Thinking about SSD for the PS3?

[IntensityShai]

Hey guys,


For those who are considering a SSD for the PS3 to improve performance, please take my experience into consideration. This is meant to inform so that you can make the best decision.


I recently installed a SAMSUNG 840EVO SSD on November of 2013. The Purpose was to improve loading time for GT5 and now GT6. The PS3 was only used for GT, I enjoyed fast load times on and offline. Everything was fun and dandy up until this past March 2014. I power up the PS3 and it won't turn on.


Now fast forward - I ended up take the PS3 apart to see what is wrong with it. After taking it completely apart I found the root of the problem. One of the Transistors blew up. See pic. Since is relatively close to the to the SATA connector this lead me to believe that somehow the SSD cause the system BUS to heat up and eventually blew a transistor. This PS3 is out of commission and I ended up buying a new one.


I’m not telling you that this will happen to you and perhaps my experience was just bad luck. Nonetheless I want it to be known…JUST IN CASE

 

[Jump_Ace]

Good to know, I have an OCZ SSD in my O.G. PS3, it has an issue that is becoming more and more common; it won't detect the SSD/OS and I hav eto manually turn it off and try again. Was this a symptom you saw before the transistor blew?


Jerome

 

[Grayfox]

Cant see how a SSD can cause a transistor to blow, it uses less power than a normal drive so should cause less issues.

 

[Korza]

Cant see how a SSD can cause a transistor to blow, it uses less power than a normal drive so should cause less issues.

Couldn't increased read and write speeds cause the SATA controller to get hotter than usual hence the blown transistor?

 

[Grayfox]

Doubt it.

If someone knows the part number you can find out what caused it

 

[IntensityShai]

Good to know, I have an OCZ SSD in my O.G. PS3, it has an issue that is becoming more and more common; it won't detect the SSD/OS and I hav eto manually turn it off and try again. Was this a symptom you saw before the transistor blew?


Jerome

Prior to the total failure I had the following symtom; it wasn't like yours.

1. When playing GT in between loading tracks I would get a blank screen. After 1 - 2 minutes it shutoff by itself; when i turn it back on it said it had a improper shutdown and will do a file check. This happen to me quite a few times.

2. Sometimes when i load GT i get a blank screen and it goes back to the XMB. I had to try 1 or 2 times to get through.

This all happen about 2 week prior.

 

[IntensityShai]

Hey Grayfox,

I tried looking online for some type of wiring diagram to no aval. All I can do is take a educated guess.

 

[Grayfox]

Good thing is it is not really a total failure.

Remove the bad transistor, go down to maplin, radioshack or where ever you can get electronic parts from, get the same kind of transistor, get some solder paste, place a small amount of solder paste onto the pads, using a SMD tweezers place the transistor the right way and then use a heat gun around the whole area and the rest of the PCB.

Hey Grayfox,

I tried looking online for some type of wiring diagram to no aval. All I can do is take a educated guess.

Just need a picture of the chip that shows its part number, you wont find a wiring diagram for the PS3 mainboard unless it is a fanmade one.

 

[IntensityShai]

Thanks for the tip

I'll be holding on to it until i can finally repair it.

 

[ULTRAVIOLENZZ]

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Grayfox]

Its like using the reflow trick to fix the PS3

 

[MHPALA]

Lol @ transistor. Its a tantalum capacitor.

 

[IntensityShai]

Thanks MHPALA :-)

I appreciate your correction

 

[MHPALA]

I feel sorry for that EVO drive though. Never witnessing it's full potential. Also you'll be missing out on RAPID and the awesome Magician software. But hey, your money. I have no room to complain.