PS3 Phat YLOD Repair — Retrology Repair

A typical YLOD PS3 phat came in, with power-up-then-off behaviour, leaving yellow LED flashing then turn solid red.

Diagnosis

Usually for later Phat models, it’s tokins capacitor not be able to hold capacitance. This is extremely common for PS3.

Delidded both CPU and GPU, repasted as a regular service for PS3. Then replaced the tokins, and test again. Works at first, but after a few power cycles, the YLOD came back. So it’s not just tokins.

Custom PCB used to replace tokins with reliable tantalum capacitor made by Panasonic

Scoped on failure mode, find the big spike on the RSX voltage ramp-up. The regulating MOSFETs are failing.

Note the spike, that's where SYSCON shutting down the PS3

The repair

Replaced the MOSFETs on GPU side, stress tested before shipping. A fully repaired PS3.