Hacking About to replace lost PS3, want a coldboot CFW. What should I be looking for?

Reaga · Mar 30, 2020

Haven't been into the PS3 scene since I lost mine a year ago. I recall needing a Cobra FW for PS2 ISOs, but my memory could just be awful. I do intend to mostly use it as a PS2 emulator though, since I have a Vita and most games I want to play for PS3 I already own to redownload or were on Vita as well.

I read some places saying 4.82, which is what I recall from 2017, and some claiming 4.85 is doable.

So really just need model and latest acceptable firmware for cold-boot. The rest I can use tutorials for, it's how I got it last time.

zfreeman · Mar 30, 2020

I believe Cobra is baked into all CFWs in order to use PS2 ISOs.

CFW = PS3s downgrade-able to OFW 3.56 and lower

Hardware-based PS2 Backward Compatibility = CECHAxx/CECHBxx, replace capacitors

Partially Software-based PS2 Backward Compatibility = CECHCxx/CECHExx, replace capacitors

Purely Software-based PS2 Backward Compatibility = CECHGxx to CECHQxx, Slims, Super Slims

(new web exploit) OFW/HFW 4.82 to 4.85 = https://www.ps3xploit.net/bgtoolset/

(old web exploit) HFW 4.85 = http://ps3xploit.com/

Reaga · Mar 30, 2020

zfreeman said:
I believe Cobra is baked into all CFWs in order to use PS2 ISOs.

CFW = some 25XX Models & Lower (OFW 3.65 and lower)

Hardware-based PS2 Backward Compatibility = CECHAxx/CECHBxx, replace capacitors

Partially Software-based PS2 Backward Compatibility = CECHCxx/CECHExx, replace capacitors

Purely Software-based PS2 Backward Compatibility = CECHGxx to CECHQxx, Slims, Super Slims

(new web exploit) OFW/HFW 4.82 to 4.85 = https://www.ps3xploit.net/bgtoolset/

(old web exploit) HFW 4.85 = http://ps3xploit.com/

So reading that, it looks like I would probably go for a Slim or Super Slim on any FW to use the web exploit? And the cold-boot still functions on 4.85?

Thanks btw, really clears things up. I find its easy to get mixed signals on Playstation hardware for this kind of thing when just looking around.

zfreeman · Mar 30, 2020

Reaga said:
So reading that, it looks like I would probably go for a Slim or Super Slim on any FW to use the web exploit? And the cold-boot still functions on 4.85?

Thanks btw, really clears things up. I find its easy to get mixed signals on Playstation hardware for this kind of thing when just looking around.

Slim and Super Slim won't have perfect PS2 compatibility, but if you install the respective config files, you can get very high compatibility.

PS3s with CFW can coldboot on 4.85. However, PS3s that can't be downgraded to OFW 3.56 or lower don't support CFW. Some Slims and all Super Slims have a minimum OFW higher than 3.56, so no CFW, only PS3HEN.

Reaga · Mar 30, 2020

zfreeman said:
Slim and Super Slim won't have perfect PS2 compatibility, but if you install the respective config files, you can get very high compatibility.

PS3s with CFW can coldboot on 4.85. However, PS3s that can't be downgraded to OFW 3.56 or lower don't support CFW. Some Slims and all Super Slims have a minimum OFW higher than 3.56, so no CFW, only PS3HEN.

Unfortunately I don't feel confident in the "replace capacitors" part for the phat models. But it looks like it runs enough PS2 games for me anyway.

Guess I'll have to watch out for listings that include model number. Annoyingly rare. But you've been a huge help.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Wait, are you sure about the capacitors? I recall my old Slim being CECH-2001A and not having to do any hardware work for PS2 compatibility.

