thinking about a ps3- advice needed

[sharpfork]

I'm thinking about getting my first ps3.  I want to be run emulators on it so I'll get a below 3.55 I guess.  I don't like the way my ps2 looks on my nice new 47" 1080 led tv and I'm wondering if I get a PS2 hardware backward compatible vesrsion of the ps3, might I get a bit better image on ps2 games via hdmi?

Is it true that all fats will  die at some point?
Does a leaded solder reballed gpu on a fat mean it is fixed long term?
I have a 27" crt I can play ps2 on so should I go for a slim and forget ps2 compatability?
Will all ps3 models output to my 480 crts via component?
I already have a region free x360, any good reason to hook a ps3 up to my horizontal or tate cab?
Any guesses if waiting a couple of months might save me a bunch of $ as people pick up next gen stuff?
I found a guy willing to sell a downgraded slim foe $160 with a controller, sound like a decent deal?  Same guy has reballed 4 usb port fat for $140.

Thanks in advance.

[ark_ader]

Nothing last forever except my 1.0 Xbox 

Custom firmware doesn't work very well with the newer models, besides there are plenty of other uses for the PS3 than console gaming, which we have plenty of outlets to accomodate.

I would get a 60gb Fat and if it YLOD just reflow it and put it in a tank of mineral oil.

That console was the best and the hardest one to find working.

[pbj]

From what I've seen, prices on the hacked consoles have their biggest drop right when everyone is out buying new ones.   In other words - "right now."

Why not just play the PS2 games via PC emulator?  PS3 is fine and all but you can't customize them much and playing illegal copies is a tedious pain in the ass.

[HaRuMaN]

I have the 60Gb fat, full backwards compatibility (hardware).  No issues at all. 

[Fursphere]

I have the 60Gb fat, full backwards compatibility (hardware).  No issues at all.

Except it sounds like a jet engine when the fans spin up!

[Slippyblade]

When you are looking at systems, pay special attention to the vents.  Heat due to dust build up is the #1 killer of PS3's.  Expect a little dust, it IS electronics after all, but if you see caking or build up...  walk away.

Also, the hard drive size is pretty much irrelavent.  The PS3 was designed to take a standard SATA laptop drive, so you can plug in almost any size you want.

[ark_ader]

When you are looking at systems, pay special attention to the vents.  Heat due to dust build up is the #1 killer of PS3's.  Expect a little dust, it IS electronics after all, but if you see caking or build up...  walk away.

Those are the best ones to buy.  I had the vacuum cleaner sucking up all kinds of crap when I buy used kit.  Build up tells me of a heat problem and a simple solution.  Most people are too lazy to perform preventive maintenance.  Win win for me. 

[rCadeGaming]

Is it true that all fats will  die at some point?

Yes, it's pretty much a matter of time, but it should be pointed out that slims are probably not any better in this respect though.  They use the same crappy lead-free solder under the CPU and GPU.  A tech that fixes these for a living told me that he thinks the slims run hotter anyhow; after all they're just similar parts crammed into a smaller space.  It is more common to see fat models get the YLOD now, but that's just because they're older so they tend to die first. 

Does a leaded solder reballed gpu on a fat mean it is fixed long term?

If it's done properly, yes.  A reflow just delays the problem, but a lot of places do this instead of a full reball because it's easier.  It's getting harder to find reputable places that will reball with leaded solder, but if you can it's worth it.

I have a 27" crt I can play ps2 on so should I go for a slim and forget ps2 compatability?

I would forget about the PS3's PS2 and PS1 compatibility either way.  It's based on emulation and has some lag.  Anyhow, yes your PS1 and 2 games will look better on a PS2 on a standard definition CRT than on a PS3 on a flat panel.  (The PS2's backwards compatibility is fine, as it uses some hardware; it works great for the vast majority of games, and I don't think it adds any lag).

The older fat models do have the benefit of 4 USB ports though; later ones only have 2.

Will all ps3 models output to my 480 crts via component?

There aren't any resolutions available via HDMI that aren't available via component on the fat models I have.  I'm pretty sure the same is true on all models.

I already have a region free x360, any good reason to hook a ps3 up to my horizontal or tate cab?

There are plenty of great fighting games and 2d platformers for PS3, but the only exclusive I know of is Blazblue: Chrono Phantasma (coming out next year), and that one really needs a display that can do 720p anyhow.  I can't think of any vertical games for PS3 at all, 360 has all the shmups.

I found a guy willing to sell a downgraded slim foe $160 with a controller, sound like a decent deal?  Same guy has reballed 4 usb port fat for $140.

I'd recommend the fat.  Is that a one-time thing, or is he selling these regularly?  I might be interested.

[sharpfork]

Thanks for all the info.  I'm thinking I might go for a 4 usb model with hardware PS2 compatibility that has been reballed with leaded solder and is on 3.55 or lower.