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Scratched Games
Although Blu-ray discs come with scratch-resistant coating, they are not immune to scratches or abrasion that may pit the readable surface of a disc. Improperly stored discs can easily be scratched up, and this results in games that are more prone to freezing. This is the simplest and least expensive freezing problem to fix, as it is resolved by replacing the game.
Overheating
Like all computer components, the electric activity inside a PS3 naturally attracts dust, which can lead to overheating and frequent freezing. It needs to be periodically cleaned by blowing compressed air into the exposed vents and slots in the system. Another way to prevent this is by putting the PS3 on a flat, exposed surface, as to not block the vents. Keeping the PS3 on a carpet, which dissipates heat poorly, contributes to overheating.
Dying Graphics Chip
Through constant use of the console, especially playing games (rather than watching movies or listening to music), wear and tear on the graphics chip can accumulate to the point where it fails. Sometimes this occurs because of a manufacturing flaw, or some other adulteration. The GPU failure is usually accompanied by the "yellow light of death," which indicates that a user should send the system in for repair.
Firmware Updates
Sometimes, firmware updates can have detrimental effects on some games. This is somewhat rare as the hardware is standardized, but incomplete quality assurance can lead to undiscovered glitches and incompatibilities in some games that can freeze the system. Firmware updates are optional, unless you want to play multi-player games, so it's usually best to wait a while before updating your PS3 firmware.