PS3 Failure Rate - Time to Panic?

The Playstation 3 has been around for more than two years now, going on three this year. Over this period of time, we have seen a trend of activity in the forums relating to the Yellow Light of Death (YLOD) or other hardware failures (Blu-Ray drive, etc.)of the PS3. The competing consoles of this generation have varying reliability, as I'm sure we all know, with one of them having a significant widespread issue, and the other with virtually no complaints. This brings up the question...Does the PS3 fit in to the category of having a widespread failure rate issue? Or, does it fit well-within normal parameters of consumer electronic failure rates?

With current forum activity, one can easily argue that the PS3's YLOD and other hardware failures are becoming more and more common - perhaps a problem even. Users creating threads such as, "My PS3 died!!" or "How can I prevent YLOD!!?! :cry:" certainly make it seem like the PS3's failure rate is becoming higher and higher. However, is this valid data that can be used to analyzethe PS3's failure rate? The answer, is a completely obvious "no".

[spoiler] Warning: You might learn something here. [/spoiler]

The electronic manufacturing process is not perfect, as with ANY manufacturing process for ANY product. Mistakes and imperfections happen, and this is where the term "failure rate" comes in. It's never a question of if a new product will have a failure rate, it's when.SquareTrade, an extended warranty company, has compiled some data that you might find rather comforting.

In 2008, SquareTrade released data on the failure rate statistics for the three consoles of this generation. The table below indicates the percentage of failures for each console.

Well, I'm sure you're saying now, "RotaryRX7, that's fine and dandy, but I bet you that number is higher now in 2009, and I bet the YLOD is indeed a problem, so there!"

Sure, you have a valid point. However, even if that failure rate of the PS3 was at double (6%) or quadruple (12%) at this current stage, would that be bad? Let's find out.

Consumer Reportsprovided some statistics (as of 2006, but still completely relevant) to show the failure rates of common devices as well as the average of most electronics. What did they come up with?

Well, let's take a look at that! After a 3-4 year life span, MOST consumer electronics reach a failure/repair rate of 15%.

What does that mean in the PS3's case?

If anything, the PS3 is on a COMPLETELY NORMAL ROAD towards the average failure rate of consumer electronics. The PS3 is reaching its third birthday, and we hear more and more about failure rates with it. So, the bottom line is... the PS3 does NOT have a widespread problem of failures, and it is WELL WITHIN normal parameters for consumer electronics reliability.

Even if the PS3's failure rate was quadrupled, as I mentioned earlier, it would still fall UNDER the consumer electronics average for a 3-4 year old product (which is the category PS3 is about to fall under later this year).

So, in conclusion...While we don't have any 2009 data on the PS3's failure rate, we can easily assume it's not too much higher than it was back in 2008, especially since the press has barely even bothered the PS3 for the YLOD compared to the attention the Red Ring of Death (RROD) gets. The PS3 is not suffering from a 'YLOD pandemic'.

What does this mean? Everyone here who owns a PS3 has a chance of their PS3 dying. However, that chance is more likely to not happen. So, I hope you learned something today and read through this...or at least the high points.

This thread was inspired by the 1,000,000 threads of "ZOMG my PS3 diedzorz!!" and "YLOD will kill us all!!!" etc.. I couldn't have done it without you guys.

Sources:
Ars Technica- Article on current-gen console failure rates, Feb 2008.
SquareTrade- Explanation of electronics failure rates, using Consumer Reports' data from 2006.

Very interesting.:shock:

:| When have facts and logic ever been effective against mass hysteria? Besides, conspiracy theories are more entertaining. :)

:| When have facts and logic ever been effective against mass hysteria? Besides, conspiracy theories are more entertaining. :)

emitsu97

I always had a feeling that this guy was you, emitsu...now I know. :P :P

Well, I'm off to work, I'll have to check back later...hopefully more people will be enlightened by this information. :)

I'm surprised by how low the 360 is on that graph....

Convincing argument. Hopefully this will put a stop to all the paranoia.

It still doesnt make my barely 2 yr old PS3 with a failed blu ray drive look any better as it stares back at me. :cry:

great post :)

seem like it was a blog :P

Very good information. In the real world anything man made can and will have some kind of problems at some point.

Yeah, I guess I've got two years up my sleeve.

Plus, remember than the prices are going to go down bythe time your PS3 crashes (i.e. 3 years after release), so a replacement is definitely plausible.

I think the facts are self-explanatory:the laser diode used in the pre-80/40(non-bc) gig ps3 models was manufactured using a very unstable process,that is continually being improved upon,and only the newer post backwards compatible ps3s are seeing any benefit(even now they have defects).the process was developed by an engineer(shuji nakamura)who had to create his own modded chemical vapor deposit reactor to fabricate the quality of materials(gallium nitride/gallium indium nitride crystals)needed to create the blu laser diode.this process still had/has problems with the crystal formation having too many dislocations(aka defects) to allow for most of the crystals maded to be used in diodes without catastrophic optical failure at unacceptably low stress levels(aka laser goes poof).long story short:the earlier lasers were too fragile to be put into consumer products,but htey did it anyway,and alot of peoples warranties were up by the time they found out the hard way.uncool.

