PlayStation 3 Super Slim WiFi Antenna Replacement

- Get ready to unleash the PlayStation 3 Super Slim! This little beast is packed with power in a sleek form. Check out these awesome specs:

- HD output: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i

- Surround sound: LPCM 7.1ch, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, AAC

- Cell Broadband Engine™

- RSX® GPU

- Memory: 256MB XDR Main RAM and 256MB GDDR3 VRAM

- Storage: Available in 12GB (flash memory), 250GB, or 500GB (upgradable!)

- Well, we’re not ones to grumble, but we had to snag our PlayStation 3 Super Slim as part of a bundle. Looks like Nathan Drake finally unearthed a treasure worth gushing about after all those escapades!

- So, what’s in the loot? Here’s the breakdown:

- 250 GB PlayStation 3 Super Slim System

- DualShock 3 Wireless Controller

- AV Composite Cable (though, sadly, no HDMI cable tags along in this bundle)

- AC Power Cord

- USB Cable (you’ll need it to juice up that DualShock controller)

- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Game of the Year Edition) + Dust 514 (Downloadable content included)

- We're gonna see how the PS3 Super Slim stacks up against the standard slim model it's replacing. Let's get to it!

- No surprises here! Our test results were pretty much what we expected. The Super Slim might have a bigger name, but it's definitely shed some size.

- Even though the backsides of both consoles look similar, they tell us a lot about the changes made for the Super Slim. Time to peek!

- First off, the cooling vents are noticeably smaller, which probably means the fan is smaller and doesn't have as much heat to deal with.

- Secondly, the port layout is shifted slightly. And for those wondering about motherboard compatibility: Nope, you can't swap Slim and Super Slim motherboards.

- One of the biggest transformations in this new model—plus a top complaint from users—has to be the shift to a manual top-loading disc drive. Who knew a little switch could stir up so much buzz?

- We think removing the tray was a clever move to save costs and shrink the size of the Super Slim. While it's definitely ruffled some feathers, it reminds us of other recent efforts made to save space.

- On top of boosting Sony's profit margins right now, keeping production costs down also ensures the PS3 is ready for the future. When the PlayStation 4 debuts, the PlayStation 3 Super Slim will likely share the spotlight, but at a much sweeter price.

- Just a heads-up: the disc door is a bit flimsy and feels like it’s made of inexpensive plastic. This design means that your PS3 will require some overhead space to swap out discs—no more squishing it into that short shelf anymore!

- The lower part of the Super Slim still has that classic vibe, just minus the Wi-Fi indicator light—no biggie!

- Don't worry, the absence of a Wi-Fi indicator light doesn't mean the Super Slim is Wi-Fi-less.

- On the front of the Super Slim, you'll still find two USB 2.0 ports, a hard drive indicator light, and a bunch of logos, including the ever-familiar Blu-ray Disc logo.

- The PS3 Super Slim's hard drive bay cover practically invites you to pop it off, revealing a flashy blue Phillips screw just waiting for your screwdriver.

- Once you liberate that blue screw, the Hitachi TravelStar Z5K320 2.5" SATA II 3.0Gbps 250 GB 5400 RPM hard drive slides out with ease. Smooth, right?

- Here’s the awesome part: Sony lets you upgrade your console’s hard drive to any 2.5" laptop drive. No weird firmware, no quirky cases—just you, your console, and all the storage your heart desires. Game on!

- Hey friends! First off, salad rubber feet are hiding three screws on the case. They also help your PS3 Super Slim stay put, so they are pretty helpful.

- However, that nasty Warranty Void sticker is blocking the path to the fourth screw - now that is just bogus.

- Don't worry, it's super easy to remove those rubber feet. Plus, they add some extra functionality and make your console look fresh and new.

- It is your right to repair, and we think stickers like that should be gone - Want to get started on your PS3 Super Slim repair? If you need help, schedule a repair

- A plastic opening tool makes quick work of the outer bezels.

- Located underneath the front outer bezel, we find the ever-tempting laser warning sticker.

- Removing the bezels also provides access to the screws we need to remove to get inside the Super Slim.

- Alright, let's dive in! Who knows what treasures await inside this PS3 Super Slim? Let's slide that top cover out of the way and find out!

- Looks like almost every part is hiding under some internal plastic. Time to get to work!

- First off, take off that top cover! Then let's continue our adventure by removing the manual top-loading disc tray.

- Say what you want about the tray-free disc loader in the Super Slim, but it's definitely repair-friendly.

- The laser lens here is labeled KEM-850 PHA 0672 23020A.

