Quote Originally Posted by Frankie_Says_Relax View Post
Um, you're mostly on-point there. Some quick things to review:
Here's a short list of PS3s that you can play disc-based PS2 games on:

  • 20GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, no Wi-Fi)
  • 60GB Launch Model (hardware based PS2 emulation, Wi-Fi)
  • 80GB 1st hardware revision (software based PS2 emulation, there are a few flavors of this model)



All PS3s play disc-based PS1 games.

Launch model and early-gen "fat" PS3s can be prone to thermal breakdown (the yellow light of death), so if you buy a used "fat" PS3 keep that in mind. It's not as widespread as the hardware flaws found in early gen 360s, but it's a noted hardware issue. Sony does repairs on all makes/models for around $100/$150.
Thanks for the summery, answered a few questions I had! So will these repairs that one can send to Sony if they get a BC model PS3 resolve the problems and make them efficient like the slim models? Then you just swap put the HD for like a 500gb and ready to go?