Includes FREE Round-Trip Shipping via FEDEX.

Why would you want this service?

1. Service includes installation of high quality independent fan controller that prevents YLOD by minimizing the effects of motherboard flex and warping that leads to solder fractures beneath critical chips & modules in your PS3
2. Active Cooling upgrade will reduce internal ambient temperatures by an additional 25-30 degrees.
3. Prevents Glitching and Freezing.
4. Includes free internal chassis cleaning.
5. Includes removal of old thermal paste and fresh application of premium Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound on RSX GPU & Cell Broadband Engine CPU.
6. Includes 1-Year Parts & Labor Warranty protection against YLOD or fan failure if your console still has an un-tampered original Sony warranty seal.
7. BONUS! Includes pre-paid round-trip FEDEX shipping labels. You simply supply the shipping box.

As you may already know, the “yellow light of death” is a worst-case PS3 failure and can strike at any time. When it happens your PS3 will be unable to turn on and all the data saved on your PS3’s hard drive will remain inaccessible until the PS3 can be successfully revived. Hundreds of hours that you invested into your games will be put into serious jeopardy and the only reliable hope of recovering them is to find a reputable company that can perform YLOD repairs. Fortunately there are steps that you can take to prevent this ugly scenario from ever occurring.

The primary reason why YLOD occurs on a PS3 is because of the high temperatures your console reaches during operation, and after several years of use the effects will eventually take their toll on the internal components. Passive cooling methods for your PS3 such as thermal-pad replacements or creative holes drilled into the bottom of the chassis can only do so much in reducing the high temperatures inside your PS3. All they simply do is slowly transfer or dissipate the hot air that’s already present. If you’re truly serious about greatly extending the life of your PS3 you need to consider the superior benefits of an Active cooling upgrade, where all the chips on the motherboard are proactively kept cooler by modifying the system’s internal 5 inch fan’s rotational speed to a higher continuous output. The increased fan output directly translates to higher velocity airflow within the console’s chassis which in turn continuously expels the air before it even has a chance to get hot, unlike the current on-board fan operational method of being reactive to higher temperatures after they have already been reached. The only trade-off is that your PS3’s fan will be more audible after this modification has been installed, so we are only recommending it to you if you’re ok with sacrificing the original “form over function” design of a quiet, passive cooling system in exchange for a louder method that delivers better longevity & reliability. That’s precisely what this service does. Check out the comparison video below.

Bottom line is you’ll witness real-world internal system temperature drops in the range of 25-30°, thereby significantly reducing the thermal effects of motherboard flex and occurrences of the dreaded YLOD. Very, very highly recommended to all gamers who own original “fat” model PS3 consoles — especially the PS2 backwards-compatible 20GB, 60GB and 4-USB port 80GB models. This service can also be performed on all other PS3 models, including the “slims”.

For a very limited time PS3RepairShop.com is offering this valuable service as a standalone “non-repair” package with free round-trip shipping by FEDEX. After you’ve ordered your Yellow Light Of Death Prevention service and completed checkout, FEDEX will email you a pre-paid Mobile Shipping label (excluding Alaska & Hawaii residents). PS3RepairShop.com will also email you a Service Authorization document that you’ll need to sign and return with your shipment. Full instructions for safely preparing your console for transit will also be included in that email. When your console is received at the Service Facility PS3RepairShop.com will send you an Arrival Confirmation email which will state the estimated completion date of your service. The service typically takes just 1 to 2 business days to complete. Upon completion of the service PS3RepairShop.com will return your PS3 to you by FEDEX and you can enjoy many more years of gaming on your PlayStation 3.

• Myth: There are less PS3 “slim” owners than PS3 “fat” owners. Truth is in North America, the “slim” sold 13.6 million units in its first three years of production, while the PS3 “fat” sold only 8.1 million units in its first three years of production.

• Myth: The PS3 “slim” was the first PS3 model that did not include 4 USB ports. Truth is the 2007 CECHG01 40GB “fat” PS3 was in fact the first unit to have only two USB ports.

• Myth: The PS3 “slim” was the first PS3 model that did not include a media card reader. Truth is the 2006 CECHB01 20GB “fat” PS3 was in fact the first unit to delete the media card reader.

• Myth: The PS3 “slim” was the first PS3 model that did not include PS2 backwards capability. Truth is the 2007 CECHG01 40GB “fat” PS3 was in fact the first unit to entirely delete PS2 backwards compatibility and the previous 2007 CECHE01 80GB “fat” PS3 only offered partial PS2 backwards compatibility (via software emulation).

