Installing PlayStation 3 Slim Motherboard

Replace your PlayStation 3 Slim's fried motherboard.

http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Q1cjankoCZOZpvUs Andrew Bookholt Difficult PlayStation 3 Slim

Use this guide to completely replace your motherboard. Before reattaching the heat sink, be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste.

Tools

Arctic Silver ArctiClean Arctic Silver Thermal Paste Metal Spudger Phillips #1 Screwdriver Spudger T8 Torx Security Bit Screwdriver Installing PlayStation 3 Slim Top Cover Installing PlayStation 3 Slim Power Supply Installing PlayStation 3 Slim Blu-ray Disc Drive Installing PlayStation 3 Slim Motherboard Assembly Installing PlayStation 3 Slim Top Shield Assembly Turn the PS3 over and lay it on its backside. Turn the PS3 over and lay it on its backside. Carefully peel the warranty sticker up off the lower case to reveal a hidden screw cover. Carefully peel the warranty sticker up off the lower case to reveal a hidden screw cover. To avoid activating the <strong>VOID</strong> that may come up, heat the sticker carefully to remove and replace it cleanly. To avoid activating the '''VOID''' that may come up, heat the sticker carefully to remove and replace it cleanly. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/sbUCUYRWF5u33DHo Use the flat end of a metal spudger to pry up the seven screw covers around the edge of the lower case. Use the flat end of a metal spudger to pry up the seven screw covers around the edge of the lower case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/fktNXIVQYKIbefHS http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Z2lGLuRFjeG6aFvV Remove the seven 37 mm Phillips screws securing the top cover to the lower case. Remove the seven 37 mm Phillips screws securing the top cover to the lower case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/u6tkxEEWjBggtSMy Remove the three 13.3 mm T8 security Torx screws beneath the Blu-ray drive opening. (Some models may have a fourth screw on the corner.) Remove the three 13.3 mm T8 security Torx screws beneath the Blu-ray drive opening. (Some models may have a fourth screw on the corner.) http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/sHWowJKFi62YvACk Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3. Lift the top cover from its rear edge and rotate it toward the front of the PS3. Lift the top cover off the PS3. Lift the top cover off the PS3. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/LvQrCIDkbymnDdoa http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/QhXCIUkPgeFEM2N3 Squeeze the AC inlet connector's locking mechanism and pull straight up to disconnect it from the power supply. Squeeze the AC inlet connector's locking mechanism and pull straight up to disconnect it from the power supply. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Yh3ZVhhNtHFXftVY http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/UVGVKsylF1blF4VE Pull the DC-Out cables straight up to lift their connector up and out of its socket on the power supply. Pull the DC-Out cables straight up to lift their connector up and out of its socket on the power supply. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/sFKIG3UmBojsntvO Remove the two 7.6 mm Phillips screws securing the power supply to the lower case. Remove the two 7.6 mm Phillips screws securing the power supply to the lower case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/WMrUrCWouVH5QEoM Lift the power supply upward from its left edge as viewed from the front of the PS3. Lift the power supply upward from its left edge as viewed from the front of the PS3. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/MZMRRdaoxxXMhCEZ Continue to lift the left edge of the power supply until it lifts off the two metal posts shown in the second picture. Continue to lift the left edge of the power supply until it lifts off the two metal posts shown in the second picture. Remove the power supply from the PS3, minding any cables that may get caught. Remove the power supply from the PS3, minding any cables that may get caught. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/saRFnt5prhQI5NFF http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Djh4A4Iqy2Zw3Joh If present, remove the pieces of tape securing the cables to the body of the Blu-ray drive. If present, remove the pieces of tape securing the cables to the body of the Blu-ray drive. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/SjTZsMGJ4DG1Ijyn http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JWNrZHOwKMxsbxSE Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket. Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Blu-ray ribbon cable socket. Be sure you are prying up on the movable retaining flap, <strong>not</strong> the socket itself. Be sure you are prying up on the movable retaining flap, '''not''' the socket itself. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/eqAyKhYjtWqUhqTJ Pull the Blu-ray ribbon cable straight up and out of its socket. Pull the Blu-ray ribbon cable straight up and out of its socket. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/lLTEEDyNQhUkXKsI Pull the Blu-ray power cable straight up to lift its connector out of the socket on the Blu-ray drive. Pull the Blu-ray power cable straight up to lift its connector out of the socket on the Blu-ray drive. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Wpqs1UUFQoUqnvIW Remove the single 9.5 mm Phillips screw securing the Blu-ray drive to the lower case. Remove the single 9.5 mm Phillips screw securing the Blu-ray drive to the lower case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/FNNWVwaMWMQB2Wu4 Lift the Blu-ray drive slightly by its right edge to dislodge the control board from its housing. Lift the Blu-ray drive slightly by its right edge to dislodge the control board from its housing. Remove the Blu-ray drive from the PS3. Remove the Blu-ray drive from the PS3. After you reinstall the Blu-ray drive, be sure the control board is firmly seated in the lower case before proceeding. After you reinstall the Blu-ray drive, be sure the control board is firmly seated in the lower case before proceeding. If replacing the Blu-ray drive with a new drive, swap the circuit board from your old drive into the new drive. If replacing the Blu-ray drive with a new drive, swap the circuit board from your old drive into the new drive. