PS3 cooling mods, some ideas ?

[spystyle]

Hello from Maine

PS3 consoles, they run hot. Apparently they don't use good solder so if you let them run hot they will eventually have serious problems ?

As a computer repair guy I am not opposed to using a 3 inch hole saw and adding a few 80mm fans here and there.

My idea for the PS3 is to add a few 80mm fans to the top, connected to USB.

Here is a 3 fan rig already wired up for less than $7 shipped :

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=New+USB+Laptop+Notebook+Cooling+Cooler+Pad+3+Built-in+Fans+with+Blue+LED+15.4%22&_sop=15



I also thought about adding capacitors to the fans so they continue to spin for a few minutes after power down. Or at least a capcitor to the main fan.

Those are off the shelf 80mm fans so thge4y can use common dust filters :

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=New+Dustproof+Dust+Filter+for+PC+Computer+Fan+S+80mm+Black&_sop=15



And I also saw copper shims are effective at keeping things cool :





http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=ps3+copper&_sop=15

Have any of you done cooling mods to avoid the yellow lights of death ?

Cheers!
Craig

[Malenko]

I havent turned mine on in about 2 years (other than recently to update the CFW to a newer one) so far, no yellow light issues!

[spystyle]

I have a 3001b that has some really hot air coming out the back. But I just ordered one of the old ones that is backwards compatible, I heard those had real thermal issues.

Apparently the problem is lead free solder balls were used under the CPU and GPU and that's not Tonka tuff ?

[Le Chuck]

Drop all the solid state parts into an aquarium of mineral oil.

[spystyle]

That's one way LOL

[ark_ader]

Put your console in a clean area off the floor, stick the Dyson on the back vent every year (I do that on the PC and Xbox you should see the dust bunnies) and don't power it on all day.

Simples.   

[spystyle]

Attached is a mod that was done with a laptop cooling pad, the pcb on top is a speed controller.

Most of the videos I watched on the subject were in Spanish, so I think it's more common in Mexico (?)

I saw one that used a single 200mm fan too.

I guess it's not common here LOL

[northerngames]

that's ridiculous 

[spystyle]

Well if you Google up YLOD it's pretty common, apparently.

The yellow lights of death - from overheating consoles.

America is pretty cool though, I mean thermally. These may be more common in the places closer to the equator ?

I didn't realize it was so uncommon here LOL

I'm in Maine and wearing long sleeves right now, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it either ?

[HaRuMaN]

I have 2 PS3, a fat 60Gb and a fat 80Gb... never had a single problem.  I did have a 360 RROD on me.

[northerngames]

well to be honost if you have a bunk console you have a bunk console.

if it works like it should then it works like it should.

you either got one that was built right and just works or you got one where they cheaped out and it just screw's up and breaks like anything else manufactured.

I mean I have played them on a 90+ degree day for hours on end without issue and no fans mods what so ever and unless there at 130+ what's the difference?

even that 40 degree difference is not going to make much of a difference for the stiffness of solder under a chip that is located under a heatsink 

[spystyle]

Oh I see there is a plate on top of the CPU and GPU :

http://www.bgamods.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=198

Apparently, on some PS3, the thermal grease under those plates need to be replaced.

Also, apparently it's quite risky of CPU or GPU damage.

[SavannahLion]

Well if you Google up YLOD it's pretty common, apparently.

The yellow lights of death - from overheating consoles.

America is pretty cool though, I mean thermally. These may be more common in the places closer to the equator ?

I didn't realize it was so uncommon here LOL

I'm in Maine and wearing long sleeves right now, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it either ?

More than likely it's better warranty service/process in the U.S. Having much of anything shipped to and fro south of the border is a ---smurfing--- nightmare. So much so that I'd rather deal with slow Chinese boats.

[Aphextwin]

I really wished I could liquid cool my ps3! One day

[epicfatigue]

Guys guys guys...

my advise here is to think about the money Sony and or Xbox spent on the design of their consoles.

They would have had everything covered when it comes to Airflow the problem was the people that chose the solder.
Now the issue is going to happen one day or another but the trick here is reducing the Ambient temp not the airflow in the console, you start chopping in there and static pressure is out the window and parts that had airflow will not longer have it.

Most people have these machines in a TV unit, if so, wood on the front and the back, and add some 120mm fans, this will reduce the ambient which in-turn will reduce the temps inside the case.

But none of this will save you if you have already had the solder start to flow, it will create dead shorts that will heat up other areas and no amount of airflow will save that.