PS3 2103A – Dropped console, delid, reflow and other

[Cheshire UK]

I would like to share some of my findings and confirmations with the community here at psx-place about some tests and experimentations I've performed on a CECH-2103A.

I've got it in a bundle/job lot of 3 consoles and this one seems to have been dropped – the Bluray drive was severely dented at the top and could not accept disks (physically blocked to be inserted due the dent and mechanical fault).

I took it apart and wanted to do some experimentation; I've delided both RSX and CELL and cleaned it.

When turning it own, it had a GLOD (Green Light of Dead) and no signal/blank screen via HDMI.

I hooked it up the SYSCON and it had 2024 and 2124:

Spoiler: SYSCON

>$ errlog
00000000
# CODE CLOCK
# A0802024 FFFFFFFF
# A0802024 FFFFFFFF
# A0802124 FFFFFFFF
# A0802124 FFFFFFFF
# A0802124 FFFFFFFF
# A0802024 FFFFFFFF
# A0802024 FFFFFFFF
# A0802124 FFFFFFFF
# A0802024 FFFFFFFF
# A0802124 FFFFFFFF
# A0802024 FFFFFFFF
# A0512024 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112024 FFFFFFFF
# A0112024 FFFFFFFF
# A0112024 FFFFFFFF
# A0112024 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112024 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112024 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF
# A0112124 FFFFFFFF

I found an old PS2 video cable (D cable?) and no video was present via AV either.

I then enabled (via SYSCON) the South Bridge (SB) logs to see where it was getting stuck on.

When booting up, I was seeing something I haven't seen before:

lv2(2): # RSXAuRSX #410-ffffffff [fe4af69b]

Sometimes it passed that but was geeting stuck on:

lv2(2): # Continue… (Lv-2 is still running.)

Spoiler: SB

SDK Version: 489.000
Copyright(C) 2022 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.All Rights Reserved.
[INFO]: === eXtreme Data Rate Memory Subsystem ===
[INFO]: (Configured Memory Size per single XIO channel: 128 MBytes.)
[INFO]: XIO channel[0] is available.
[INFO]: XIO channel[1] is available.
[INFO]: —> Total 256 MBytes are now in use.
[INFO]: SPU enable [0, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7] 11101111
[INFO]: BE:12S DD2.0, SB:ZX1.1
Cell OS SDK4.8.9 000 (release build: r50740 2022_02_04_120000)
Copyright 2022 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
revision: 50739
date: Fri Feb 4 12:53:01 JST 2022
lv2(0): total memory size: 249MB+640KB
lv2(0): kern memory size: 12MB+640KB (heap:3492KB page pool:4736KB)
lv2(0): user memory size: 237MB
lv2(2):
lv2(2): Cell OS Lv-2 32 bit version 4.8.9
lv2(2): Copyright 2011 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
lv2(2): All Rights Reserved.
lv2(2):
lv2(2): revision: 50740
lv2(2): build date: 2022/02/04 12:56:52
lv2(2): processor: Broadband Engine Ver 0x0000 Rev 0x2100
lv2(2): PPU:0, Thread:0 is enabled.
lv2(2): PPU:0, Thread:1 is enabled.
lv2(2): rsx: rsx40 a01 500/650 vpe:ff shd:3f [NM8024-20:0:4:14:11:f:6:0:1][24:0:2:0:1:0:1][1:1:0]
lv2(2): Available physical SPUs: 6/7
lv2(2): mounting the flash file system : OK
lv2(2):
lv2(2): ###
lv2(2): ### Software update mode
lv2(2): ###
lv2(2):
lv2(2): mounting the builtin HDD1 : OK
lv2(2): creating the initial system process : OK
lv2(2): # RSXAuRSX #410-ffffffff [fe4af69b]
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # system software version: 0.00 (CEX)
lv2(2): # revision: 50740
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # Lv-2 detected an interrupt(exception) in a user PPU Thread.
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # Interrupt(exception) Info.
lv2(2): # Type : Data Storage
lv2(2): # SRR0 : 0x0000000000469934
lv2(2): # SRR1 : 0x800000000000c032
lv2(2): # DSISR: 0x0000000040000000
lv2(2): # DAR : 0x00000000795d00e8
lv2(2): # TB : 0x0000000020d05212
lv2(2): # HW Thread #: 0
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # Backtrace
lv2(2): # 0x000000000046abd4
lv2(2): # 0x000000000046bd20
lv2(2): # 0x0000000000423b44
lv2(2): # 0xbadadd001000035c
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # User PPU Thread Info.
lv2(2): # ID : 0x01000036
lv2(2): # Name : _gcm_intr_thread
lv2(2): # Stack addr: 0x00000000d0068000
lv2(2): # Stack size: 0x0000000000004000
lv2(2): # Priority : 1
lv2(2): # Proc name : /dev_hdd1/PS3UPDATE/ps3swu.self
lv2(2): # Proc ID : 0x1000200
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # Register Info.
lv2(2): # LR: 0x000000000046b8f8 CR:0x40002088
lv2(2): # CTR: 0x000000000046b22c
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # GPR 0: 0x00000000d006bd50 GPR 1: 0x00000000d006baa0
lv2(2): # GPR 2: 0x000000000050df68 GPR 3: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # GPR 4: 0x0000000000000073 GPR 5: 0x00000000d006bd48
lv2(2): # GPR 6: 0x000000000046a9e4 GPR 7: 0x8000000000502000
lv2(2): # GPR 8: 0x0000000000000073 GPR 9: 0x00000000795d00e8
lv2(2): # GPR10: 0x00000000100b0f71 GPR11: 0x000000000046ac48
lv2(2): # GPR12: 0x0000000020002024 GPR13: 0x0000000030008d70
lv2(2): # GPR14: 0x00000000d006bd50 GPR15: 0x0000000000000001
lv2(2): # GPR16: 0x0000000000000000 GPR17: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # GPR18: 0x0000000000000000 GPR19: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # GPR20: 0x0000000000000000 GPR21: 0x00000000100b45b0
lv2(2): # GPR22: 0x0000000000000000 GPR23: 0x0000000010680c68
lv2(2): # GPR24: 0x0000000000000004 GPR25: 0x00000000100b0f72
lv2(2): # GPR26: 0x0000000000000000 GPR27: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # GPR28: 0x00000000d006bd48 GPR29: 0x0000000000503e40
lv2(2): # GPR30: 0x00000000795d00e8 GPR31: 0xffffffffffffffff
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # XER: 0x0000000000000000 FPSCR: 0x00000000
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # FPR 0: 0x0000001000336000 FPR 1: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR 2: 0x0000000000000000 FPR 3: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR 4: 0x0000000000000000 FPR 5: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR 6: 0x0000000000000000 FPR 7: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR 8: 0x0000000000000000 FPR 9: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR10: 0x0000000000000000 FPR11: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR12: 0x0000000000000000 FPR13: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR14: 0x0000000000000000 FPR15: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR16: 0x0000000000000000 FPR17: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR18: 0x0000000000000000 FPR19: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR20: 0x0000000000000000 FPR21: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR22: 0x0000000000000000 FPR23: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR24: 0x0000000000000000 FPR25: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR26: 0x0000000000000000 FPR27: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR28: 0x0000000000000000 FPR29: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): # FPR30: 0x0000000000000000 FPR31: 0x0000000000000000
lv2(2): #
lv2(2): # Continue… (Lv-2 is still running.)