• Myth: The PS3 “slim” was the first PS3 model that utilized predominantly plastic internal components. Truth is the 2007 CECHH01 40GB “fat” PS3 was the first model to utilize a plastic power supply unit and plastic fan housing.

• Myth: The PS3 “slim” does not get “YLOD”. Truth is the PS3 “slim” can and does indeed experience YLOD, but certainly not on the same scale or frequency as the earlier “fat” models at this stage in their lifespan (3 years).

• Fact: The PS3 “slim” consumes less power than the PS3 “fat”. Independent tests have shown the 2006 CECHA01 60GB “fat” PS3 consumes approximately 171 Watts at idle and 205 Watts during game-play. In a duplicate test, the 2010 CECH2101 120GB “slim” PS3 consumes 67 Watts at idle and 83 Watts during game-play. Additionally, Sony has stated the 2010 CECH2101 “slim” is approximately 45% more energy efficient than the final 2008 CECHP01 160GB “fat” model and 66% more energy efficient than the original 2006 CECHA01 “fat” PS3 model.

• Myth: The PS3 “slim” uses the same main processors as found in the original “fat” PS3. Truth is the 2006 CECHA01 60GB “fat” PS3 utilized a 90nm Cell Broadband Engine (Cell) CPU and a 90nm Reality Synthesizer (RSX) GPU. The 2007 CECHG01 40GB “fat” PS3 used a 65nm Cell and the 2008 CECHK01 80GB “fat” PS3 used a 65nm RSX. The first 2009 CECH2001 “slim” PS3 utilized a 45nm Cell and a 65nm RSX GPU and the 2010 CECH2101 “slim” PS3 utilized a 40nm RSX. The recently released 2012 CECH4001 “Super Slim” PS3 utilizes a 32nm Cell and a 28nm RSX.

• Myth: The PS3 “slim” operates at the same (or higher) temperatures as the earlier “fat” models. As already explained, the PS3 “slim” models consume less power and have smaller processor cores than their “fat” predecessors therefore they are physically incapable of generating more heat.

• Fact: The PS3 “slim” was not vulnerable to the “leap year bug”. Only “fat” models were vulnerable.

• Fact: The PS3 “slim” was the first model that did not include support for “OtherOS”. The PS3 “slim” was released in September 2009 without the ability to install a third-party operating system and this capability was also later removed from “fat” models in April 2010 with system software version 3.21.

R.S.O.L. PC Services, L.L.C. d/b/a PS3RepairShop.com has been serving South Florida since 2003 and provides national video game console sales and repair services.

What we were taking issue with is the argument you presented in your original post (which along with the comments seems to have been mysteriously deleted then replaced with this) about why people should not buy a “slim” because it’s not as reliable as a “fat” due to it having a smaller fan & heatsink, and you offered up your own interpretation of a video that shows the thermal footprint of all the current consoles.

Our response was to demonstrate that the “slims” have in our opinion proven to be more reliable consoles than the fats. We explained why the fan & heatsink size did not need to be the same size, and with regard to the video we told everyone to pay attention to the last 20 seconds so they can see the 40GB “fat” model from the angle that best portrays its thermal foot print (because as you know the motherboard & processors are mounted upside down in the fats unlike the slims). We honestly just thought your “slim” bashing was unwarranted and just plain misleading.

To expand on the points we made earlier and to respond to a couple of the ones you made in your last post, we repair (and have been repairing) a lot more fat models than slims. You said yourself that 30% of your PS3 repairs are on slims, so then the other 70% must be fats, right? Now if you want to argue that’s only true because the slims have been out a shorter time, then lets take the clock back to 2009 when the “fat” PS3 was less than 3 years old. This article and video debunks your claim that YLOD was not a problem in 2009.  The article states Sony replaced the units which failed during the original 12-month warranty period but the greater percentage of failures would occur at the 18-24 month mark and the owners would have to pay Sony a pricey repair fee. Its no wonder why the likes of Gopher Mods, PS Pro’s,  and PSR1 were all building up solid reputations here in the USA at that time, because they were offering affordable YLOD repair services. It inspired us and we wouldn’t be at all surprised if that’s what inspired you guys to open up your own repair shop in 2010. We also wouldn’t be surprised if you admitted that you were repairing more PS3 “fats” back then the number of “slims” you’re repairing now.

So I guess the meat of this discussion just boils down to this: if you want to say someone shouldn’t buy a “slim” to replace their broken “fat” because the “fat” has more features and can be repaired, then nobody will have any problem with that. But to make inaccurate or misleading statements that people shouldn’t buy a “slim” because they’re failing at a higher rate than the “fats” were at 3 years, or because they’re a fire risk or however else you want to negatively portray it,  be prepared to be called out!

