PS3 - Fans running loud during B-R playback? - Blu-ray Forum

blumobetta · 06-26-2007, 09:53 PM

Hi all,

I recently received a refurbished PS3 from Sony, after my original unit failed to display Blu-ray discs properly, and stuttered during standard DVD play.

I was pleased to see that my refurbished unit plays BDs manificently, as well as standard DVDs. However, the unit (or, I should say fans) seem quite loud during playback. I know that noise levels can be subjective, but during quiet scenes of a movie, the unit can be clearing heard humming away.

My Sony TV can display up to 1080i, and I have the most recent PS3 updates.

Are others having the same experience? Why does the unit have to run so hot to play a movie? Do stand-alone B-R players have fans, and run loud?

Also, how can I tell what resolution the PS3 is playing at when watching a movie? I'm curious to know if the PS3 is converting the 1080p disc to 1080i for my TV, or dropping further down to 720p.

I love my PS3, just wondering if others are having the same experience.

THANK YOU.

jaymzbo · 06-26-2007, 10:01 PM

I also use PS3 and sony 1080i tv (sony xbr970); I have never had this problem when watching blu ray movies or playing games meaning I have never had my ps3 get hot or notice the cooling fan. Sorry, can't help you there.

On my tv to display the current resolution all I have to do is press the "Display" button on the remote. I imagine it would be somethihng similar on yours.

blumobetta · 06-26-2007, 10:14 PM

Thank you for your response.

Hmmm... I don't understand why the fans hum at such an elevated volume for me, when the unit is only playing a movie. I'm going from HDMI to DVI.

If I'm the only one with this problem, I may have to contact Sony again. I'm very much a pro-Sony person, but I have to admit my PS3 is running much louder than my 360. Perhaps my unit is faulty.

BluManta · 06-26-2007, 10:14 PM

The ps3 dosent actually convert 1080p. 1080i is 1080p but desplaying with half the erm, pixels or something. Anyway, just push the ps button while watching a movie and look at how small or big the writing is. If its at its smallest, its 1080i, if its a bit bigger, 720p and you will know if its less coz the writing is fat and blurry. And to be honest I think you wouldnt have to push the ps button. It will be desplaying at 1080i if you set the system to that.

supersix4 · 06-26-2007, 10:15 PM

mine doesnt seem to be loud

sportsfan8 · 06-26-2007, 10:47 PM

I had my PS3 placed horizontally inside a media stand, which is pretty deep all around, and it was making the loudest fan noise ever. All sides of the PS3 were pretty hot. So I took the PS3 outside of the media stand, placed it vertically, and voila... it's like night and day. I would have to literally stand over the PS3 to hear the fan noise.

And regarding fan noise of standalone players, the BDP-S300 was super quiet but it's problem was just how slow it was.

Type-R · 06-26-2007, 11:38 PM

the ps3 makes a loud noise after it heats up a bit more because the fan spins faster after that. i recommend people to set their ps3 vertical because it has better airflow and less trap on the heat on the bottom of the ps3.

blumobetta · 06-27-2007, 08:51 AM

Thank you, all.

My PS3 is sitting horizontally in a shelfing unit (with plenty of space around it), but I'll attempt placing it vertically to see if it affects the noise issue.

The fonts look small when I press the display button on the controller, so I'll assume it's 1080. Thank you.

GasCat · 06-27-2007, 09:14 AM

The FW update is a major cause. The one that allows upscaling of DVDs. Everyone noticed the fans taking off after that update. Mine is noticeable but it turns into white noise once I sit down.

whippersnapper · 06-27-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasCat

The FW update is a major cause. The one that allows upscaling of DVDs. Everyone noticed the fans taking off after that update. Mine is noticeable but it turns into white noise once I sit down.

Not mine. And I run it 24/7 with folding@home when not watching movies. I set it vertically.

cawgijoe · 06-27-2007, 12:35 PM

Mine heats up, but not enough to hear the fan noise. Mine is horizontal in a rack open on all sides.

I envy you guys that have Sony 1080i TVs with either HDMI or DVI inputs that work. Long story short, and I've tried literally everything so no need to give me advice as it's been given, my Sony KV-34XBR800 (DVI input and HDCP Compliant) will not display a picture via HDMI to DVI with the PS3.

It works fine with my Directv HR20, but not the PS3.

I've tried everything suggested including holding the start button for two beeps, setting the output to 1080i, switching to a new cable, etc.

The PS3 works fine hooked up to my other bedroom TV via HDMI (Vizio 32").

Anyway, I'm using the Sony Component cable which works great but I would have preferred to use the HDMI out......and no, I'm not buying a new TV......

