*Is a solved issue*

Just like sysconlogs bro

So what was the problem? Explain it to me like the idiot that I am.

when it's a playstation problem, they're incapable of explaining the problem and will just parrot key words

Using sysconlogs you can diagnose the cause of the YLOD, which indicates a general hardware fault. In the past many people were taking guesses at the CPU/GPU needing BGA rework, eventually suspicion led to the custom NEC/Tokin capacitors failing, until finally access to the system logs helps reveal various details about the console, such as crash logs with precise error codes, uptime and this has helped tremendously with determining the health and needed repairs for the console. Along the way of this development it was discovered that Sony themselves were installing 45nm CPUs and GPUs in their factory refurbished consoles which opened the door to user mods where one can transplant a more efficient 45nm RSX or Cell to a backwards compatible fat PS3.

Hm. Interesting. I have a phat PS3 that has YLOD but then I bought a new Toy Story 3 PS3 to hack yeeeeeeeears ago.

I've been getting into soldering so might do some beginner projects and then try this.

the problem is "it depends".
The syscon is the chip on the PS3 that holds boot logs and with it you can now see exactly where a PS3 boot process halts and diagnose the issue.
Common causes of the YLoD are either:
1) The 8 TOKIN capacitors around the Cell/RSX have fallen out of spec due to a combination heat or aging and need to be replaced. There are community made replacement PCBs that use cheap off-the-shelf ceramic and tantalum capacitors to replace them.
2) The substrate of the PS3 Cell or RSX has failed due to manufacturing issues (the same ones certain Nvidia video cards and the 360 had at the time) and the solder balls under the chips have come loose or cracked.

For #2, the only sure-fire fix is to replace the 60nm Cell and RSX with a 40nm Cell and RSX from the newer PS3 models and flash the SYSCON with new data on the CPU/GPU.
This is the so-called "Frankenstein" mod.

This is not something your average person can do because de-soldering the Cell/RSX requires special equipment (like a PCB pre-heater, mount, and a special BGA reballing machine) to not destroy the motherboard or the replacement Cell/RSX.

It's a $400 procedure, but it will make your launch PS3 run like a slim, heat wise.

which indicates a general hardware fault

I feel like most issues from that era onward, with consoles, usually end up being a hardware issue. Hell, wasn't the whole issue with the 360 RRoD just hardware. I remember getting it and trying the towel trick to melt whatever component needed melted for it to properly reconnect. Didn't work for me and I had to send mine in. I think it took one to two months to get it back.

wasn't the whole issue with the 360 RRoD just hardware

Yeah, it was mostly down to bumpgate which impacted certain ATi, and all Nvidia chips. There's more issues but that was the big one, the chip underfill was not fit for purpose but this wasn't discovered for a few years. 360 repair has also had some progress and is easier to get error readouts from.

Zoomers will never understand the struggle

Got the Slim PS3, never had YLOD

Got the Elite 360, never had RROD

Feels good

Issue that was universal to literally all computer/computer component that relied on TSMC to manufacture chips during that timespan

"BUT MUH CONSOLEWARS!!!!!!!"

Despite it's flaws, OG 360 is one of the best consoles. The original UI was great and so were the games.

Wait. Are you saying I can fix my old ass fat ps3?

Maybe. How good are you at BGA rework? Start by setting up the syscon probes.

So what was the problem?

That was the issue, the yellow light tells you that there's a problem but not what the actual problem is. Same thing with the 360's Red Ring of Death, which was more noticeable because it came out a year earlier.

I'll give you a problem.

the underfill issue wasn't 100%, and was heavily exacerbated by rapid heat/thermal expansion and mounting pressure.
Early 360s ran EXTREMELY hot and would ramp up their fan massively until the temps dropped very low, then shut them off. This paired with the god awful x-clamp mount made 360s kill themselves very quickly with moderate use.

PS3s, on the other hand, always ran their fans at a 20% duty cycle, have a very conservative fan curve that prioritizes noise over cooling, and a very rigid mounting system for a MASSIVE heatsink. A PS3 got hot, stayed hot, and was slowly brought down to normal temps. The failures happened much less often and much later in the console lifespan.

I have a Super Slim anyway so...eh? Cool I guess.

What about the overclock, does it do anything worth of note?

It's a $400 procedure

Got a fat PS3 at goodwill last week. If It ever gets a YLOD I will just keep it for aesthetics. No way am I spending that much just to fix it.

You're not wrong but the other guy is also right.
YLoD was a fucking nothing burger compared to the RRoD and most people spamming it back in those days were butthurt 360 fanboys.

Super Slim's the best choice for PS3 games (I know because I have one) but phats have native PS2 support which is what draws people to keep using them.

you guys are retarded. the PS3 engineering doesn't get enough credit for how good it was reliability wise. why you might ask. it was the first console that had such power demands meaning a lot of heat to disperse. and it did it admirably. even the fat before the redesign. the PS2 and consoles prior demanded a fraction of power that consoles did afterwards. does the PS3 get credit for being a pioneer to tackle such a task?

Yeah I know but I already have a PS2 too so it would be pointless. I use it for PS1 games but the Super Slim can play them just like the other models.

I'm glad you're adding useful info to the thread but my problem with that guy's post was his consolewar faggotry over shit that happened 19-20 years ago.

I thought it was the last minute switch to lead free solder, which melted at lower temps, because of some gay law

meanwhile, an actual fat PS3 in real life and not the one that exists in your head idling on xmb

I won't put away my ps3 until the Xillias get remastered.

Lead free melts at a higher temp, it's just more annoying to work with compared to leaded. Don't believe everything you read on the internet!

zoomers grew up with the 360 are you retarded?

@709276474

trannies out of nowhere

Utterly mindbroken.

I have a PS3 slim :)

It's Bamco, they'd just fuck it up. But hello all the same fellow Xilliachad.

oh she mad

Wait what? I still have mine! Are you serious? What do I do? I miss my psfat so much

Speaking of PS3 fans

Play some random early-life tech demo ass game

Fans MAX the fuck out in a way I've never seen before in my life

Knowing that some games can straight up KILL your console like the Disgaea games, it's kind of funny.

I lived in opposite land or some shit as I had both the PS3 and 360 but my 360 never broke but my launch ps3 broke the week skyrim came out while I was playing it. I remember I was on the map screen and the screen went all weird and pixelated and weird colours and the ps3 beeped 3 times and would never turn back on.

Its funny how shoddy the 360 and ps3 were compared to the consoles before and after. Like I had the PS1 and N64 and never had issues with them and I had the PS2 and Gamecube and no issues there and I had the PS4 and xbox1 and never had issues with either and same with the PS5 and Series S this gen. 360 and PS3 were both just made shit or something.

I miss when consoles were good. Had a fat YLOD on me and I got a slim and it still works

You can tell when someone grew up in the 7th generation because they approach every new electronic as if there's going to be major things worked out and fixed in a revision.

Does it keep the PS2 backwards compatibility if the repair is done?

The only time it worked out in everyone's favor was when Nintendo shipped out 2 million Switches that could be set to kernel mode with a paper clip.