Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
After Hours

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

By Mark W. Kaelin August 27, 2009, 4:20 AM PDT

Image
1
of 43

335852.jpg
335852.jpg
Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Teardown

Teardown

With the help of our friends over at iFixit, TechRepublic presents a cracked open look at the inside of Sony’s dramatically redesigned, cooler, sleeker PlayStation 3 Slim.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

iFixit is a one-stop-shop for the parts, tools, and repair manuals needed to fix iPods, iPhones, Macs, and more. They make it easy for anyone to repair their Apple hardware.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Glamour shot

Glamour shot

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

What you get

What you get

Along with the PS3 Slim you get:

  • Sixaxis DualShock 3 controller
  • RCA Cables
  • USB Cable
  • Power Cord
  • QuickStart Guide and Instruction Manual
  • Welcome to PS3 and PS Network Blu-ray Disc
  • One of those “Guide to Video Game Ratings” guides that nobody gives a [redacted] about.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Contents listed

Contents listed

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Hard drive cover

Hard drive cover

Next, remove the hard drive cover.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Warranty removal

Warranty removal

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Tab

Tab

Under the warranty sticker is another screw.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

7 screws

7 screws

Seven Phillips screws need to be removed from the bottom. Interestingly enough, the rubber pad on the front-right corner of the PS3 has no screw hidden underneath it. Imagine our surprise when we removed it!

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Opening

Opening

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Still opening

Still opening

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

MEGA FAN revealed!

MEGA FAN revealed!

This 12V, 1.3A monster rivals the best fans found in desktop PC machines. Sony spared no expense.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Closeup of the massive fan

Closeup of the massive fan

This is a brushless DC motor, which is fairly standard for fans in devices like this. Brushless motors are quieter than more traditional fans, but require fine computer control to function. It is not a maglev fan like Apple is known to use, however.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Closeup of the controller antennas

Closeup of the controller antennas

The Bluetooth and WLAN antennas, intentionally three-dimensional in design, are attached to the lower case with Phillips screws.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Disconnecting the power

Disconnecting the power

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Disconnecting the other power connection

Disconnecting the other power connection

The AC inlet cable is devoid of a third ‘ground’ pin, surprising for a unit that draws nearly 250W.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Removing the power supply

Removing the power supply

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Removing the power supply

Removing the power supply

This is quite a bit smaller than the original PS3’s power supply, and presumably has better thermal characteristics.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Voltage

Voltage

Much to the relief of users worldwide, the power supply is designed for inputs ranging from 100V to 240V AC.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Digging deeper into power supply

Digging deeper into power supply

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Power supply exposed

Power supply exposed

This is a startlingly compact unit. It will be interesting to see what the thermal dissipation is like. This puppy cranks out 18 amps at 12V DC! Fingers beware.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Backside power supply

Backside power supply

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Disconnect the fan

Disconnect the fan

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Here it comes

Here it comes

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

And here it is

And here it is

This is the largest fan we’ve come across in a consumer electronics device of this size. Sony is really taking cooling quite seriously.

The ~95 mm diameter 17 blade impeller was definitely designed with quiet in mind. It is extremely stiff and presumably made of ABS plastic.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Tape to remove

Tape to remove

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

More tape

More tape

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Give it a yank

Give it a yank

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Another screw

Another screw

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Blue-ray

Blue-ray

iFixit disassembled the drive, and found that it appears to be a proprietary Sony-manufactured part.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Yet another ribbon connection

Yet another ribbon connection

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

More screws on the way to logic board

More screws on the way to logic board

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Keep going

Keep going

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Logic board coming out

Logic board coming out

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

EMI shield

EMI shield

The two identical matte finished brackets are designed to apply pressure to the center of the processors, keeping them firmly planted on their heat sinks.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

EMI shield coming off

EMI shield coming off

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Work carefully

Work carefully

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

And we have separation

And we have separation

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Cell processor

Cell processor

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

RSX Reality Synthesizer

RSX Reality Synthesizer

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Two of the four NEC/TOKIN 0e108 capacitors

Two of the four NEC/TOKIN 0e108 capacitors

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Clock generators

Clock generators

(Orange) Clock generator (1): ICS 9249AGLF
(Yello) Clock generator (2): ICS 1493DG

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Support chips

Support chips

Samsung K8Q2815UQB-PI4B
SW2-301 0920KMOOT
Sony CXD9963G8

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

Shuffle comparison

Shuffle comparison

iFixit put the latest iPod Shuffle on top of the processor. The shuffle is just slightly longer, but the overall area of the processor is vastly larger.

Photo by iFixit, used by permission. The original iFixit Teardown Photo Gallery can be found here.

  • After Hours
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

    Your email has been sent

Share: Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim
Image of Mark W. Kaelin
By Mark W. Kaelin
Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net,
  • Account Information

    Contact Mark W. Kaelin

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Mark W.'s content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    Google Docs tips for advanced users

    None of these tips from TechRepublic Premium require a paid Google Workspace account, so anyone should be able to make use of them. You do, of course, need to have a Google account. From the guide: HOW TO PASTE WITHOUT FORMATTING I use this tip all the time. When you copy and paste text into ...

    Downloads
    Published:  June 8, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 9, 2023, 8:04 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Google Chrome: Security and UI tips you need to know

    Google’s Chrome web browser held a 64.92% command of the global browser market share in April 2023. That means more users are working with Chrome in significantly more use cases: mobile, desktop and even business. Because of that, users of all types must employ Chrome with a measure of caution and intelligence. After all, most ...

    Downloads
    Published:  June 7, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 8, 2023, 9:12 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Ergonomics policy

    A safe and healthy work environment provides the foundation for all employees to be at their most productive. Not only does it promote productivity in the workforce, but it also helps prevent accidents, lawsuits and, in extreme cases, serious injury and loss of life. A clear and robust ergonomic policy, like this one from TechRepublic ...

    Downloads
    Published:  June 7, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 8, 2023, 7:58 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Enterprise IoT calculator: TCO and ROI

    Internet of Things devices serve a number of useful applications, such as environmental, asset or inventory monitoring/control, security functions, fitness devices and smartwatches. There is an array of IoT functions for both consumer and business purposes, but determining the total cost of ownership and the return on your enterprise investment in a widespread or large-scale ...

    Downloads
    Published:  June 6, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT Modified:  June 7, 2023, 9:15 AM EDT Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice