After Hours

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Slim

By // August 27, 2009, 11:47 PM PST // markwkaelin

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  • 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.

  • The box



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

  • Glamour shot



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

  • 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.

  • Contents listed



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

  • Front

    On the front left we have two USB ports, a hard drive indicator light, and a Wi-Fi indicator light.

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

  • Power

    Front right yields a slot-loading Blu-ray drive, power button, and eject button.

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

  • Back

    The back has a LAN connection, HDMI port, digital audio-out, multi-connector (RCA or component video) and a new type of power plug.

    Owners of the current-gen PS3s will notice an absence of the rear manual power switch. All your powering needs are now served by the front power button.

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

  • Hard drive

    Now that we've dispensed with the pleasantries, let's get into the meat of the subject, so to speak. We start with the hard drive first. A blue Phillips screw is hidden beneath "the blue Phillips screw cover," as we call it. Remove this screw.

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

  • 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.

  • Tab

    The drive enclosure has a metal pull tab attached to it. Pull on it to release the drive from the bay.

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

  • Upgradeable

    The 120 GB Toshiba drive, in all its glory. We have a feeling that it's going to be super-easy to upgrade this drive to 500GB.

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

  • Security screws

    Remove the three T8 security Torx screws on the underside of the PS3 slim.

    What's that, you say? Security screws? Yes, that's right. These screws have a pin in the center of them that prevents an ordinary Torx screwdriver from working. These screwdrivers are widely available, just not quite as easy to come by as a normal Torx. Sony did this to prevent people like us from taking it apart. Those three T8 security Torx screws seem to be the only non-Phillips head fasteners on the entire device. This seems a little spiteful-- hardware hacking is a fine American tradition. No worries, we'll make sure it's easy for you to get these screwdrivers.

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

  • Warranty removal



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

  • Tab

    Under the warranty sticker is another screw.

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

  • 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.

  • Opening



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

  • Still opening



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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Disconnecting the power



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

  • 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.

  • Removing the power supply



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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Digging deeper into power supply



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

  • 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.

  • Backside power supply



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

  • Disconnect the fan



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

  • Here it comes



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

  • 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.

  • Tape to remove



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

  • More tape



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

  • Ribbon cable

    Open the gate with screwdriver of spudger.

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

  • Give it a yank



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

  • Another screw



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

  • Optical Drive

    The Blu-ray drive comes right out. This drive is still quite large, and takes up the bulk of the space inside the PS3.

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

  • 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.

  • More screws

    The design aesthetic of this machine is quite a bit more bare-bones-functional than Apple's, but is still beautiful in its own way.

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

  • Yet another ribbon connection



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

  • Power connector

    Several components, including the AC power inlet, are simply held to the unit by the pressure of the screws connecting the top and bottom cases.

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

  • More screws on the way to logic board



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

  • Keep going



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

  • Logic board coming out



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

  • 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.

  • EMI shield coming off



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

  • Work carefully



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

  • And we have separation



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

  • All the parts



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

  • Logic board

    Notice the thermal paste pattern.

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

  • Flip side



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

  • Cell processor



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

  • RSX Reality Synthesizer



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

  • Two of the four NEC/TOKIN 0e108 capacitors



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

  • RAM

    Dual Elpida 512Mbit RAM chips (there are four total on the board).

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

  • Controllers

    (Red) - Marvell Ethernet controller
    ?(Orange) - Panasonic HDMI controller
    (Yellow) - Sony AV multi-out controller

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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.

Related Topics:

After Hours Innovation Hardware Tech & Work

By Mark Kaelin

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT 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, and TechRepublic.