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/rIJHTp3K2knmtHuc http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/uZnZAu15OX3iRnEQ Pull the AC-In cables upward to remove the AC inlet from the lower case. Pull the AC-In cables upward to remove the AC inlet from the lower case. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/6DRkH6MBOKG6uiS4 Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both antenna connectors up from their sockets on the motherboard. Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both antenna connectors up from their sockets on the motherboard. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/NM1iOKVGanuaQFhh http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/mlEeAtMsZBtOHnXo Pull the control board ribbon cable up and out of its socket on the motherboard. Pull the control board ribbon cable up and out of its socket on the motherboard. Remove the control board. Remove the control board. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/U5y1WZURLd6KQ3vB Turn the PS3 over and lay it on its backside. Turn the PS3 over and lay it on its backside. Use the flat edge of a metal spudger to pop up the small access door on the bottom cover near the front of the PS3. Use the flat edge of a metal spudger to pop up the small access door on the bottom cover near the front of the PS3. Remove the blue Phillips screw hidden under the access door. Remove the blue Phillips screw hidden under the access door. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/gNwLpJrtOvFM6fov Slide the hard drive bay cover toward the right side of the lower case, then pull it away from the front edge to remove it from the PS3. Slide the hard drive bay cover toward the right side of the lower case, then pull it away from the front edge to remove it from the PS3. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/CbjXrixrUjGEWFEa Using its attached metal handle, pull the hard drive out of its bay. Using its attached metal handle, pull the hard drive out of its bay. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/J2hSpNNYYZJfAQ4L Remove the following five screws securing the motherboard assembly to the lower case: Remove the following five screws securing the motherboard assembly to the lower case: Two silver 6 mm Phillips Two silver 6 mm Phillips Three black 8 mm Phillips Three black 8 mm Phillips http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/DVSTWbMqiKn3qZIW Lift the motherboard assembly from its front edge and remove it from the lower case, minding the antenna cable still attached to the lower case. Lift the motherboard assembly from its front edge and remove it from the lower case, minding the antenna cable still attached to the lower case. Be careful not to bend the metal antenna bodies as you lift the motherboard assembly. Be careful not to bend the metal antenna bodies as you lift the motherboard assembly. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Ofq2h5sXAkVSQGqW Disconnect the DC-In and Blu-ray power cables from the motherboard. Disconnect the DC-In and Blu-ray power cables from the motherboard. Pull the cables straight upward to lift the connectors up and out of their sockets on the motherboard. Pull the cables straight upward to lift the connectors up and out of their sockets on the motherboard. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/EvRECjv6qHRK6tBR Pull the fan cables straight up to lift the fan connector up and out of its socket on the motherboard. Pull the fan cables straight up to lift the fan connector up and out of its socket on the motherboard. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/DKCRxFDxdykYjIVB Remove the following nine screws holding the motherboard assembly together: Remove the following nine screws holding the motherboard assembly together: Four 14.8 mm shouldered Phillips Four 14.8 mm shouldered Phillips Five 9.5 mm Phillips Five 9.5 mm Phillips http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/6NsUNbe6Dc3A6JPr Remove the two heat sink clamps from the bottom of the motherboard assembly. Remove the two heat sink clamps from the bottom of the motherboard assembly. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/WYO5ZZydIoA3OasP If necessary, gently pry the motherboard off the top shield near the heat sink and its shroud. If necessary, gently pry the motherboard off the top shield near the heat sink and its shroud. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/sLwBLGSahXNOwUxv Gently press the board away from the top shield assembly near the fan connector and the corner of the board near the wireless sockets. Gently press the board away from the top shield assembly near the fan connector and the corner of the board near the wireless sockets. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/JYevVfWoGFthVlDs http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/4EOYDLPSpSbsTNl1 Lift the top shield assembly off the motherboard from its front edge. Lift the top shield assembly off the motherboard from its front edge. Be careful not to damage the sockets as you rotate the top shield assembly away from the motherboard. Be careful not to damage the sockets as you rotate the top shield assembly away from the motherboard. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/WhjuJRsbuIjtZGmc Carefully lift the motherboard off the bottom shield. Carefully lift the motherboard off the bottom shield. Handle the motherboard by its edges. Handle the motherboard by its edges. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/Q1cjankoCZOZpvUs While holding the plastic retainer down against the board, use the tip of a spudger to pry the PRAM battery out of its housing. While holding the plastic retainer down against the board, use the tip of a spudger to pry the PRAM battery out of its housing. Failure to hold the plastic retainer down during the prying process may result in it tearing off the motherboard. Failure to hold the plastic retainer down during the prying process may result in it tearing off the motherboard. Before installing the heat sink onto the motherboard, it is essential to apply a new layer of thermal paste. <a href="/Guide/Applying+Thermal+Paste/744/1">This</a> guide will show you how to do it. Before installing the heat sink onto the motherboard, it is essential to apply a new layer of thermal paste. [guide|744|This] guide will show you how to do it. http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/H5ZovIwhoG5bcViL

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