3.55 vs 4.31 is it worth updating for psn access?

[steve51184]

hey all i've just brought a ps3 slim on 3.55 and wanted to know is it best staying on a 3.55 cfw or updating to one of the newer cfw that use 4.30/4.31?

as far as i know the pro's of being on 4.31 are you can play all games without patching and go online but are there any cons of using a newer 4.30/4.31 cfw? (and anything else i might need to know..)

thanks and sorry if i got anything wrong i've been out the loop with all the cfw's after 3.55

[qwillis]

Well the only thing that can be a pain sometimes for people is that some of their homebrew apps or content that used to work fine on 3.55 may need to be resigned to be compatible with the newer firmwares. But if you stay on old firmware you will need patches for many newer games and game updates which is way more annoying IMO.

You should turn on the QA flag while you are still on 3.55 CFW since its not possible to do it once you update. If you set it on 3.55 it will stay set and make your console a bit safer for future updates.

As for PSN its a use at your own risk scenario. Some people report console and even profile bans although I'm sure if people connect with all pirated games or mod the games for cheating online you make yourself a bigger target. Personally, on my modded system I only ever connect to get game updates and have not been banned. Just be careful especially with a profile that you bought content with and use for a normal PS3.

[indirect76]

Just as 3.55 became the primary firmware after 3.41, 4.xx now has all the focus. The entire scene is moving this way. It's best to update now and be part of it.

[steve51184]

You should turn on the QA flag while you are still on 3.55 CFW since its not possible to do it once you update. If you set it on 3.55 it will stay set and make your console a bit safer for future updates.

what's QA flag? and safer? i will be able to update without problems right? i don't want to lose my JB or anything

As for PSN its a use at your own risk scenario. Some people report console and even profile bans although I'm sure if people connect with all pirated games or mod the games for cheating online you make yourself a bigger target. Personally, on my modded system I only ever connect to get game updates and have not been banned. Just be careful especially with a profile that you bought content with and use for a normal PS3.

well i'd have a hard drive full of games but would probably hardly ever 'play online' but i'd like to be connected... is that 'safe'?

also by 'it's a risk' do you mean like going on xbox live on a flashed 360 is a risk or more so then that and also what happens to my console IF i get banned... does it affect anything?

Just as 3.55 became the primary firmware after 3.41, 4.x now has all the focus. The entire scene is moving this way. It's best to update now and be part of it.

is there a guide for going from a 3.55 cfw to a 4.31 cfw? and on that what's the best cfw out atm?


sorry for all the questions guys and i REALLY appreciate all the help so far you guys rock!

[qwillis]

The QA flag was made by the manufacturer to allow them to easily flash a console in a service center regardless of the console's firmware version. People figured this out and use it for CFW for safer upgrading or especially downgrading. They put somewhat of a stop to this as you can only turn it on with 3.55 CFW and not the higher versions, however once you turn it on it stays with the console after updating CFW.

To enable the QA flag download and install the latest Rebug Toolbox package, install it on 3.55 CFW and run it. In the GUI toward the right side you will see an option for QA, switch it to enable, reboot and you're set. After that you can install a CFW through the XMB I would recommend the newest Rebug 4.30.1 or the newest Rogero 4.30. If you stick with Rebug you can keep the Toolbox installed and after the update turn on Rebug mode for the 4.31 spoof to activate.

For the PSN stuff you may want to check around for reports of people getting banned. I have a friend that was banned just from Black Ops 2 (there are alot of reports for bans in that game). He was literally banned during the first match he connected to. His profile is still OK though and i don't think the system was banned completely, just from their servers. I havent been banned but I played it more safe and never went into the online options for any of my games while connected with the modded PS3. So far just logging in, starting a game and letting it get automatic updates hasn't been a problem for me.

Hope this helps

[barelynotlegal]

Watch out for the ban wave!

[sergio11511]

go for the latest. no cons vs 3.55 other than resigning some apps. all important apps (multiman, showtime, UMS, retroarch, etc) are all updated to work for 4.XX anyways.

[steve51184]

ok thanks again so much guys just want to confirm a few last things:

1. what the best backup manager these days i remember using Gaia, Rogero and multiMAN back in the day and remember multiMAN being the best.. will multiMAN play all my backups fine?

2. wouldn't using a 4.31 cfw be better then using a 4.30 cfw and spoofing to 4.31? also any decent guides out there?

3. i can software downgrade this back to 3.55 without any consequences if i wish to right?

[qwillis]

1. multiMan

2. No, all the best custom firmwares are 4.30 based or lower at the moment with a spoof. I don't think it will let me post links yet, there are guides all over the place just make sure you enable QA and you will be good then install the CFW through XMB or recovery.

3. Yes you can always downgrade with software as long as you stay on custom firmware.

[steve51184]

ok ps3 should hopefully be here tomorrow so what 4.30 (or 4.31 if that's the better option) cfw should i get? is there a topic that has the pros and cons of what's currently available?