PS3 Overheatin', Snake Ain't Happy 'Bout It

[Solid Snake]

So my PS3 is consistently heatin' up after about 2-3 hours of continuous use. It hasn't gotten bad just yet, I mean there hasn't been any YLOD or freezes, but the noise from the machine is getting loud and I am starting to experience what I'd describe as 'slow-downs,' moments where the machine seems to take a few extra seconds to load stuff. (Menu options, cutscenes, etc.)

I've wiped off dust from the exterior of the machine -- there really wasn't much -- so I don't think this is a dust accumulation issue.

It's getting closer to summer, too, but the temperature in my room is not excessively warm.

Any tips for how to deal with this? I really can't afford a YLOD now, this machine needs to last at least a while longer.

[MSperoni]

Aside from getting a little fan to blow on it, I'm not sure what to do that'd be helpful apart from cutting back on gaming sessions. Just an hour or two and then take a break to give the PS3 a rest.

That should at least make it last longer until you can afford a new one. I'm on my second PS3 now...after my first one stopped taking discs it took awhile before I got the cash/incentive to buy a new one.

It's annoying too because I held off for over a year (maybe even closet to two) before I got a PS3 for the purpose of avoiding these sorta hardware issues!

[Aerozord]

Only cheap, non-screwdriver, method I know of is to basically strap a larger cooling fan and create some makeshift vent connecting to the PS3

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

It isn't an uncommon problem with the PS3. Heating issues was one of the prime reasons it was delayed but some problems still slipped under the radar. Seeing as I don't know the internals of the ps3 I can only make an educated guess that there's either a fan going bad, heating compound is going chalky so heat isn't being shunted to where it needs to go (if there is even any in there, and if there is it's probly more of a pad than compound), or the Cell is doing both the GPU and CPU's work. Plus, opening/taking any tools to it in any way voids the warranty and all that jazz.

Best to call Sony since they know it's a fairly common complaint with the ps3 units. Likely they'll offer certified repair locations nearby or possibly replace the unit. Hard to say since it hasn't quite gone belly up yet.

[Solid Snake]

I read somewhere online that flipping the AC cord so the white text is facing up helps somehow, and mine was facing down, so while I'm somewhat dubious that that's the issue at hand, I have done that and I'll see if that makes any significant difference tonight.

Somewhat skeptical that the Cell's multitasking with GPU and CPU just because that sounds to my untrained ears like something that'd severely impact game performance, and aside from very minor slowdown and lots of noise, I haven't experienced significant issues there yet. Everything's playing fine, it's just obnoxiously loud after sustained use.

Warranty's already voided by virtue of me replacing the hard drive with my own hard drive, I'd suspect, and I've owned it long enough that I don't think it's covered anymore anyway.

[rpgdemon]

I've wiped off dust from the exterior of the machine -- there really wasn't much -- so I don't think this is a dust accumulation issue.

The dust on the outside of the machine isn't going to do anything, it's the stuff inside that'll clog your fans and start making you overheat, and that can accumulate way more quickly than stuff on the outside, by merit of the fans forcing it into the system.

If you have a can of compressed air, you can try blowing the dust out with that, just don't stand too close, unless you want a facefull of dust.

[Solid Snake]

If you have a can of compressed air, you can try blowing the dust out with that, just don't stand too close, unless you want a facefull of dust.

Honestly, so long as it's not terribly expensive, I'd rather just toss it in the face of Best Buy's Geek Squad or something and ask them to clean it for me.
I'm always anxious when it comes to hardware repair because I am the last person who should ever be touching hardware.

[shiney]

I wouldn't recommend opening a PS3 if you aren't familiar with opening up modern-gen consoles. I've opened up a 360 and a PS3 and removed all the bits to clean them and re-apply thermal paste, and it does wonders, but for someone who hasn't done that before it's probably a little risky. Geek Squad...not much less risky, but at least if they F it up you should be entitled to full coverage and/or a new console! =)

Wish I had better advice but really outside of opening it up yourself to remove everything, dust it out and reapply paste, you'll likely want to go with a service. If it's overheating to a significant degree that suggests that it is getting pretty dry inside and the dust accumulation has probably reached a level that is actually impacting air flow.

[Solid Snake]

Well, if Best Buy's going to tear open the console to clean it, they still can't / won't damage the hard drive in the process, right?

So long as I could theoretically remove the hard drive and stick it in a new PS3 if I had to, there's really no downside to the Best Buy option.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Speaking from experience here as an actual factual PC/Network/NetworkSecurity tech, if you're going to take it to best buy you're still better off doing it yourself.

As for downsides, at best you're paying out the nose for what amounts to basic A+ work with a screw driver and air can. Worst: a busted up PS3. If you do the work yourself, then hey not overpaying for underperforming service.

If you're still hesitant about doing the work yourself, it still never hurts to call Sony up and ask if they know of any reputable and certified repair places nearby. I may have a bit of a bias against best buy, and bit being a massive understatement, but I can straight up say you won't be doing yourself or your wallet any favors going that avenue.

[Aldurin]

From experience from my first PS3, Sony used shit heatsink fluid on the processor which eventually oxidized into a form that blocked heat. I think the later productions might have dealt with that (my current one has had no such problems) but if it's that then it basically requires putting on decent heatsink fluid and hoping you don't break it in the process (which is what happened and why I'm on a second PS3 now).

If your problem isn't the same, it might be a similar limitation and either way you should either get a new PS3 or find someone who you're sure knows what they're doing and will fix your console properly.

[Solid Snake]

Yeah, whenever anyone starts talking about solutions to the issue that requires any degree of handiwork, my eyes just start to glaze over and the words stop making sense. Shouldn't have received an education in abstract concepts, leads me to have no freaking clue how to deal with everyday repair issues.

I'm going to see if the issue continues to get worse and if it does, I'll reach out to Sony and see if there's any place not named Best Buy that I can get this looked at.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Just make sure to replace your old hardrive into the machine before you send it anywhere. I know Sony specified that I do that before I sent mine to them for repair, and if you've got all your stuff saved on a new drive you don't want them writing off your machine AND your drive with all your saves on it.

Sure they'll probably reimburse you for it, but it's annoying as all hell to lose all that data.

That's what happened to mine when I got the YLOD; Game got stuck in the machine, sent it to Sony, wanted to remove the HDD to keep my saves safe, but they told me to send everything or they couldn't help, sent it all, to then be told it was beyond repair, here's a voucher for a new console and game. Sure I was able to get a newer machine with a bigger hardrive, but so many hours were lost.

Still I did basically get Uncharted 2 for free out of it, so all was well I suppose.

Now if only I could get my ps2 fixed as well...