Post: How to take care of your PS3
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02-15-2009, 02:13 AM
#1
drunkenrepublicn
NGU Retired Staff
TEMPERATURE:
The PS3's "Safety and Support" manual clearly states that the PS3 unit to operate within temperatures of 41F - 95F
-Do not place your PS3 too close to the wall. If your PS3 is placed on a closed space, place it atleast 4-6cm away from the walls
-Usually you should not allow your PS3 to exeed 20-35F higher than the current room temperature
-Place a thermometer on the wall just behind your PS3 to prevent it from reaching high temperatures
OVERHEAT:
When your PS3 encounters an overheat it usually turn's on and the power LED blinks 3 times or you will get a Yellow light blinking and then shuts down.
-If your PS3 encounters an overheat (rarely happens), put it somewhere where there's alot of airflow and away from any type of moisture. Also Windows are not recommended .
PREVENTING BD-FAILURES:
BD Failures happen when you're using a scratched up disc or over playing , I recommend not playing more than 3-4 hours at a time.
-Check your discs for anytype of smudges
-Consider buying HDD titles, sometimes to keep the usage 50-50
-when you update your PS3 firmware, always test your BD drive by playing a movie or game
CLEANING:
I recommend cleaning your PS3 atleast once a week to prevent dust from coming in
-Use a low powered vaccum to suck out the dust out of the PS3's vents, remember to keep the vaccum atleast 2-3cm away from the PS3
-If you using a can of air, use the tube straw and let it blow from 4-6cm away from the PS3 (make sure tube is in correctly as it may fire the tube a damade your PS3) (DO NOT Spray the can upside down as it will release a freezing moisture that may damage electronics)
-If you're cleaning off the outside of your PS3 (Mainly the top and the chrome areas), use a microfibre cloth. The Playstation 3 is prone to scratch easily, typically a microfibre cloth will prevent this. NEVER use paper towels or any other paper based materieals. Including regular hand towels.
USB BURNOUTS
Usually when USB ports "Burn out" it's usually from using a USB hub that's sucking more power than 1 port can handle
-Equipt your USB hub with it's external power, if it's handling more than 3 ports at the time. I recommend buying a USB 2.0 hub with external power so not too much power will be used from one of the USB ports from your PS3 (Remember, some USB Hubs DO NOT have external power)
SHUT DOWN CORRECTLY:
When users of the PS3 don't have a clue to shut it down correctly, they tend to get errors
-The best way to probably shut down your PS3 is through the remote, hold the PS until you see "shut down system" and X on yes
The other was is to just push the touch sensitive pad on the PS3 until it beeps
-NEVER SHUT DOWN FLIPPING THE SWITCH FROM THE BACK when it is on (solid green LED)!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
-For warrenty questions and information visit: You must login or register to view this content.
-Or call 1-800-345-SONY to receive instructions to obtain repair/replacement services.
This information came from various sites and the manual.
Also view this for disc read failures: You must login or register to view this content.
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02-12-2012, 06:48 AM
#483
Spook4King
Keeper
Is this guide for the Fat PS3's or the Slims? If it is for the Slims, kudos - I'm sure these methods work great.
For the Fat PS3's this won't help in terms of overheating/YLOD (at least not to a useful extent on their own)
(Oh, and I apologise if this has been posted in this thread somewhere already, but I can't physically bring myself to read through everyone of them)
- This info only applies to Fat PS3's -
READ THIS IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PS3 - YOU MAY THINK THAT A YLOD IS EASILY FIXABLE, BUT IT WILL NOT LAST - YOU WILL KEEP HAVING TO REBALL AND EVENTUALLY IT WON'T TAKE ANYMORE. THE FOLLOWING IS MEANT TO ENSURE YOU DO NOT GET THE YLOD EVER -
The first thing you need to do is listen to your PS3 - hear that fan? It actually has a few different 'speeds' so to speak. If you listen carefully you will hear it ramp up and down as it heats up and cools down. If your PS3 is ramping up to the highest speed within 5-20 minutes and pretty much fluxuating around the two highest speeds then it is time to do some maintanance on a slightly more advanced level then the things mentioned in the original post.
The YLOD in fat PS3's is primarily cause by a lack of thermal paste between the heat-syncs, and the two processors. When the PS3 was first manufactured, lead based thermal paste had just been pretty much outlawed - they decided to use Silicon based thermal paste (which is really not very good) and in most fat PS3's now this paste will have completely dried up. I opened my 60GB up two years ago and there was barely any left, and it was all dry and crumbly. THIS IS WHAT CAUSES THE YLOD! The system can't keep cool if the heat syncs do not work!
If your fans are ramping up, then the bad news is you probably need to reapply the thermal paste. To be honest I'd advise ANYONE who has an old PS3 to do this if they haven't already - it will be the difference between your console YLOD or being find for the next 7 years.
As one final confirmation, when the fans are ramped up hold your hand about 5 cm's away from the back vent and note the temperature of the air being pushed out - if it is hot, this is good. If the air is cool, or very cold then you definately need thermal paste. The reason hot is good is because it means that the system is actually controlling the heat and pushing it out properly, rather than circulating it through the system.
I personally recommend Arctic Silver's MX-5 Silver based thermal paste, it is REALLY efficient - Guaranteed to last for 7 years (maybe more can't remember) and doesn't have a set time - so you can get it done and play straight away!
