PS3 PS3 HDD Upgrade & Controller Questions

Combatxlemming

Combatxlemming

Member
Straight to the pint from me

I have modded my ps3 40gb phat console to CFW 4.86.1 rebug lite and as you can guess I'm looking to upgrade my HDD and have a few questions
  1. What is the biggest HDD the console can take?
  2. Do I need to reinstall the entire CFW process or can do it through the recovery menu?
  3. SSD yay or nay since they are getting kinda cheap right now?
Thats the HDD stuff out the way now for the controller questions

  1. Is there any battery upgrades I can do to my controller so it lasts longer with still fitting in the standard frame?
  2. if 1. is false what is the go to controller I don't mind cheap ones from aliexpress?
  3. Can I use a ps4 controller with my ps3 phat havn't got one to test and they do have a good battery life?
  4. I know you can do this with some of the ps4 controllers but can you upgrade the ps3 thumbsticks with the ones that fit onto an xbox one elite controller?
Thank you for any and all help.
 
1) 1 Tb safelly, bigger sizes could work but are not so safe
2) Depends of the capacity of your flash chip/s, when talking about your PS3 you should mention the product code CECH-????
3) yay if you have one at home just try it maybe works and shorts a bit the loading times, nay if you plan to buy it specifically for the PS3 because there are some that are not compatible and could drive you into problems

1b) Yes, there are some non-official with a bit more capacity, or you can use a battery cell from a old smartphone
3b) Not sure, but the way how the "PS" button works is different
4b) The sticks of the DS3 hae a good feeling when are new, you could try to buy a couple of clone ones and replace them (it could be a bit tricky though, depends of DS3 revision)
 
3b) i dont have a ds4 but from what i understand it will work but there is no way to press "ps" button. if you have bluray remote (or maybe move navigation controller also), you can use it for "ps" button.
 
Probably should of done your method of numbering looks much better.

  1. Thank you for the information I was thinking about getting a 1TB HDD
  2. My info is coming from the psp seen where it was easy to understand my fault on that one, its a CECH-H03 model
  3. Is this one of those problems where the CECH would of helped.
1b. I don't mine unofficial batteries just the controller I have is getting a bit tired.
3b. right so avoid the ps4 controllers kinda odd that function has changed from console to console.
4b. I honestly can't tell you on that one on my controller the back sticker is almost impossible to read, is there many different types?​
 
2) We use to talk about them by the PS3 model or motherboard model (sometimes is even neeeded to mention both) to have more precise talks, the hdd capacity is not really a good identifyer, you can see an overview of the parts and components in this tables
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/Talk:SKU_Models
Your CECHH is the first PS3 model using a NOR flash type chip (with only 16mb capacity), and the PS3 firmware is around 256mb, this means a big part of the PS3 firmware files are stored in hdd... so yes... your PS3 is going to request to install the firmware after you replace or format the hdd (so have a PS3UPDAT.PUP from rebug 4.86 lite ready to install from USB)

3) I cant tell the compatibility problem of SSD when used in PS3 because i dont have any experience with them, but ive read some problems that could happen reported by reputable people. The incompatibility problems probably comes from the controller chip soldered in the SSD, the SSD manufacturers upgrades that controllers frequently so the compatibility could vary, i dont know any strict rule we could follow. As far i remember from some reports sometimes it happens that the SSD works, allows to install firmware and apps and it looks like everything is working fine but eventually it shows an error and forces you to format it (and thats an annoyance because it could make you lose all contents of the SSD)
So is a bit like what i said, if you have an SSD at home not used just try it, maybe works... but better dont spent money in buying an SSD dedicated to the PS3 unless someone reports that specific SSD model as fully compatible with the PS3

1b) take a look at ebay, i remember to see some with more capacity (but im not sure whats the max), in this section you can see the specs of some of the officials, are rated 570mAh or so
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/DualShock_3#Battery
The idea of using batteries from (old) smartphones is something that has been mentioned latelly in the forum (someone even reported success connecting 2 smartphones batteries together). I have a battery in front of me from a samsung galaxy with 2600mAh, thats huge compared with the officials (but is too big, i think it doesnt fits, inside the DS3)
Anyway... if your battery is very weared out you are going to feel a huge improvement even using the officials... i cant tell the amount of hours accuratelly but overall... the DS3 i use frequently have 6 years or more and i can play for around 10 hours without recharging (i think thats good enought, 2 good gaming sessions or so)

