‘PS3 Slim Pro’ mod with Noctua fans, Dell server heatsinks, and undervolting runs quieter at under 30 dB — here’s how Reddit reacts
In recent months, PlayStation consoles seem to have become a favourite canvas for DIY modders. After Zac Builds’ water-cooled “PS3 Pro” that ran Gran Turismo 6 at 60 FPS and Not From Concentrate’s Tiny PS5 Redux that shrank Sony’s flagship console into a 6-litre aluminium shell, another builder has stepped up with a striking mix of both eras.
Reddit user Fun-Equivalent-7785 has unveiled a hand-crafted PS3 Slim Pro, a complete rework of the 2009 console featuring better thermals and a custom shell designed to run cooler and quieter than stock hardware.
PS3 Slim Pro mod: How it started
The project’s journey began with a post in the r/PS3 subreddit titled “PS3 Slim Pro Project.” The first image showed a close-up of one of the Dell server heatsinks mounted onto the PlayStation 3 motherboard.
Two days later, the same Reddit user shared their completed build, finally showcasing what the PS3 Slim Pro actually looked like. Finished in a matte silver-grey with black accents and a commemorative “30th Anniversary” PlayStation logo, the console featured two massive Dell server heatsinks, dual 60 mm Noctua fans, and undervolted, overclocked components. While running The Last of Us, it maintained temperatures around 51 °C on the RSX and Cell after three hours of gameplay, with near-silent operation, according to the post.
This post drew even more praise from the r/PS3 community, with users admiring both the cooling system and the craftsmanship of the hand-built case. User HoloKola_ commented, “Props to you, I can’t even imagine how you did the shell, it looks perfect.” The creator, Fun-Equivalent-7785, replied that the casing was made entirely by hand using parts from another PS3 Slim, cut, trimmed, glued, sanded, and spray-painted into shape.
Another commenter added, “Looks great. I wish I were as skilled as you with this kind of stuff,” to which the modder responded that the build was inexpensive and simply required patience, the heatsinks cost around $5, and the vents and shell about $30 in total.
A few days later, the creator shared another update showcasing further improved temperatures from their modded PS3, which, without a case and the same cooling setup, achieved 38 °C on the CPU and 40 °C on the GPU.
Immediately after, they shared another post showing that with the case on. This time the PS3 Slim Pro recorded significantly higher temperatures, around 52 °C on both the CPU and GPU.
PS3 Slim Pro mod: Final build and cooling setup
Then, on November 6, 2025, the creator finally showcased their completed build. Based around Sony’s PlayStation 3 CECH-2504 C0 motherboard, the mod uses two Dell server heatsinks and dual 60 mm Noctua fans connected via the PS3’s PWM controller for automatic speed management. Both the Cell and RSX chips are undervolted by –100 mV to reduce heat, with the RSX also slightly overclocked to 600 MHz core / 875 MHz memory. Thermal pads, gel, and Honeywell PTM7950 TIM tie the cooling solution together, extending coverage to the VRMs, NAND memory, and PSU section.
The system’s custom handmade enclosure, built without 3D printing, features airflow openings designed to minimise turbulence. At roughly 30 dB, the console is significantly quieter than the original PS3, according to the creator’s measurements. Storage has been upgraded to a 1 TB Samsung 850 Pro SSD, with radiators mounted on the console’s original clamps for a clean, factory-grade fit.
How Reddit reacted to the PS3 Slim Pro mod
Reddit users praised the build’s craftsmanship and acoustic performance. User Maximum-Neat4532 commented, “Bro, this is so beautiful,” to which the creator replied with a simple “Thx bro.” Another commenter, Dario-Argento, wrote, “I wish I could pay you to make me one,” prompting the modder to respond that they build such projects only for personal enjoyment: “I’m an enthusiast… maybe someday.”
Others joined the conversation with humour and nostalgia. User RhinoxMenace joked, “NOOOO BUT THE SONY ENGINEERS KNOW BETTER… that’s why the PS4 sounded like a jet engine after three months of use — because experts,” earning dozens of upvotes and a laughing reply from the creator. Meanwhile, MiaowMinx added that “a PS4 should only sound like a jet engine if it needs to be opened up and cleaned.”
However, not everyone liked the new PS3 case design with the grilles, as some preferred the look of the original. To this, the creator responded by mentioning that the temperatures were now much better, which is why they decided to make the change.