I saw a similar message like lv2(2): # RSXAuRSX #410-ffffffff [fe4af69b] in another thread here on psx-place:

Failed Frankenstein MOD on CECHC04
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/failed-frankenstein-mod-on-cechc04.47318/

This was interesting and certainly unrelated.

I honestly never been able to successfully performing the so called "reflow" (well, I don't believe it should be done in the first place but ok to test and get some confirmation of errors codes or such).

I attempted the reflow (pre-clean with IPA, contact cleaner, applied good flux).

When turning the console on again, there was video on HDMI with the Neon/wrong collors look like (actualy worse than) the one I found ont this thread:

Distorted Colors After Reflow
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/distorted-colors-after-reflow.22765/

EDITED 11/AUG/25
I just bumped into a similar thread about the "wrong collors"

Problems with HDMI display
https://www.psx-place.com/threads/problems-with-hdmi-display.29590/

(see attached pictures).

However, using the AV cable, the colours were fine.

Unfortunately, this didn't last long and glitches appeared on the screen and the console froze/became unresponsive.

I noticed that pressing the board in the RSX area reduced the glitches.

The conclusion: this was obviously related to BGA issues due the console drop and aggravated due delidding it.

I've applied the equivalent to the "erasure mod" (again this is just for testing) and the console could stay on for at least one hour at the time.

I've then updated the firmware, managed to install teh CFW (to have some tools available, check temperature on the screen, etc).

After a while, the console would show artifacts and freeze.

I did again an attempt to "reflow", this time doing on the CELL processor as well.
This helped to keep the console going for longer, but still artifacts and freezing after a while.

I guess the RSX is still OK (not sure obviously) and reballing both RSX and CELL would bring this console back to life.

One question to the experts from the forum: the neon/psycadelic colours via HDMI, is there a way to determine if this is in fact the RSX or it the the HDMI encoder chip?

