Sony PlayStation 3 80GB Piano Black Console

Beautiful PHAT design without the overheating of 1st Gen and can be flashed to 3.55/DEX

I think the best PS3 option is one of the CECHH03 through PO3 PHAT models.

THE backwards compatible CECHC03 is great for the fact that it plays PS2 games and looks great with the silver trim and embossed writing (later PHATs had printed writing and black trim) but an example in good condition with new quality thermal paste (a must) will still set you back around a ton.

For half that you can get a good condition H03 onwards model with redesigned heat sink/ventilation system and get a console enthusiast to flash the console back to 3.55 firmware for about fifty squid. You've then got a machine that you can back up your games on, install mod menus for call of duty, install homebrew games and apps, etc for around the same price.

The same can be done for most ps3 slims (not 3003 models) but you pay more for the smaller form factor and bigger hard drive, and don't have the gorgeous looks of the original Teiyu Goto design.

To sum up, the CECHC03 60GB PHAT has the best looks, backwards compatibility but needs fully dusting and quality thermal paste applying to the RSX and CPU chips, to replace the poorly conducting and often poorly applied gunk that SONY used on the early models.

The CECHH03 onwards PHATs (40/80GB) can be had for around fifty pounds in good condition, can be flashed to 3.55 firmware, have better heat dissipation (along with 45nm architecture, creating less heat and using less energy) whilst still retaining the original design.

The PS3 slim (120/160/250GB) has a smaller and lighter form factor, more storage and can still be flashed back to 3.55 firmware, but is usually expensive than a PHAT in similar condition (but almost always cheaper than a good condition early 60GB model).

So it's really down to what you want from your machine, your budget, and what you personally find more aesthetically pleasing.

One thing I must state is I would never buy a super slim. The manually operated Blu-ray drive cover is flimsy, the laser is prone to finger print and dust adhesion causing misreads, it's too light (easy to knock off your TV stand) and costs way more than it should, even secondhand.

Thanks for reading my review, hope it helped with your choice!Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: thehosik

PlayStation three console that I ordered was broken things were falling off it. I did expect it to be in better condition as loose things inside the c

PlayStation three console that I ordered was broken things were falling off it. I did expect it to be in better condition as loose things inside the console that I can hear but I did say to the seller I wasn’t happy with the item give me £15 back which is okay I guess but still not happy Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: bluesmiffy09

PS3 console

Great eBay purchase, superb product, probably Sonys best ever console, still great graphics even when compared with ps4 etc. have since stripped down console cleaned and repasted unit replaced clock battery and upgraded hard drive to 480Gb SSD ( was 80GB) there are hundreds of Games readily available for a few pounds on eBay too making this even more a great value purchase Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: emlock95

A console that acts like a computer

I bought the PS3 for metal gear solid the legacy collection. But when discovering more of the features, it can act like a computer with saving images and music. I would recommend this to anyone as it also is great to back to the good old days as I use to use a xbox 360 but broke recently and wanted to experience the PlayStation exclusives.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: jameocafc

Fully working PS3

Amazing gaming console, really high quality with zero faults. Did clean the console out but that wasnt causing any issues with the console. It was already set up just had to add my own account. All hardware and software was installed which is amazing. Very light damage on outside of the console but very good quality. Very reasonable price for the console.Read full review

It's a PS3 what you expecting?

It's got all the advantages of a PS3 over a PS2 and all you would expect from a console of it's vintage. Only thing I was disappointed with it was; I tried to play a Blu-ray movie disc on it and it wouldn't play. Not because there was anything wrong. No. To play Blu-ray discs you need to input a encryption code pin number first and as this was a second hand unit the encryption code wasn't included and therefore it wouldn't play the Blu-ray disc. But for playing PS3 games it works fine, which is basically all that I wanted it for. Read full review

Works great.

Came really quickly, works fine. I had the leads from my old console so this was just what i needed.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: japanwatchesuk

Shame it's almost obsolete

Loads of great titles still available and, in my opinion, much nicer looking than the PS4. Such a shame that new titles aren't being released on par with the PS4.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: musicmagpie

Great features

It does everything that I hoped it would.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: buyitbeforeitsgone

A worthwhile purchase

Not being a gamer I had no idea what to go with but I remembered an old arcade game I loved years ago MORTAL KOMBAT..went online and found which had the best graphics for this title and ps3 came up..

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: musicmagpie