PS3 RSOD on CECHL/P's - Always Corrupt or Faulty NOR VTRM?

[andrewscott87]

So, I have a CECHL01 console running OFW 4.88 that just threw a RSOD on me the other day. I know these models are typically problematic with ROSD issues due to the Samsung NOR found in most of them which corrupts the VTRM area of the NOR. This console actually started off its life with me as a RSOD right out of the factory refurbished box (was a service reject I assume) which I then was able to remedy by rewriting the VTRM area of the NOR using the "RSOD Fix" LV2diag.self often mentioned here.

Before applying the RSOD Fix, I did dump the NOR and read it thru PyPS3checker which confirmed datamatch errors in the VTRM area:

datamatches : vtrm0
datamatches : vtrm1​

After applying the RSOD Fix, another NOR dump confirmed no more errors in the VTRM area. I then rolled up to OFW 4.88, ran another NOR dump with no errors returned. All was well, no more RSOD for the past several months.

Then the other day, the RSOD returns. I decide to do a NOR dump with my E3 flasher, expecting to see datamatch errors in the VTRM area again--but nothing, no errors found and the dump passes all checks. Since I happened to still have an OFW 4.88 NOR dump from when right after I performed the RSOD Fix, I write that back to the NOR and no more RSOD. I re-read that back, get a good dump with no errors. All is working well again.

The question I have is--since I was getting RSOD, wouldn't the NOR dump typically have errors (if not in the VTRM area, somewhere else) when checked? Could the RSOD have been caused by something else?

 

[tungatung]

So this fix isn't permanent, it happens every now and then and the only thing you can do is keep applying the RSOD Fix?

From here you can also see that this revision is the most problematic when it comes to RSOD.

 

[andrewscott87]

So this fix isn't permanent, it happens every now and then and the only thing you can do is keep applying the RSOD Fix?

From here you can also see that this revision is the most problematic when it comes to RSOD.

So far, this is the first time it returned. I made it about 6 months of regular use before it came back. I fully expected it to fail again at some point, but was just surprised to see the NOR dump check come back error free while it was in RSOD.

I'll probably swap out the Samsung NOR for a Spansion one soon. I actually don't totally dislike this revision--I'm a fan of the original case design and mine runs as cool as cucumber and as a quiet as a mouse.

 

[tungatung]

So far, this is the first time it returned. I made it about 6 months of regular use before it came back. I fully expected it to fail again at some point, but was just surprised to see the NOR dump check come back error free while it was in RSOD.

I'll probably swap out the Samsung NOR for a Spansion one soon. I actually don't totally dislike this revision--I'm a fan of the original case design and mine runs as cool as cucumber and as a quiet as a mouse.

Pls make a tutorial for the swapping of the NOR chip if it gets successful