Cheers

M



Some extra images with the "cardboard mod" (just for testing) and the console running the PS2 emulator (video via AV not HDMI).


And for completeness, the SB logs when it is working.

Spoiler: SB logs

Boot Loader SE Version 4.9.2 (Build ID: 5378,50763, Build Date: 2025-02-18_20:02:02)
SDK Version: 492.000
Copyright(C) 2025 Evilnat [Akatsuki]. 03/05/2025. Happy CFW moments.
[INFO]: === eXtreme Data Rate Memory Subsystem ===

[INFO]: (Configured Memory Size per single XIO channel: 128 MBytes.)

[INFO]: XIO channel[0] is available.

[INFO]: XIO channel[1] is available.

[INFO]: —> Total 256 MBytes are now in use.

[INFO]: SPU enable [0, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7] 11101111

[INFO]: BE:12S DD2.0, SB:ZX1.1

Cell OS SDK4.9.2 000 (release build: r50763 2025_02_18_182000)

Copyright 2025 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

revision: 50758

date: Tue Feb 18 20:03:39 JST 2025

storage: ACL check will be skipped for device id ffffffffffffffff

storage: ACL check will be skipped for device id 0

storage: ACL check will be skipped for device id 1

storage: ACL check will be skipped for device id 2

storage: ACL check will be skipped for device id 3

lv2(0): total memory size: 249MB+640KB

lv2(0): kern memory size: 12MB+640KB (heap:3492KB page pool:4736KB)

lv2(0): user memory size: 237MB

lv2(2):

lv2(2): Cell OS Lv-2 32 bit version 4.9.2

lv2(2): Copyright(C) 2025 Evilnat [Akatsuki]. 03/05/2025.

lv2(2): Happy CFW moments.

lv2(2):

lv2(2): revision: 50763

lv2(2): build date: 2025/02/18 20:07:48

lv2(2): processor: Broadband Engine Ver 0x0000 Rev 0x2100

lv2(2): PPU:0, Thread:0 is enabled.

lv2(2): PPU:0, Thread:1 is enabled.

lv2(2): rsx: rsx40 a01 500/650 vpe:ff shd:3f [NM8024-20:0:4:14:11:f:6:0:1][24:0:2:0:1:0:1][1:1:0]

lv2(2): Available physical SPUs: 6/7

lv2(2): mounting the flash file system : OK

lv2(2): creating the initial system process : OK

lv2(2): entering stand-alone mode.

lv2(2): system software: PS3 console mode (game memsize=200MB)

lv2(2): creating the system software process : OK

lv2(2): sys_init: system software process set-up done.

lv2(2): initial system process done.

NOTE: the Bluray drive was disconected, the below message was expected
lv2(2): [system utility]: BD Drive connect error.

lv2(2):

NOTE: until here, the console was workign fine. The below was a normal shutdown initiate via XMB
lv2(2): Prepare to shutdown ….

lv2(2): Going to shutdown.

 

[Cheshire UK]

One question to the experts from the forum: the neon/psycadelic colours via HDMI, is there a way to determine if this is in fact the RSX or it the the HDMI encoder chip?

I have a few boards arriving soon that I can test the MN8647091 present on this SUR-001 motherboard - and confirm for sure (well at least for myself ) that is not the HDMI encoder - I will keep you guys posted

P.S. please feel free to coment if you had a similar experience with this neon/psycadelic colours , cheers

 

[Timbo9876]

Yep, I have encountered the same issue on a few of these consoles. Getting a reflow done will take some doing, I mean you will need to know your setup very well. Also melting the unleaded solder without causing delamination will require a full 24 hour slow bake at 100 degrees centigrade to ensure all the moisture has been removed from the motherboard, otherwise popcorning and ram bleed can occur killing the console. If you didn't do that and no delamination happened its likely it didn't reflow, did you nudge the RSX to check it could move which would confirm the solder balls melted?

With all that said from my experience it does seem like a BGA issue that would need either a reball.or a frankenstien, i say this because heating the RSX which would normally temporarily resolve flip chip errors never works on a GLOD console. This means its unlikely to be the solder balls between the die and the chip, but instead more likely to be an issue between the solderballs from the bottom ot the chip connecting to the motherboard.

I have been able to get a. Console working for many months using a variation of the eraser mod, I think this is because when you push down on the back of the CPU with force, it lifts the motherboard on the other side forcing a better connection between the motherboard and the RSX, unfortunately this eventually fails. This behaviour from the console makes it more likely to be a BGA issue rather than a flip.chip error, and this could be why many reballers have had long lasting fixes without the need to perform a RSX swap or frankenstien mod.

