After Hours

Cracking Open the PlayStation 3 Super Slim

By // October 11, 2012, 11:27 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim:

    In September 2012, Sony released the third model of their PlayStation 3 gaming console. The new PS3, dubbed the Super Slim, is smaller than the previous PS3 models and contains several significant hardware changes. Sony chucked the slot-loading optical drive in favor of a sliding door, redesigned the motherboard, and shrunk the cooling fan.

    Follow along as I crack open the Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim.

    For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, PS3 Super Slim teardown reveals hardware changes, but no real upgrades.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Uncharted 3 bundle

    When launched, the PlayStation 3 Super Slim was only available as part of two bundled packages. The first bundle ($270) shipped September 25 and included a 250GB console, Uncharted 3, and the download-only game Dust 514. The second bundle ($300) will go on sale October 30 and will contain a 500GB PS3 and Assassin's Creed III.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Standalone PS3 box

    As of publication, Sony hasn't said if the PS3 will be sold as a standalone console, but it's highly likely given that the outer sleeve on the Uncharted 3 box can be removed to reveal a plain PS3 box.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Box contents

    Inside the Uncharted 3 PlayStation 3 bundle box are a 250GB version of the console, Uncharted 3: Game of the Year Edition (boxed), voucher for Dust 514 game and Dust DLC, DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller, AC Power Cord, AV Cable, and USB Cable.

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Smallest, lightest PS3 yet

    The PlayStation 3 Super Slim is 20 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the previous PS3 model. It measures 11.4" (W) x 2.36" (T) x 9.05" (D).

    Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Top

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Manual, slide-open disc door

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Front

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Back

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Left side

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Right side - hard drive access panel

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Bottom

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Hard drive access cover removed

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the hard drive screw

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the hard drive

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: 250GB Hitachi SATA hard drive

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Hard drive mounted to tray

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Exposing the bottom case screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Bottom case screws exposed

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the bottom case screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the side case screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the upper case screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the front/rear plastic trim pieces

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Front trim removed

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Front and rear trim removed

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the hidden upper case screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the upper case cover

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Upper case cover (internal)

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Upper case cover removed

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Internal hardware

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Disconnecting the optical drive cables

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the optical drive assembly

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Optical drive and tray

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Optical drive spindle and laser assembly

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Optical drive spindle and laser assembly - Back

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Disconnecting the power supply

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the power supply screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the power supply

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Power supply - Top

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Power supply - Bottom

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony Model APS-330 12V, 18A power supply

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Power supply removed

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the motherboard and shield assembly screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the motherboard and shield assembly

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Lower case

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Motherboard and shield assembly

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the motherboard shield screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the lower motherboard shield

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Detaching the cooling fan and wireless cable connectors

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the motherboard

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Upper shield and cooling assembly

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the cooling fan and cowling screws

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Removing the fan cowling

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Cooling fan cowling

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Cooling fan

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Delta Electronics KSB0812HE DC12V 1.65A fan

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Upper motherboard shield and cooling assembly - Top

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Upper motherboard shield and cooling assembly - Bottom

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Motherboard - Top

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Motherboard - Bottom

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony Cell Broadband Engine CXD2996BGB

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony RSX CXD5302DGB 220B25NA "Reality Synthesizer" and Hynix 64MB (536,870,912 bits) H5RS5223DFR-14C GDDR3 SDRAM (x4)

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony CXM4027R MultiAV Driver (CXM4027R 221N26E)

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Panasonic MN8647091 HDMI transmitter

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Marvell 88EC060 Fast Ethernet PHY transceiver

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Samsung 1Gb K4Y12324TE-KCB3 DRAM (x2 for 256MB)

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony CXD9963GB Southbridge

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony CXD5132R-1 Blu-ray drive SATA controller

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Spansion S29GL128P90TFIR2 NOR Flash

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Marvell Avastar 88W8782 WLAN system-on-chip (SoC)

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Panasonic CR 2032 3V system battery

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony IDT 9277BNLG 1133L (audio CODEC ???)

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Winbond 25Q16CVY05 1221

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Fairchild FDMF6823C Extra-Small, High-Performance, High-Frequency DrMOS Module (FDC25AV FDMF6823C)

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony SW3-302 system controller

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: BD7761EFV 224 T76

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: 217 3536A

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Texas Instruments PS53123

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Intersil ISL6332 2 Phase VR11.1 Buck PWM Controller with Integrated MOSFET Drivers with Light Load Efficiency

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Sony IDT 4227ANLG

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Texas Instruments PS53123

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Motherboard markings

  • Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim: Completely disassembled

Cracking Open PS3 Super Slim:

In September 2012, Sony released the third model of their PlayStation 3 gaming console. The new PS3, dubbed the Super Slim, is smaller than the previous PS3 models and contains several significant hardware changes. Sony chucked the slot-loading optical drive in favor of a sliding door, redesigned the motherboard, and shrunk the cooling fan.

Follow along as I crack open the Sony PlayStation 3 Super Slim.

For a detailed analysis of the teardown, check out my article and video, PS3 Super Slim teardown reveals hardware changes, but no real upgrades.

Photo by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Related Topics:

After Hours Innovation Hardware Tech & Work

By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...