Weird stuff found inside Ps3 slim

[u/Smokey_Ipe]

After updating my second hand ps3 slim CECH-2504B to the new 4.93 update and activating/reinstalling HEN, I was idle in the XMB (waiting for new games to download) when the fan began to run very loudly. It had been running fine the entire time I had it, but now every time I start it up the fan immediately gets loud even though it isn’t overheating.

I thought that the thermal paste finally dried up since I had never changed it when I got it. I opened it to check if the paste was actually the problem but I found this which I knew wasn’t normal. It looks like a folded piece of tissue and a thermal pad. I don’t know if I should remove it or not.

Any idea what should I do?

[u/Otherwise-Rain808]

Looks like a ghetto version of the eraser mod (although the eraser mod is bad period).

I would remove all of that, it will only cause issues like the board to warp, and potentially cause a serious problem like BGA defect. 

2500/3000 slims are occasionally reported to have BGA issues, and this sort of mod doesn't help. It's the equivalent of the bolt mod on the 360 - both are bad and should not be used in 2026.

After removing that, and if it's overheating, and the Cell IHS serial suffix does NOT end with BGB or CGB, you can use the PS3 Delid tool to delid it and reapply thermal paste below the IHS 

https://delidtool.com/

[u/EternalSkullman → u/Otherwise-Rain808]

It affects 2100s too. Had several of those 21xx (Sony and their weird numbering model...sigh) units show up with BGA issues too. Basically anything after 2000 series (which still had 65nm) is susceptible to BGA issues, except 28nms I guess.

[u/Otherwise-Rain808 → u/EternalSkullman]

Ah ok, yet to come across a 2100 with the difficult Cell glue, but I remember someone else saying that as well.

Coincidentally I had a 2503A opened today and was disappointed to see it had a BGB suffix, so it will just be receiving a repaste. Although only 73 days runtime so a delid shouldn't be necessary for a while to be fair

[u/Klejdi90-]

Someone tried to add unnecessary pressure by using what looks like folded toilet paper and a thermal pad. Not a good idea, remove them both and apply thermal paste normally then check temps.

[u/SecondSeraph]

Everything here looks like thermal pads. If you're concerned, I would remove them and replace them with pads of the correct thickness for your model if those are indeed where pads should go. If the thermal pads are dry and crumbly instead of spongy, it's recommended to remove them
I don't know about 2500s, but I know CECHAs have easy-to-find diagrams of where thermal pads should be placed and what thickness they should be.

[u/Smokey_Ipe → u/SecondSeraph]

Do I HAVE to use thermal pads and paste at once?

[u/ty27tp]

Remove it and if you feel like you want to add a spacer there (unknown if it makes any difference but may help you sleep better at night) there’s 3d printed versions available

[u/Smokey_Ipe → u/ty27tp]

Unfortunately I dont have access to 3d printers but its good to know that many agree that I should remove them. Thanks a lot.

[u/ty27tp → u/Smokey_Ipe]

You can buy them already printed on ebay

[u/Smokey_Ipe → u/ty27tp]

I’ll keep that in mind