4b) There are a bunch https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/DualShock_3#PCB_evolution
In the first models they was trying different components, and in the last models they was reducing manufacturing costs too much. So the better ones are located at the center
The feeling of the sticks are good in all them are made by a company named ALPS (good quality). The biggest difference in the sticks are the pots (potentiometers) located at the sides externally to meassure the rotations in X and Y axis. The pots with 4 pins are more sensibles (and some are completly sealed, so there is zero wear out in the pots)
What i mentioned that it could be a bit tricky to desolder the original sticks in some DS3 models is because the stick have a metal body with 4 "pillars" that are intended to enter in 4 holes of the circuit board, in some of them they did this
1) Insert stick in the holes
2) Bend the pillars to "grab" the circuit board from behind
3) Solder the pillars at the back

That sucks a lot because we need to heat the solder with a sodler iron to melt it and at the same time to use plyers to bend the pillars (to make them straigh), thats the only way to remove them
But while doing it the circuit board can be damaged a bit... we are lucky there are no other copper traces around that holes though... so maybe the circuit board will have some ugly "marks" and scratches after the removal, but no problem unless you really break it
The better way to see if your sticks are soldered this way is to open the DS3 to take a look inside (and take a look also a the model of the circuit board, printed in it in white)
 
Thank you for all your help and information.

For HDD going I have put a 1tb SSD in from my pc to give it a test run it transfers files to it just fine no hangs or anything but haven't tried playing anything on it yet have to ftp over to it which odly enough I tested it against the 40gb that came with it and it seems to be a small amount faster when it comes to transfers but from what I was reading on this form the wifi on the old phat models is not the strongest.

Controller wise I might just see about buying a newer model controller and keeping the one that was with the console as a spare since it works fine just weak battery. One thing I noticed from the wiki pages you send me is that the battery connector looks all the sameish unlike the ps4 controllers had a few of them a part to repair and my god 5 different controllers and 5 different battery connectors to my knowledge :beaten:
 
Combatxlemming said:
Thank you for all your help and information.

For HDD going I have put a 1tb SSD in from my pc to give it a test run it transfers files to it just fine no hangs or anything but haven't tried playing anything on it yet have to ftp over to it which odly enough I tested it against the 40gb that came with it and it seems to be a small amount faster when it comes to transfers but from what I was reading on this form the wifi on the old phat models is not the strongest.

Controller wise I might just see about buying a newer model controller and keeping the one that was with the console as a spare since it works fine just weak battery. One thing I noticed from the wiki pages you send me is that the battery connector looks all the sameish unlike the ps4 controllers had a few of them a part to repair and my god 5 different controllers and 5 different battery connectors to my knowledge :beaten:
Click to expand...
For a stress test of the SSD you should also enter the "recovery menu" and use the option named "restore filesystem". This option is pretty much like a checkdisc in windows, it searchs for errors in the filesystem and tryes to correct them if posible
The reason why im suggesting to run this option is because some hdds (bigger than 1tb) and some SSD (with a weird controller) doesnt allows to pass that check, and thats very bad

Keep the DS3 at safe, when you try to enter the "recovery menu" the PS3 does an special check to the DS3, all the officials passes that check and allows to enter the recovery menu, but most of the clones doesnt allows to enter "recovery menu", And thats a problem obviouslly because if at some point you need to enter recovery menu you really need a controller that allows you to enter, otherway you are not going to be able to fix the problems
Yes, the battery connector is the same in all them, are just 2 pins anyway, btw if at some point you replace the battery cut the wires of the old battery and keep them, incase you want to solder them to a DIY battery from a smartphone, etc... for mods
 
sandungas said:
For a stress test of the SSD you should also enter the "recovery menu" and use the option named "restore filesystem". This option is pretty much like a checkdisc in windows, it searchs for errors in the filesystem and tryes to correct them if posible
The reason why im suggesting to run this option is because some hdds (bigger than 1tb) and some SSD (with a weird controller) doesnt allows to pass that check, and thats very bad

Keep the DS3 at safe, when you try to enter the "recovery menu" the PS3 does an special check to the DS3, all the officials passes that check and allows to enter the recovery menu, but most of the clones doesnt allows to enter "recovery menu", And thats a problem obviouslly because if at some point you need to enter recovery menu you really need a controller that allows you to enter, otherway you are not going to be able to fix the problems
Yes, the battery connector is the same in all them, are just 2 pins anyway, btw if at some point you replace the battery cut the wires of the old battery and keep them, incase you want to solder them to a DIY battery from a smartphone, etc... for mods
Click to expand...

Out of honesty transfering files and everything to it and running a few tests it seems to run flawless its as cruical ssd never had any problems with them and so far so good on it working without any problems, I have used a lot of crucial SSD's and never given me a problem.