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”!

• Reflow methods vary between shops as does the ability of their technicians. We’ve seen some good, but mostly bad previous repair attempts where the area around the RSX and CBE processors contain a thick layer of flux, display irreversible chip damage or detached heatspreaders, and most commonly improper applications of thermal compound. Working on units that have already been worked on by others poses many challenges to our technicians as they are effectively performing the repair “blind”. As skillful as our technicians are, they are still only human, and cannot undo or reverse outright abuse or tampering damage to a PS3 motherboard caused by an inexperienced technician or the DIY Gilksy Youtube subscriber.
• A re-ball procedure will not miraculously repair a totally fried chip – this scenario is especially common on motherboards that have been reflowed multiple times.
• The PS3 motherboard is now likely flexed or warped beneath the RSX. All it takes is a deviation of 0.60mm beneath the RSX for the re-balled RSX to not fully adhere to all 1254 pads on the motherboards. While there is a chance the YLOD condition may initially be reversed following the re-ball procedure, it has been our experience the unit will fail again quite quickly following several thermal cycles. Why is 0.60mm the magic number? That’s the size of each solder sphere on the RSX chip, so be cautious of any shops that claim to have great success with re-balling previously reflowed motherboards. Pre-existing motherboard flex that exceeds 0.60mm cannot be reversed by simply replacing the solder on the GPU.
• The RSX re-ball procedure itself is an invasive and traumatic process for the motherboard. The temperatures the board must be subjected to extract then reinstall the RSX takes a great toll on the remaining lead-free solder elsewhere on the motherboard. Motherboards that have already been through one or two reflows are the most vulnerable to the process.
• The RSX Re-ball Service is only an effective solution when it is addressing an initial case of YLOD on first-generation PS3 models, and should not be purchased with the hope of it being a last-ditch remedy to reverse all previously attempted DIY or failed professional repair attempts.

The bottom line is the RSX re-ball procedure is a labor-intensive process, and we prefer to only work on un-tampered consoles where there is a greater expectation of performing a successful repair so we can get paid without worry of having to refund the job a few days later. Previously reflowed motherboards have a higher probability of proving to be non-repairable and ultimately we receive no compensation. It also proves to be a huge disappointment, and waste of time & money for the PS3’s owner because they end up paying all the incurred shipping charges for nothing.

For more details please visit http://www.ps3repairshop.com/.

R.S.O.L. PC Services, L.L.C. d/b/a PS3RepairShop.com has been serving South Florida since 2003 and provides national video game console sales and repair services.

If that’s not impressive enough, you should also know they have a higher rating with the Better Business Bureau than any of their closest competitors, including Gopher Mods, Endless Electronics, PS Pros, Video Game 911 and Knight’s Gaming Repair. Check out each of those links and see for yourself. Their track record is proven, hard-earned and unmatched.

All PS3 repair procedures are $99 or less and include free return shipping to the contiguous 48 states and DC. Their premium “re-ball” service for the “yellow light of death” includes a Lifetime Labor Warranty.

If you want the best chance of a long-lasting repair for your PS3 and a hassle-free experience, PS3RepairShop.com is your hands-down undisputed best choice, period.

WHAT IS THE PS3 RSX REBALL SERVICE?
 
Specifically, the RSX Reball service includes the complete removal of the RSX graphics chip from the PS3’s motherboard so the original BGA consisting of 1254 lead-free solder spheres can be replaced with new lead-tin eutectic solder spheres. The RSX graphics chip is then precisely re-attached to the 1254 pads on the motherboard then coated with premium thermal compound (Arctic Silver 5) to help dissipate operational heat to the fan/heat-sink assembly. The system then undergoes a testing phase to ensure the procedure has been completed successfully before it is finally reassembled.
 
Its an intricate and labor-intensive procedure that requires a great deal of patience but the reliability of the RSX chip is going to be practically “bullet-proof” simply because of the targeted elimination of the most probable cause of failure (degraded / micro-fractured solder spheres on the RSX chip from years of extreme heat-cycles and poor ventilation).  
 
It is important to remember though that this symptom can also be attributable to other chip failures on the motherboard too, such as the Cell Broadband Engine CPU or memory chips. In these instances our RSX re-ball service will be totally ineffective in resolving the “yellow light / red blinking light” symptom, and the console will ultimately need to be replaced.