Excellent post, this should make things clearer for some people

Nice post, thanks for the info.

my launch ps3 is still running strong but i have noticed too lately people saying launch ps3 finally dies lol it kind of worries me that i might not be able to play MGS 2 or 3 :( i hope they backwards compatability the hell out of their newest models

I'm surprised by how low the 360 is on that graph....

hip-hop-cola2

I think the facts are self-explanatory:the laser diode used in the pre-80/40(non-bc) gig ps3 models was manufactured using a very unstable process,that is continually being improved upon,and only the newer post backwards compatible ps3s are seeing any benefit(even now they have defects).the process was developed by an engineer(shuji nakamura)who had to create his own modded chemical vapor deposit reactor to fabricate the quality of materials(gallium nitride/gallium indium nitride crystals)needed to create the blu laser diode.this process still had/has problems with the crystal formation having too many dislocations(aka defects) to allow for most of the crystals maded to be used in diodes without catastrophic optical failure at unacceptably low stress levels(aka laser goes poof).long story short:the earlier lasers were too fragile to be put into consumer products,but htey did it anyway,and alot of peoples warranties were up by the time they found out the hard way.uncool.

freekninjinc

Great post!

but two thing that deserves mention :

1.) Fake fanboy's come in here and post a lot of the YLOD stuff, just for fun.

2.) Nintendo does have a problem with Wii's, the GPU malfunctions, making the screan tear, and eventually disables the system...it's a very small problem like YLOD, but fanboy's are going after the Wii as much (The Sony Hate is strong after the PS2 winning.), so just google it to check that out.

I myself have never had a problem with my launch Wii or my two launch PS3's.

the consoles getting ylod are all 60gb models.

the consoles getting ylod are all 60gb models.

noble_aryan

Not true, my friend had a 40GB and he got it

Good read, very informative. Also i find it very ironic that you're posting a thread about the reliability of the ps3 and your handle is RotaryRX7 ;).

umm this is kinda bogus cus the 360 fail rate is notttt at 16%, there was an article on this site that the failure rate is around 60% in reality, but for some reason it was taken down the same day

Nice too know thanx..

[QUOTE="noble_aryan"]

the consoles getting ylod are all 60gb models.

thelastguy

Not true, my friend had a 40GB and he got it

wow thanks man, very good post, and well researched.

you people are blindfreekninjinc

plain crap,tell it to the people spending 80-150 to get their ps3 repaired.i hate salesmen in sheeps clothingfreekninjinc

Good read, very informative. Also i find it very ironic that you're posting a thread about the reliability of the ps3 and your handle is RotaryRX7 ;).

4NGoods

[QUOTE="freekninjinc"]you people are blindRotaryRX7

plain crap,tell it to the people spending 80-150 to get their ps3 repaired.i hate salesmen in sheeps clothingfreekninjinc

[QUOTE="RotaryRX7"] [QUOTE="freekninjinc"]plain crap,tell it to the people spending 80-150 to get their ps3 repaired.i hate salesmen in sheeps clothingfreekninjinc

Regardless of what you heard about the BR drive, it doesn't negate the fact that a 0% failure rate is impossible in current times.

[QUOTE="freekninjinc"][QUOTE="RotaryRX7"] Crap? What do you expect? 100% perfection in the manufacturing process? That's crap. It's unrealistic thinking, and impossible with current technology. I don't know how you think things should work, but in the real world, EVERY product has a failure rate, and there's no going around it. Maybe 300 years from now if the world still exists, we will have robotic productions perfected...until then, failure rates will exist. And thanks to all who enjoyed my post, I had fun putting it together. :)RotaryRX7

I agree with that,but if its going to end up as it has,you cant say sony did a good job,and they should admit that.

[QUOTE="RotaryRX7"][QUOTE="freekninjinc"] the research and development for the blu laser was done by one person,with little support from the company he was working for,and he ultimately sued them and quit after they didnt properly compensate them.that is the problem with the attitude that results in these kind of defects.the companies want the money more than a properly functioning product.nuff saidfreekninjinc

I agree with that,but if its going to end up as it has,you cant say sony did a good job,and they should admit that.

i think its confusing cause there are many people working at a company who have good intentions,but they stifled sometimes down the line,and these kinds of things happen.its just too bad it takes mistakes to learn that,as ps3s aint cheap lol!freekninjinc

nice post, interesting statistics.

Iam on my 2nd ps3. My launch 60gb ps3's bluray drive died. Luckily I had a 3 year store warranty. Yeah it cost 100 bucks but it was worth it. Got it replaced with a 80 gb. I do miss bc though =\

Nice post, although I am on my third 60gb console.

[QUOTE="4NGoods"]

Good read, very informative. Also i find it very ironic that you're posting a thread about the reliability of the ps3 and your handle is RotaryRX7 ;).

RotaryRX7

Yeah but even with the reliability issues, the FD's are still some of my all time favorite cars. I'm still hoping they make a comeback. A buddy of mine has the RX8 but it's not the same kind of animal the 7 was. If you dont mind me asking, whatcha driving now?? I'm a big import fan myself and currently have an s2000.4NGoods

Nice post, although I am on my third 60gb console.

Shhadow_Viper