Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[wesnah]

I just upgraded mine with a WD 320 GB drive 5400 RPM. After almost stripping 1 of the screws that hold the drive on the carriage,this upgrade almost didn't happen. It's like Sony used the softest metal material made for screws. You won't see a speed difference between the 5400 and 7200. But expect a 2 hr or more restore of your old files.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by toef

After a few breaks, including a long one for dinner, I'm almost done with the DIY repair.

Everything is apart, side one was reflowed then cooled for 20 minutes, side two was then reflowed and cooled for 20 minutes.

So now I just have to put the new compound on, re-assemble everything, and then cross my fingers.

You heated both sides for extended periods of time?

When I did it, for about 4 minutes I heated both sides and then I placed the motherboard on a flat surface and heated both chips for 7 minutes. Of course after that I let them cool for 15 minutes.

[owa]

Originally Posted by toef

Got it all back together, and it still doesn't work.

Not sure what to do at this point. It's possible I didn't heat up the chips enough for the reflow to work properly, or it's possible that that was never the problem to begin with.

Oh well.

Sorry to hear that.

[caliblue15]

don't worry toef. I ran the reflow fix, when the chips weren't the exact issue, it didn't work either.. but Sony replaced my PS3, so you still have that option.

[toef]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

You heated both sides for extended periods of time?

When I did it, for about 4 minutes I heated both sides and then I placed the motherboard on a flat surface and heated both chips for 7 minutes. Of course after that I let them cool for 15 minutes.

Nope, I didn't do it that long. I did about 20-25 seconds per area per side, following gilksy's guide (he labeled 4 areas on each side). I let the first side cool for 20 minutes before doing the other.

Originally Posted by caliblue15

don't worry toef. I ran the reflow fix, when the chips weren't the exact issue, it didn't work either.. but Sony replaced my PS3, so you still have that option.

Yeah, I think that's looking like my only option now. I opened up the PS3 again this morning, to take out the BD drive, and then opened that up to get my game out (MLB 10 was stuck inside). Since it's a 60gb, I couldn't do the fan-test trick to make it spit out the disc.

I may or may not try reflowing it one more time, aiming the heat gun for a little longer than last time. I have a good amount of the Arctic Silver 5 leftover, which I have no other use for, so I'm tempted to just give it one last go. But I kind of doubt it will do anything.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by toef

Nope, I didn't do it that long. I did about 20-25 seconds per area per side, following gilksy's guide (he labeled 4 areas on each side). I let the first side cool for 20 minutes before doing the other.

I followed the YouTube videos and mine started. I recommend if you are going to try again to follow those and see what happens.

[Uxi]

Originally Posted by Groo The Perverted

I'm planning on getting a new HD for my PS3 next month, and am wondering what people's experiences with this are.

Stripped my screws and after alot of swearing was able to get them out of the cage. Used replacement screws that are much better.

Given the potential for YLOD, I'm now against using super huge HDD internally on the PS3. It also significantly slows down backup/restore so I recommend external USB drive for media, etc. A 120-160GB is more than enough for games/saves and the oddball demo.

[Rike255]

Doesn't make sense to heat both sides of the board separately and cool in between. The reason for heating the bottom of the board is just in order to get the temperature of the whole motherboard up a bit (presumably resulting in less strain on the board since it will get very hot...the need for this step is actually debatable). You then heat the chips from the top. From the bottom won't help you. 25 seconds is also not long enough.
As Marine Mike said, use the Youtube instructions he provided, those will actually work. He provides timing instructions.
Remember, while you're heating the chips try and keep the board as level as possible.
When using your thermal compound (Arctic Silver 5), remember you need only a very small amount. A grain of rice sized drop is more than enough for one chip. Some people like to plaster the stuff on, but that defeats the purpose of the compound.

[toef]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I followed the YouTube videos and mine started. I recommend if you are going to try again to follow those and see what happens.

Well the gilky tutorial is on YouTube and seemed to be the most cited example to use (it's 7 parts, part 1 has over 400k views, I don't know what the rest have). He said 15-20 seconds, so that's roughly what I did.

[jake1675]

My ps3 died can i use the old hard drive in a new ps3 to retrive all my files?
mine was a ps3 60gb by the way.

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by jake1675

My ps3 died can i use the old hard drive in a new ps3 to retrive all my files?
mine was a ps3 60gb by the way.

nope

[Groo The Perverted]

ANYONE have experience with this specific hard drive in your PS3? Is 500G alright to use, or is that too much and I should go for the 320?

Originally Posted by Groo The Perverted

I'm planning on getting a new HD for my PS3 next month, and am wondering what people's experiences with this are.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I was all set to get it on the 1st, but then I saw this bit on the forum for Amazon. He's not an X-box fan because the three items he's reviewed are all PS3 items and he gave them 5 stars.




Then someone asked about whether he used a 5400 RPM or 7200, and he replied that he used a 5400.

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by Groo The Perverted

ANYONE have experience with this specific hard drive in your PS3? Is 500G alright to use, or is that too much and I should go for the 320?

That is the same HDD i use, no issues yet with it.

[aphex]

Ya so my 60gb broke down again after 100 days of them sending it back the first time it broke down. So now I'd have to pay AGAIN to get it repaired because it's past the 90 day mark.

God damn I hate my life, anyone got links to a good tutorial of fixing it yourself?

I think it's time to buy a new ps3 ;X

[toef]

Originally Posted by aphex

Ya so my 60gb broke down again after 100 days of them sending it back the first time it broke down. So now I'd have to pay AGAIN to get it repaired because it's past the 90 day mark.

God damn I hate my life, anyone got links to a good tutorial of fixing it yourself?

I think it's time to buy a new ps3 ;X

You can try the gilksy re-flowing tutorial. It's 7 parts on YouTube.

Here's Part 1 (use the related videos to work through 2-7):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U70SgRDVcBo

The hardest part is just keeping track of all the screws. I drew a few diagrams as I went along and kept them separated in 4-5 different little containers, and that made it really easy.

My PS3 got the YLOD last weekend (it's an original 60gb), and I still haven't decided what to do. I tried reflowing it myself, but it didn't work. I might try it a second time, since I have plenty of the thermal grease leftover (and no other use for it).

I'm hesitant to send it back to Sony for the $150 repair, because I'm worried about being in the same situation as you... getting a PS3 that works for 3 months before breaking again.

[supersix4]

the slims are so cheap now you could get one with a service plan probably just saving a little bit over a few weeks.

[aphex]

Thanks for the info, and ya I might get a new slim. Friggin love the 60gb. I consistently use 3-4 USB ports and use the memory card readers often too. Not to mention sotc and other games I love to replay. Blah!

[JonD7]

I'm so sorry to hear that Aphex, the same thing happened to me(I had it for a little over 90 days and the power supply went out)... 3 months without a PS3, I decided to have them fix for me again and it's been a year and a half and still working.

I am buying a slim soon though... I've been holding on to this $200 for over a year now.

[Jafo]

There is another, new to me, method of fixing the YLOD other than reflowing.
http://www.haxnetwork.net/showthread...145#post102145 don't know if using these 4 washers will work or not, but I guess it is worth a try.

[KB24SD]

That sucks man. My 60GB is still running strong after 4 years but lately it's been sounding & acting like it's near YLOD or blu-ray drive going bad.

If this happens I'm not sending my PS3 into Sony to pay $150 for repairs. I'm going to a cheaper local repair place like this:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/1709947681.html

You might want to check your local craigslist listings.