PS3 is one of the few systems I have ever owned or really ever played.
I want to get one for some ps3 exclusives, but I would like to be able to run home brew software on it.
I know the original fat model is the best one, but I’ll skip that as they are really pricey.
Can someone give advice on whether I should get slim or super slim or anything else to look out for when making the purchase?
I would avoid the fat models for sure, outside of high prices they also have a higher failure rate with the YLOD issue which is pretty much Sony’s Red Ring of Death.
The super slims cannot be flashed with custom firmware, but are compatible with PS3HEN.
Consolemods has more info for jail breaking.
https://consolemods.org/wiki/PS3:Getting_Started
I live in a third would country and getting games here could be difficult if not impossible for some titles.
So, I may need to resort to backups. It sounds like ps3hen would be suitable for me.
I don’t plan to play any ps2 games, I have a ps2 already.
You should be good with a slim or super slim then, I’d probably lean toward the slim but whichever you find a better price on is probably the way to go.
Can’t install CFW on the super slims at all and some of the slim models too, keep in mind. More exhaustive list of all the various models:
https://www.superpsx.com/ps3-jailbreak-compatibility-list-e3-2018/
I’m not sure how well the partial HEN hacks perform though for later models.
Not having CFW isn’t the end of the world. It’s a slight inconvenience having to press the button at boot and maybe sometimes randomly a game not launching.
Also, later super slims are using more modern chips and therefore are much quieter and nicer to use.
Lastly, currently there is a modchip being developed for a qCFW (quasi-CFW) which will allow for basically 99% CFW capabilities on later models anyway, so there is that going for it too.
Super slims are a hidden gem imo