PS3 CEX vs DEX

For the sake of correctness, A lot of the quote from Wolf on SE7 was either wrong at the time, or is now out of date.
OFW
OFW stands for official firmware. Official firmware is put out by Sony themselves, and that's what you update to when you are prompted to update in order to play SEN. OFW can be modded, which then turns to MFW, or CFW.
This bit is ok, could have mentioned that "OFW" generally refers to untouched Retail CEX FW though.

CFW
CFW stands for custom firmware. Most of the time you see a CFW, especially for newer firmwares above 3.55, they are a spoof. A spoof adds access to SEN when your console is on a lower firmware, such as 3.55, it "tricks" your system into thinking it is on a higher firmware to access SEN. If you hear people claiming there is a new CFW for SEN, they are lying. Jailbreaking cannot be applied above 3.55.
These days when you see "CFW" it is not a spoof, also the "especially" and "most of" in there implies that even some/most 3.55 CFWs are spoofs too, which is not true.

The second bit was correct when it was written, but now we know that jailbreaking can be applied to any firmware up to 4.82 at least, using the new xploits.

MFW
MFW stands for modded firmware. Modded firmware is in a sense the same as CFW, yet it has less features. MFW can also potentially harm Playstation's with a functioning disk drive, so it's just best advised to stay away from them.
Not sure about any of this, first sentence is correct - it does stand for mod or modded.

MFW and CFW could potentially harm your PS3 regardless of whether it has a functioning disc drive, not sure how that will effect it. Telling someone to stay away from "modded" firmware like its somehow more dangerous than custom firmware is not good info, different terms for the same thing and both could be perfectly safe or dangerous

DEX
Here's where it gets good. DEX stands for developer/debug firmware. This is what developers use to develop new apps, new games, and even new features. Alas, a setback is that DEX firmware does not allow SEN access. It disables it.
Correct at the time maybe, but now you can go online with DEX, with the correct setup

CEX
CEX simply means retail. When you hear CEX to DEX, that means retail to developer. It also is the same as CFW, just a different name.
First bit is right, but its not the same as CFW with a different name, it is a type of Firmware, you could have custom or non custom DEX or CEX or SEX if you wanted.

SEX
SEX is what a shop would have on display. Nothing is really useful with it, just to try games on, and to see features. This is what all of those Demo firmwares are all about, such as the 4.21 exploit made by GlitchyJoey. You can't install anything with it, it's basically just for looks.
Saying "SEX is what a shop would have on display" makes it sound like that is what is on the shelves, when really its what they used to demonstrate the games to customers.

Also its "just for looks" kinda makes it seem like it looks better than CEX/DEX, really its just a special shop firmware for customers to have a play on, with most settings locked and some features locked, and it randomly kicks you off, so its actually crapper and looks no different to CEX from a distance.


Rebug
Rebug is a spoof of some sorts, and adds a bunch of new features. There's:


  • SEN store previews
  • Package manager
  • Trophy unlocker
  • Rebug toolbox
  • Rebug mode
Mentions SEN store previews but no mention of the most important bit, that its a DEX-CEX hybrid that installs on retail consoles with mostly DEX files and features from both, adds all debug settings etc.

Also Rebug is not a spoof of some sorts, "Rebug mode" was a spoof in some versions alright.


The above corrections may not be perfect but its better at least. :)
 
Last edited:
Reference Tool or Proto / DECR
Debug Station / DECH
;)
Arcade / GEX (was missing from this-threads running-list LOL)

A DECH is a Debug Station.
Basically the same hardware as retail units with a couple of minor differences.

A DECR unit is not a prototype per se although some models may use prototype components, it is called a Reference Tool & sports additional RAM among other things.

You can check the differences in hardware on psdevwiki. Start here & browse.. http://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/DECR-1000
Or use this DEX features comparison chart:
http://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/DEX_Options
I was quoting from:
http://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/Main_Page

Proto in Pic:
proto.jpg
 
Same motherbord:
-Retail
-Debug
-Arcade (without bluray drive, and without wifi/bt module)
-AV tool (this is a rare item, intended for bluray publishers)

In other words, sony was manufacturing the same hardware and for every one of them was using a different http://www.psdevwiki.com/ps3/Target_ID
The target ID is set at factory, and stored in the most secure area of the flash (inside EID) with all the other settings related with features, hardware info, and other very low level stuff to configure the "machine"
Every target ID enables different features at software level when the firmware boots

Eventually it was published how to change the target ID and appeared the CEX-to-DEX conversion method
Ive seen people changing it to arcade, but i dont remember the results (as far i know nothing usefull was found, but i dont think the research went too far because arcade has some cool features)
About AV tool... no idea, but biggest prize with this is to have some bluray features unlocked
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the tip, man. :)

Will check my financial situation tomorrow, and also ask him about shipping costs. ;)

Hopefully he doesn't manage to sell it before I can gather the necessary funds. :)
 
Back
Top