Ps3 slims failure rate?

[deadman855555]

Just curious. Does anyone know? And when you play backups does that keep the blueray players life Span longer?

[AlexDC22]

Ir should, i have a fat one at launch date, and still kicking
I have over 200 store bought games :P and has seen many more than that and still reads like new.

Also the slim one i have is not even a month old, well 2 slim ones lol
and each have about 60 games in it, so no problems yet on my end

[synce]

Same as fat failure rate, I imagine, unless they stopped using lead free solder

[deadman855555]

My phat lasted 3 years then I sold it to a guy last year to buy a slim. Funny cause he used the ps3 for 2 weeks then gave it to his bro....then it quit working

[VTEC1234]

so then anyone know ps3 fat failure rate?
or even better average life span ?

[garyopa]

Sony nor anyone else CAN'T stop using "lead-free solder" as since 2006 LEAD is illegal in electronics, so sadly all electronics will fail overtime displaying weird graphics, flashing light, or the famous PS3 YLOD!

They could of course make thicker boards with 2oz of copper plates in them, or use a better mixture of lead-free solder with bit silver and gold in it, but it needs a higher melting temp., which means plastic caps and chips can't be used, only ceramic, other meltable parts would have to be hand-soldered on afterwards, all of which would greatly increase labour costs, and reduce their vast profit margin on the china-imported electronics!

As for the Slim, it has a much better laser design, the 450 / 460 and it outlasts the lifetime over double of the original 410 design, and over triple the life of the 400, so most likely you will get the YLOD before the laser dies.

The original PHAT models that had the 400, were lucky to get 18 months to 24 months of daily usage from the laser.

The Slim has alot less power/heat inside and should last a few years before any solder ball problems.

But the Slim is tiny, and no protection inside, all plastic case, very little metal, and thiner parts.

As such, most of the problems I see in the Slim (I run a large console repair company also!), is from the following three majority of cases!

STEPPING ON -- Even just taking your elbow and pushing down with your weight can case problems, heavy objects, using it as stool, foot rest, you name it!

Related to above, small drops, even less then 2 feet onto carpet, can cause weird graphic glitchs within minutes after the drop, or a few hours of gameplay, no fix, except to re-ball the ram chips, I even see a machine were one of them fell clean of the board from a larger drop.

JAMMING THINGS IN -- The drive is smaller, with many exposed parts, so inserting pennies, knifes, multiple discs, peanuts, chips, can caused instant failure and in many cases not fixable, due to burned traces and chips from metal objects.

BLOCKED VENTS - Even tho the slim has less power inside, it also has the bare amount of fan blades and vent holes, so always make sure you have 2 feet of clear space behind the unit, as both intake and outtake is from the back, and on the sides make sure the little slots are always clear of dust.

[AlexDC22]

Damn Gary, thats a whole lot of useful information, better move my slim away from the wall

Also i guess ive been blessed then, cus my fat day 1 launch still kicking and it has seeing over 200 games

[xRAVExHEAVENx]

At my repair shop we see about the same rate of repairs with different issues.

Phats seem to have more issues with YLOD issues due to overheating where the Slims have more issues with lasers.
As the Slims DO indeed have better lasers that doesn't make much sense, but I'm just calling it like I see it.

Good post on that Gary.

Judging by that, repair costs on Phats are cheaper due to not having to directly replace parts and a good reflow will typically fix the issue.

Luckily neither of my PS3's have broken as of yet, knock on wood.

[jman123]

The failure rate is very "slim". Get it?
a ha

[as905]

very useful post garyopa,i just moved my 1 week old slim away from the wall.