How To: Open and Tear-Down a Playstation 3 Console

You are going to need a few tools to get this going, A Small Philips Screw driver, A regular size Phillips screwdriver and a Flat Head Screw Driver.

First Step:

• Remove the screw from the side of the console and the warranty sticker. This is done with the small flat head screwdriver.
• Then slide the lid of the top of the console
• Remove 7 Screws from top of console shell, and then pull upward.
• With enough force the shell of the console pop’s loose.

Removing the internal Components:

• Remove the Disc Drive – remove two ribbon cables and a small connector cable.
• Remove the Card Reader – remove the two screws holding this down.
• Remove the Wi-Fi Board – remove the antenna cable, four screws and the ribbon cable.
• Remove the Power Supply – remove five regular screws, and the ground screw. Then unplug the two connectors
• Remove the Antenna – there is only one small screw for this.
• Remove the Eject Board – this is the small board just in front of the disc-drive. Remove the four screws holding this down.
• Take the Hard Drive Out – remove the black plastic door, and remove one screw with your small Philips screwdriver.

Keep in mind the above-mentioned items use smaller screws; this will help when you put the console back together.

Next Step:

• Remove all the screws surrounding the Board – two of the screws will require the use of the small Philips screwdriver. It also depends on the model of the console.
• Then take out the four screws in the middle of the board, holding the gpu & cpu in place.

Last Step:

• Take the board and fan out of the console shell – Remove the plastic on the back of the console.
• Next you can remove the top metal plate - easy
• Then remove the fan, by unplugging the cable
• Then remove the battery from the board – this is important, the battery will explode from the heat.
• Remove two small screws that hold the Hard Drive holder to the board - with your small Philips screwdriver.
• Now remove the metal plate

 Here is a Youtube video we made on the Topic

Now you have just the board in your hands. If you need help with fixing a PS3, I have other videos on fixing a PS3 with the yellow light of death, and how to re-calibrate a ps3 disc drive.