Photo by Evan-Amos
The Sony Play Station 3 is one of the most popular console systems for retro gaming. When you search the internet for the PS3 you may find some of them selling for $50, while others are going for $350 or more! The reason there’s such a wide price range for this system is because some of them are “backward compatible” with Sony PS1 and PS2 games, and some are not.
Backward Compatibility
Backward compatibility is the ability to play games created for previous generations of the console. The backward compatible systems are more desirable to gamers who may not have the space, or don’t want the headache of having 3 separate machines to play PS1, PS2, and PS3 games.
Whether you’re looking for any PS3, or specifically want a backward compatible model, here’s how to tell them apart, and make sure you’re paying the right price for the system:
- Appearance
- Model number and year of manufacture
Appearance
Not all PS3’s are backward compatible. There are two clear visual indicators that will save you some time as you sort through systems and internet listings:
- The overall system will be fat (some models have a more sleek design referred to by Sony as a “slim” model – these systems are never backward compatible)
- The silver “metal” accents will be shiny like chrome, not dull like brushed metal
Model Number and Year of Manufacture
On the back of the console you will find a barcode with a serial number, and on the bottom you will find the electrical compliance panel that includes the month and year of manufacture.
The serial number on all PS3 consoles begins with CECH and will be followed by the specific model code. It will look something like this: CECHA##, or CECHB##. Model numbers run through Q##, but not all of them are backward compatible.
There are two models of backward compatible consoles:
- A and B systems – manufactured in 2006 – hardware based compatibility
- C and E systems – manufactured in 2007 – software based emulator for compatibility
The serial numbers for the slim systems are numbered differently and the date of manufacture begins in 2009. None of these consoles are backward compatible which means you should be able to get a slim console for a very low price, but it will not play your PS1 or PS2 games!
A + B Systems
These are the ideal systems because the console includes the actual hardware of the PS1 and PS2, so gameplay will be as close to perfect as possible.
C + E Systems
These systems use a software emulator to play the PS1 and PS2 games, which means the system will be working a bit harder at translating the game disc information to playable content. You shouldn’t have any problems playing older games, but anytime additional processing is needed there is room for error.
Important Note: The PS3 CECH-C model is PAL, which means it operates on the European electrical standard which is different from the United States NTSC standard. You will need to obtain a PAL converter to use this machine in the US.
How to Spot a Fake
Because the backward compatible PS3 is so desirable you may run into a fake now and again, or you may find the serial number information obscured or missing. To make sure you are paying the right price for the system, you can look for the following:
- The A and B systems were only produced in 2006 and included flash memory card readers – you will not find a USB 2 port on this system
- The C and E systems were only produced in 2007 and included flash memory card readers – you will not find a USB 2 port on this system
The only other models manufactured in 2007 (and likely to be faked, or misconstrued as backward compatible) are CECHG##, CECHH##, and CECHJ##. All of these systems included a USB 2 port and will not have a slot for a flash memory card.
If you’re interested in more Play Station 3 information check out this excellent Wikipedia page. Good luck and happy gaming!