What are the risks of buying a PS3?

[Azaraxzealot]

I know that with 360s you risk RROD (unless you get the new one, but then again they have the "Red Brick of Death") but what about Playstation 3s? what sort of risks would i be taking if i bought a used one with no warranty?

what are the drawbacks of owning a PS3 so i don't drop 300 dollars on it for nothing?

EDIT: The exclusives of Infamous 2, Twisted Metal, and God of War are just too much for me to pass up, that's mainly why i want it.

EDIT 2: I already own 2 xbox 360s, i just want access to the extra exclusives

 

[Sleekgiant]

Spoiler: In comic form

To be honest, if there are enough games to interest you on the system then there are really no risks to buying one, its not a tough decision.

 

[New Troll]

Like 360's RRoD, PS3 has the YLoD (yellow light of death.) Not nearly as popular as the RRoD, but if you're buying used with no warranty, and especially if it's a fatboy (not the new slim version), then buyer beware!

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

The PS3 has the yellow light of despair. It's not NEARLY as common as the red ring is on the xbox 360 though, and has all but been eliminated on the PS3 slim.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

Like 360's RRoD, PS3 has the YLoD (yellow light of death.) Not nearly as popular as the RRoD, but if you're buying used with no warranty, and especially if it's a fatboy (not the new slim version), then buyer beware!

so i'm going to HAVE to drop extra dough on a new slim one that may very well get the yellow light of death so i can't play my PS2 games on it without having to buy them again? thanks Sony

well i really only want the console for two games: Infamous (and Infamous 2) and Twisted Metal. Seriously. those are just too awesome to pass up

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I've owned a fat model PS3 since release. Never had any maintenance problems. That's about all the help I can give you.

 

[Freshman]

Unless you know the person selling it to you, I would not purchase a used PS3. Or really any gaming system. Especially with no warranty.

 

[gigastar]

There is relatively little chances of even a fat PS3 crapping out on you.

How would i know? Mine is four years old.

If you think you can live without 360 exclusives then buy the PS3.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

I've owned a fat model PS3 since release. Never had any maintenance problems. That's about all the help I can give you.

well that's all fine and dandy, but then again there are some people who have had 360s that never failed. i'm looking for more what are the general risks of me dropping my 250-300 dollars on a used system so i know whether or not to just buy more 360 games or use it to help build a gaming PC in the future

 

[New Troll]

I've owned a fat model PS3 since release. Never had any maintenance problems. That's about all the help I can give you.

One of my PS3s is an original backwards-compatible fatboy. It did actually get the YLoD last year, but I fixed it myself going off gilksy's youtube videos. I usually play my newer slim PS3 though, mainly to help with the longtivity of my fatboy, but also cause I got rid of all my PS2 games so have no need for that feature.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I've owned a fat model PS3 since release. Never had any maintenance problems. That's about all the help I can give you.

Same here, no problems at all. I think the fat models look better. I like my shiny ps3.

Third here. The only thing I needed to do was replace the controller. The old sixaxis was too worn, causing both analog sticks to, well, stick.

 

[viranimus]

Yellow light of dispair is the systems way of identifying a hardware malfunction. Typically in old fat boys, this is either a malfunction with the hard drive, or problems related to overheating thanks to improperly vented systems. Basically when you get the YLOD it will 9/10 be servicable or DIY repairable.

I bought one of the backwards compat ps3s for my stepsons birthday and it did not make it a year. I bought a used fatboy 40gb and it has ran perfectly fine for me for more than that time. The fat boys are no where near as bad off as you might think. I think even for fatboys fail rate was only about 15-18%. The earlier pre falcon upgrade 360s were running at about a 30% fail rate.

I really do not think you have much to worry about PS3 maint wise. However Sonys recent stance on things has made them much less appealing and honestly downright insulting to the consumers. To the point that I honestly have to question if I will purchase a future system from sony based purely on principle.

OT: Can you even get the old batwing type ps3 controllers any more?

 

[twistedheat15]

There's a risk it'll kill your family while you sleep also. It happen to me once with my previous ps3, woke up and it straggled everyone including the dog. Had to pay $150 to send it back and get a whole new family, but playing demons souls on it was worth it.

 

[NiPah]

Known risks? none, outside of what you'd expect from any gaming system. The PS3's risks are about as much as the PS2's were, its a well built system that has no known history of failures like the 360s have.

Still, without a warranty is a little iffy.

 

[Twilight_guy]

The failure percentages are significantly lower. I've never had a problem with mine and its a phat and used one so I imagine its been put through the paces.