[Spirrwell]

Alright, I asked about this a long time ago and it seemed like I needed to reflow the RSX chip. I'm a bit skeptical on it though as it doesn't match the symptoms of that exactly. The model of the PS3 is a 60 GB CECHA01.

Basically I bought the PS3 used a couple of years ago, and the guy that used it said that it just quit working one day. When I first got it, I managed to get it running a few times, but most of the time, it didn't work. Since it didn't work I took out the hard drive and used it as an external.

I have another PS3 that I bricked with the Waninkoko firmware which I think is the same exact model, and I just took the hard drive out of it and put in the PS3. I've tried getting into the recovery menu, using HDMI video, using composite video and all of that jazz thousands of times, but nothing works, but I reiterate, I DID get it to work like three times years ago, not anymore.

There is one noticeable difference between symptoms of a system that needs the RSX chip re-flowed and mine, the controller syncs up. It synchronizes with a solid red light on the controller and then goes into a single blinking red light on the controller. On a PS3 that needs the RSX re-flowed, the controller shouldn't sync up at all, the four lights would be blinking very slowly.

I get the feeling I'm grasping for straws here, but could it be some kind of firmware brick from the original owner updating the system or something? Or does anyone have any idea what it could be? I'm assuming that this will come back to the RSX chip needing to be re-flowed, but there's nothing like false hope.

Edit:
Also I should note that when I turn on the PS3 with composite cables, I do get a flicker on the screen like it's trying to come up, but I still see nothing.

[Gazra]

Well this might be nothing but I had bricked one of my ps3's a while ago now and that was down to a stupid error on my part but I had similar problems that you are describing minus it never coming on.

That was from experimenting with the E3 flasher and accidentally flashing the chip blank without getting any dumps so it is a GLOD forever lol.

No sound no video no nothing apart from the controller doing exactly what you are experiencing.

Which is weird but meh lol.


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[Bigbones87]

I have 3 of the same exact model. I also have the same exact problem on one of them. I bought the ps3 used on eBay. It had been taken apart before, for whatever reason. Anyway, when I got it, the poster said it wouldn't turn on. So I took it apart and fixed the mangled power ribbon cable and it worked fine after that. Then I decided that I would replace the thermal paste. I took it apart, but to my surprise it already had the thermal paste replaced. I went ahead nd cleaned and replaced it anyway, and when I put it back together, that was the problem I incountered. I got it to reset the video input once or twice, but now it won't do anything. Only thing I can figure is that I must have pulled the rsx chip a little loose, taking it apart. Sounds like a reball will help though.

[Spirrwell]

Well, that's grim. I have a few bits of information to add, I tried the Gitbrew fix for semi-bricked PS3s, same problem. While I was fiddling with the PS3, I turned it on and I didn't hold down the button, and it gave off a second beep on its own about 3 seconds later. I also tried using S-VIDEO. It has the same issue as composite video.

Anything else?

[Bigbones87]

I heard some people saying that if you can find a way to apply pressure to the rsx chip while turning it on, it may give you a picture. If it does, then you will know it is a contact problem with the rsx chip. Some people used washers to add pressure, others cover 4 pennies in thermal compound and put them on each corner of the chip and reassembled. It gave them enough pressure to find out if it was the rsx connection. Worth a shot if you don't come up with anything else.

[Spirrwell]

I'd love to, as a matter of fact, I'd love nothing more than to open it up and re-flow it with a heat gun. The problem with that is, my dad won't let me take the PS3 apart. (I'm only 16) I guess building a computer and taking it apart several times for upgrades even swapping heat-sinks without a problem hasn't convinced him yet... That's kind of why I'm exhausting all possible options now. If anyone has another idea, please let me know.

[Spirrwell]

Well, I'm going to try something to see if I can confirm it's the RSX chip. I've seen quite a few videos for the YLOD and people fixed it with the temporary solution of using a hair dryer. I figure if I can confirm it, it's worth a shot. I'll be back with more information.

Edit:
Yeah, I didn't expect it to work, it didn't.

[playerkp420]

Originally Posted by Spirrwell Well, I'm going to try something to see if I can confirm it's the RSX chip. I've seen quite a few videos for the YLOD and people fixed it with the temporary solution of using a hair dryer. I figure if I can confirm it, it's worth a shot. I'll be back with more information. Edit: Yeah, I didn't expect it to work, it didn't.

NoOO. You shouldn't of used a hair dryer. You may have just made your ps3 worse.
It might be unrepairable now.

[Bigbones87]

I wish I could have read this before you did that. As playerkp420 said, this is not good. Bad juju for sure. The hair dryer method is not a way to fix the ps3. In fact it could, and most likely will make it worse. It can seriously warp the board, and other major issues. You may have killed it for good, or maybe not. Hard to say without looking at it. No offense, but knowledge is power. You should never attempt to fix something unless you have done extensive research on what you are doing. The forum is full of people who are experienced enough to let you know what to do and what not to do. YouTube is not a reliable source of information. Just because some dip on YouTube does something doesn't make it a good go to source. Patience is a virtue and you should never just dive right in head first. Not trying to lecture, just trying to help.

[Spirrwell]

I figured I had nothing to lose, I got the PS3 for $50 with everything else and maybe even a game, not much to lose on it. Besides, I don't even think it did anything. The PS3 just felt a little warm, it was a pretty low power hair dryer. I figured the success rate was below 5%. I'm sure it's perfectly fine... other than the PS3 still doesn't work part, but that's a different story. If I had a PS3 I paid $200 or something for it, I wouldn't have jumped on it. Hell I'm half tempted to throw it against the wall when nobody's around. I know my best case scenario is to open it up, remove and re-ball the GPU or the middle ground being use a heat gun.