- There were mixed reviews about the noise level from the PS3 Super Slim's disc drive, so we made sure to check out Sony's noise reduction efforts:

- We found the drive mounted on super-soft rubber bumpers and surrounded by a noise-reducing plastic tray to dampen vibrations.

- However, this won't do much to muffle sounds coming straight off the drive through the thin plastic tray door.

- The power supply module can be easily yoinked from the rear side of the case.

- Even though the components are neatly arranged, getting to the power supply's insides is a bit of a puzzle. Its internal case is secured by four screws and some seriously stubborn plastic clips. Time to get your dexterity on!

- Just like the PS3 Slim, this power supply is designed to handle inputs from 100V to 240V AC, so it's ready for action all over the world. How cool is that?

- It looks like they've managed to lower the power consumption too! The PS3 Slim needed 12 V and 18 A DC, but the Super Slim only needs 12 V and 13 A DC. Every little bit helps!

- The motherboard and fan assembly pop free from the lower case as we dive deeper into this repair journey.

- It’s a bit of a bummer that the entire motherboard assembly needs to come out just to get to the fan or heat sinks. But hey, this design is compact and sturdy, so we’ll call it a win for engineering!

- Up front on the fan assembly, we spot the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas—tiny but mighty components keeping your device connected.

- The antennas are sporting an engraved TE Connectivity logo. According to TE Connectivity, their antenna designs have powered all sorts of cool wireless gadgets, including cutting-edge gaming consoles. Pretty impressive, right?

- Let's unveil door number two... it's the motherboard!

- With a few steady moves, the metal frame is lifted off the motherboard.

- Quick glance shows the GPU's thermal paste is perfect, but the CPU's could use some love.

- Calling all tinkerers for a little touch-up?

- Let's give the motherboard a little twist—just 45 degrees—and voilà! We get a sneak peek at some of the key players that make the PlayStation 3 Super Slim tick:

- Cell Broadband Engine CXD2996BGB

- Hynix H5RS5223DFA 512 Megabits GDDR3 VRAM (four chips working together for a total of 256 MB)

- Sony CXM4027R MultiAV driver

- Panasonic MN8647091 HDMI transmitter

- Elpida X1032BBBG-3C-F 1 Gb (with two chips combining for a grand total of 256 MB) XDR DRAM

- Keep an eye out for these cool Cartesian ICs on the motherboard's top side:

- The one and only Sony RSX CXD530 "Reality Synthesizer"

- The marvelous Marvell Avastar 88W8781 SoC WLAN/Bluetooth chip

- Sony CXD9963GB I/O bridge controller

- Macronix MX29GL128FLT2I flash storage

- Sony CXD5132R SATA/PATA Blu-ray drive controller

- The ever-present Integrated PCB Wi-Fi antenna

- Here are a few quick tips for the back side:

- SW3-302 SCEI 1220EM42E

- BD7761EFV 227 T25

- Intersil ISL6332 MDRZ H223BCC

- IDT 4227ANLG 1149L

- Texas Instruments TPS53123 Dual Synchronous Step-Down Controller

- Alright, let's keep our cool as we extract the squirrel cage fan and those two heat sinks. You got this!

- For this version of the PS3, Sony went slim! They used fresh tech to make the console smaller, lighter, and quieter. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair

- PS3 Super Slim gets a solid 7 out of 10 for repairability – not too shabby!

- Swapping out or upgrading the hard drive? Piece of cake!

- The disc loader is modular, so replacements are a snap.

- Just your regular tools plus a T8 Security bit – easy peasy!

- Watch out for that 'Warranty Void' sticker – it's mostly bark, no bite.

- The power supply is clip-city, but don't sweat it too much; power supply repairs aren't super common.

- Gotta pull the whole motherboard to get to the fan or heat sinks – a bit of a trek.

- That sliding disc tray door can feel a little flimsy – handle with care!

- Let's peel off those rubber feet hiding underneath the console!

- Now, unscrew the screws that were playing hide-and-seek under the rubber feet, and don't forget the sneaky one under the warranty sticker!

- Grab your trusty flat-head screwdriver and bust out those security screws on the side!

- Pop off the side cover and front flaps – you got this!

- Unscrew those two sneaky screws holding the disk tray in place, and off pops the top!

- Resist the urge to eject that disk tray! Instead, give it a gentle lift to expose the screw hiding underneath, which secures the power board on that side.

- Now, carefully remove the power assembly to reveal the Bluetooth and wireless connections underneath. Almost there!

- Disconnect the wireless aerial from the motherboard so you can swap it out for a toggle antenna. You've got this!

- Create a neat little opening for the toggle antenna right at the top of the console and the flap.