Blackraven · 06-27-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasCat

The FW update is a major cause. The one that allows upscaling of DVDs. Everyone noticed the fans taking off after that update. Mine is noticeable but it turns into white noise once I sit down.

A potential downside of the ver 1.81 firmware update. Numerous upgrades but came at the price of higher fan speed thus causing more fan noise.

For a few, it is annoying but lucky though for those that can't hear it

Btw, this only seems to happen on PS3 consoles that use 90 nm components (such as the launch units bought last year). For PS3 units that use 65nm parts (like the 80 GB Korean version), this won't be a problem at all

CJ P · 06-27-2007, 01:26 PM

As long as mine doesn't overheat I won't really care because I have an equipment closet so I don't see or hear my home theater gear. Bummer that you're having problems though.

Branden · 06-27-2007, 01:58 PM

i've only has my ps3 for a month and never thought of noise problems until this thread. hoping if someone would tell me if my situation is normal. i've noticed 3 fan speeds: silent, medium, loud. mine is only silent for the first few mintes after turning it on, then goes to medium and stays there once it warms up. it only goes loud on a hot day while folding@home or running games. is this normal, or should i expect it to stay silent more often?
if mine is actually noisier than it should be then i'll go exchange it, but i want to make sure there's actually something wrong before i do. thanks for any help.

krisztoforo · 06-27-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blumobetta

Thank you, all.

My PS3 is sitting horizontally in a shelfing unit (with plenty of space around it), but I'll attempt placing it vertically to see if it affects the noise issue.

The fonts look small when I press the display button on the controller, so I'll assume it's 1080. Thank you.

Just a thought: the fact that you bought a refurb unit might be the culprit here. Let me explain: one of my friends opened his PS3 a while back out of curiosity I guess. He pretty much took it apart completely and put it back together. Everything worked fine except that ever since the fan spins faster in his unit. No matter what he tried after that point (applying a little or a lot of silicone grease, etc) the fan speed was always higher than originally. I suspect there is a very delicate balance in the heat transfer in the PS3s that is very hard to get right outside of the assembly factory. So a refurb unit was probably disassembled and put back together by technicians that's why the fan spins higher for you.

phloyd · 06-27-2007, 05:53 PM

I have heard that Euro units and Canadian units are both louder for fans than the original US units.

Apparently the number of blades on the fan is different, so maybe they have to spin faster or something...

CYMBOL · 06-27-2007, 10:05 PM

I never hear my fan. Maybe cause I have my sound going through my home theater speakers. As for the display, I don't know if the PS3 shows it, but my T.V. displays 480P, 720P, 1080i, and 1080P - and everytime the output changes it displays on my T.V. screen. My Virtua Fighter game shows 720P but all my standard DVDs show 1080P, since the 1.8 update - they used to show 480P, and it showed. I know this doesn't answer your question, but hopefully it will assure you that the PS3 seems to display the highest output available from the source. Take it easy.

06-26-2007, 09:53 PM	#1
blumobetta Junior Member Member since:Jun 2007	PS3 - Fans running loud during B-R playback? Hi all, I recently received a refurbished PS3 from Sony, after my original unit failed to display Blu-ray discs properly, and stuttered during standard DVD play. I was pleased to see that my refurbished unit plays BDs manificently, as well as standard DVDs. However, the unit (or, I should say fans) seem quite loud during playback. I know that noise levels can be subjective, but during quiet scenes of a movie, the unit can be clearing heard humming away. My Sony TV can display up to 1080i, and I have the most recent PS3 updates. Are others having the same experience? Why does the unit have to run so hot to play a movie? Do stand-alone B-R players have fans, and run loud? Also, how can I tell what resolution the PS3 is playing at when watching a movie? I'm curious to know if the PS3 is converting the 1080p disc to 1080i for my TV, or dropping further down to 720p. I love my PS3, just wondering if others are having the same experience. THANK YOU.

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06-26-2007, 10:01 PM	#2
jaymzbo Expert Member Member since:Apr 2007 Location:NW FL Blu-ray collection:311 Trading Score:1	I also use PS3 and sony 1080i tv (sony xbr970); I have never had this problem when watching blu ray movies or playing games meaning I have never had my ps3 get hot or notice the cooling fan. Sorry, can't help you there. On my tv to display the current resolution all I have to do is press the "Display" button on the remote. I imagine it would be somethihng similar on yours.

06-26-2007, 10:14 PM	#3
blumobetta Junior Member Member since:Jun 2007	Thank you for your response. Hmmm... I don't understand why the fans hum at such an elevated volume for me, when the unit is only playing a movie. I'm going from HDMI to DVI. If I'm the only one with this problem, I may have to contact Sony again. I'm very much a pro-Sony person, but I have to admit my PS3 is running much louder than my 360. Perhaps my unit is faulty.

