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The PlayStation 3 (or commonly known as the PS3) is the third home computer entertainment system produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, and the successor to the PlayStation 2. It was released November 11, 2006

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Replaced Thermal Paste, YLOD after second boot.

Hello all, first time question asker here. I looked through some already answered questions just to make sure but it didn't seem like there was anything exactly like my situation.

Yesterday I replaced the thermal paste on the 2 processors on my CECH-A01 PS3 to prevent any overheating issues in the future. Good thing I did it too because the thermal paste that was already there was almost completely dried and like dust. After completely reassembling my PS3 I turned it on to see the main ribbon screen but it being white. I then realized I forgot to re insert my hard drive. So I turned it off, inserted it, and turned it back on to get a yellow light, 3 beeps, and a blinking red light. I get this every time I turn the system on now.

I then disassembled my PS3 just to make sure everything was plugged in correctly and it appears to be so. I may have put a little too much thermal paste on those two processors admittedly since they were leaking off the edge slightly, I used half an arctic silver tube for each.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

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2 Answers

Try to get some of the thermal paste off and then try.

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8 Comments:

It seems hard to get to without removing the heat sink, then I would need to clean and reapply the thermal paste correct? I haven't worked on a PS3 before this but I've built a number of desktops and I do not like removing a heat sink from the processor and setting it back without a complete reapplication of thermal paste. Would it actually be fine?

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No you have to replace thermal paste to do it.

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Okay that's what I thought. I have new thermal paste coming in tomorrow since I used up the last of my tube on my PS3. I will update when I have done so.

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Hello there, I got my thermal paste in and I did exactly that but this time put way less. My PS3 turned on successfully the first time. But if I try to turn it on a second time I get the same error.

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Another update: if I hold down the Eject and Power button at the same time the PS3 boots up occasionally. I've had low success rate of this. Most times it just goes into YLOD. What's going on here? It's up right now installing a game and I feel the fan blowing.

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Yellow Light of Death Repair

That might be of use to you. It seems almost like really bad timing, or you were just a second too late. Strange how things like this happen isnt it?

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Hrm I supposed that's possible. I just didn't think it was very likely and wanted to ask before I do anything of the sort. Ill give this a go this weekend and ill keep you updated. Thanks!

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Quick update I still plan to try this but I've been very busy and haven't had the time, I'm also admittedly very nervous.

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You cant break whats broke

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Sorry for t he long wait, been busy. I tried this to no avail so I took it to ubreakifix since I was just tired of having to deal with this. They did a full reflow and a flux but it's still the same result. The guy there seems to believe the motherboard thinks it's overheating when it's actually fine. What are my options here other than just getting another PS3?

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Well replacing the motherboard might fix it.

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Andrew Cadavid will be eternally grateful.
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