Holes on ps3
- Thread starter inuzukaoz
- Start date
kozarovv
Developer
My PS3 is modified like that so I can tell the difference. Current one is OFW, but I used that case/cover on my latest CFW slim. Difference in my case was 8-12c on both Cell, and RSX. Yes, is really noticeable change. Now I have that case on CECH-200X, but my CFW PS3 was 210X so you can feel change even on 45/40nm components. You will see that when you put hand at the back of PS3 that airflow is really much better than before.
Pros:
- Much better temperature of CELL/RSX
- If fan get higher speed it not wail (google translate here
) like before, sounds more like airflow (kozarovv translate here 
) - You have modded PS3!
- Easier to clean without opening PS3
Cons:
- But also easier to collect dust
- Not best idea if kids can put hands there :/
- Theoretically lower cooling ability for other mainboard components, specially that placed at front of PS3
It's a tricky question actually & I am not entirely sure it's such a good idea to drill holes blindly... Keep in mind that any console cooling system is designed to use a particular air flow with certain characteristics.
Modifying the original airflow may or may not be beneficial, it actually depends, it could even be counter productive, for instance one part could run cooler while other parts run hotter. In any case, improving the global cooling efficiency is usually not as simple as just making holes...
The only way to know for sure if making holes in the cover above the fan improves cooling is to make comprehensive tests... Without reliable test results, it's a bit of a gamble imo.
If you have some time to investigate, I suggest you buy a 10 bucks ylod console on ebay (get the same model as your current console). You would get spare parts, a set of ids & a top cover to experiment with! You can drill holes in it as you see fit & test the improvements to cooling until you get the results you are looking for!
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SockNastez
Member
I have this as my set up there are holes and a fan covering on top of my fan. It is good at cooling the PS3, the battery get's hotter though.
self_slaughter
Member
Yeah, You do have to be careful with mods like that as things are designed to work pretty well from the factory at cooling all critical components.
Could be like an accelero cooler on a video card. Focused purely on the gpu itself, which drops the core temps massively (which is about all people look at), but usually cooks the VRMs and other components well beyond specs (100'C+ in some circumstances in my testing) due to the change in airflow and can cause more problems in the long term than it's really worth.
If you're going to alter the air flow characteristics like that to cool the CPU/RSX, it may be worth going a step further again and adding another smaller fan / more heatsinks on surface mounted components etc. to make sure other components are still getting adequate cooling as you really are messing with the balance of things quite heavily.
A hole like that is only going to cool the cpu/rsx better due to not pulling as much air over the other components due to the loss of pressure and making things that you can't measure run hotter.
Could be like an accelero cooler on a video card. Focused purely on the gpu itself, which drops the core temps massively (which is about all people look at), but usually cooks the VRMs and other components well beyond specs (100'C+ in some circumstances in my testing) due to the change in airflow and can cause more problems in the long term than it's really worth.
If you're going to alter the air flow characteristics like that to cool the CPU/RSX, it may be worth going a step further again and adding another smaller fan / more heatsinks on surface mounted components etc. to make sure other components are still getting adequate cooling as you really are messing with the balance of things quite heavily.
A hole like that is only going to cool the cpu/rsx better due to not pulling as much air over the other components due to the loss of pressure and making things that you can't measure run hotter.
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kozarovv
Developer
Battery?
One noticeable differences from factory setup is lack cooling for hdd, not a big deal when 5400rpm is used. But can be problem with 7200rpm. For sure mod like that is also bad for southbridge cooling. Wifi/bt bga can get higher temps, but last one is theory as power supply will be cooler so components under it will get small profit.
But I still decided to make mod in my PS3, as three hottest components are cooled much better. CPU/GPU/Power supply get better cooling. You just need to calculate risk by yourself. I decided that 3 components that have most failure frequency will get better cooling, taking the other risks. Also if you are on CFW you can partially measure how that mod will work on your PS3. Just remove top cover, and try.
Like you can see, there is no simple answer. As a CFW user you can luckily do some measurement before doing mod.
Most problematic in Accelero was that nobody used that small additional radiators, of course I'm talking about active cooling, in passive mode it was simply killer.
self_slaughter
Member
Yeah, its all a bit of a guessing game with the ps3. At least when modding pc hardware you have a lot more temp sensors and the ability to poke around with a temperature gun to find and alleviate troublesome hotspots, be it by adding different/bigger heatsinks or fans / diffusers etc.
