Console Guide · NexWave Games
PS3 Fat, Slim or Super Slim: Which one suits you?
Three PlayStation 3 consoles next to each other and yet three very different ads. One shines, the other has a matt housing and the third a sliding cover on top. They all play PS3 games, but when you buy secondhand, the details make the difference.
This is how you recognize the three PS3 models
The original PS3, usually called Fat, is the large, often shiny version. The Slim has a flatter, matte housing and a disc that goes in through a slot. The Super Slim is more compact and you can recognize it by the sliding cover on top of the console: you put the disc in there yourself. That seems like a small difference until you want to put a console in a tight TV cabinet. Keep above the Super Slim space to open the valve.
The names don't tell you everything about storage. There are multiple versions and disk sizes within each family; moreover, a used PS3 may have replaced the hard drive. So ask for the actual free space in the system menu. Going off to Slim 320 GB in an ad title only is a recipe for surprises.
Do they play the same games?
For PS3 games on disc you can basically go to all three. The big difference is whether you want to use your old PS2 disks. Some early Fat models can do that, but much later Fat models can't. A Slim and Super Slim don't play PS2-discs. If you want that feature specifically, check the full CECH model number and ask for a working test with an original PS2 game; four USB ports or a shiny front only give no guarantee.
A PS3 has HDMI for a modern TV. A separate PS2 console can be a more logical purchase for your collection than a rare compatible Fat. This way you avoid paying extra for a function that your copy does not have at all.
Which used PS3 do you choose?
The Slim is a nice middle ground for many buyers: you get a more compact cabinet and a familiar disc input. The Super Slim is useful if you want to play PS3 games and find a small device. The Fat is interesting for fans of the original version, and only a confirmed compatible early model for whom PS2-discs are important. A neat console is usually more attractive than a popular model with a biting drive.
Ask if a PS3 disc is read smoothly and if a game is running stable for a while. Check out the controller, HDMI connection and Super Slim valve mechanism. Also ask if power cable, controller and charging cable are really included. Then choose state, including stuff and price, not on a model name only.
The answer in one sentence
Fat, Slim and Super Slim play your PS3 collection; the housing and disc input differ, and PS2 disks are only possible in part of early Fat models. Before purchasing, write down what you want to play and let the seller photograph the type number. That saves more research than ten almost identical product photos.