thermal paste. Done it a couple of times before and end up using way too much hence I was going to get it done via a pro when he said he can do a reball with a new gpu too. What kind of temp difference did you see before and after?

I didn't have a convenient way of testing temps since I have never hacked it. I decided to reapply because fan was immediately maxing (stage 4 speeds) on XMB, but after my system was nearly silent only going to stage 2 fan speeds in Crysis 3.

Deleted member 42501 · Aug 19, 2017

sirrokr said:
I didn't have a convenient way of testing temps since I have never hacked it. I decided to reapply because fan was immediately maxing (stage 4 speeds) on XMB, but after my system was nearly silent only going to stage 2 fan speeds in Crysis 3.

Interesting, my fan very rarely even gets to stage 2. It was just seeing that temp that got me as an OG Xbox would be melting at that level but apparently the RSX is designed to run hot but still I'd prefer it around 50 degrees. Your comment really does show the power of good thermal paste though, thanks.

FAST6191 · Aug 19, 2017

Yeah as time went on both the PS3 and 360s started getting better.

Reballing is overkill and I would bet on electromigration being the thing which takes it out in the end. Chips also have a limited number of thermal cycles they are supposed to be exposed to and reballing would not do it any favours there.

Thermal paste... do it if you are already in there or have pulled the sinks off. Otherwise I am never sure of the merits of redoing paste that appears to be working.

If you are burning money though (reballing is not a cheap hobby) then consider sorting some kind of water cooling for it. While things might be designed to operate on the higher end heat still is your enemy.

Burnt Lasagna · Aug 21, 2017

74 degrees is around normal for gaming with stock fan control; I wouldn't worry about your thermal paste. Also, forget reballing. It is a waste of money on a working system and will have the reverse effect of what your trying to accomplish.
If you want cooler temps, then up the minimum fan speed with sMAN/webMAN and clean out the dust in the system.

Though honestly, nothing will make your PS3 immortal. All the obsessing over temps and thermal paste in the PS3 scene reminds me of the fitness industry.

Sonic Angel Knight · Aug 21, 2017

Are there stores or shops for services or repairs for classic not in production consoles?

mikey420 · Aug 21, 2017

Don't get it recalled if not needed. Just replace the thermal compound below and on the heat shields and keep the system clean and free of dust. I'd also make sure to use a cobra CFW with webmanmod installed with fan controlls enabled to keep the chips around 65. Only way to ensure it stays in good condition is this regular maintenance and the fan adjustments really help.

Ninn · Aug 21, 2017

Was just thinking about this. Have 3 PS3(with rebug to play lan with

)and one of them gets quite hot. So i Wanted to remove the dust and reapplying thermal paste, but What is the best thermal paste for the ps3 and is it hard to do it?

FAST6191 · Aug 21, 2017

Sonic Angel Knight said:
Are there stores or shops for services or repairs for classic not in production consoles?

Was that a general request or one for the OP?

Generally speaking most of the classic consoles don't need anything special -- fairly large pitch surface mount was about as exotic as that got. Simple clock change, cart slot refit, capacitor repair and most of the video mods I see can be done by anybody that can be said to know their way around a soldering iron. You don't need a specialist for that sort of thing, when you start talking about BGA rework then that is still something beyond the average repair shop and while prices to play in that world are lower than they ever have been it is more than a decent iron, scope and hot air station to do it well.

Other than the likes of the Amiga, BBC micro, some arcade boards and systems with full specs not many people do component level diagnostics and repair on such things though -- even inflated ebay prices are likely less than a couple of hours of my time and a few components, and there are thousands still out there.

Sonic Angel Knight · Aug 21, 2017

FAST6191 said:
Was that a general request or one for the OP?

Well yeah it was mostly a general question. Just was curious. If there was a business for repair and service consoles no longer developed. Would be able to preserve them with the idea knowing even if you can't or don't know how to do so, someone can assist. I'm sure people would pay to get stuff repair who don't know how to themself. Maybe be a business... or not.

OfficialFBomb · Aug 21, 2017

If you are that worried about heat, water cool it

Deleted User · Aug 21, 2017

OfficialFBomb said:
If you are that worried about heat, water cool it

The only problem is, you wouldn't keep your case open to dust all the time since traditional water cooling wouldn't fit.

FAST6191 · Aug 21, 2017

I have long looked at games and wondered if I could do what I do elsewhere for it. The trouble is time and time again I run into the fact that gamers are by and large astounding cheap people. To that end if I am looking at my tools and wondering what to build it is going to be another car or motorbike part which has not been made in a while, or an adapter kit so as to be able to use something which still is, some kind of machine tool or just do one off fixing.

I am not the only one either; it is why you get all those cool projects like portable versions of home consoles, crazy video tweaks and what have you and it is never commercialised. It is not people missing a trick or not realising; it is them running the numbers and them coming up short. Or if not short then a whole lot less viable than turning around and fixing phones, tablets and cleaning up after Apple when their horrors come to light.

Felek666 said:
The only problem is, you wouldn't keep your case open to dust all the time since traditional water cooling wouldn't fit.

If you are willing to drop a couple of hundred on a reballing service you can surely find someone to mill a slot in your case, or create a new lid to house the water cooling setup.

Deleted User · Aug 21, 2017

Ninn said:
Was just thinking about this. Have 3 PS3(with rebug to play lan with)and one of them gets quite hot. So i Wanted to remove the dust and reapplying thermal paste, but What is the best thermal paste for the ps3 and is it hard to do it?

The same best thermal paste which is used for PC CPUs. I think it was Arctic Silver 2

OfficialFBomb · Aug 21, 2017

It would take extensive case mod to do it and keep it closed, but it is possible. I have seen one do it along time ago, i imagine tho with new tech advances it would be easier. and you could get 3d printed parts to accommodate most stuff

And i use thermal grizzly paste

Ninn · Aug 21, 2017

Felek666 said:
The same best thermal paste which is used for PC CPUs. I think it was Arctic Silver 2

Yeah, thanks. I'll make sure to do my homework and watch plenty of youtube videos before i try this

Deleted member 42501 · Aug 21, 2017

Thanks for the input folks. My aim was just to keep things running as smoothly as possible for as long as possible.

Will look into changing the thermal paste for now and seeing what that does as temps in the low 70s seems high for me, irrespective.

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