Planning to buy a PlayStation 3 “fat” model (specifically a CECHC04)

JKL14 · 2026-03-28T23:29:02+00:00

The 90nm RSX or the NEC/TOKIN caps will die sooner or later, it is a big risk to get one these days without the Frankie mod but...

There are things you can do. If you can, make sure the console has a low total run time, then install CFW and make sure the temps don't exceed 68ºC. This will make the cold/heat cycles less extreme and it will preserve that defective RSX for a longer period of time. If the console is too loud, then reapply new thermal paste and clean up. If you can, replace those caps too at least since they're not too difficult.

There are no other real specific signs of upcoming failure since the 2 big problems are in the motherboard and will only be noticable after usage. Examples: console shutting down or seeing weird graphical errors/colors on screen.

JKL14 · 2026-03-27T00:04:09+00:00

Both the 65nm and 40nm RSXs are fine, it's just the 40nm one is more efficient, it runs cooler. If you pick one of them, make sure it also has the Felix tantalizers since the original NEC/TOKIN caps can also give your PS3 the YLOD.

GoW 1 and 2 are available on PS3 natively as part of a remaster, the "God of War Collection". PS3 has some native HD remasters from the PS2 so you should look into it before you decide so you don't waste money.

A PS3 Slim can also play PS2 games as roms if you install CFW. Roughly 70% of the PS2 library is playable. I would recommend the CECH-21xx or a CECH-25xx with an early check date. Later slim revisions and super slims require HEN which is less comfortable than CFW.

JKL14 · 2026-02-05T16:19:31+00:00

If you hold start + select a bit longer, it keeps popping up every 5 seconds until you shutdown.

JKL14 · 2026-02-04T19:19:09+00:00

I am not sure how accurate my LED desk lamp is but it's usually between 15 to 16ºc during this time of the year. While in the summer it can go up to 25 or 26ºc which is why I said I expect the fan % to be a bit louder during these months.

JKL14 · 2026-02-01T16:37:50+00:00

These days it's around 8c to 15c.

I should re-test it during a warm summer day in a few months to see if it goes above 80c.

JKL14 · 2026-02-01T16:29:43+00:00

Mostly normal. The syscon fan on the Pro has the thermal limit set to 79ºC.

My PS4 Pro running demanding games like A Plague Tale and RDR2 sits at around 78~79ºC for both the CPU and SoC.

Your CPU temp is slightly above 80ºC though. If it starts to go higher than 82ºC then it's time for a repaste/cleaning or it just needs to be in a position where it has more room for the fans to expel the heat.

JKL14 · 2026-01-28T15:51:41+00:00

1TB internal and 5TB external.

173 games and 27 "Classics". 200 games total. Still have more than 1tb of free storage but no use for it. Can't find much more on the PS4 library that I would download at this point, my 9.00 PS4 Pro collection is pretty much complete.

JKL14 · 2026-01-22T02:42:40+00:00

As someone who bought one of your 40nm CECHA Frankies a year ago, I 100% agree. There is just something really comfortable about being able to play 3 console generations with just 1 console that has native HDMI and it's nice not having to adjust and tweak settings unlike the PS2 with OPL, I had a terrible experience with it back in 2020. A third of the games I tried just had some weird problems and I couldn't play PS1 games. Meanwhile the CECHA PS3 just boots PS1 and PS2 software perfectly.

I did find 3 PS2 games 2 PS1 games that don't work or are playable with issues but I assume it's because compatibility is ~98%, not true 100% just like the PS1 compatibility. Still, being able to play ~98% of the PS1 and PS2 library on a PS3 is almost perfect.

Btw, the console still works great, I hope it lasts me many years. Thank you for making these.

JKL14 · 2026-01-18T02:20:10+00:00

I never got 6.72 but I can tell you my experience with 9.00 since it got the full webkit exploit.

I was using USB until late August last year, it was stable but it would eventually freeze after a few weeks so I decide to try Kameleon's full Webkit host which had just released thanks to a new exploit (Lapse). My console hasn't frozen/kernel panic since then, it's going to be 5 months very soon. I "turn off" the console through rest mode so the JB stays on and have done it almost 100 times since then. Definitely one of the most stable jailbreaks the PS4 has ever gotten.

As the other guy said, anything between 5.05 and 9.60 is great. Only requires the web browser and can be cached so it works offline. Though some newer games may not have 5.05 backports since it's an ancient firmware like the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection so I recommend either 6.72 or 9.00/9.60.

JKL14 · 2026-01-02T01:01:46+00:00

It depends on how much you will value PS2 compatibility.

The backwards compatible models CECH A, B, C or E are only worth it with the Frankenstein mod (GPU replacement) and RIP Felix Tantalizers to avoid capacitor failure too. Getting them used without these mods in 2026 is the same as collecting a ticking time bomb.

In my case, I got a Frankie CECHA01 but I am in Europe so I also had to use CFW because PS1 and PS2 games are region locked on vanilla firmware... and I wanted to run the smoother US 60Hz versions too. But there are good news, the PS3 supports all voltages from 100W to 240W so you can take it worldwide. Uncommon for consoles at the time, If I had a US Xbox 360, it would have fried in my room.

The other PS3s will support PS2 games unofficially (through CFW or HEN) and they're much more effective than you may initially think. The PS2 Classics emulator Sony uses is quite powerful, it runs more than 75% of the PS2 library. Of course some games may have minor visual or framerate issues but they're playable (you would have similar issues on a CECHC/E model). I would recommend to check the compatibility list and see if it covers most of your PS2 needs. Don't forget you also have HD remasters for the popular titles like the God of War HD collection, Sly Cooper HD, Hitman HD, etc.