06-26-2007, 10:14 PM	#4
BluManta Banned Member since:Feb 2007 Location:LONDON, FELTHAM PSN ID: LDUK	The ps3 dosent actually convert 1080p. 1080i is 1080p but desplaying with half the erm, pixels or something. Anyway, just push the ps button while watching a movie and look at how small or big the writing is. If its at its smallest, its 1080i, if its a bit bigger, 720p and you will know if its less coz the writing is fat and blurry. And to be honest I think you wouldnt have to push the ps button. It will be desplaying at 1080i if you set the system to that.

06-26-2007, 10:15 PM	#5
supersix4 Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Mar 2007 Blu-ray collection:572 Blu-ray reviews: 53 Trading Score:3	mine doesnt seem to be loud

06-26-2007, 10:47 PM	#6
sportsfan8 Member Member since:Jun 2007	I had my PS3 placed horizontally inside a media stand, which is pretty deep all around, and it was making the loudest fan noise ever. All sides of the PS3 were pretty hot. So I took the PS3 outside of the media stand, placed it vertically, and voila... it's like night and day. I would have to literally stand over the PS3 to hear the fan noise. And regarding fan noise of standalone players, the BDP-S300 was super quiet but it's problem was just how slow it was.

06-26-2007, 11:38 PM	#7
Type-R Member Member since:Jun 2007	the ps3 makes a loud noise after it heats up a bit more because the fan spins faster after that. i recommend people to set their ps3 vertical because it has better airflow and less trap on the heat on the bottom of the ps3.

06-27-2007, 08:51 AM	#8
blumobetta Junior Member Member since:Jun 2007	Thank you, all. My PS3 is sitting horizontally in a shelfing unit (with plenty of space around it), but I'll attempt placing it vertically to see if it affects the noise issue. The fonts look small when I press the display button on the controller, so I'll assume it's 1080. Thank you.

06-27-2007, 09:14 AM	#9
GasCat Special Member Member since:Jan 2007 Blu-ray reviews:1	The FW update is a major cause. The one that allows upscaling of DVDs. Everyone noticed the fans taking off after that update. Mine is noticeable but it turns into white noise once I sit down.

06-27-2007, 12:35 PM	#11
cawgijoe Special Member Member since:Feb 2007 Trading Score:1	Mine heats up, but not enough to hear the fan noise. Mine is horizontal in a rack open on all sides. I envy you guys that have Sony 1080i TVs with either HDMI or DVI inputs that work. Long story short, and I've tried literally everything so no need to give me advice as it's been given, my Sony KV-34XBR800 (DVI input and HDCP Compliant) will not display a picture via HDMI to DVI with the PS3. It works fine with my Directv HR20, but not the PS3. I've tried everything suggested including holding the start button for two beeps, setting the output to 1080i, switching to a new cable, etc. The PS3 works fine hooked up to my other bedroom TV via HDMI (Vizio 32"). Anyway, I'm using the Sony Component cable which works great but I would have preferred to use the HDMI out......and no, I'm not buying a new TV......

06-27-2007, 01:26 PM	#13
CJ P Active Member Member since:Jun 2007	As long as mine doesn't overheat I won't really care because I have an equipment closet so I don't see or hear my home theater gear. Bummer that you're having problems though.

06-27-2007, 01:58 PM	#14
Branden Senior Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Calgary, Alberta 4K collection:28 Blu-ray collection:558	i've only has my ps3 for a month and never thought of noise problems until this thread. hoping if someone would tell me if my situation is normal. i've noticed 3 fan speeds: silent, medium, loud. mine is only silent for the first few mintes after turning it on, then goes to medium and stays there once it warms up. it only goes loud on a hot day while folding@home or running games. is this normal, or should i expect it to stay silent more often? if mine is actually noisier than it should be then i'll go exchange it, but i want to make sure there's actually something wrong before i do. thanks for any help.

06-27-2007, 05:53 PM	#16
phloyd Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2003 Location:California Trading Score:5	I have heard that Euro units and Canadian units are both louder for fans than the original US units. Apparently the number of blades on the fan is different, so maybe they have to spin faster or something...

06-27-2007, 10:05 PM	#17
CYMBOL Blu-ray Knight Member since:May 2007 Location:I move around a lot. Blu-ray collection:8	I never hear my fan. Maybe cause I have my sound going through my home theater speakers. As for the display, I don't know if the PS3 shows it, but my T.V. displays 480P, 720P, 1080i, and 1080P - and everytime the output changes it displays on my T.V. screen. My Virtua Fighter game shows 720P but all my standard DVDs show 1080P, since the 1.8 update - they used to show 480P, and it showed. I know this doesn't answer your question, but hopefully it will assure you that the PS3 seems to display the highest output available from the source. Take it easy.

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