Downgrading PS3 Consoles

[pinkfloydviste]

I've downgraded 100+ consoles over the last couple of years using the soldering/e3 linker method (as opposed to the nor clip). Last night I downgraded [MENTION=6]bitsbubba[/MENTION]'s ps3 and took a few pictures because I'm a nerd a thought some of my fellow nerds might find this interesting or even useful. Anyways, I'm not going into great detail about each step of the downgrade process as there are plenty of great guides prepared by people with a lot more technical knowledge than me. However, this could help someone get setup for downgrading via the e3 linker if they so choose.


Below is the first e3 linker I set up (minus a few of the wires). My soldering skills have greatly improved since I prepared this first clip, but you get the idea. BTW, I get all these wires from spare Ethernet and HDMI cables.

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This one is the actual E3 flasher/clip combo I use for my downgrades. As you can see, I reinforced it with a bunch of electrical tape to make sure none of the wires can be pulled out and the connection between the E3 linker and flasher won't be damaged.

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This one shows how long my wires are. The first clip I prepared, I made the mistake of making the wires half the length as these and it was a bit of a pain. You can also see that I (actually my wife helped me out with that) labeled each individual wire so I can easily know where to solder it on the ps3 motherboard.

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This is [MENTION=6]bitsbubba[/MENTION]'s motherboard before soldering all the wires.

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This is the diagram I have hanging on the wall by my workbench to tell me where each wire goes.

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This is [MENTION=6]bitsbubba[/MENTION]'s ps3 with each wire soldered into place

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This is the console put partially back together to dump the nor flash and then re-flash it back after verifying and patching it.

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This is my 1st Gen IPod Touch that I jailbroke and turned into a PS3 Factory Service Mode Jig.

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Same as the last, at this stage I've already verified the dump, patched it, and flashed it back to the PS3. Now the FSM Jig is plugged in and ready. Now I just hit power/eject on the console to send the PS3 to factory service mode and then perform the actual downgrade

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Everything went smoothly with this downgrade and now [MENTION=6]bitsbubba[/MENTION] has a PS3 that is ready to be unlocked and used to it's full potential.

 

[Tactik-knife]

Time for read/write is not too slow with this lenght?

 

[pinkfloydviste]

Time for read/write is not too slow with this lenght?

Not enough for me to notice at least. When I first started doing downgrades I used the nor clip. The first E3 linker I set up had wires that were maybe half the length of my current setup. The times are pretty much the same with all three setups.

 

[Tactik-knife]

I have too started with NOR clip, and I have bricked my PS3 (3 years ago :3), same with Linker when I use it for the first time xD

But now, as time I use this flasher with the clip, when we know use it, he's works fine. And time for read and write is too short with the Linker or other flasher

 

[pinkfloydviste]

I have too started with NOR clip, and I have bricked my PS3 (3 years ago :3), same with Linker when I use it for the first time xD

But now, as time I use this flasher with the clip, when we know use it, he's works fine. And time for read and write is too short with the Linker or other flasher

Bummer. I've yet to brick a single console. I find that when the solder points are all correct, I get 100% good dumps. If one or some of the solder points aren't quite right, it won't even read the dump. The clip method was all over the place for me. I got to the point where I could read dumps just fine with the clip but it wouldn't write back to the console. I started using the e3 linker and never turned back.

 

[bitsbubba]

Bummer. I've yet to brick a single console. I find that when the solder points are all correct, I get 100% good dumps. If one or some of the solder points aren't quite right, it won't even read the dump. The clip method was all over the place for me. I got to the point where I could read dumps just fine with the clip but it wouldn't write back to the console. I started using the e3 linker and never turned back.

and I'm glad with that as I a always thought and heard that soldering was the way to go

 

[pinkfloydviste]

and I'm glad with that as I a always thought and heard that soldering was the way to go

I agree, but [MENTION=11]No0bZiLLa[/MENTION] swears by the e3 clip. But that e3 clip gave me nothing but problems and I tried like 3 of them like on about 10 different consoles. I was only able to downgrade about half of them. Then I started the soldering method downgraded the rest (and a whole lot more since then) and never turned back. I think I sent [MENTION=11]No0bZiLLa[/MENTION] my spare clips but I don't remember if they worked out for him or not.

 

[No0bZiLLa]

I agree, but [MENTION=11]No0bZiLLa[/MENTION] swears by the e3 clip. But that e3 clip gave me nothing but problems and I tried like 3 of them like on about 10 different consoles. I was only able to downgrade about half of them. Then I started the soldering method downgraded the rest (and a whole lot more since then) and never turned back. I think I sent [MENTION=11]No0bZiLLa[/MENTION] my spare clips but I don't remember if they worked out for him or not.

they worked but i got bad reads with all of them for some reason. slapped my clip back in it and worked great. an yes soldering is def the way to go to ensure you get good reads and writes. it just takes longer to do the actual flashing. [MENTION=61]pinkfloydviste[/MENTION] have you figure out a way to externally supply power to the e3 to enable read/write without using ps3 psu?

