Playstation 3 and noise

[moebius]

It seems that the European edition of PS3 has a serious noise problem. I have bought three PS3 over the last week and returned them all because the ventilator just went on endlessly from about five minutes after turning on the machine, almost at the level of of 360xbox.

Discussions are raging on European fora whether this is normal or whether a portion of the European models have a defect. Sony is apparently unwilling to accept the problem yet and probably will never do so considering how expenses it would be to fix the problem....

I am curious about all you PS3 owners in the US and Japan whether you have a noise problem too. When you turn it on it is almost dead silent. Does it conytinue at this very silent level when you watch movies or play games? I am curious whether this is just a European problem.

[deathscripture]

Mine stays dead silent even after it has been on for a couple days, never makes a sound.

Perhaps it has to do with different currents in different countries that require more ventilation for heat. But honestly, I am ignorant as to whether that is even remotely accurate.

I live in the U.S.

[moebius]

Thank you so much for this answer. In my mind what you describe must be how the PS3 is supposed to work. To use it as a serious movie player, it should be very silent. Perhaps you are right, perhaps the voltage difference between the US and Europs i the reason why, although I have heard that the PS3 uses an identical current supply that should work with both currents levels.

[Stundra]

Originally Posted by moebius

It seems that the European edition of PS3 has a serious noise problem. I have bought three PS3 over the last week and returned them all because the ventilator just went on endlessly from about five minutes after turning on the machine, almost at the level of of 360xbox.

Discussions are raging on European fora whether this is normal or whether a portion of the European models have a defect. Sony is apparently unwilling to accept the problem yet and probably will never do so considering how expenses it would be to fix the problem....

I am curious about all you PS3 owners in the US and Japan whether you have a noise problem too. When you turn it on it is almost dead silent. Does it conytinue at this very silent level when you watch movies or play games? I am curious whether this is just a European problem.

Noise problems occur every now and then with Us/Japanese PS3 model aswell. In most of these cases the PS3 is placed -thermally spoken- not very well. I own a Japanese model and have never experienced any noise problems during gaming or blu ray playback. My PS3 is standing upright with lots of free space around.

[Stundra]

Originally Posted by moebius

Thank you so much for this answer. In my mind what you describe must be how the PS3 is supposed to work. To use it as a serious movie player, it should be very silent. Perhaps you are right, perhaps the voltage difference between the US and Europs i the reason why, although I have heard that the PS3 uses an identical current supply that should work with both currents levels.

My 110V Japanese model is fed by 220V European current. So current shouldn't be an issue.

[blitz6speed]

ive had mine on for hours on end, and it is absolutely silent.

[moebius]

Just to make this clear: I have also placed the models I bought in the open with good air around them and clearly I also understand that sound levels can vary. However, it seems from your answers that normally it is dead still. I presume all of your come from outside Europe.

It is interesting that the current issue is not where teh possible defect lies. I guess sony did really cut expenses when producing the European PS3s

[WriteSimply]

Here's something that PS3 owners can do as comparison.

Shoot a video of it running a BD movie for example, then pause the movie and capture the noise level of the PS3. Or it could be a game. Post it on YouTube or something.

I realize that some people, including X-Box fanatics, may skewer the video but maybe if somebody post their own experiences, people can see how the PS3 reacts for the most of us.


fuad

[Eve6insideandout]

I live in the U.S. and have absolutly no problems with it. Dead silent!!! Sorry to hear that though, I wish it wasn't true because the PS3 release was dominating the Xbox 360 release in terms of problems and technology.

[Blue]

I have a 240v (PAL) PS3. Normally the fan is either off or very low. If in a warm room (over 28 Celsius - yeah we are just getting over summer) it can roar if it's been working hard for a while (playing games or a movie) but quickly shuts up once the load is removed. Even at full roar the projector is much louder running the low fan speed and it's one of the quiet Panasonic's.

[moebius]

Blue,

It sounds like you have been lucky and found a good machine. The confusing thing here in Denmark is that the reports differ wildly from people saying the PS3 is deadsilent to other people complaining about the fan being on all the time.

As I already said I have now tested three machines without luck.

