What should I look for in a used PS3?

[phucheneh]

It's been ages since I played my 360, but I'm wanting to pick up a cheap PS3 to play a game or two with friends. I am 100% clueless when it comes to versions...I know they're not exactly like 360's...i.e. some older models are pretty much guaranteed to fail, some are in the middle, newer ones are (probably?) okay.

I know people with pretty old, well-used ones that are still kicking. But is there anything I should avoid in particular? Or is there a certain point in production where it's worth it to spend a little extra cash? Fat/slim and HDD size don't matter to me for any practical purpose- just want to know if, say, an old 250GB is a timebomb and a newer 120GB is pretty bulletproof, or something like that.

I'm seeing them on craigslist for as little at a hundred bucks, some even less (that seems a little sketchy). Looking to keep it close to that number, though (Gamestop refurbs seem to start at 150 or so).

If someone can offer a little insight, I'd be much obliged. Thanks.

 

[boomhower]

New ones use a lot less power than the older fat ones, likely quieter too. I've got a fat one that's still going strong but if it wouldn't break the bank I'd get a slim.

 

[mmntech]

There's certainly a lot of different models to chose from.

The original "fat" 60GB and 20GB are tempting based on their sheer number of features, plus PS2 backwards compatibility. However, these are vulnerable to the yellow light of death. They run quite hot and develop the same issue as the old 360s did, they just take longer to die. Some early ones are known to have laser issues as well.

I highly recommend getting the Slim. Either the 160GB or 320GB model. I have the latter. They have a 45nm CPU and are generally the most energy efficient out of all the models. These later Slim models are when Sony finally got the hardware tight and ironed the kinks out. They're quite reliable.

The new Super Slim, or top loader, is pretty reasonably priced. GameStop, at least here in Canada, is selling a brand new 250GB NHL 14 bundle for $200. I haven't heard of any reliability issues with them. Though they are a bit cheapy looking, and feeling. You'll want to steer clear from the 12GB Flash version though. It's not much cheaper when you consider a lot of older bundles go on sale for the same price. You will have to upgrade the storage in it.

Overall, I think a used/refurb Slim is your best bet.

 

[phucheneh]

So basically, 'the slim is worth it.'

That's a lot easier than 'they were supposed to be better once the HDMI models came out, but then they were really were better after Jasper...no wait, you want a black one...no wait, you want a slim...'

Or whatever Xbox turned into. Not to fuel any kind of 'OMG PS PWN XBOX' crap...they just really did seem to get ridiculous with the 'it's totally fixed now' news/rumors followed soon after by 'wait, no, my console just died...' Heh.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I looked for used ones near me and everyone wanted either way too much or they were fake ads...

I ended up getting the SuperSlim Last of Us/BO bundle over the holidays. I put a 1TB hybrid drive in it ($94 shipped from the egg). Probably overkill at this point...but whatever..I can't not mod my shite in some fashion.

 

[dagamer34]

Go for the slim. Avoid the fatty, takes up too much power, avoid the super slim, feels cheap.

 

[phucheneh]

I think it took me about ten minutes of text messaging...maybe responded to about five ads before I found a guy who parted with his Slim (120GB?. Dunno, it's updating right now...'-001A' part number I think) and two controllers for $150. The controllers aren't anything special, but they're genuine and work 100% (one had kind of a sluggish stick that was fixed with a good sterile cleaning).

I think that was an alright buy, myself.

 

[phucheneh]

Ha...here's something worth knowing. Even though they designed the guts of the Dualshock totally differently from the Sixaxis (as far as the control board and stuff), in glorious Japanese fashion, they did not fix what wasn't broken and kept the same casing design.

I took the one controller (old style) with the kinda limp, sad analog sticks (cleaning didn't help), opened it up, and shoved in a perfectly good Dualshock board (with newer, stiffer potentiometers for the sticks).

Have a friend with a dog that likes controllers...he had gnawed the case up, eaten the analog sticks, and ruined the triggers on an almost-new $50 or whatever controller. But I saved it from the trash because I'm a hoarder of electrical/electronic widgets. For once, hoarding paid off and now I have a old-looking Sixaxis case around what is functionally a new controller.

Just a little proud of my ingenuity is all...

edit: next step....solder a PS3 board into an old 360 controller...I think it's like 19 wires I have to connect between the 360 buttons and PS3 controller 'brain.'

 

[artemicion]

Sounds like it's too late to help you but for anyone else looking for a PS3/Xbox360/Wii, I'd recommend trying Cowboom auctions. I picked up a PS3 (250gb, super slim) for $115+s/h and tax and a Xbox 360 (250gb, slim, with Kinect) for $140+s/h and tax. They're pretty good about returns as well.

I've never trusted Craigslist for console hardware since a lot of times the seller wants to meet somewhere public and you can't plug the console into a TV to verify that it works and it's not banned. Though ironically enough I've sold a bunch of consoles on Craigslist to people I've met at a Starbucks...