 

[pinkfloydviste]

they worked but i got bad reads with all of them for some reason. slapped my clip back in it and worked great. an yes soldering is def the way to go to ensure you get good reads and writes. it just takes longer to do the actual flashing. [MENTION=61]pinkfloydviste[/MENTION] have you figure out a way to externally supply power to the e3 to enable read/write without using ps3 psu?

I've never actually tried to do that before. I guess that would be useful to get the dump in the case of actual hardware failure. then you could use the console id. i'm sure there's a tut to do that somewhere.

 

[No0bZiLLa]

here ya go, i wonder if this actually would work. ive heard of stories people were able to do it with batteries but i am not convinced. i am pretty sure dumping is very much possible, but i am skeptical about writing. it looks like it may work tho. you should try it out ;0

 

[Tactik-knife]

Bummer. I've yet to brick a single console. I find that when the solder points are all correct, I get 100% good dumps. If one or some of the solder points aren't quite right, it won't even read the dump. The clip method was all over the place for me. I got to the point where I could read dumps just fine with the clip but it wouldn't write back to the console. I started using the e3 linker and never turned back.

You're right, solders are better than clip, now I use only Teensy for jailbroken consoles, but use E3 for make test, and I have too 100% good dumps

 

[zaratu29]

thanks so much

 

[sethreign]

i've downgraded plenty of ps3's with the clip and never had a problem as long as i used enough pressure only takes a few minutes to dump and write also

 

[No0bZiLLa]

i've downgraded plenty of ps3's with the clip and never had a problem as long as i used enough pressure only takes a few minutes to dump and write also

if you put to much pressure you can destroy sb and or cell//rsx solder connection. i got it down to a science though. for each diff model i have a seperate size wedge to put inbetween chassis and clip. i dont use a clamp. hell i dont downgrade ps3s anymore either. lol but op knows his stuff and recommend him to anyone

edit: my first original clip lasted for over 100 consoles. now they are made differently and dont last as long

 

[bitsbubba]

if you put to much pressure you can destroy sb and or cell//rsx solder connection. i got it down to a science though. for each diff model i have a seperate size wedge to put inbetween chassis and clip. i dont use a clamp. hell i dont downgrade ps3s anymore either. lol but op knows his stuff and recommend him to anyone

edit: my first original clip lasted for over 100 consoles. now they are made differently and dont last as long

Are you set up for Nand yet, and can you or [MENTION=61]pinkfloydviste[/MENTION] do a k01 downgrade?

sent from here to there using Tapatalk

 

[pinkfloydviste]

Are you set up for Nand yet, and can you or [MENTION=61]pinkfloydviste[/MENTION] do a k01 downgrade?

sent from here to there using Tapatalk

Pretty sure cechk01 is a nor console becasue cechh and later are all nor (see: SKU Models - PS3 Developer wiki.)

So to answer your questions, I don't have a setup for nand consoles, but i can downgrade a cechk01 because it should be a nor console.

if you put to much pressure you can destroy sb and or cell//rsx solder connection. i got it down to a science though. for each diff model i have a seperate size wedge to put inbetween chassis and clip. i dont use a clamp. hell i dont downgrade ps3s anymore either. lol but op knows his stuff and recommend him to anyone

edit: my first original clip lasted for over 100 consoles. now they are made differently and dont last as long

I think I sent you a few of my e3 clips because I couldn't get them to work. Were you ever able to get those to work?

 

[bitsbubba]

Pretty sure cechk01 is a nor console becasue cechh and later are all nor (see: SKU Models - PS3 Developer wiki.)

So to answer your questions, I don't have a setup for nand consoles, but i can downgrade a cechk01 because it should be a nor console.

yeah from what I've read k01 is a nor, just wasn't sure if you were still downgrading consoles

[MENTION=50]Tactik-knife[/MENTION] where are you located, can you fix a Wanky Brick

 

[Tactik-knife]

yeah from what I've read k01 is a nor, just wasn't sure if you were still downgrading consoles

[MENTION=50]Tactik-knife[/MENTION] where are you located, can you fix a Wanky Brick

Me? I live in Switzerland

For NAND PS3 I've just made some test on my CECHG, otherwise I don't have a lot experience on NAND

 

[No0bZiLLa]

Are you set up for Nand yet, and can you or @pinkfloydviste do a k01 downgrade?

sent from here to there using Tapatalk

not yet, and with the way my funds are looking... not anytime soon lol.

 

[sethreign]

if you put to much pressure you can destroy sb and or cell//rsx solder connection. i got it down to a science though. for each diff model i have a seperate size wedge to put inbetween chassis and clip. i dont use a clamp. hell i dont downgrade ps3s anymore either. lol but op knows his stuff and recommend him to anyone

edit: my first original clip lasted for over 100 consoles. now they are made differently and dont last as long

i realize that i'm not some 10 year old that doesn't know how much pressure is too much lol but you're also correct that newer clips aren't made with the same quality but my solder skills are shit so until i get that down i gotta deal with the alternative