DO YOU REBALL THE CBE / CELL BROADBAND ENGINE CHIP?
 
No. This service includes the reball of the RSX graphics chip only. We currently do not offer any separate services to reball the CBE CPU chip.
 
HOW LONG WILL THE PS3 REBALL SERVICE TAKE?
 
Due to the high demand for this intricate and labor-intensive service procedure, all repairs are processed on a “first-come first-served” basis and completion time may vary between 2 to 5 days, not including weekends or transit time to and from your address. Actual ETA will be provided to you via email upon our receipt of your console and issuance of a Work Order Number. To begin the repair process, follow the instructions on our main PlayStation 3 repair page.
 
HOW MUCH WILL THE PS3 REBALL SERVICE COST?
 
The cost for the PS3 RSX Re-Ball Service is $99.00 and includes free return shipping by Fedex Ground on successful repairs. If you are a resident of Florida, we are required to collect 6% sales tax. Other optional services are also available for an additional fee. 
 
 
HOW MUCH WILL I HAVE TO PAY IF THE PS3 REBALL SERVICE DOES NOT FIX MY YLOD / RED BLINKING LIGHT?
 
If the repair attempt is unsuccessful, you will receive a full refund minus return shipping charges. Alternatively you can apply the amount you already paid towards the purchase of a brand new PS3 from us.
 
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PS3’S ARE NON-REPAIRABLE EVEN AFTER PERFORMING THE REBALL SERVICE?
 
We are currently seeing approximately an 11% non-repair rate where the “yellow light / red blinking light” is still present immediately after the RSX chip had been re-balled. While most initial “yellow light / red blinking light” symptoms are directly related to the RSX chip, it is important to remember that some are attributable to other solder fractures or chip failures on the motherboard, such as the Cell Broadband Engine CPU or memory chips. In these instances our RSX re-ball service will be totally ineffective in resolving the “yellow light / red blinking light” symptom, and the console will ultimately need to be replaced.
 
To put things into perspective, the original 60GB “CECHA01” PS3 model has nearly 60 chips on just one side of the motherboard, and any one of them has a potential to cause the “yellow light of death”, especially since they all utilize the same lead-free solder as used on the RSX chip. Quite simply, it is not always going to be the RSX chip’s fault, so be cautious of other shops that claim to have “near-perfect” success rates with their RSX reball repair procedures. 

 
IS THE PS3 REBALL SERVICE A PERMANENT FIX FOR MY “YLOD”?
 
The lead-free solder spheres beneath the RSX chip is by far the most common point of failure causing the “yellow light / red blinking light” symptom due to the extreme temperatures this one chip reaches, and our PS3 Reball service focuses on the specific replacement of these solder spheres with superior lead-tin spheres. On un-tampered consoles it is the most reliable repair procedure that can be offered to resolve the YLOD issue, however the reality is there is no such thing as a totally “permanent fix”. Here’s why:
 
The “reball” procedure is performed on only one of the system’s chips — the RSX graphics chip. When you consider the PS3 motherboard contains approximately 60 chips, any one of them can theoretically fail at some point in the future for the same reasons why the RSX chip failed in the first place. If your PS3 has never been previously tampered before it is sent to us, we will provide you with a Lifetime Labor Warranty. All you need to do is take care of the round-trip shipping charges to and from our Service Facility and we will re-perform the actual “revival” of your unit whenever you require us to do so. The Lifetime Labor warranty expires when the PS3 can no longer be revived or when you no longer own the unit. 
 
HOW LONG IS THE PS3 REBALL SERVICE WARRANTY?
 
In order for us to provide our customers with a limited Lifetime warranty, the PS3 console must have an un-tampered original Sony or RSOL PC / PS3RepairShop.com warranty sticker. If the PS3 was ever sent back to Sony for repair or has a warranty sticker that was issued by another company (or has been totally removed), the customer will receive a 30-day warranty. Why?

There are just too many random variables that we would need to take into consideration, such as not knowing what procedures were previously performed on the unit. Since we cannot be certain of the procedures that were performed, we can only offer a minimal warranty for your unit. 
 
If the YLOD were to reoccur on a PS3 that previously had our RSX reball procedure service already performed, chances are it is due to some other (non RSX) chip failure. However we will perform whatever labor procedures are necessary to revive your unit again at no additional charge and for as long you wish to keep sending us your PS3. If the failure reoccurs within the first 30 days we will cover one-way shipping, otherwise your only out of pocket costs will be the round trip shipping charges to and from our Service Facility. Our Lifetime Warranty may be viewed in full at www.rsolpc.com/warranty.

