Key Takeaways
1. Introduction of PS3 Slim Pro: A Reddit user created a hand-made PS3 Slim Pro with improved cooling and a custom shell for quieter operation.
2. Cooling System and Performance: The mod features dual Dell server heatsinks and Noctua fans, achieving temperatures around 51 °C while playing games, significantly lower than the original PS3.
3. Community Praise: The project received admiration from the Reddit community for its craftsmanship and cooling efficiency, showcasing the creator’s skills in building the custom enclosure.
4. Budget-Friendly Project: The creator highlighted that the DIY project was cost-effective, with parts totaling around $35, emphasizing patience as a key factor in the build.
5. Mixed Reactions: While many praised the design and performance, some users preferred the original PS3 look, leading to discussions about aesthetics versus functionality.
In the past few months, it seems like PlayStation consoles have become a popular choice for DIY enthusiasts. Following Zac Builds’ water-cooled “PS3 Pro” that could run Gran Turismo 6 at 60 FPS and Not From Concentrate’s Tiny PS5 Redux, which compacted the PS5 into a 6-litre aluminum shell, another creator has emerged with a fascinating blend of both generations.
Introduction of the PS3 Slim Pro
Reddit user Fun-Equivalent-7785 has introduced a hand-made PS3 Slim Pro, which is a complete overhaul of the 2009 system, featuring enhanced thermal management and a custom shell that aims to operate more quietly and at cooler temperatures than the original hardware.
The adventure began with a post in the r/PS3 subreddit called “PS3 Slim Pro Project.” The initial image presented a detailed view of a Dell server heatsink affixed to the PlayStation 3 motherboard.
Showcasing the Finished Product
After two days, the same Redditor presented their finished creation, revealing the actual appearance of the PS3 Slim Pro. Dressed in a matte silver-grey with black details and a special “30th Anniversary” PlayStation logo, the console boasted two large Dell server heatsinks, dual 60 mm Noctua fans, and components that were undervolted and overclocked. While playing The Last of Us, it maintained temperatures around 51 °C on both the RSX and Cell chips after three hours, functioning nearly silently, as mentioned in the post.
The post received even more admiration from the r/PS3 community, where users praised both the cooling system and the skill displayed in the handmade case. One user, HoloKola_, remarked, “Props to you, I can’t even imagine how you did the shell, it looks perfect.” The builder, Fun-Equivalent-7785, responded that the casing was entirely handcrafted using parts from another PS3 Slim, which were cut, trimmed, glued, sanded, and spray-painted into their final form.
Feedback and Further Improvements
Another commenter noted, “Looks great. I wish I were as skilled as you with this kind of stuff,” to which the modder replied that the project was budget-friendly and mainly required patience, stating that the heatsinks cost about $5, and the vents and shell totaled around $30.
Days later, the creator posted another update, revealing even better temperatures from their modified PS3, which, when tested without a case and with the same cooling setup, reached 38 °C on the CPU and 40 °C on the GPU.
Shortly after, they shared another post indicating that with the case in place, the PS3 Slim Pro recorded noticeably higher temperatures, hitting around 52 °C on both the CPU and GPU.
On November 6, 2025, the creator finally showed off their complete build. Centered around Sony’s PlayStation 3 CECH-2504 C0 motherboard, the mod utilizes two Dell server heatsinks and dual 60 mm Noctua fans connected through the PS3’s PWM controller for automatic fan speed adjustments. Both the Cell and RSX chips are undervolted by -100 mV to lower heat, and the RSX is slightly overclocked to 600 MHz core / 875 MHz memory. The cooling solution is enhanced with thermal pads, gel, and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM to cover the VRMs, NAND memory, and PSU area.
Community Reactions
The custom handmade enclosure, crafted without the use of 3D printing, has airflow openings designed to reduce turbulence. At approximately 30 dB, the console is much quieter than the standard PS3, based on the creator’s measurements. Storage has been upgraded to a 1 TB Samsung 850 Pro SSD, with radiators mounted on the original clamps for a neat, factory-like finish.
Reddit users applauded the craftsmanship and sound performance of the build. One user, Maximum-Neat4532, commented, “Bro, this is so beautiful,” to which the creator simply replied, “Thx bro.” Another user, Dario-Argento, expressed a desire to pay for such a creation, prompting the modder to state that they only build for personal enjoyment: “I’m an enthusiast… maybe someday.”
Others chimed in with humor and nostalgia, with user RhinoxMenace joking, “NOOOO BUT THE SONY ENGINEERS KNOW BETTER… that’s why the PS4 sounded like a jet engine after three months of use — because experts,” which garnered many upvotes and a laughing response from the creator. Meanwhile, MiaowMinx noted that “a PS4 should only sound like a jet engine if it needs to be opened up and cleaned.”
Nonetheless, not everyone approved of the new PS3 case design featuring the grilles, as some preferred the original look. In response, the creator pointed out that the temperatures were much improved, which was the reason for the design change.
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