With the ps3 being a sealed unit it makes accurately checking things virtually impossible unfortunately and basically becomes a game of trial and error.
Always fun to tinker though if you dont mind taking the risks and do your research.
As far as the accelero example, even with massively reduced core temps and using bigger heatsinks then what came with the kits, the vrms / ram still ran far hotter and reduced the cards overclocking potential vs the albeit louder stock blower coolers they came with originally.
An extra side mounted fan was needed in that case to reduce the problem after changing the air flow characteristics on what was once a specially designed and sealed unit, much like the ps3.
With the ps3 being a sealed unit it makes accurately checking things virtually impossible unfortunately and basically becomes a game of trial and error.
Always fun to tinker though if you dont mind taking the risks and do your research.
As far as the accelero example, even with massively reduced core temps and using bigger heatsinks then what came with the kits, the vrms / ram still ran far hotter and reduced the cards overclocking potential vs the albeit louder stock blower coolers they came with originally.
An extra side mounted fan was needed in that case to reduce the problem after changing the air flow characteristics on what was once a specially designed and sealed unit, much like the ps3.
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SockNastez
Member
Battery?
One noticeable differences from factory setup is lack cooling for hdd, not a big deal when 5400rpm is used. But can be problem with 7200rpm. For sure mod like that is also bad for southbridge cooling. Wifi/bt bga can get higher temps, but last one is theory as power supply will be cooler so components under it will get small profit.
But I still decided to make mod in my PS3, as three hottest components are cooled much better. CPU/GPU/Power supply get better cooling. You just need to calculate risk by yourself. I decided that 3 components that have most failure frequency will get better cooling, taking the other risks. Also if you are on CFW you can partially measure how that mod will work on your PS3. Just remove top cover, and try.
Like you can see, there is no simple answer. As a CFW user you can luckily do some measurement before doing mod.
Most problematic in Accelero was that nobody used that small additional radiators, of course I'm talking about active cooling, in passive mode it was simply killer.
Sorry I meant power supply. This method works fine for me.
inuzukaoz
Member
Can I see a picture of your ps3 mod?
kozarovv
Developer
Sure, but in current state is looking little bit different than before, because i removed net 2 months ago when mounted mod to new PS3. Still to lazy to place it again
.
Net is mounted from inside on hot glue, but you can use even super glue. Normally it's look similar to this one (but better, i use different net
):
I just want to add imo there is probably better (safer) way to mod slim ps3, but I never did it. You can make current holes bigger to get better airflow, looks like ps3 cooling system is little bit to closed for air. By expanding holes you can get better airflow, and air will still go thru way that $ony make it. But probably is not so effective for CELL/RSX/PS like simple damn hole in the middle of your PS3.
self_slaughter
Member
Never had a slim to play with, but looking at some pics it looks like a pretty standard blower style design with the fan designed to pull air from underneath through the motherboard etc before blasting it past the heatsinks and out the back to cool the cpu/rsx.
Some smaller intake fans may help just to push some air through where it used to intake its air from, in order to keep the other components that are now losing a lot of (if not all) airflow, cool still?
Maybe even something similar to this may help in combination with the above mod if you don't feel comfortable cracking out the soldering iron and modding the fans in yourself?
I normally wouldn't suggest such "attachments", but it could help in this particular case, since you've basically just removed all the other components only form of cooling in order to cool the cpu/rsx more. (seems a bit counter-productive long term to me)
Edit: Or for a cleaner approach, it looks like you may be able to fit another exhaust fan directly next to the cpu/rsx coolers exhaust to pull some air through the rest of the system? Probably not as effective, but I definitely think you need something extra on top of that fan mod to keep everything else in check personally.
Edit 2: A picture says a thousand words... possible solutions?
Some smaller intake fans may help just to push some air through where it used to intake its air from, in order to keep the other components that are now losing a lot of (if not all) airflow, cool still?
Maybe even something similar to this may help in combination with the above mod if you don't feel comfortable cracking out the soldering iron and modding the fans in yourself?
I normally wouldn't suggest such "attachments", but it could help in this particular case, since you've basically just removed all the other components only form of cooling in order to cool the cpu/rsx more. (seems a bit counter-productive long term to me)
Edit: Or for a cleaner approach, it looks like you may be able to fit another exhaust fan directly next to the cpu/rsx coolers exhaust to pull some air through the rest of the system? Probably not as effective, but I definitely think you need something extra on top of that fan mod to keep everything else in check personally.
Edit 2: A picture says a thousand words... possible solutions?
