Is it true that “slim” PS3 consoles are less reliable than the “fat” PS3 consoles?

No. This statement is totally false and we’ll be happy to share with you why any claim to the contrary is simply inaccurate & misleading.

A short while ago we read a blog post by one of our competitors that listed a number of reasons why you shouldn’t buy a PS3 “slim”. In another blog post they went on to state about 30% of the PS3 units they receive for repair are “slim” (the other 70% presumably being “fat”), yet on that basis the “slim” is a less reliable console. We at PS3RepairShop.com found this quite surprising because over the last 3 years  have received for repair on average just 1 “slim” PS3 for every 18 “fat” PS3’s, and the most common symptom we ever see with the “slims” are minor blu-ray drive related issues — a symptom that occurs with every type of console including Xbox, Wii, PS2, etc. While we do agree that YLOD does indeed occur on “slim” models, we must add they certainly do not occur anywhere near as frequently as they do on the original “fat” PS3 consoles — since launch thousands upon thousands of “fat” PS3 have been stricken with YLOD and we’ll make no bones about it being our most popular repair service.

But to directly address the reliability factor between the two console designs, lets look at things from a different perspective and throw in some facts for good measure.

“Fat” PS3 models were on sale in the USA from Fall 2006 to Summer 2009 (2.75 years) and according to VGChartz sold approximately 8.1 million units in the USA during that period. “Fat” models were power-hungry in part because they used larger processor cores. Larger processor cores generate more heat, and when combined with the use of metal sub-components generating their own heat (like the Power Supply Unit) this heat creates a very hot console internally. Poor maintenance and dust accumulation causes the already high operating and ambient temperatures to increase even further, and eventually will take their toll on the components, ultimately killing the console.

The more affordable and redesigned “slim” was launched in Summer 2009 and was discontinued in Fall 2012 (3.25 years). During this time period it has sold approximately 13.6 million units in the USA according to VGChartz. The “slim” used processors with smaller cores (lower power requirements, less heat) and a higher-content of plastic sub-components. Because plastic has a greater resistance to thermal conductivity, the high-temperatures generated by the processors are absorbed and transferred almost exclusively to the heat-sink assembly (not to other sub-components), then expelled through the rear and side vents. Consequently the cooling system in the “slim” does not need to be large and elaborate as the earlier “fat” models because the overall design of the “slim” console is far more energy efficient in every regard. An excellent way to demonstrate why its preferable to have plastic internals vs metal is for you to try this experiment: place a metal spoon and plastic spoon in a boiling hot cup of water; which spoon will be hotter to the touch?

Watch this video of a thermal comparison between all current video game consoles and pay special attention to the last 20 seconds when the two PS3 consoles are turned around and viewed from a different angle. The reason why this viewing angle is important is because the processors in the “fat” models are mounted upside down on the under-side of the motherboard (unlike the “slim” where they are top-mounted), so we’re now able to see a more accurate portrayal of the “fat” console’s thermal footprint. An also very important point to remember here is that the “fat” PS3 being tested in the video is a non-backwards compatible 40GB model that consumes less power (and generates less heat) than the YLOD-prone backwards-compatible 60GB, 20GB and first-generation 80GB models.

Bottom line is the numbers don’t lie. There are considerably more “slim” PS3 consoles than “fat” PS3 consoles in the wild. In spite of this, for every 100 PS3 consoles we receive for repair, approximately 94 of them are “fat” (and obviously this figure was even higher 2 years ago when most “slim” units were still covered by Sony’s factory warranty). Even if we believe our competitor’s claim of receiving 30 “slims” out of every 100 consoles thats still not a bad number when you consider the “slims” out-sold the “fats” by 2 to 1. If all these numbers just seem too confusing, ask anyone that’s ever been fortunate enough to own both PS3 “fat” & “slim” models and they’ll tell you their “slim” runs significantly cooler and quieter than their “fat” model. What does this all mean? The “slim” is the most reliable version of the PS3 console yet, and if you already own one you should “like” this post to show you’re proud of your “slim”!