PlayStation 3

Fan & heatsink

Never spin the fan at high speed with compressed air or a vacuum, as the motor can generate a damaging voltage spike back into the board. Hold the blades still while you clean them. Always unplug the console before opening it.

Keeping airflow clear

The fat PS3's large blower fan pulls air across the heatsink fins to shed heat from the main chips. Over years of use, dust packs into the fins and coats the blades, throttling that airflow. A choked cooling path means higher temperatures, louder fan noise, and accelerated solder fatigue. A periodic cleaning is quick and pays off in a cooler, longer-lived console.

Light clean versus deep clean

Light clean: blow dust out of the rear vents without opening the console. Helpful but limited.
Deep clean: open the console, remove the fan, and clear the heatsink fins directly. This is the only way to fully restore airflow.

Open the console
Remove the shell and shielding to expose the fan and heatsink assembly.
Remove the fan
Unplug the fan connector and lift the fan away from the heatsink.
Clear the fins
Blow or brush dust out of the heatsink fins, holding the fan blades steady while you clean them.
Reassemble
Reseat the fan, reconnect it, and close the console back up.

Do it together

Since reaching the fan already means opening the console, this is the ideal moment to also replace the thermal paste while everything is apart.

cooling dust