Does anyone else's PS3 "crack" and "snap" while in operation?

[heybtbm]

Facts:
PS3 slim. Bought it a week or so after the slim launch (Fall 2009). Use it a few hours per month (i.e. hardly ever). No problems except...

Problem:
The damn thing "cracks" and "snaps" when turned on. Maybe once every 5 minutes. It's not an electrical snap, it's sounds like plastic snapping into place as the console is running and getting warmer.

Possible relevant point:
For the first 2 years of it's life, it was stored inside an enclosed entertainment cabinet (I know) and only used as a blu-ray player. It would get VERY hot inside there. My thought at the time was that it was only turned on for 2 hours (the approximate length of a movie) so the heat wasn't a big deal long term. Worse: it was accidentally turned on and running for hours (6-8?) a few times cooking inside that enclosed entertainment cabinet. The humming from the PS3 fan was so loud that it was audible from other areas of the house.


In short...I'm guessing PS3 slims don't usually snap and crack when turned on? Or do they?

[joshnickerson]

I don't own a PS3, but generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance...

[Hwj_Chim]

Mine does not. As for what is causing it I don't know.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Facts:
PS3 slim. Bought it a week or so after the slim launch (Fall 2009). Use it a few hours per month (i.e. hardly ever). No problems except...

Problem:
The damn thing "cracks" and "snaps" when turned on. Maybe once every 5 minutes. It's not an electrical snap, it's sounds like plastic snapping into place as the console is running and getting warmer.

Possible relevant point:
For the first 2 years of it's life, it was stored inside an enclosed entertainment cabinet (I know) and only used as a blu-ray player. It would get VERY hot inside there. My thought at the time was that it was only turned on for 2 hours (the approximate length of a movie) so the heat wasn't a big deal long term. Worse: it was accidentally turned on and running for hours (6-8?) a few times cooking inside that enclosed entertainment cabinet. The humming from the PS3 fan was so loud that it was audible from other areas of the house.


In short...I'm guessing PS3 slims don't usually snap and crack when turned on? Or do they?

Neither of my launch 60GB units (YLOD or replacement) have done that, BUT my old Panasonic 53 inch LCD last-gen projection TV that had a big reflector bulb and exhaust fans used to crack and snap like CRAZY.

I've heard my 50 inch Bravia do it a bit in the summer, but not as much as the old Panasonic, that thing was loud as a motherfucker with the snapping.

I think it's plastic heating up and contracting at a seam or joint. Never affected performance.

Also, I'm shocked your PS3 hasn't had thermal failure yet. Allowing launch units to kick into high exhaust temperatures seem to be a huge accelerator of that.

*edit* just re-read and see that it's a SLIM. Good to know that they can handle that. If it was a fat I'm pretty sure it would have konked out on you.

[duffmanth]

Don't keep your PS3 in an enclosed space for starters, always keep it some place where the fan can breathe.

[kupomogli]

I don't own a slim, but people who do I don't notice anything from theirs. The system itself quiet.

[substantial_snake]

I think it's plastic heating up and contracting at a seam or joint. Never affected performance.

This is probably whats happening, its remote but you may have something caught on the fan blades.

I had a similar issue a year ago with an ATI 3850 and it ended up being a large beetle that had somehow gotten caught between the card's fan and housing.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I had a similar issue a year ago with an ATI 3850 and it ended up being a large beetle that had somehow gotten caught between the card's fan and housing.

Pics or it didn't happen!

[dendawg]

Pics or it didn't happen!

[heybtbm]

Don't keep your PS3 in an enclosed space for starters, always keep it some place where the fan can breathe.

Yeah, the PS3 slim in question was taken out of the enclosed cabinet about a year ago. It now has plenty of room to breathe (4 sides are completely open to the air).

[Gameguy]

Yeah, the PS3 slim in question was taken out of the enclosed cabinet about a year ago. It now has plenty of room to breathe (4 sides are completely open to the air).

Maybe it got full of dust as it's now in the open. Do you cover each system with a dust cover when not in use?

[Videogamerdaryll]

This is probably whats happening, its remote but you may have something caught on the fan blades.

I had a similar issue a year ago with an ATI 3850 and it ended up being a large beetle that had somehow gotten caught between the card's fan and housing.

So funny as I was going to say,maybe it's got a bug or bugs being cooked in it..

Bugs:
My buddy bought a used PS3 slim at a flea market cheap ,it didn't work..when he opened it up it had a pleasant surprise in it..
He fixed it but will never forget what was in it..

another friend had some noise in his arcade machines fan..seems a mouse somehow decided that it wanted to get cooled off..

[duffmanth]

It's probably the plastic casing making those sounds because it's heating up so much?

[Zama]

It's the plastic case being heated up and contracting. It is common among PS3 slims but it has no effect on its performance, just a minor inconvenience.

[Tokimemofan]

Facts:
PS3 slim. Bought it a week or so after the slim launch (Fall 2009). Use it a few hours per month (i.e. hardly ever). No problems except...

Problem:
The damn thing "cracks" and "snaps" when turned on. Maybe once every 5 minutes. It's not an electrical snap, it's sounds like plastic snapping into place as the console is running and getting warmer.

Possible relevant point:
For the first 2 years of it's life, it was stored inside an enclosed entertainment cabinet (I know) and only used as a blu-ray player. It would get VERY hot inside there. My thought at the time was that it was only turned on for 2 hours (the approximate length of a movie) so the heat wasn't a big deal long term. Worse: it was accidentally turned on and running for hours (6-8?) a few times cooking inside that enclosed entertainment cabinet. The humming from the PS3 fan was so loud that it was audible from other areas of the house.


In short...I'm guessing PS3 slims don't usually snap and crack when turned on? Or do they?

My PS3 does that even with several feet of clearance on winter days, then again mine is the CECHA01 launch unit.

[Ryudo]

My Sony TV's have made that sound over the years. Just plastic expanding and contracting.

[Red Earth]

yes my ps3 slim makes this noise. as everyone said, it's the heating and cooling, expanding and contracting of plastic parts. doesn't affect performance.

[RASK1904]

Mine does this to. I have the one that came with the move. 2 years ago. seems fine. My buddy was trippin. I was like oh it does that. Lol. At first I was afraid. Now. ehh. I've played it a ton. Seems fine. Just strange. Special when thay are so expensive.

[geneshifter]

Yes my slim does that. No worries.

[heybtbm]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I feel better knowing this happens to other PS3 slims. I was pretty sure the sound was plastic expanding/contracting as the PS3 got warmer...I just wasn't sure if it was a unique result of my accidental "cooking" episodes a few years ago. Either way, it sounds like there's no need to get a new one anytime soon. Cool.