[jermwhl]

That sucks, I haven't heard a peep out of mine. I usually forget its on, and realize i've been folding for days before I shut it off. Mine has been on for 3 days right now. I'll probably shut if off tonight when i get home.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by moebius

Blue,

It sounds like you have been lucky and found a good machine. The confusing thing here in Denmark is that the reports differ wildly from people saying the PS3 is deadsilent to other people complaining about the fan being on all the time.

As I already said I have now tested three machines without luck.

Note I said off to low. At the moment big renovations are on, so basically I'm living in the bedroom. There is no way I could sleep with the PS3 on - then again I can't sleep with a clockwork clock in the same room, however the low fan is little louder than a clock. Is the room very warm?

[Filterlab]

Mine is a UK model (as that's where I live) and there's no noise whatsoever from the cooling side of things, even after long periods of operation.

There's a little access noise (as with all CD, DVD, BD drives) but nothing else. Mine is situated on a Target Audio hi-fi rack.

In fact, I turned my PS2 on the other day to play 'Driver: Parallel Lines' and it highlighted just how quiet the PS3 is.

[stevei]

My UK PS3 is very quiet indeed, much quieter than the PS2, and I haven't noticed the noise level change at any point in time. I have it horizontally on a wooden surface, with plenty of space around it. It's running firmware 1.60 in case that makes any difference.

[scook]

NOISE ISSUE: My brothers PS3 in his house is in the open on a TV stand and absolutely no sound whatso ever but mine is in a cabinet so of course there is less space for the heat to escape and you can feel the system get warm not extremely hot and also hear the fan after two hours. What I assume is that if you do not hear the fan would be more of a problem because like any computer system you need a way to cool down the machine especially after days of use. The system is going to get hot I guess the question I am asking is should I be worried or not?

[baccusboy]

I have a Japanese PS3. I left my camera at work, but I'll post a Google or YouTube video tomorrow after some folding, or casino royale or something.

After a few minutes, my fan runs all the time, too. It doesn't bother me much, though. It's cycling through a lot of hot air. I would agree that the noise would be enough for a serious audiophile to avoid. For most people, however, you'll never hear it over a movie.

When I first got it, I placed it in a shelf on my TV stand rack. I removed it in a few hours, because it was pumping such serious heat out the back, and the shelf below it was very warm. I didn't like that, so I stood it on its side next to the TV. You'll see it in the video. It cools very well this way, but the fans run to do it.

If it means anything, my notebook computer running on full internal fan is a lot nosier, and it's a newer HP notebook. My refridgerator in the next room is louder (I can hear that while sitting in this room).

I was once a sort of audiophile, and can tell you this unit is great, but it's not for the audiophile, who is picky about every little sound.

[scook]

Yeah same hear its def quieter when it is out of the cabinet because that also amplifies the sound But im not too woried about it because you need a fan

BUT for those of you who have a PS3 that makes absolutely NO SOUND! is the PS3 getting hot. (the Right side when places horizontally) it must. I ask because I have considered taking mine back but pu about 20GB of Videos, Music, Pics and do not want to convert everyhing again. But I believe the Video files dont have to be MPEG 4 any more.

If they do hear is a great free converter for any Video files (for those who are already not aware, because im sure there will be someone who will reply like the Office Computer Guy, Duh! thats so easy you didnt farmat it) for those who have seen the SNL Sketch you know what i'm talkin about but anyways http://www.redkawa.com/videoconverters/ps3video9/

[baccusboy]

I have to agree... I don't get how your fans don't run, yet it stays just warm to the touch? Mine is pumping out some serious heat, but stays cool to the touch when fans are going.

Sometimes it's warm enough that it makes me fantasize about it being a sleek stealth fighter exiting jet exhaust out the back.

[MasterXeus]

I'm not sure about saying it's dead silent. My PS3 is has very little noise, but it's not dead silent. My Xbox 360 is louder. Moebius, do you have or have you heard a Xbox 360 running? If so how does it compare? If your PS3 is half has loud has the 360 than it should be ok, if it's has loud as the 360 or louder than there's a problem.