the dreaded YLOD

[purbeast0]

hadn't turned my ps3 on in about 2 weeks and go to turn it on last night, and i now have the YLOD.

it's a launch 60gb with backwards compatibility. anyone know if there would be any money in just selling this version?

also, i have a 500gb hdd in there. if i just take the hdd out, and put it in a new ps3, will it work just as my current one did, or do i have to reformat the hard drive when it's into a new model ps3?

 

[JackBurton]

Let me know what you end up doing. I have the same problem with my launch 60GB PS3.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I don't know about recently, but I have seen 60GB PS3 systems with YLOD selling for between $150 and $200. Looking at recent listings I see working ones with $200 asking price, Gamestop sells them for $230. I haven't seen any finalized sales and as we know people can ask any price they want.

As for the HDD, you have to back up first and do a restore. If you just drop it in you'll have to format it. Unfortunately it means you need your PS3 to be working to do the backup if you really want to keep anything from it.

 

[Durvelle27]

Fix it bud. Its very easy to do

 

[Arkaign]

Do you have a heatgun? You could disassemble, reflow, clean the old thermal paste off, apply new thermal paste, install new fan (may as well with it opened up), and then it should be good to go.

I got my PS3 for free that way, someone had one in a media center with a glass door, and it cooked itself. I did the reflow myself, and it's still working 2 years later. My 360 re-failed fairly quickly, but this PS3 is a rock. I know if I re-balled my 360 it would work, but I already got another one given to me, so I can't be bothered.

If it wasn't a BC PS3 I'd say give up on it or sell it as is for cheap. Being that it's a BC one, reflow it and save it. You can even do it with a good hair dryer if you want.

 

[Arkaign]

Btw, here's a great video on how to do thermal paste on a PS3 fat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eytRmdhl4oc

Most how-tos for PS3 (and 360) are apparently done by console kiddies who don't know the difference between the cpu/gpu die size and the size of the cpu/gpu packaging. The guides that have people covering the entire thing with paste are hilariously wrong.

You may also want to do a fan-speed mod with the new one. I did that along with taller rubber feet for superior airflow, and my PS3 is quiet and never fails me.

Compare reflow guides as well, a lot of people also get that very wrong.

 

[KentState]

My father, who is not tech savvy, had his repaired for under $100 and it works fine 2 years later. If you have any need for backward compatibility, I would hold on to it. Down the road, the options to play physical PS1/2 disks will be very small.

 

[purbeast0]

i do have a heatgun, although i have no clue where it is. i think it's still in a box somewhere from when i moved last year lol.

and damn that sucks about the hdd. i figured that since it's already formatted for a ps3 that maybe i could just drop it in another ps3 and it would work.

 

[SpacemanSpiff46]

I had the same issue with my fat ps3. I bought mine used off fleabay in late 09 and got the YLOD with my MGS3 dvd stuck in it after a few months. I sent mine in for repair to Sony as it was out of warranty and it cost me 150 bucks but I still have a backwards compatible PS3. Still works now.

Also...

http://www.squidoo.com/3-tips-for-a-cooler-running-and-greener-ps3-system-models-cecha01-cechg01-

I will be doing all of these things to my PS3 around christmas to lenghten its lifespan.

 

[mmntech]

Reflowing is really only a temporary fix. Will hold for a couple of months before it fails again. Even sending it to Sony doesn't guarantee it will stay fixed, as happened in my case. Worked for 6 months then died again. My best advice is to just go buy a Slim and then pick up a used PS2 off eBay.

 

[purbeast0]

the backwards compatible thing i don't care about at all. that is why i'm wonering if i could sell this one and get a decent amount of money for it and just buy another ps3 with the money. just sucks that i can't swap the hdd's.

 

[sze5003]

Check your craigslist. I was able to find my friend a fat ps3 for 80 bucks. Works fine, especially if you need something to tide you over until November. You could try fixing it yourself if you feel like tinkering and know what needs to be done.