HOW DO I SEND MY CONSOLE?
 
We’ve been shipping & receiving PS3 consoles for quite a while now, so we have a pretty good idea what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to safely shipping a console across the country. We recommend the shipping box be at least 17″x17″x8″ as this provides sufficient space around the console so packing materials like bubble-wrap and packing peanuts can provide enough protection to the console during transit. The most common mistake we see is when customers use a box that is just large enough to accomodate the console only. The end result is often a PS3 that has a crushed front edge near the power button.
 
HOW MANY SOLDER BALLS ARE THERE ON THE RSX CHIP?
 
We have seen some misinformation on the internet that the PS3’s RSX chip has 1344 solder balls. This information is false as the RSX BGA actually consists of 1254 balls. Here’s the proof. The last row of the diagram shows each column’s total in red, and then the grand total of these values is calculated at the end of the row. Just an FYI to get the correct information out there because we’re seeing more and more shops claiming to offer a reball service for PS3 consoles but they all seem to be copy & pasting the erroneous 1344 number into their service descriptions.

For more details please visit www.PS3RepairShop.com.

R.S.O.L. PC Services, L.L.C. d/b/a PS3RepairShop.com has been serving South Florida since 2003 and provides national video game console sales and repair services.

Customers wishing to get their PS3 revived from the dreaded “yellow light of death” will save the standard $14.50 return shipping fee if their order is received before 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time on 2/11/2012.

For more details please visit http://www.PS3RepairShop.com.

R.S.O.L. PC Services, L.L.C. d/b/a PS3RepairShop.com has been serving South Florida since 2003 and provides national video game console sales and repair services.

Lauderhill, FL, April 14, 2011 — RSOL PC / PS3RepairShop.com has announced they will finally begin offering a long-term solution for the common PlayStation 3 failure known as “Yellow light of death”.

Since the launch of the PlayStation 3 console back in 2006, an increasing number of first-generation units have unexpectedly displayed a symptom that has become known as the “Yellow light of death”, “YLOD” or “red blinking light”. According to Sony, this is the result of a “general hardware failure” within the system. Independent repair facilities have been able to determine these failures are usually attributable to micro-fractures of the BGA on the RSX GPU, and began offering a low-cost repair service known as “reflow” to address the problem.

PS3RepairShop.com has always taken the unique position of advising unfortunate PS3 owners to avoid the “reflow” repairs because of the proven unreliability, short warranties and greater long-term cost of ultimately having to completely replace their PS3 with a new unit. Their recommendation instead was to utilize Sony’s out-of-warranty exchange program since it guaranteed the most significant component inside the PS3 chassis (the motherboard) would be replaced at a cost considerably less than the price of purchasing a new console. The other solution they recommended was to have a procedure known as “re-ball” performed, where the RSX GPU is physically removed from the motherboard so new solder balls can be applied. The downside with this latter solution was the associated high-cost for this labor-intense procedure, where most independent repair shops would charge approximately $140 to $150.

Since summer 2010, PS3RepairShop.com has been diligently working towards providing a low-cost but long-term solution in response to the numerous “YLOD” PS3 repair inquiries they have had to turn away. In May, 2011 they will finally introduce their $99 flat-rate RSX GPU Re-Ball Service, and will provide all customers with their famous 1-year repair warranty.  

However, there are going to be a few requirements and important information that customers should note before they send their unit in for repair: 

• The PS3 must not have been subjected to any previous YLOD repair-attempt. If its been worked on before, they won’t take accept it.
• Service time will not be completed “same-day” like PS3RepairShop.com’s other repair services; service time will range between 5 to 10 business days due to the labor-intensive procedures and testing necessary to provide a reliable repair.
• Not all “YLOD” failures are the result of degraded solder on the RSX GPU; a small percentage may be the result of some other chip failure on the motherboard instead. A “YLOD” caused by some other chip failure cannot be determined until after the RSX GPU has been re-balled, and if the “YLOD” is still present after the re-ball procedure, the PS3 will be considered “non-repairable” and returned to the customer with a small charge being billed to cover the return-shipping costs.

Although the service is not expected to launch until 5/16/2011, PS3RepairShop.com has stated customers always have the option of deciding when they wish to send in their units. They may choose to send their units before or after the official launch date but should keep in mind that all repairs will be performed on a “first come, first served” basis.

For more information, please contact support@ps3repairshop.com.

R.S.O.L. PC Services, L.L.C. d/b/a PS3RepairShop.com has been serving South Florida since 2003 and provides national video game console sales and repair services.