Some advice needed :).

[mcbane42]

Hi all, I have an 80gb ps3 console that was running fine but needed a new laser, so I opened her up and did a successful repair. On opening her up though I noticed that she was rather dusty so I thought I'd strip her down clean her out and replace the thermal compound. I must admit though that the board was really welded to the heatsinks and didnt come off easy. ( I was very gentle in removing the board).

Once she was cleaned up I replaced the compound with something I had used on other ps3's with great success called antec silver something or other that i get from a local pc repair shop.

Once put back together and switched on the fan ramps up to its max speed and stays there, no matter what you do on the machine. I was wondering in my removing the board from the sticky heatsinks did I perhaps losen the cpu and gpu silver square cover/plates and as a result they are'nt making good contact with the chips and thats causing the machine to run hotter than it should. I should mention that the fan was quiet before all this and the ps3 never suffered a ylod or shut down due to over heating before or after the fan trouble. I have even played games with the noisey fan and the machine continues without any on screen signs its running hot.

Any ideas on a solution? I have tried a different compound but with the same results. I used arctic silver mx stuff and that didnt help. What holds the cpu and gpu square silver covers/plates to the chips? Perhaps I need to remove and stick them back down again.

Thanks in advance peeps .

[H3rman]

The old saying "if it aint broke, don't fix it" comes to mind here. Anyway, I would replace the thermal compound underneath the IHS (silver covers) on the BGA's (processors).

When you remove them, fully clean up all old thermal compound and replace with Arctic Silver 5 as you have already used.