What Can I Do With My Old PS3 Slim?
As an avid PlayStation gamer since the PS1 era, I have a huge soft spot for the PS3 Slim. This iconic console gave me countless hours of gaming joy through my high school and college years after it launched in 2009. But now over a decade old, many gamers like myself have a PS3 Slim sitting unused in storage begging the question — what‘s the best thing to do with this once mighty gaming machine? This comprehensive guide will provide expert tips and personal insight on the options based on my years of experience.
Estimate Its Current Resale Value
If looking to offload and make some cash from your PS3 Slim, the good news is there is still a healthy demand thanks to nostalgia and its innate backwards compatibility. Based on recent eBay sales data, well maintained PS3 Slim models bundled with controllers and cables have sold for:
| Model | Avg Sold Price |
|---|---|
| 250GB | $140 |
| 160GB | $115 |
| 80GB | $105 |
| 40GB | $95 |
Higher storage capacities tend to fetch slightly more. Bundling popular games can boost value by $20-50. With the console no longer supported by Sony and unlikely to see discounts, prices have been fairly stable underscoring why now is still a good time to sell. Just make sure to factory reset your console to protect personal data!
Donate to Make a Difference
Rather than sort through the hassle of reselling, I recommend looking into donating your PS3 Slim to a children‘s hospital or family shelter if money is not a concern. These organizations are always seeking entertainment consoles and it‘s a rewarding way to pay forward the joy this console brought you. Below are some reputable charities I recommend contacting:
| Charity | Donation Process | Tax Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Child‘s Play | Online form, provide prepaid shipping | Deduct up to $5000 |
| AmeriCares | Coordinate dropoff at regional centers | Deduct full fair market value |
| Toys for Tots | Drop off at donation boxes Nov-Dec | Deduct up to 30% of AGI |
Just be sure to perform a factory reset and include all cables/controllers to save the charity time and costs.
Breathe New Life Through Jailbreaking
Now for the fun part! Jailbreaking your PS3 Slim opens up a treasure trove of new uses like downloading classic games and mods thanks to custom firmware installations. Based on my firsthand experience, here is a step-by-step guide to jailbreak a compatible Slim:
- Upgrade firmware to 4.89 via recovery menu
- Visit ps3xploit.com and select correct model to install exploit
- Allow exploit to dump system data and flash custom firmware
- Install multiman homebrew app to manage new games/mods
After jailbreaking, your possibilities are endless! I highly recommend loading up retro console emulators like PS1, N64 and SNES to play all the classics. You can even install fan-made mods for AAA titles and homebrew games not found on the PlayStation Store! Just be cognizant that hacking does carry a small risk of bricking if done improperly.
Embrace Its Retro Gaming Greatness
Even without any advanced jailbreaking, the PS3 Slim is still a marvelous retro gaming console thanks to PlayStation backwards compatibility support. In fact, its hardware and specs still exceed older PlayStation models providing a smoother gameplay experience:
| Console | Release Year | CPU (GHz) | GPU (GFLOPs) | RAM (MB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS3 Slim | 2009 | 3.2 | 0.35 | 512 |
| PS2 | 2000 | 0.3 | 0.006 | 32 |
| PS1 | 1995 | 0.033 | 0.001 | 2 |
This raw performance advantage combined with the PS3‘s free online play gives it a leg up on the new PS5 as the ultimate nostalgia station. Especially with the cost of modern games, playing all your childhood classics again is priceless!
Potential Grail In The Making
The final option to consider is stashing away your PS3 Slim as a collectible investment. As the console ages into iconic status, demand from collectors and enthusiasts continues rising with various special edition PS3‘s already selling for a premium:
| Console | Avg Sold Price |
|---|---|
| 500GB God of War Ascension | $950 |
| 250GB Kratos | $730 |
| 160GB Star Wars | $515 |
Given the immense cultural impact and popularity of PlayStation during the 2000s golden age, I predict the humble Slim could appreciate nicely in another decade. This makes safeguarding your console now a savvy financial move!
Conclusion
Parting ways with your PS3 Slim console may be bittersweet. But whether you sell, donate, hack or collect your beloved gaming system there are plenty of ways to savor its magic for years to come. For me, the PS3 marked a personal high-water mark — Sony was at the peak of their power with massive franchises like Uncharted, God of War and Last of Us that pushed entertainment to new heights. Revisiting these masterpieces along with forgotten PS2 classics on my modded console will be a nostalgic joy. Here‘s hoping your PS3 brings you similar fond memories you can now relive or pass down to others!