This is the best video guide out there on how to take apart the PS3 safely to reapply the thermal paste. Follow through from this first part to the next. Pay attention to the sheer amount of dirt that has built up inside the system - yours will be the same, so make sure you have a can of compressed air around to remove it effectively. NOTE: DO NOT APPLY THE THERMAL PASTE AS HE DOES IN THIS VIDEO IF YOU ARE USING ARCTIC SILVER MX-5 (or most other thermal pastes for that matter. It is an absolute waste of paste and will actually be less effective then doing it correctly. Place a tiny amount the size of the white on the bottom of thumb nail - DO NOT SPREAD IT. Push the heat syncs on, and apply a fair amount of pressure *NOT ENOUGH TO BREAK YOUR CHIPS OBVIOUSLY! These are the official instructions from representatives at Arctic Silver if you call them and enquire about applying to the PS3 - and I have performed this maintanance on 8 PS3 60GB Launch Models (UK) in this way now and not a single one has experienced a problem.
There you go! Your fat PS3 is now 99% more resistant to the YLOD! *not actual statistics, but you will hear it in the fans for yourself when you are done. You really won't regret it, and if you don't want to splash out on a new console and like the PS2 backwards compatibility do this now rather than later. Put your hand behind that - that is some hot air. And once again, that is good.
After this follow this threads original instructions on maintaining the vents on the PS3 - you won't have to worry about keeping an eye on the temperature now though, but definately keep all of the vents clean with a hoover etc. and in 7 years time reapply the thermal paste if you hear your PS3 starting to ramp up again.
For the Fat PS3's this won't help in terms of overheating/YLOD (at least not to a useful extent on their own)
(Oh, and I apologise if this has been posted in this thread somewhere already, but I can't physically bring myself to read through everyone of them)
- This info only applies to Fat PS3's -
READ THIS IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR PS3 - YOU MAY THINK THAT A YLOD IS EASILY FIXABLE, BUT IT WILL NOT LAST - YOU WILL KEEP HAVING TO REBALL AND EVENTUALLY IT WON'T TAKE ANYMORE. THE FOLLOWING IS MEANT TO ENSURE YOU DO NOT GET THE YLOD EVER -
The first thing you need to do is listen to your PS3 - hear that fan? It actually has a few different 'speeds' so to speak. If you listen carefully you will hear it ramp up and down as it heats up and cools down. If your PS3 is ramping up to the highest speed within 5-20 minutes and pretty much fluxuating around the two highest speeds then it is time to do some maintanance on a slightly more advanced level then the things mentioned in the original post.
The YLOD in fat PS3's is primarily cause by a lack of thermal paste between the heat-syncs, and the two processors. When the PS3 was first manufactured, lead based thermal paste had just been pretty much outlawed - they decided to use Silicon based thermal paste (which is really not very good) and in most fat PS3's now this paste will have completely dried up. I opened my 60GB up two years ago and there was barely any left, and it was all dry and crumbly. THIS IS WHAT CAUSES THE YLOD! The system can't keep cool if the heat syncs do not work!
If your fans are ramping up, then the bad news is you probably need to reapply the thermal paste. To be honest I'd advise ANYONE who has an old PS3 to do this if they haven't already - it will be the difference between your console YLOD or being find for the next 7 years.
As one final confirmation, when the fans are ramped up hold your hand about 5 cm's away from the back vent and note the temperature of the air being pushed out - if it is hot, this is good. If the air is cool, or very cold then you definately need thermal paste. The reason hot is good is because it means that the system is actually controlling the heat and pushing it out properly, rather than circulating it through the system.
I personally recommend Arctic Silver's MX-5 Silver based thermal paste, it is REALLY efficient - Guaranteed to last for 7 years (maybe more can't remember) and doesn't have a set time - so you can get it done and play straight away!
This is the best video guide out there on how to take apart the PS3 safely to reapply the thermal paste. Follow through from this first part to the next. Pay attention to the sheer amount of dirt that has built up inside the system - yours will be the same, so make sure you have a can of compressed air around to remove it effectively. NOTE: DO NOT APPLY THE THERMAL PASTE AS HE DOES IN THIS VIDEO IF YOU ARE USING ARCTIC SILVER MX-5 (or most other thermal pastes for that matter. It is an absolute waste of paste and will actually be less effective then doing it correctly. Place a tiny amount the size of the white on the bottom of thumb nail - DO NOT SPREAD IT. Push the heat syncs on, and apply a fair amount of pressure *NOT ENOUGH TO BREAK YOUR CHIPS OBVIOUSLY! These are the official instructions from representatives at Arctic Silver if you call them and enquire about applying to the PS3 - and I have performed this maintanance on 8 PS3 60GB Launch Models (UK) in this way now and not a single one has experienced a problem.
There you go! Your fat PS3 is now 99% more resistant to the YLOD! *not actual statistics, but you will hear it in the fans for yourself when you are done. You really won't regret it, and if you don't want to splash out on a new console and like the PS2 backwards compatibility do this now rather than later. Put your hand behind that - that is some hot air. And once again, that is good.
After this follow this threads original instructions on maintaining the vents on the PS3 - you won't have to worry about keeping an eye on the temperature now though, but definately keep all of the vents clean with a hoover etc. and in 7 years time reapply the thermal paste if you hear your PS3 starting to ramp up again.
02-12-2012, 07:24 PM
#485
Spook4King
Keeper
Originally posted by i5th
Wish i found this thread earlier lol
MY ps3 isnt working...
MY ps3 isnt working...
What model do you have? (fat or slim)
If it's slim I can't help, sorry!
If it's fat...
Did it Yellow Light of Death? If so, it needs reballing.
BUT If the PS3 still turns on then but 10 minutes telling you its going to shut down due to overheating, follow the steps in the video I posted above to take part the PS3 and clean the inside (I'd really recommend re-thermal pasting while you are there though)
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