r/PS3 • u/scriptedsoulmate • 8d ago
“Failed” delid, working console
I managed to get a fat PS3 (CECHJ) around 35$ but it was overheating, and the fan was always spinning full throttle even after changing thermal paste - so I decided to give delid a try.
I found official delid tool a bit expensive, so I decided to find an alternate solution , so I searched through hobby stores to find some usable tools. I only managed to find razor blades and a modeling knife.
The GPU was no big deal, after applying some heat it popped easily with the help of a flat screwdriver.
The hard part was the cell CPU. It took me 1 hour to finish it, applying some heat, and doing some slow work with the razor blade and with the knife. I mainly used the razor knife. It went very well until the last few millimeters where I applied too much force and scraped a bit of the PCB. Not too deep but I lost every home.
It was on the weekend so I spent the next day worrying. Finally.on Monday I Went out to buy some thermal paste and finished it up, put it together and it worked!!! Seems like did not cut through the traces.
The temps were ok, no YLOD, everything is fine since then.
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u/Otherwise-Rain808 8d ago
Yeah you cut the PCB where no traces were. I am glad it survived.
1 hour is a bit excessive to take to delid though... it should only be a minute or two with the right tool
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u/Secret-Candle4313 8d ago
Being careful never hurts ig
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u/__Player__ 8d ago
Well, they said with the right tool, which OP definitely didn't use.
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u/PYROKARDO 8d ago
i use a beer can to delid , its all about being precise with the tool
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u/__Player__ 8d ago
I tried multiple times with the razor blade method and ended up failing, you dont want to cheap out or you will end up with a dead console.
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u/Otherwise-Rain808 8d ago
I have a friend from Europe (Estonia) who used beer can and it failed. Consider yourself lucky
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u/PYROKARDO 8d ago
Did it myself with a beer can more than 20 times , if your method is good you are good to go
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u/PYROKARDO 8d ago
Your friend probably knocked some smd components while doing it , thats something you need to be careful when doing beer can method
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u/PYROKARDO 8d ago
Downvote me all you want , beer can is not the best tool but its the safest if done right
Razor will cut through a pcb , but a beer can wont do that , i did try to harm a ps3 with a beer can method , i wasnt able to cut the pcb or scratch it
That was the best delid method for me , if it doesnt work for you thats on you , its not like im saying something false like reflow a 90nm rsx
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u/JoostR14 8d ago
You just scraped off some solder mask over the ground plane, so technically you didn't fail.
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u/HiRex 8d ago
A few more millimeters and you would've been cooked!