Basically, I'm going to Uni next week, and I want to take my PS3 however, I have, let's say, issues:

1) My PS3 keeps freezing. My PS3 keeps freezing at specific points in the XMB. Namely, when I try to download game updates, and when I try to change my network settings. I've tried rebuilding the file system, and the like, but the freezing persists. Unfortunately, my PS3 is way beyond warranty (EU launch + it got YLOD once, and the 3 month extended warranty has way expired).

Now, these wouldn't be an issue if there were no updates to download, or I didn't need to change network settings. Instead, I could just blissfully ignore these problems. Unfortunately, there's a firmware update and I'm moving to uni - a new network, and will require new network settings. Of course, they could also be  ignored if I were to just stay offline... but, as a lowly student, funds will be minimal and re-playability is essential in all future game purchases.

So, now that I've described my problem, I need solutions! The perfect solution, really, would be if someone could tell me a way to fix my freezing issue (I am very sure it's a software thing, and not a hardware thing... though, I cannot guarantee). However, if this can't be done, I'm going to have to find a replacement console. Here's the question: should I just go for a second hand console, or pick up a slim in some kind of move bundle?

Thing is, I don't really want to spend all that much money on a console that I already own just before I go off to Uni. I mean, I'm gonna be fairly skint, especially in the first couple of months (even if I get a job straight away, odds are that I will still have to wait some time before my first pay packet). It hasn't escaped my notice, however, that I also have a PSP-3000 (God of War edition) and the four games I own for it that are seldom used, as well as a handful of PS3 games that I never got-along with which I could trade in to further subsidize my replacement purchase (Fallout III GoTY, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Brutal Legend, MGS4, Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia and District 9 on Blu-ray).

I then have the moral issue of my hardware - my PSP was purchased in the USA, which means that British UMD movies won't play (I think), I honestly don't think anybody buying the unit will actually care about this, but the store might throw a tantrum over the issue (but it does look sexy). Also, my PS3 freezing... will I lose sleep if I trade this in? Knowing that some hopeful young child might receive the console as a gift this Christmas, to find that they can't brutalize some ass in Black Ops? I mean, the store will probably have a 30-day return policy... still tear-jerking stuff, though.

Then again, I could get over it.

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Problem 2: I need a monitor (preferably 22-24") which also has a HDMI port, and supports HDCP (so that I can, surprize, surprize, play my PS3 on it). I don't care much for sound quality of the speakers, as long as I can plug my own in. The thing that I care about quite a bit with this monitor is that it provides a nice UI to let me switch between my PC connection (DVI), and my PS3. Basically, I don't want to have to navigate through 15 onscreen menus using four tacky little plastic buttons on the bottom of my monitor to change the feed. Any suggestions? (Also note previous point about being a lowly student... no super-duper LED, 3D, touchscreen monitors, please ).