Man i gotta remember to buy the extra 2 years with ps plus later lol. Sorry for your loss.

the sooner the better! he shall become a padawan!

Well i feel sorry for you had my ps3 for over 2 years and it's still alive although my xbox couldn't died a couple weeks back playing kinect that didn't even last 1 and a half year!

Thanks for the condolence guys. I shall update in time what i do with it.

I bought the same model on Dec 8th 07 and i got the Ylod this past Monday the 24th while i was playing ME2. It was 3 years and a month for me as well. I feel your pain bro, that model kicked ass!

It does from the standpoint that the factory thermal paste (which looks silicone based) does dry out over time with extended use, losing its thermal transfer capabilities. And of course excessive dust build up inside the heatsink/fan and on the motherboard reduces air flow.

Simply put, unless operating under ideal conditions in a clean environment (not a typical room), these things need semi-regular maintenance. Disassembly, cleaning and new thermal paste.

I'm testing a refurb 60GB PS3 with aftermarket (AS5) TIM to see how long it lasts. Currently being used as a primary console (heavy use).

It's already lasted two years (the refurb; the original died Nov/Dec 2008) as a light use secondary unit. Under light use, the factory thermal paste was still wet after two years. I've cracked open two year old PS3s where the thermal paste was completely dry by comparison.

im still on the launch day 60gb model. if mine ever YLOD i'd use the hairdryer method to try and fix it. Theres no need to be worried about it because at the end of the day its died anyway so the worse has happened. But even if mine did YLOD and the hair dryed method worked i'd still get a new model anyway because i cant see that method prolonging the PS3 for much longer, just for enough time to get a ethernet cable and transfer all the save data over to a new model.

I'm surprised my 60GB has'nt died yet,considering that i've had it since aug,2007 and play it all the time for hours on end. I'd just buy the slim ps3,if it ever died. 

I did it on mine last year and the paste it had was completely dry, so I hope the new one helps avoid ylod. I'll replace it again later this year.

If you really want the extra features of the original 60GB unit, it may be worth the $161 for a CECHA1 refurb from SCE. Mine has lasted two years under light use (secondary PS3 since Jan 09) with no problems.

If you want your game saves and data, then either have someone do the heatgun reflow repair (which is temporary) or do it yourself and then back up your data. Unfortunately the only way to back up your protected data (non-copy saves, PSN purchases, etc.) is by doing a console to console transfer, meaning you have to have your replacement PS3 ready (which means buying a second PS3 first).

So the biggest hassle (and most expensive solution) would be temp repair your 60GB, buy a replacement PS3, do the direct data transfer to the new PS3, deactivate the old PS3 and either dump it/sell it for parts/use it as a book end, or send it to SCE for a $161 refurb which you can either use as a secondary PS3 or sell as a working, factory refurb 60GB unit that hasn't been used since.

Or just skip all that and start over with a new PS3 (nothing but your trophies) and keep the old unit so you can do all the above if you ever want your original data back.