Yeah I was looking at that before I was thinking about getting an official one but one of thew newer models if I can but there is so many fakes around a quick scan on ebay really shows but its the entire thing of cost to find a new official one would cost more than a few of the cheapy ones.
I was thinking about doing that anyway like getting a second controller then seeing what I can mod on the controller that came with my console.
 
Combatxlemming said:
Out of honesty transfering files and everything to it and running a few tests it seems to run flawless its as cruical ssd never had any problems with them and so far so good on it working without any problems, I have used a lot of crucial SSD's and never given me a problem.
Click to expand...
I named it "stress test" just because the related functions in the PS3 firmware are very picky with that procedures
Is pretty much the same that does linux or windows to keep the filesystem healthy, you know eventually the filesystems are scanned for errors, and incase an error is found the system fixes it
Is the kind of manteinance that needs to be made from time to time, otherway the filesystem is going to cummulate a big amount of small errors and eventually is going to collapse

The PS3 doesnt seems to do that filesystem checks "on runtime", only does it either after a firmware crash/freeze (by displaying a warning at the next reboot, but not always), or if you force it by entering the "recovery menu" and using the "restore filesystem" option i suggested you to use

The point is... soon or later your PS3 is going to show you that warning to do it, is something relativelly frequent because in CFW we use to have some freezes and crashes from time to time while using homebrew apps, also is good to do it from time to time as a check to have the filesystems healthy

Incase your SSD is not able to pass that check successfully... you should seriouslly consider to not use it in the PS3, because maybe it looks like its working normally now, but eventually it could push you into problems (not able to recover his contents)

Combatxlemming said:
Yeah I was looking at that before I was thinking about getting an official one but one of thew newer models if I can but there is so many fakes around a quick scan on ebay really shows but its the entire thing of cost to find a new official one would cost more than a few of the cheapy ones.
I was thinking about doing that anyway like getting a second controller then seeing what I can mod on the controller that came with my console.
Click to expand...
The clone ones are not so bad considering the prices, ive seen some for 5$ free shipping lol, they just works, the plastics are almost 100% perfectly cloned, but the electronics sucks a bit/lot

Take a look at the controllers made by a company named "gamesir", i heard good reports from them, thats anotehr option, are compatibles with the PS3 but doesnt pretends to clone the plastic shell, they looks different
 
Didn't know the PS3 file system worked that way will do the check later on :) - Edit: Gave it a test and it passed with flying colours.

The Gamesir controllers do look really nice but I know its a little annoying not having the circle, square, cross and triangle feels weird like abxy belongs to xbox kinda thing.

The controller I have is doing the job but you can really tell when they are getting a little bit tired, I'm going to get a second one and just see what mods I can throw at it like I really want to try the xbox elite thumb sticks on them just to see if they work and it not see if there is a way to making them work but without having the parts on hand its kinda hard to tell what will or wont work.

Did a quick little search around the PS3 thumb sticks do fit on the ps4 controllers with a little cutting here and there which means the elite thumb sticks might fit.
 
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Combatxlemming said:
Didn't know the PS3 file system worked that way will do the check later on :) - Edit: Gave it a test and it passed with flying colours.
Click to expand...
Nice, btw you can run it several times consecutivelly just to check if the SSD have some problem while doing it

Again, the result is the same than linux or windows, the first time you run it is when is going to find the posible errors (incase they exists)... and if you run it again inmediatly after is not going to find any error

Im just mentioning it because is not dangerous to run the "restore filesystem" several times consecutivelly, is just is pointless (only the first one matters).... but i would do it just incase, because the goal is to see if the SSD displays some problem
Combatxlemming said:
The Gamesir controllers do look really nice but I know its a little annoying not having the circle, square, cross and triangle feels weird like abxy belongs to xbox kinda thing.

The controller I have is doing the job but you can really tell when they are getting a little bit tired, I'm going to get a second one and just see what mods I can throw at it like I really want to try the xbox elite thumb sticks on them just to see if they work and it not see if there is a way to making them work but without having the parts on hand its kinda hard to tell what will or wont work.