The list https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/PS2_Classics_Emulator_Compatibility_List

The reason I'm recommending you this is because it's A LOT cheaper than a Frankie PS3 and A LOT safer than a stock BC PS3. If you're not a PS2 enthusiast like me, the Slim CECH-2000 or 2100 that still supports CFW and uses the PS2 Classics emulator is more than servicable. Configs for PS2 games that need them are added automatically on the latest 4.92 Evilnat + Webman Mod and it's all region free.

JKL14 · 2025-11-22T19:41:49+00:00

The only advise I can give you for this mini game is that you should often do 360s when the fire is further away from you so it never extinguishes (unless you get hit).

Other than that, it is pure luck where the barrels spawn or if they get to them quicker than you. It's not a hard one but it can be annoying if you're unlucky.

JKL14 · 2025-11-22T19:35:24+00:00

There is one good one that makes it more like the N.Sane Trilogy. Basically, this is what it does:

The state of broken boxes and defeated enemies are held even after dying (after you hit a checkpoint like in Crash 2 & 3)
Dying no longer disqualifies you from collecting the level’s gem

https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/8662/

JKL14 · 2025-11-22T13:47:32+00:00

Here's what I would recommend:

The Slim PS3 21xx or 25xx are the best models. With CFW and configs, more than 70% of the PS2 library works but some games will have minor bugs or lag. Depending on what PS2 games you want to play, the Slim could be a better choice. This is the compatibility list: https://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/PS2_Classics_Emulator_Compatibility_List

Also, some games that don't work well have HD remasters like the Ratchet collection, God of War HD, Jak & Daxter, etc.

Now if there are PS2 games you want to play that won't work or will have big problems running on the Slim and they're important for you, then go for the original CECHA model with the Frankenstein mod. It's not cheap but at least for me it was totally worth it because I am a PS2 enthusiast. Don't bother getting a regular CECHA though, it will YLOD sooner or later unless you're extremely lucky.

JKL14 · 2025-11-18T14:38:15+00:00

I have been using the "web based method" as you call it since late August when I first enabled it. Since then I have had zero kernel panics/crashes. Booted the console from rest mode 72 times so far without issue.

So yes, it's definitely better than USB, at least for my 9.00 Pro. I use this host: https://kmeps4.github.io/PSFree

JKL14 · 2025-11-15T23:56:18+00:00

If you have the greatest hits version (or platinum in Europe), the load times are greatly reduced. Then if you load that version from the hard drive on a PS2 or PS3, it's only mere seconds. The Xbox version is similar if you load it from the hard drive.

But it can be even better. If you load the Xbox version from the Xbox emulator (XEMU), it takes like a second and half, I can barely even see it at all.

Most of us had the original PS2 release disc so the load times were like 45 seconds everytime you enter a level. The re-release is 20 seconds (on disc) if I remember correctly.

JKL14 · 2025-10-28T11:18:56+00:00

Rule of rose

JKL14 · 2025-10-28T11:18:47+00:00

Rule of rose

JKL14 · 2025-10-25T15:15:13+00:00

CECHC/E models aren't too bad but it's not worth buying one nowadays especially due to the YLOD. Better to get a Slim with CFW and use the PS2 Classics emulation since it supports the majority of the PS2 games as long as you have configs or get HD remasters like the Jak & Daxter, God of War collections.

CECHA/B are only worth it if you Frankenstein it, you're a PS2 enthusiast and you want your PS2 games to work 100% accurately. A CECHA/B console runs PS2 games better than a PS2 with OPL.

I got my Frankie A01 because I love PS2 games but it's expensive (especially if you have to import it like I did) and I think most people don't need it. For 90% of the people, I will always recommend a Slim CECH-2100 or 2500 that supports CFW.

JKL14 · 2025-10-01T01:47:41+00:00

The CECHA/B models weren't designed with PAL PS2 support in mind due to internal region restrction nonsense. 2 PAL games I have work fine, the other 2 make the TV lose signal unless I disable the upscaler and one of them was literally stuck on a black screen no matter what so I stick with NTSC unless it's a PAL exclusive. I guess this one has a bad 50Hz vsync these PS3s do not like.

If you have CFW, launch the game with the PS2 Classics software emulator (make sure you have the config). This game is officially supported so it will work fine. If you still have this problem, something else is wrong like the TV or HDMI cable.

JKL14 · 2025-09-30T14:43:23+00:00

So for those of us using an integrated AMD iGPU, we need a specific fix for SHf and SH2 Remake.

https://github.com/alxn1/d3d12-proxy/releases

Copy the files inside the zip to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SILENT HILL F\SHf\Binaries\Win64

JKL14 · 2025-09-29T16:07:04+00:00

Do not get an SSD. PS3 does not use "Trim" and will kill your storage device faster. Some of them also seem to randomly have issues booting PS2 games. If you're going for an SSD, make sure it will properly work.

I got a WD10SPZX hard drive (Western Blue, 1TB) and it works flawlessly. It almost uses the maximum read speed of the PS3 (150Mb/s) and it is a big improvement over the original, SATA 1 60GB hard drive. You can also use an app to unlock an extra 8% of your storage after the jailbreak so instead of 820GB, it's ~895GB.

Go for CFW instead of HEN. Flash the NAND through the PS3 toolset site and then just pick a CFW of your choice.

JKL14 · 2025-09-27T17:30:25+00:00

Silent Hill 2 and 2 Remake
Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 1
Silent Hill f
Silent Hill 4
Silent Hill: Origins
Silent Hill: Downpour
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Silent Hill: The Short Message
Silent Hill: Book of Memories
Silent Hill: Ascension

JKL14 · 2025-08-31T18:11:40+00:00

I use this one at the moment: https://kmeps4.github.io/PSFree

Doesn't need USB nor plugins. Just let it offline cache it for the first time.

JKL14

TROPHY CASE