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How to Disassemble a PlayStation 3 for Deep Cleaning

With proper care and maintenance, your Sony PlayStation 3 console should serve you well for many years. Bar the occasional hard-drive or optical-drive failure -- the only mechanical devices in the PS3 -- other components in the console seldom fail. When it does occur, one of the main reasons for hard-drive or DVD failure in a PS3 is heat, which usually occurs because of dirt, grime and dust in the console that clogs heat sinks and prevents adequate airflow. To ensure your PS3 remains clean and cool, disassemble and deep clean it once or twice a year. Taking apart your PS3 voids your warranty, so don't do it before that expires.

Things You'll Need

  • Hexalobular (star-tip) screwdriver
  • Awl or flat-head screwdriver
  • Jewelers screwdriver set
  • Phillips #2 screwdriver
  • Antistatic wrist strap
  • Canned air
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Instructions

    • 1

      Power off the PS3 console and disconnect the AC power cord. Unplug all cables and controllers from the console.

    • 2

      Locate the rubber screw hole cover on the side of the PS3 with the ̶0;HDD̶1; cover plate. Use an awl or flat-head screwdriver to pry off the rubber cover. Remove the screw underneath the rubber cover with a hexalobular (star-tip) screwdriver.

    • 3

      Slide the top case cover off the console after removing the screw. After sliding the top cover to the left as far as you can, lift up on the cover to remove it from the PS3 console chassis.

    • 4

      Loosen and remove the seven Phillips-head screws along the edges of the PS3 inner top plate after removing the case cover. Lift up on the rear of the inner top plate and pry loose the two retaining clips with the awl or flat-head screwdriver. Remove the inner top plate from the console.

    • 5

      Loosen and remove the three screws that secure the power supply inside the PS3 chassis. Disconnect the power supply connector plug from the PS3 motherboard. Lift straight up on the power supply to remove it from the console.

    • 6

      Unplug the ribbon connectors for the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi boards from the motherboard. Remove the four screws that secure the boards to the motherboard and chassis. Gently remove the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi boards from the PS3 console.

    • 7

      Lift up on the front face of the PS3 Blu-ray drive and unplug its audio and ribbon cables from the PS3 motherboard. After disconnecting the Blu-ray cables from the motherboard, remove the drive from the console.

    • 8

      Remove all of the remaining screws that secure the metal bracket that protects the PS3 motherboard. Remove the bracket from the console.

    • 9

      Loosen and remove the three screws that secure the PS3 motherboard to the lower chassis assembly. Lift the motherboard straight up to remove it from the lower chassis assembly.

    • 10

      Flip the motherboard over to reveal its underside. Remove the four plastic clips that secure the cooling assembly to the motherboard. Disconnect the cooling fan power cable from the underside of the PS3 motherboard. Remove the cooling assembly from the motherboard.

    • 11

      Flip the motherboard back over and lift up on the processor heat sink to remove it. Be careful not to touch the thermal paste on the bottom of the heat sink as you remove it from the top of the processor.

    • 12

      Lift up on the remaining thin layer of metal shielding on the motherboard to remove it. Be very careful not to bend or otherwise damage the metal shielding, as it is quite thin.

    • 13

      Use canned air to blow out all dust and debris from the motherboard, cooling assembly and other components.

    • 14

      Reassemble the PS3 by reversing the steps used to take the console apart.


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