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PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace your PlayStation 3's heat sink. Before reattaching the heat sink, it is essential to apply a new layer of thermal paste.

What you need

  1. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Smart Plate: step 1, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Smart Plate: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  2. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the single 8.5 mm T10 Security Torx screw from the smart plate.

    Edit

  3. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Pull the smart plate toward the hard drive bay, then lift it off the body of the PS3.

    Edit

  4. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Be sure to keep track of the small metal bracket loosely held in the top cover, if equipped.

    Edit

  5. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Top Cover: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following seven screws:

    • Six 52 mm Phillips screws

    • One 30 mm Phillips screw

    Edit

  6. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

    Edit

  7. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Blu-ray Disc Drive: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the Blu-ray power cable from the motherboard.

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

    Edit

  8. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

    Edit

  9. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 3 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 3 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    Edit

  10. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Motherboard Assembly: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the control board ribbon cable straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

    Edit

  12. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  13. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following eight screws securing the motherboard assembly to the lower case:

    • Seven 12 mm Phillips screws (ph2)

    • One 30 mm Phillips screw

    Edit

  14. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the control board bracket.

    Edit

  15. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  16. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the motherboard assembly out of the lower case.

    Edit

  17. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, AC Inlet: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the 7.7 mm Phillips screw securing the ground strap to the chassis.

    Edit

  18. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  19. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Pull the AC inlet out from the bottom of the rear cover, minding any of its cables that may get caught.

    Edit

  20. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Rear Cover: step 19, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Rear Cover: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  21. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the rear cover from the logic board assembly.

    Edit

  22. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: step 21, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  23. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 9 mm Phillips screws securing the memory card reader to the chassis.

    Edit

  24. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 2 PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  25. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect the DC-In cables from the front of the heat sink.

    • Pull the connector toward the front of the PS3.

    Edit

  26. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the five 9 mm Phillips screws securing the power supply to the chassis.

    Edit

  27. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 1

    • Lift the power supply by its front edge to clear the two posts attached to the motherboard.

    • Remove the power supply.

    Edit

  28. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

    Edit

  29. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

    Edit

  30. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement, Heat Sink: step 29, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the three 5.7 mm #0 Phillips screws securing the fan to the heat sink.

    Edit

  31. PlayStation 3 Heat Sink Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the fan from the heat sink, minding its cables that may get caught.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

53 other people completed this guide.

7 Guide Comments

Thank you for the help

G Y - Reply

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 - Reply

Thanks a lot! It is very useful!

Wing Leung Lin - Reply

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

Shane Rennie - Reply

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 - Reply

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