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PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement

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  1. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Smart Plate: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Smart Plate: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the tip of a spudger to remove the black rubber screw cover from the side of the PS3.

    • The screw cover may be underneath a warranty sticker. This sticker will change appearance, and show "VOID" after it has been removed.

  2. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the single 8.5 mm T10 Security Torx screw from the smart plate.

  3. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Pull the smart plate toward the hard drive bay, then lift it off the body of the PS3.

  4. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Be sure to keep track of the small metal bracket loosely held in the top cover, if equipped.

  5. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Top Cover: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the following seven screws:

    • Six 52 mm Phillips screws

    • One 30 mm Phillips screw

  6. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3.

    • Remove the top cover.

    • There is a plastic hook located in a hole on the top back right hand side corner. Carefully push the plastic hook a bit from the rear of the machine with a spudger to release the rear right of the casing.

  7. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Blu-ray Disc Drive: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Disconnect the Blu-ray power cable from the motherboard.

    • Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

  8. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the Blu-ray drive from the edge nearest the power supply and rotate it away from the chassis enough to access its ribbon cable.

  9. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket.

    • Remove the Blu-ray drive from the PS3.

    • If replacing the Blu-ray drive, transfer the power cable to your new drive.

  10. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Motherboard Assembly: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Pull the control board ribbon cable straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

  11. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the two 12 mm Phillips screws securing the control board to the lower case.

    • Remove the control board and its attached cable from the PS3.

  12. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the following eight screws securing the motherboard assembly to the lower case:

    • Seven 12 mm Phillips screws (ph2)

    • One 30 mm Phillips screw

  13. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the control board bracket.

  14. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive bay cover away from the lower case.

    • Remove the hard drive bay cover.

  15. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the motherboard assembly out of the lower case.

  16. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, AC Inlet: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the 7.7 mm Phillips screw securing the ground strap to the chassis.

  17. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Pull the AC-In cables slightly away from the rear cover for clearance to access the AC-In connector.

    • While depressing its locking mechanism, pull the AC-In connector out of its socket on the power supply.

  18. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Pull the AC inlet out from the bottom of the rear cover, minding any of its cables that may get caught.

  19. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Rear Cover: crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Rear Cover: crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • While lightly pulling the rear cover away from the logic board assembly, use the flat end of a spudger to release the clips along the top and bottom edges of the rear cover.

  20. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the rear cover from the logic board assembly.

  21. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • De-route the fan cables from the plastic finger molded into the heat sink.

    • Disconnect the fan from the motherboard.

    • Pull the connector straight up and out of its socket.

  22. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the two 9 mm Phillips screws securing the memory card reader to the chassis.

  23. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the memory card reader out of the PS3 enough to access its ribbon cable.

    • Flip up the retaining flap on the memory card reader ribbon cable socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the ribbon cable out of its socket and remove the memory card reader.

  24. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:024crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Disconnect the DC-In cables from the front of the heat sink.

    • Pull the connector toward the front of the PS3.

  25. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:025crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the five 9 mm Phillips screws securing the power supply to the chassis.

  26. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:026crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the power supply by its front edge to clear the two posts attached to the motherboard.

    • Remove the power supply.

  27. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the four 16.5 mm shouldered Phillips screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.

    • Remove the two brackets held under the screws you just removed.

  28. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:028crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the motherboard assembly off the heat sink.

    • The heat sink may still be held in place by the thermal paste. If this is the case, gently pry the heat sink away from the motherboard housing. Make sure to not bend the copper piping on the heat sink.

    • Be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste when reattaching the heat sink.

    • Never applied thermal paste before? Our thermal paste guide makes it easy.

    • If you're following the YLOD repair guide, stay tuned for where to apply the replacement thermal paste.

  29. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: crwdns2935265:029crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the three 5.7 mm #0 Phillips screws securing the fan to the heat sink.

  30. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: crwdns2935265:030crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the fan from the heat sink, minding its cables that may get caught.

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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Walter Galan

693.915 crwdns2915208:0crwdne2915208:0

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crwdns2944067:07crwdne2944067:0

i make thermal compounds. just wondering do i need to use a grease that has silver or is an aluminum based grease good to use

bjornsenjosh99 - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Thanks a lot! It is very useful!

Wing Leung Lin - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

I know this is old but what thermal paste should I use today

Shane Rennie - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

I recommend artic silver or MX-4 since I heard that it's supposed to last up to 8 years. As long as you don't have to disassemble the console again

Antrone Harris Jr - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

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