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Hmmm...
The day someone mods a console like this & installs sensors to monitor the temps in every part of the ps3, not only the CPU/GPU, then I might consider the test results.
Until then, I cannot take seriously statements like "it's working fine for me" placed in the same sentence as "the power supply runs hotter though", it is only a guessing game at this stage. No idea either about how other parts like the Southbridge fare?
The truth is more like, it seems to be ok but it is impossible to say for sure!
As to calling the CPU/GPU the most important parts that need cooled, that's just not true. If any component suffers from even slight overheating, even a small cap, then the ps3 suffers. The day that component dies, good luck finding it & replacing it!
The day someone mods a console like this & installs sensors to monitor the temps in every part of the ps3, not only the CPU/GPU, then I might consider the test results.
Until then, I cannot take seriously statements like "it's working fine for me" placed in the same sentence as "the power supply runs hotter though", it is only a guessing game at this stage. No idea either about how other parts like the Southbridge fare?
The truth is more like, it seems to be ok but it is impossible to say for sure!
As to calling the CPU/GPU the most important parts that need cooled, that's just not true. If any component suffers from even slight overheating, even a small cap, then the ps3 suffers. The day that component dies, good luck finding it & replacing it!
self_slaughter
Member
Yeah, it's not like you can overclock the ps3 or anything making the mod worthwhile short-term as is. You're just going to burn out other components quicker instead of the cpu/rsx, which is probably a lot more heat tolerant than the other components and shorten the consoles life span if anything.
kozarovv
Developer
I don't get that last picture. Exhaust mod? If you referring to my last pic (white ps3), then I meant to make bigger holes at bottom, but don't make that big one at top. Just makes original holes bigger.
C'mon man you have active cooling systems on capacitors in TV, Radio, Hi-fi, DVD player? For sure this can overburn SB, but capacitors? PS3 don't use some magic parts like that, is standard capacitor like in your TV, and other RTV. Also keep in mind that using that mod is not completely removing other cooling "tunel". Air is still taken in small parts from other holes. I checked that with burning match.
And.. Is slightly different that you are saying guys.. Look at ps3 mainboard, and on metal plate on both sides (specially one with heat spreader). Most of "sensitive" component are already connected to plates by thermal tape. Like you can see on picture I posted one of that plate is strictly connected to heat spreader of CELL/RSX. And bottom plate still get some air from fan as fan is not getting air only from hole that I made. So basically you not loss too much cooling for other components.
Next thing are VRMs that in my model (DYN-001) are connected strictly to heat spreader of CPU/GPU.
As a final note I want to say that i'm not recommending any of that mods to any of user here. I just have one, and I'm sharing my experience from using it.
self_slaughter
Member
All good mate, just sharing information and ideas. :P
The last picture I was suggesting maybe adding a small fan to pull air through where it says exhaust mod, or maybe an intake fan at the front in order to keep a decent amount of air circulating around the rest of the system as that mod would massively reduce the pressure and pulling power of any air in the rest of the system.
I know at least on my fat console the metal shield / heat spreader gets quite hot to the touch when running caseless and definitely needs some direct airflow.
The last picture I was suggesting maybe adding a small fan to pull air through where it says exhaust mod, or maybe an intake fan at the front in order to keep a decent amount of air circulating around the rest of the system as that mod would massively reduce the pressure and pulling power of any air in the rest of the system.
I know at least on my fat console the metal shield / heat spreader gets quite hot to the touch when running caseless and definitely needs some direct airflow.
Generally speaking, to burn a ceramic cap, you would need temps well above 100C so I agree it's unlikely here, however burning the cap is not the only thing to worry about, with high variations of temps, components such as ceramic caps can give you all sorts of weird issues like buzzing, ringing, piezo effect & of course varying output!
If you read my post properly, you will notice that I used caps as the very last possible item burning. I actually spoke of all components down to the smallest cap, but not caps in particular.
Anyway, all I meant is that CPU & RSX are not the be all & end all when it comes to cooling.
On top of the components, the soldering may also get stressed a little too much & crack over time.
Also, you may check that some air is still flowing in the original "tunnel' with a match, it means nothing at the end of the day. Efficiency comes at certain rates, all the data must be right. A loss of say 25% in air flow might be ok while a loss of 30% (these are random figures) may have dire consequences...
Cooling & thermodynamics is proper science that does not suffer approximation.
Having said that, it is also possible that your mod does a perfect job, it would be lucky but still possible...
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