Did a quick little search around the PS3 thumb sticks do fit on the ps4 controllers with a little cutting here and there which means the elite thumb sticks might fit.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, i dont like the ABXY button mapping either, btw sometimes that kind of buttons (when are made of fully transparent plastic) are "printed" at the bottom with ink
You can grab the button, and rub it on top of a flat sandpaper surface to remove the ink (and later continue rubbing it in a cloth to polish the plastic and restore the transparency)

I had to do that with a clone DS3 controller that had a "PS" button where the "PS" image was not a logo, but just a text (using a standard font type, lol)
I used it like that with the ugly "PS" button for some time, but eventually i went bored of that detail and removed the ink (and i painted it with a plain color with nail painting), i thought also in using a sticker but i could not make it look good
Anyway, my "mod" painting it was better than the original "PS" written with "times new roman" font type, thats was too much vulgar for me, it was making my eyes bleed, lol

That levers attached to the back are usually named "scuff"... thats a bad term though because scuff is a hardware company, is just they went famous for doing that and is like they baptished that kind of mods using levers
But yeah... it can be made at home, it requires some accuracy while working with plastics though, it needs to be a bit robust, otherway are going to break so easilly

For this kind of mods (where are added some buttons duplicated) is needed to solder some wires to the "test pads" of the circuit board, this table indicates how many testpads are exposed in the circuit board (easy to solder in them), it depends a lot of the circuit board revision
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/DualShock_3#PCB_TestPoints

Incase there is a testpad missing in the circuit board it doesnt means that is imposible to do the mod... it just means that there is not any easy solder point for it, but the fact is all them exists in the pins of the toshiba main controller chip
https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/DualShock_3#Toshiba_T6UN6EFG
 
sandungas said:
Nice, btw you can run it several times consecutivelly just to check if the SSD have some problem while doing it

Again, the result is the same than linux or windows, the first time you run it is when is going to find the posible errors (incase they exists)... and if you run it again inmediatly after is not going to find any error

Im just mentioning it because is not dangerous to run the "restore filesystem" several times consecutivelly, is just is pointless (only the first one matters).... but i would do it just incase, because the goal is to see if the SSD displays some problem
Click to expand...

I already beat you to it on that one ran it a few times yesterday and once today just to be sure no error or anything works perfectly.



For the thumb sticks I don't mean the entire unit itself just the bit of plsatic, going to give one of these kits a try since they fit on DS4 controllers just fine so they should in theroy fit on DS3's without any problems.
eBay - You can get them cheaper else where but thats the best I could find with fast delivery for me.
 
Combatxlemming said:
I already beat you to it on that one ran it a few times yesterday and once today just to be sure no error or anything works perfectly.
Click to expand...
Then nice, it seems that SSD is fully compatible :)

Combatxlemming said:
For the thumb sticks I don't mean the entire unit itself just the bit of plsatic, going to give one of these kits a try since they fit on DS4 controllers just fine so they should in theroy fit on DS3's without any problems.
eBay - You can get them cheaper else where but thats the best I could find with fast delivery for me.
Click to expand...
Ohhh ok just the tip of the sticks
I meant that kind of mods that adds 2 or 4 "paddles" at the back of the controller, the paddles itself (and how are attached to the controller body) is something tricky to do at home, but the electronics behind it are not so hard and can be made in a DS3, is just a button with 2 wires
I was considering doing this mod since many time ago, but i never had the guts to start, mostly because i dont have much DS3 to do experiments, this is the kind of thing that probably is going to require 2 or 3 versions
You know, the first version is like the "prototype", and maybe is going to work fine... but at that point probably you imagined a different way to improve it and you will be tempted to do another "version 2" of the mod... and so on :D

Edit: i mean, like this, but with the DS3
Elite-Gaming-Soft-Touch-Black-SCUF-Impact-back.jpg
 
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Might want to grab yourself one crucial SSD's are kinda cheap for the power they kick out ;)

I love/hate to tell you this but yeah it can be done they wont be reporgramable but back when I was modding 360 controllers I had a go at working on a DS3 if takes a lot of careful work but you can solder some extra wire to the contacts but that means it would be a set button on the back and not programable, There used to be something like that floating around a long time ago where it was programable but can't remember the name of it for the life of me.
 
Hi, I've managed to get hold of a slim to replace big bulky original (sadly died) how do I swap the HDD?
I didn't get chance to backup from my old Ps3, it was so quick I really really don't want to format it, apparently there is a way but I've no idea how.
Somebody please help me
 
Philio said:
Hi, I've managed to get hold of a slim to replace big bulky original (sadly died) how do I swap the HDD?
I didn't get chance to backup from my old Ps3, it was so quick I really really don't want to format it, apparently there is a way but I've no idea how.
Somebody please help me
Click to expand...
I dont understand well what you want to achieve but replacing the hdd is easy, you just need to swap it
And recovering the files from the old hdd requires you to dump the EID root key of the console, this is something only posible to do in CFW (not HEN)
 
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