 

[Cheshire UK]

Also melting the unleaded solder without causing delamination will require a full 24 hour slow bake at 100 degrees centigrade to ensure all the moisture has been removed from the motherboard, otherwise popcorning and ram bleed can occur killing the console. If you didn't do that and no delamination happened its likely it didn't reflow, did you nudge the RSX to check it could move which would confirm the solder balls melted?

Thanks for the input @Timbo9876 and for keeping the thread alife - I really apreciated it!

I don't have a proper setup - I really want a proper BGA station that I will be able to do that (many moons ago I had access to such equipment and professional microscope as well, but this is in the past - unfortunately :-( - now it is all a very amateur setup here)

No, I couldn't nudge it , so it was a really poor atempt to see how it would had gone.

I've heard about the board pre-baked at 100 or 120 for a long time to avoid pop corning - I did warm it for a while in a "home oven" - what I have now unfortunately.

In any case, once again thank you very much for your input, I do feel a bit positive that this board is still a very good candidate for a proper re-balling.

 

[Timbo9876]

Look at Felix's setup. It works and its inexpensive, just make sure to ask him for his profile setup.

 

[Cheshire UK]

Look at Felix's setup. It works and its inexpensive, just make sure to ask him for his profile setup.

I will have a look for sure.

Since we are talking about BGA workstations, would you have any recomendations for a good one you can recomend that can easily do a PS3 board?

(gosh guys... call me "mad" but I really love these PS3 consoles!)

 

[Timbo9876]

Its more about technique, buying a full rework station will cost a lot and without the correct technique, you will fail.

Watch this.....

 

[Cheshire UK]

Its more about technique, buying a full rework station will cost a lot and without the correct technique, you will fail.

Watch this.....

I saw the video from him before (and other ones as well) - to be very honest, I would like an workstation that does not require me "fudging around with aluminiun foil or such" even if it costs a bit (I understand that a profile for such station is a must, if not fail will occur) - my issue at the moment is space (will change for sure in about an year), however , happy to have recomendations for a nice BGA workstation that will do PS3s - thanks again

Edit:

I forgot to add that I have many boards to "play with" when I finaly get hold of a proper station

 

[Timbo9876]

I saw the video from him before (and other ones as well) - to be very honest, I would like an workstation that does not require me "fudging around with aluminiun foil or such" even if it costs a bit (I understand that a profile for such station is a must, if not fail will occur) - my issue at the moment is space (will change for sure in about an year), however , happy to have recomendations for a nice BGA workstation that will do PS3s - thanks again

Edit:

I forgot to add that I have many boards to "play with" when I finaly get hold of a proper station

Its a question i asked a lot and I learned a few things along the way. Firstly having hot.air.directly under the RSX as well as on top along with the pre-heater will give you a better chance of success. To make this affordable you simply can't buy it locally unless your from China. This means you will make a purchase of considerabe value from somewhere like AliExpress. AliExpress has got better over the years and I have made high value purchases crom this market place without any issues. However you will need to make sure the seller has good feedback and hasn't got any bad feedback with comments like "i never received the item, or, what i received wasn't what i ordered.

So here is a workstation with 3 temperature zones and will do a good job. However look into the seller and if you don't like the feedback, you will need to find something like this.

I just found this on AliExpress:
￡2,396.57 | 4800W Semi Automatic Solder Station 3 Zones Hot Air BGA Rework Machine HR560C for Laptops Game Consoles Soldering machine
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EzbDHHo

 

[Cheshire UK]

So here is a workstation with 3 temperature zones and will do a good job. However look into the seller and if you don't like the feedback, you will need to find something like this.

I just found this on AliExpress:
￡2,396.57 | 4800W Semi Automatic Solder Station 3 Zones Hot Air BGA Rework Machine HR560C for Laptops Game Consoles Soldering machine
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EzbDHHo

This one looks fancy for sure - I will add to the list "to be considered" - cheers!

 

[Timbo9876]

Its not about being fancy! Its about being up to the task. As long as it has.the power and the 3 temperature zones then yiur good to go....Good luck

 

[Cheshire UK]

Thanks again @Timbo9876 - it will take a while when I will be able to get a station, but I will for sure post in here my progress when it happens.

I finaly got a BGA rework station - it is a LWFIX LV-06 - 3 zones, hot air from top nozzle, hot air from the bottom nozzle and IR heaters as well.

I am tying to create a profile for the COK-002 at the moment with some scrap boards I've got off eBay - I am slowly getting there.

After lots of tests, I've got a profile to remove the RSX and CELL withouth damaging the board or "visualy" damaging the chips themselves without popcorning anything - I will work now in creating a profile to re-attach the chips into the board.