Edit: Nvm, that was the difference between CECH-XA and CECH-AX. Freaking confusing model numbers

Wuigi · Mar 30, 2020

@Reaga I bought a CECH 200XA model and even with the perfect amount of thermal paste and delidding the CPU and RSX, the fans are turned up pretty high that it stays under 68°C.
I now pretty much only play on my 4k model as it stays much quieter especially with no disc inserted.
The exploit takes only a minute to execute and most features work on it as well so I resigned all my saves for it with apollo-ps3.

Capacitors need to be replaced for the phat models as they become unusable after some time of use and are rumored to be the cause of the yellow light of death far more often than the CPU or RSX overheating.
The dried up thermal paste under the internal heat sink surely doesn't help though.

zfreeman · Mar 30, 2020

Reaga said:
Unfortunately I don't feel confident in the "replace capacitors" part for the phat models. But it looks like it runs enough PS2 games for me anyway.

Guess I'll have to watch out for listings that include model number. Annoyingly rare. But you've been a huge help.

Wait, are you sure about the capacitors? I recall my old Slim being CECH-2001A and not having to do any hardware work for PS2 compatibility.

Slims are fine, they were revised with better caps. Capacitors do not affect compatibility, but Fat PS3s are running on borrowed time.

Slims start at CECH-20xx. CECHA Is the original retail model.

There are some CECH-25xx Slim models that don't support CFW (lowest OFW = 3.60), that serial number is a gamble.

Reaga · Mar 30, 2020

Wuigi said:
@Reaga I bought a CECH 200XA model and even with the perfect amount of thermal paste and delidding the CPU and RSX, the fans are turned up pretty high that it stays under 68°C.
I now pretty much only play on my 4k model as it stays much quieter especially with no disc inserted.
The exploit takes only a minute to execute and most features work on it as well so I resigned all my saves for it with apollo-ps3.

Capacitors need to be replaced for the phat models as they become unusable after some time of use and are rumored to be the cause of the yellow light of death far more often than the CPU or RSX overheating.
The dried up thermal paste under the internal heat sink surely doesn't help though.

4K Model? Is this the super-slim? I remember having issues with annoyingly loud fans right after I brewed the old one.

Anything to be worried about if I go that model, and any particular model numbers to look out for on that one for full CFW support?

zfreeman · Mar 30, 2020

4k models = Super Slim, no CFW, Only PS3HEN. They're sturdy enough, better longevity than the Fat models.

Wuigi · Mar 30, 2020

@Reaga I adjusted the fan percent a little after testing how well it handled The Last of Us which is one of the most demanding titles.
It is pretty quiet now.
Even if most features from CFW are there with the PS3HEN, it is not as stable so launching two different games from webman can freeze the console at times.
With full CFW in older models there are features like OtherOS(for linux), eid rootkey dumping(For HDD decryption/mounting on PC), more stealth settings for PSN online, easier save file transfer between consoles and even more debug settings missing from PS3HEN.
I personally don't care much for them so I switched to my super slim 4k model.

zfreeman · Mar 30, 2020

Wuigi said:
easier save file transfer between consoles

Apollo Save Tool, homebrew capable of running on CFW and PS3HEN will allow you to patch & resign your game saves, download game saves, and unlock game saves all from the convenience of your PS3 console, no PC tools required.

https://www.psx-place.com/threads/update-apollo-save-tool-v1-0-2-released.28124/

https://github.com/bucanero/apollo-ps3/releases/latest

Wuigi · Mar 30, 2020

@zfreeman I know, but it isn't quite as easy as the fake savedata owner option in PS3 CFWs.
If the individual securefileid for savedata encryption/decryption is missing from the games.conf that apollo provides, resigning will produce a savefile that won't work.
RPCS3 logs the securefileid and by updating the games.conf via FTP, it will work for those games as well, but it requires a lot more time.
If someone has time on their hands, he could probably run all games with no known securefileid in rpcs3 and make a pullrequest to add them to the games.conf.
The birth by sleep system data securefileid was missing for example so I had to add it first.

Hacking About to replace lost PS3, want a coldboot CFW. What should I be looking for?

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