Topic: Backwards compatible reliability and preparing for the YLOD

I suspect this has been asked before but it's hard to find a consensus.

I have just bought a backwards compatible PS3 (CECHCxx). I am aware that they have reliability issues however I have warranty on it should the YLOD happen.

My question though is how can you avoid it? Is it guaranteed to happen? Is there anything I can do (like from opening it up or something) to make it as reliable as the Slim or Super Slim (be it from reballing, repasting, or changing chip(s))? Also, is there any way to know right now roughly how long it has left before the YLOD?

And finally if there is nothing I can do, I will just take it in and get a new one (warranty). But I will need to make sure I make copies of my data. But how often should I do this? And should I use a USB backup or should I use the PS Plus Cloud saving? (For the PS2 and PS1 games I can just plug the memory cards in via an adapter and copy the saves over after each session).

Would it suffice to just back up the game data to the cloud after every session and plug the physical memory cards in and copy after every session? And every once in a while do a full USB backup?

I suppose I can just enjoy it and everything and back it up sporadically. Would you say I should back it up via USB after every session? Or should I use the physical memory cards (via adapter) and PS Plus backups after every session, and only use USB sporadically?

(A YLOD happened to me about 10 years ago and fortunately I just so happened to have a backup from the last session a few hours earlier)

Thanks!

What sort of warranty are you talking about? It's 2026 hahaha.

On the topic of failure prevention, unless it's a brand-new one from old stock and not a secondhand, I'd strongly advise opening it up, replace the thermal paste on it, and naturally, clean out the dust. It still won't guarantee it won't fail (all hardware does eventually), but you're at least extending its life by maximising the cooling performance.

Regarding backups, if you have PS Plus, just use the cloud backup system. It works just fine on my Slim and I've been using it for over a decade without fault. If you do a USB backup, and unless you play very often, a monthly backup would be more than enough. However again, if you have PS plus I wouldn't even bother with the USB backup, as the chances of both your PS3 failing and something happening to PS services at the exact same time would be extremely rare.

@EllDB7567 I don't mean to be rude or anything, but why on earth would you get an old PS3 with reliability issues and not get a slim PS3 with less reliability issues?

@KnightRider1982 for the backwards compatibility???

@nomither6 True, but you'd be better off with the PS2 and PS1 separately, rather than an all in one unit.

@KnightRider1982 i don’t know about that since you have players these days wishing that the ps5 was an all in one unit. I can see the appeal in wanting an original ps3, it’s a collectible.