Does Thermal Paste dry out, if the unit is not used?

[Juusuhako]

Story: I have a FAT PS3 that started making the sound of a hairdryer this summer (I could hear it making noise from the floor below). Changing the thermal paste and fan didnt help, so I declared it "dead", it lasted 5 years.

Now I found a good offer on a used SLIM PS3. Its age is 3-4 years, however seller says it has not been used for more than 6 months or so, and else just been shut off.

Since I dont wanna risk having the same issue with this unit in 1-2 years (assuming the same thing happens with this one as it reaches 5 years of age), I wanted to ask if the thermal paste of this unit can be considered "new" due to its little usage...or does thermal paste dry out even if the unit is shut off?

 

[SuB]

if you're that concerned, and you're confident enough to do it. Personally I'd change the paste to something better anyway.

 

[Antony1995]

if you're that concerned, and you're confident enough to do it. Personally I'd change the paste to something better anyway.

+1

I changed the thermal paste on my Xbox 360, it made a massive change to the fan speed. I can't imagine doing the same on the PS3 will be much harder.

 

[Wraith]

if you're that concerned, and you're confident enough to do it. Personally I'd change the paste to something better anyway.

+1 for SuBs suggestion, thermal paste does degrade over time but only under extreme heat, can't hurt to replace the stock stuff though.

 

[RamboOC]

Slim and super slim models of ps3 have less chance of failure than fat models. The first generations of fat ps3 (e.g 40gb) with the chrome bezel were very prone to failure, and the later fat ps3 models with solid silver bazel were less prone to overheating and solder cracking problem. what model was yours?

 

[Juusuhako]

if you're that concerned, and you're confident enough to do it. Personally I'd change the paste to something better anyway.

+1

I changed the thermal paste on my Xbox 360, it made a massive change to the fan speed. I can't imagine doing the same on the PS3 will be much harder.

+1 for SuBs suggestion, thermal paste does degrade over time but only under extreme heat, can't hurt to replace the stock stuff though.

Like I said in my original post I already did this on my FAT PS3, and I even changed the 15blade fan to a 19blade fan. This has made no difference. Im just surprised that changing the thermal paste on consoles is even relevant, considering a major part of owners wouldnt even dare opening their unit.

And I dont really think its fair to say "Well, it had a good run of 5 years, better go out and invest in one of our newer models".

I dont wanna start opening up yet another PS3, so thats why im asking that if a 3-4 year old unit that supposedly has only been used about 6 months, would have "dried out" thermal paste, or can I consider it almost "new"?

Should I go by its overall age, or its supposed time used/turned on?

Slim and super slim models of ps3 have less chance of failure than fat models. The first generations of fat ps3 (e.g 40gb) with the chrome bezel were very prone to failure, and the later fat ps3 models were less prone to overheating and solder cracking problem. what model was yours?

40GB FAT, CECHG03. Release was Oct. 2007 which makes it the very first batch of 40GBs, according to this wiki.

 

[YouWhat]

It hardens, and can go off with time so is less effective, as to whether the paste will be good no-one can really say without cracking it open.

Can it be consider new? Definitely not!

 

[Juusuhako]

It hardens, and can go off with time so is less effective, as to whether the paste will be good no-one can really say without cracking it open.

Can it be consider new? Definitely not!

New perhaps was abit too opstimistic . Im just thinking of stores who has sealed/new PS3s for sale... What if they lie around for a year or so before getting sold... Would this mean the unit would have hardened paste, or is this only relevant for units thats been turned on?

Am I just overthinking this? For some reason since my own PS3 died I've now gotten the idea that after about 5 years of usage a PS3 will crumble to heat because of bad paste... and changing the paste wont necessarily fix it.

 

[RamboOC]

40GB FAT, CECHG03. Release was Oct. 2007 which makes it the very first batch of 40GBs, according to this wiki.

That batch of ps3's was very prone to overheating issues. im suprised that you didnt get YLOD within 1 year of owning it with that usage

 

[Juusuhako]

That batch of ps3's was very prone to overheating issues. im suprised that you didnt get YLOD within 1 year of owning it with that usage

Luck?
It started doing its overheating this summer (its least 25-27C outside, and no different in my room). I assumed it was due to its age and this heat that it was doing it, and figured new paste (and even put in a new, better fan) would solve it, but no difference. Some said that it could be the sensor in the actual GPU/CPU that broke down, and therefore the fan is just spinning like crazy because it doesnt know the temp.

But ok, if a supposed "faulty" unit can last 5 years, I guess an improved, less power/heat consumption unit with better cooling should last ...10 years? heh, by then maybe even PS5 is out.

 

[barnsley]

you could always get the custom WC kit for the ps3 that alphacool do if you're worried about heat .

 

[Juusuhako]

you could always get the custom WC kit for the ps3 that alphacool do if you're worried about heat .

Heh, im worried that consoles are overheating to begin with... trying to spend as little as possible for this used unit, as I dont wanna pay new price for something I've already paid for once.

Deal isnt too bad either, £50 for 160GB, CECH-2504A. (And to think I gave £350 for 40GB when they were new, lol).

 

[barnsley]

Heh, im worried that consoles are overheating to begin with... trying to spend as little as possible for this used unit, as I dont wanna pay new price for something I've already paid for once.

Deal isnt too bad either, £50 for 160GB, CECH-2504A. (And to think I gave £350 for 40GB when they were new, lol).

yeah I guess thats a good point . It should be ok as long as it doesn't get dusty. They seem to last.

 

[RamboOC]

Luck?
It started doing its overheating this summer (its least 25-27C outside, and no different in my room). I assumed it was due to its age and this heat that it was doing it, and figured new paste (and even put in a new, better fan) would solve it, but no difference. Some said that it could be the sensor in the actual GPU/CPU that broke down, and therefore the fan is just spinning like crazy because it doesnt know the temp.

But ok, if a supposed "faulty" unit can last 5 years, I guess an improved, less power/heat consumption unit with better cooling should last ...10 years? heh, by then maybe even PS5 is out.

Maybe the paste between the the heatspreader and die on gpu(RSX) and/or cpu(cell) has dried out. You could try to delid them

 

[Juusuhako]

Maybe the paste between the the heatspreader and die on gpu(RSX) and/or cpu(cell) has dried out. You could try to delid them

I have no thermal paste unfortunately... and £50 for a slim is really cheap. If I waited to receive new paste it'd probs be gone. But yea, I clicked through this video real quick (assuming this is what you meant): YouTube

But oh well... I used it all the several times I tried to fix it some time ago.