Tips, Tricks and Fixes

[Cinemaddict]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

I actually found it weird your problem was too little thermal paste.

That wasn't the only reason. There were also some essential screws that weren't nearly tight enough.

My buddy didn't think it was necessary to use a heat gun at all. And he put the paste on with his finger instead of using a card. *shrug* Whatever, it worked.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Cinemaddict

My buddy didn't think it was necessary to use a heat gun at all. And he put the paste on with his finger instead of using a card. *shrug* Whatever, it worked.

Well if he didn't think reflowing aka heat gun is not necessary, what did he think was the problem?


fuad

[Cinemaddict]

^ *Shrug* I could have misunderstood him. He's a geek. Used a lot of terms I didn't quite understand.

[RiseDarthVader]

Yeah alot of computer enthusiest apply thermal paste with their fingers. It allows for it to be alot more precise so you can get as efficent heat transfer as possible.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

Yeah alot of computer enthusiest apply thermal paste with their fingers. It allows for it to be alot more precise so you can get as efficent heat transfer as possible.

Except that the oil from your fingers can/does reduce the efficiency of the heat transfer.

As far as I know, most people don't spread the thermal compound at all. It depends on the type of CPU and compound, but most you don't. I also took Computer Engineering, and that's how I was taught to do it, which agrees with most manufacturers instructions for applying the compound that I've read.

[RiseDarthVader]

They don't use their fingers directly they might have something like a piece of plastic or glove.

[Rike255]

Oh ok, makes sense.

[dpomp]

My PS3 just shut off while i was playing. now it has no light or anything.

60GB launch system. it's out of warranty by a long shot.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by dpomp

My PS3 just shut off while i was playing. now it has no light or anything.

60GB launch system. it's out of warranty by a long shot.

Turn off the switch from the back and unplug it.

Wait 5 minutes and plug it in and try to start up the system and let me know which lights on the console come on.

[dpomp]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Turn off the switch from the back and unplug it.

Wait 5 minutes and plug it in and try to start up the system and let me know which lights on the console come on.

cool i'll try.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by dpomp

cool i'll try.

Oh and don't forgot to flip the switch back after you plug it in.

[dpomp]

tried it and nothing. it's completly dead. i don't know what happened. i was playing fine. i always clean the dust out and everything. it just shut off right in the middle of the game. no lights on the front or nothing.

game stuck and everything.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by dpomp

tried it and nothing. it's completly dead. i don't know what happened. i was playing fine. i always clean the dust out and everything. it just shut off right in the middle of the game. no lights on the front or nothing.

game stuck and everything.

Try a different outlet.

[dpomp]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Try a different outlet.

did that too. it's plugged into my UPS along with my TV, cable box, cable modem, and router. they're all working fine. i've tried plugging it directly into the wall and still nothing. what's sony's number. it's way out of warranty.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by dpomp

did that too. it's plugged into my UPS along with my TV, cable box, cable modem, and router. they're all working fine. i've tried plugging it directly into the wall and still nothing. what's sony's number. it's way out of warranty.

Either the power supply went out on your PS3 or your cord just went bad.

I've read of some people swapping out the power supplys from other PS3s if thats the case.

If you want to, you can try the YLOD fix as it seems to fix a whole lot of different issues.

[dpomp]

k i just watched the video. if i remove the warranty sticker, will sony fix the machine if this YLOD fix doesn't fix it??

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by dpomp

k i just watched the video. if i remove the warranty sticker, will sony fix the machine if this YLOD fix doesn't fix it??

I believe so, but I'd call them and double check first.

EDIT:
Just because they have honored it yesterday, doesn't mean they will today. Policies change like its cool at most Customer Service places.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by dpomp

did that too. it's plugged into my UPS along with my TV, cable box, cable modem, and router. they're all working fine. i've tried plugging it directly into the wall and still nothing. what's sony's number. it's way out of warranty.

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Either the power supply went out on your PS3 or your cord just went bad.

Just for good measure, change the cord. If it's still the same, then it looks like your power supply is gone. Not a motherboard problem.

Prior to my YLOD problem, I saw a YouTube video of someone changing the power supply. So I thought THAT was the problem I had (how wrong I was). I disassembled the PS3 up to the top cover and took a look at the power supply.

The power supply has two kinds of phases. One takes AC power and converts it to DC, while the other one takes the DC power and uses it to power everything.

The second phase has power cables that runs to a secondary board. This board is the key to the Red Standby light on all PS3s. It uses very little power -12 volts or less - to be on standby including supplying the power to the BT module. This is done so that if you touch the power button on the PS3, press the PS button on the controller, press any button on the BT remote, or insert a disc, the PS3 would automatically come on.

Since you said there is no light at all, then the power supply is the culprit. Now it COULD be that the power cables from the power supply to the secondary board is fried/disconnected but you never know unless you open it up. The power supply of the PS3 is a real fine piece of work so unless you're an electronics major who can DIY a fix, I suggest you scour a new one or send the thing to SCE.


fuad

[dpomp]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Just for good measure, change the cord. If it's still the same, then it looks like your power supply is gone. Not a motherboard problem.

Prior to my YLOD problem, I saw a YouTube video of someone changing the power supply. So I thought THAT was the problem I had (how wrong I was). I disassembled the PS3 up to the top cover and took a look at the power supply.

The power supply has two kinds of phases. One takes AC power and converts it to DC, while the other one takes the DC power and uses it to power everything.

The second phase has power cables that runs to a secondary board. This board is the key to the Red Standby light on all PS3s. It uses very little power -12 volts or less - to be on standby including supplying the power to the BT module. This is done so that if you touch the power button on the PS3, press the PS button on the controller, press any button on the BT remote, or insert a disc, the PS3 would automatically come on.

Since you said there is no light at all, then the power supply is the culprit. Now it COULD be that the power cables from the power supply to the secondary board is fried/disconnected but you never know unless you open it up. The power supply of the PS3 is a real fine piece of work so unless you're an electronics major who can DIY a fix, I suggest you scour a new one or send the thing to SCE.


fuad

thanks for the info. would you think buying this would do?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PLAYSTATION-3-PS...3A1%7C294%3A50

i've never opened the PS3 as i'm kinda scared that it may void sony even working on it at all. i'm an IT guy so i know a lot about computer interiors. i'm not too worried about ruining anything. but i'm scared that if it's not the powersupply or if it doesn't fix it, i will not be able to send it in cause i took off the warranty sticker.

let me know if that power supply includes both phases you were talking about. thanks

[CrystalLake]

Not sure how "Off Topic" this is, but I just want to comment on how great Sony's Customer Service was.

My PS3 took a dump about a month ago, and since it was still under the 1 year warranty, I first contacted Sony. Here is a quick schedule of events for getting my PS3 back up and running.

(Mon) Same day I called, Sony had me fill out a form online.
(Mon) Later that night, I received a UPS Shipment Notification.
(Wed) Box and Packaging (which was sent UPS 2-Day) arrived, with a Next Day Air return label.
(Thurs) Sent out my PS3.
(Fri) Sony contacts me to inform me they received it.
(Tues) UPS Shipment Notification that my PS3 is on its way back to me via UPS 2-Day Air.
(Thurs) Back in my hands, VERY happy.

They tacked on an extra 90-day warranty with this new machine, and my original 1-year warranty is still in effect.

Overall, I am very pleased with their CS.