Recently the PS3 Dev Team received a PS3 Reference TOOL Kit and detailed the Frontside and Backside of the hardware.

Today we popped off the top of our PS3 TOOL to share how this monstrous machine works!

For starters, the cover is large but thin, and quite sharp (it drew blood!). Underneath the top cover are multiple steel covers, nearly 1/8th of an inch thick. This keeps the PS3 TOOL...

Posted 5 days ago      10 Comments      Read More »


Update: PUPXtractor v0.2 for PS3 is now available, which now works on TAR format.

Today Ac_K has released yet another PUP update extractor /
unpacker, this time dubbed PUPXtractor v0.1 for PS3.

Download: PUPXtractor v0.1 for PS3

For those curious, previous PS3 update utilities used to do this task include PS3 Update Unpacker v1, PS3 PUP Extractor v1.00, GPUP PS3 PUP Unpacker/Packer v0.3.1 and PUPiT v0.1 For PS3.

To quote from the PUPXtractor v0.1 ReadMe...

Posted 20 days ago      4 Comments      Read More »

Developers at DemonHades have located and mapped the JTag Port on a PS3 Blu-ray drive board today.

To quote, roughly translated: I found the JTag port for the Blu-ray Reader on the PlayStation 3. Last night after finishing the research meeting I went looking for information about BD integrated reader.

In and looking at the information that I found on the back...

Posted 25 days ago      50 Comments      Read More »


Sony's PS3, circa E3 2005 - it was great. Dual HDMI outputs, 3X LAN and lots more.

Last week we covered the PS3 DECR-1000A Front, and so today let's take a peek at the backside of Sony's PS3 Reference Tool.

We can cut right to the goodies! Back of the tool: starting on the far right features a power connector to the variable 100-240V PSU, for multi-region support.

Posted 33 days ago      11 Comments      Read More »

Earlier this month I purchased a PS3 Reference Tool Model DECR-1000A.

Today I had time so here are some details on exactly what the front of it consists of... I will do a follow-up on the backside and internals soon, and then we'll get into the PS3 Dev aspects of it.

We all remember E3's PS3 - Dual HDMI outputs for extra high-definition widescreen goodness, a built in 3 port...

Posted 40 days ago      20 Comments      Read More »


Well, I hinted at it last week, that we were getting something BIG, and yeah- we did!

It retails for $10,250.00, weighs in around 45lbs, is around 19" wide and 24" deep. If you have not guessed it yet, it's a PS3 TOOL, also known as a PS3 Reference Kit, also known as the DECR-1000A.

This unit is the big brother to the new DECR-1400A, and has many more features than the newer,...

Posted 65 days ago      71 Comments      Read More »

Today SKFU (linked above) is reporting that he has ran across what he believes to be an unencrypted SPU binary found in the Def Jam: Icon demo for PS3.

To quote: When I was bored yesterday I dealed with HDD decryption again and looked through the game folders on the decrypted HDD.

The Def Jam: Icon USA Demo seemed interesting as it only works on US consoles....

Posted 85 days ago      10 Comments      Read More »

As we brought the first pictures of the new PS3 TOOL, we also bring more information, thanks to the FCC.

Finally the FCC's images of the DECH-1400A have been made available for public viewing, and they show very interesting hardware differences.

One would assume with a newer PS3 TOOL that they would use a new board, but according to the User Manual, the PS3 pulls ~300 watts of power,...

Posted 87 days ago      8 Comments      Read More »

We all heard about this back in March, that Sony was releasing a new model PS3 TOOL, the DECR-1400A. I have been anxiously waiting (as well as about 4 other people on the planet) for the release of the new TOOL.

Questions buzzed through my head, does it have one NIC or two? We know that since it was in the original PS3 form factor it would have only one HDD, of unknown size,...

Posted 99 days ago      7 Comments      Read More »

Over the weekend, the folks at PS2Dev.org (linked above) have began a collaborative development effort in hopes of finally getting a freeware (non-Sony) legal PS3SDK rolling similar to the popular PS2SDK project.

To quote mc: Well, we've all heard the rumors about ongoing PS3SDK development efforts, but so far nobody has shown any code.

I think the main problem...

Posted 123 days ago      1 Comment      Read More »