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[Hcoregamer00]

When the fan kicks in, my 60GB is much louder than my Falcon 360. My PS3 has to be on for quite a while to kick the fan into high gear, though. My 360's volume is completely dependent on how fast and how frequent the disc is spinning.

I will be buying a Jasper 360, so it will be interesting to compare my year old PS3 to a new model 360.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

I don't know why but one of these last FW updates made mine run quieter and cooler. The right side vent which most of the heat comes from is the same but the front underneath is really cool. I don't know what happened but it didn't seem that way before.

 

[Hcoregamer00]

I don't know why but one of these last FW updates made mine run quieter and cooler. The right side vent which most of the heat comes from is the same but the front underneath is really cool. I don't know what happened but it didn't seem that way before.

What kind of magic did the firmware do? My PS3 is still the same.

 

[Grayman]

As far as I can tell there are 4 fan speeds, but you should never ever hear the 4th one.

With mine here is how is goes
Startup - 5 minutes - Level 1 (whisper quiet)
5 min - 10 minutes - Level 2
10 min - ??? - Level 3 (Loud, but not too bad)

I only heard the level 4 fan once, and that was in the fabled "fan test"



That the thing, the people with "whisper quiet" PS3's will get louder eventually.

The most important part is that the heat is moved from the system, as long as the fan is working the console is okay.

Mine didn't go off of level one for the first almost year(I got it last June or July). I even folded for a week or two straight in September because I forgot it was on. Sometime in the last few months though it's started going to level 2 if I run an application(even the MG database thing). It sucks I want it quiet again but vacuuming didn't stop the fans.

 

[ScrabbleBanshee]

silent as hell

Oxymoron alert?

 

[Darkener2]

It really depends if I'm playing a blu-ray movie or a ps3 game it makes a lot of noise but not as loud as my xbox 360...

noise level
xbox 360 > PC (while playing a game) > ps3 > PC (normal use)

 

[SSM25]

Mine is whisper quiet

 

[Wray]

Well, the one I have now is a refurb from Sony, not my original unit. Ever since I got it,this has been happening.

I also got a 60GB Refurb from Sony after the Bluray Drive died and it's very loud as well. Normal for 10-15 minutes. Then kicks up to a higher gear. Then a louder one.

Something is definitely amiss with the 60GB Refurbs. I think Sony just puts in shitty heatsinks/ fans into the Refurbs.

 

[Andronicus]

I also got a 60GB Refurb from Sony after the Bluray Drive died and it's very loud as well. Normal for 10-15 minutes. Then kicks up to a higher gear. Then a louder one.

Something is definitely amiss with the 60GB Refurbs. I think Sony just puts in shitty heatsinks/ fans into the Refurbs.

2 cases confirms an epidemic, interesting

mine is still quiet except when it gets to like 40c or higher outside then it tends to get kinda warm inside with the ac and the fan speed will go up a notch.


i use compressed air and then a vacuum to clean it out every few months.

 

[LCfiner]

20 GB model, but with 80 GB replaced drive.

whisper quiet. even while folding (as it's doing now, right next to me)

 

[Gekko87]

As far as I can tell there are 4 fan speeds, but you should never ever hear the 4th one.

With mine here is how is goes
Startup - 5 minutes - Level 1 (whisper quiet)
5 min - 10 minutes - Level 2
10 min - ??? - Level 3 (Loud, but not too bad)

I only heard the level 4 fan once, and that was in the fabled "fan test"

Thats how it is for me too but a bit more longer for each of them.

It was never that loud before, until I put in a stand that doesn't have a lot ventilation, weather got warmer, and gets pretty dusty. I guess if you avoid all those problems I have your good

 

[NameIess]

The PS3 should be almost silent and if the system is running loud it's the cooling fan more than likely. I would ensure the system is getting plenty of ventilation, because if the system is overheating the cooling fan can get pretty loud. If you have the PS3 in a wooden entertainment system that is fairly enclosed this could be trouble...

 

[Hcoregamer00]

Thats how it is for me too but a bit more longer for each of them.

It was never that loud before, until I put in a stand that doesn't have a lot ventilation, weather got warmer, and gets pretty dusty. I guess if you avoid all those problems I have your good

From what I could tell, as long as the vents are clear of dust you should be okay.

Granted, one day I would like to open the PS3 and clean the crusty dust build up that would inevitably happen on the fans.

 

[clav]

I don't know why but one of these last FW updates made mine run quieter and cooler. The right side vent which most of the heat comes from is the same but the front underneath is really cool. I don't know what happened but it didn't seem that way before.

Isn't that bad since less heat is escaping from the console? Heat just doesn't magically disappear.

 

[jey_16]

my 60GB gets quite loud (it used to be whisper quiet), its on top of the table so its not enclosed....but even after vaccuming and compressed air, the fans always seem to be on

 

[Hcoregamer00]

The PS3 should be almost silent and if the system is running loud it's the cooling fan more than likely. I would ensure the system is getting plenty of ventilation, because if the system is overheating the cooling fan can get pretty loud. If you have the PS3 in a wooden entertainment system that is fairly enclosed this could be trouble...

Out of curiosity, what would you consider proper ventilation space?

I have heard so many recommendations it isn't even funny.

 

[Unregistered007]

Some 60gig PS3 models have the 15 blade fan which are louder. I had one Loud one but I sold it and the new one I got is quiet. My 15 blader would get loud after a few mins but it never overheated.

 

[Hcoregamer00]

Some 60gig PS3 models have the 15 blade fan which are louder. I had one Loud one but I sold it and the new one I got is quiet. My 15 blader would get loud after a few mins but it never overheated.

How many blades is the other one?

Also, how can you tell which PS3 has more or less blades?

 

[Speevy]

The PS3 should be almost silent

I don't think you'll find that's the case with most people who have owned the system for a while, and it's still running just fine.

 

[Hcoregamer00]

I don't think you'll find that's the case with most people who have owned the system for a while, and it's still running just fine.

Exactly, that is the point I am trying to stress.

Over time the PS3 wont be silent because dust will start building up in the fans and other parts of the console.

The most important part is that it is pushing heat out, and as long as you vacuum the vents on a regular basis you should be fine if your console isn't a lemon.

 

[Speevy]

Here's my ventilation setup.








This is all my tiny room will afford me. Maybe I should have bought a bigger room.

 

[HUELEN10]

How many blades is the other one?

Also, how can you tell which PS3 has more or less blades?

Yeah, how can you tell?

 

[M3wThr33]

Mine's always quiet. The only noise I've ever heard is from SOME loading during PS2 games.

 

[mrkapawutzis]

I'm the owner of one of the loud ones (60 gb) and I've always thought of sending it in to be replaced but aside from the loud fan, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. It usually kicks in to the level 3 fan after 30 minutes and one time it went in to the level where it sounds like it literally is about to explode. One thing I've noticed is that it immediately starts getting loud if I play a dvd.

My friends launch 60 gb is whisper quiet and he leaves it on for hours at a time and you can barely hear it so there's definitely some truth to what everyone says about not all ps3's being created equal.