PS3 Flashing red lights

[Kotoumaru]

A friend of mine called me saying it happened to him and that he's pretty much screwed since there's no warranty, he had the 60GB model.

Has it happened to any of you? Do you know the cause?

I've heard you can call Sony and get a recontitioned PS3, but the failure rates of those are pretty high too.

The official forums state it is not such a big issue as the Xbox360 RROD was before the Jasper Chipset, but the youtube is full with videos of PS3 flashing red light.

I did a little research and found that the 20GBlimited and 60GB models are more prone since they are 180W (90nm CPU, 90nm GPU), but many 80GB models are failing too. Some say it overheats, some say it's motherboard issue, some say it's because of the heatsinks and some say it's GPU failure...

I wish next-gen consoles were like PS1 and the consoles of that time.. I still got my PS1 after 9 years and it works flawlessly..

Any more info would be more than welcome.

[manje10]

Believe it or not but Sony actually fix or give you another PS3 even when the warranty has expired. My cousin was given another PS3 even tho he had no warranty 7 months after it had expired.

Also read alot of stories on the internet about sony giving a free replacement also so tell him to phone up and see what they say.

The PS3 failure rate is actually really low but obviously when peoples PS3's do break they post it on the internet so it just seems like its more common.

Had my 60GB since launch and have had no problems.

[He's a Mentalist]

Well my PS3 received RROD and I had no warranty either (expired). So, I called Sony and they said it will cost $149.99 to replace it with another one. That is all the info I have for now. I don't know if you can fix that problem and I would refrain from tampering with it and just have it replaced and get some type of receipt (warranty) with it. If it happens again you could replace it for free.

Aside from that, I was wondering... Doesn't Microsoft replace 360 systems that underwent RROD for free?

[Kotoumaru]

Microsoft replaces defective xbox360s for free and upgraded the warranty to 36 months. The xbox360s using chipsets pre-jasper were suffering from RROD, now the failure rate is less than 2%, while PS3 failure rate is 3-5%.

Note though that the former Xbox360 failure rate was well over 30%.

If the warranty form your PS3 has expired you have to pay some money to get a refurbished one. It is free only in the UK as far as I know.

The 80GB models are the least prone to failing since they are 110W (65nm CPU 65nm GPU) so I guess my beloved PS3 is safe! ....I hope.

Oh by the way my PSname is Spartan_Frenzy, if anyone wants to add me.

[RipVanRagnarok]

Good thing Microsoft fixed their defective consoles. It was really pissing off gamers who had to wait those couple of weeks to receive their 360s back. I've never heard of the PS3s failure rate. I've had a 40GB for about a year now and I've had no problems with it.

[Kotoumaru]

40GB PS3s are not that prone to overheating. The 60GB and early 20GB ones are the most prone to failing, since they have the most power consumption and larger CPU and GPU than the other models.

In fact the 80GB and 40GB ones have way less than 2% failure rate.

[ExStark]

Yeah I have an 80GB PS3 and it has the damned blinking red lights so nowi'm sad and pissed.

[manje10]

The best thing to do is tell Sony it happened after you installed the firmwire, a lie like that gives you a better chance of getting a free replacement.

[Kotoumaru]

Ring Sony. Depending on your area, you could get a new one for free, or a refurbished one for 150USD. Or you could always wait and buy the PS3+Killzone bundle if you got the money.

Sorry to hear it man, I wish you get a new one. I think everyone with defective consoles should get a new one for free..

EDIT: If you still got the warranty then you'll get it replaced for free, no matter what.

[primer81]

i've had my 60gb since it launched and haven't had a problem out of it same for my dads

[blunt_smoker_420]

I haven't had any problems except the occasional freezing of the system.

[Kotoumaru]

So far, I've heard the console freezes due to RAM shortage (256 DRAM). It happened to me in Battlefield:Bad Company and Assassins Creed. Three times in total.

[primer81]

i had it happen in assasins creed but thats the only game so i'm wonderin if its not that game itself