Trying to Fix BROKEN Items Purchased from eBay! S1:E70

Joey Does Tech
11 May 202434:40

TLDRIn episode 70 of the 'Profit or Loss' series, the host attempts to repair a faulty PlayStation 5 console purchased from eBay for £170. Initially, the console exhibits a 'Blue Light of Death' error, leading to speculation of an APU issue. However, upon closer inspection, the APU appears intact, and the focus shifts to the South Bridge IC. After replacing the South Bridge and conducting further diagnostics, the HDMI port is found to be functioning correctly, but the console still fails to display an image. In a surprising turn, replacing the HDMI retimer chip resolves the issue, and the console powers on successfully. The episode concludes with the host calculating a profit of £3,260, marking a successful repair venture.

Takeaways

  • 🎮 The video is part of a series where the host buys faulty electronics from eBay, fixes them, and then sells them for a profit.
  • 💰 The host paid £170 for a PlayStation 5 with a disc edition console that had a power issue, known as the 'blue light of death'.
  • 🔍 Upon inspection, the warranty sticker appeared intact, suggesting the console might not have been previously opened or tampered with.
  • 🛠️ The console was diagnosed with a potential APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) issue, but after further investigation, a crack on the APU was discovered.
  • 🔥 The host replaced the South Bridge IC after suspecting a short to ground, but the issue persisted even after the replacement.
  • 🔋 The power supply was ruled out as the cause of the problem after testing with a different unit.
  • 🔬 A thermal camera was used to check for overheating components, but the findings were inconclusive in identifying the fault.
  • 🔄 The host cleaned the APU area and checked for any liquid damage, but found no significant issues.
  • 🛍️ The second console had a supposed HDMI fault, but after extensive testing, the HDMI port was found to be functioning correctly.
  • 🤔 Despite all tests and replacements, the host was unable to fix the second console, leading to a moment of frustration and confusion.
  • 📈 The host provided a final tally of costs and profits, showing a gross profit for the day's efforts.

Q & A

  • What is the title of the video?

    -The title of the video is 'Trying to Fix BROKEN Items Purchased from eBay! S1:E70'.

  • What is the primary activity of the host in this episode?

    -The primary activity of the host in this episode is attempting to fix a faulty PlayStation 5 that was purchased from eBay with the aim of selling it for a profit.

  • How much did the host pay for the PlayStation 5?

    -The host paid a total of £170 for the PlayStation 5.

  • What issue was the PlayStation 5 having before the host attempted to fix it?

    -The PlayStation 5 was experiencing a 'blue light of death' issue, where it would power on for a second, show a blue light, and then power back off.

  • What was the condition of the PlayStation 5 when the host received it?

    -The condition of the PlayStation 5 was not bad with a few scuff marks, especially on the front chassis, but it was generally clean, and all the ports on the back seemed to be in good condition.

  • What was the final outcome of the repair attempt on the first PlayStation 5?

    -The final outcome was that the PlayStation 5 still did not work after the host replaced the South Bridge IC. It was later discovered that there was a crack on the APU, which was likely the cause of the failure.

  • What discount is iFixit offering on select toolkits?

    -iFixit is offering a 20% discount on select toolkits from the 10th to the 31st of May.

  • What was the estimated profit or loss at the end of the last episode before this one?

    -At the end of the last episode, the total profit was £55,310 over the course of 70 episodes.

  • What is the promotional code the host provides for a 10% discount on iFixit's website?

    -The host provides a personal code for a 10% discount on iFixit's website, which does not stack with the 20% off toolkits offer.

  • What was the issue with the second PlayStation 5 that the host attempted to fix?

    -The second PlayStation 5 was advertised as having an HDMI fault, with no further details provided in the eBay listing.

  • What was the final resolution for the second PlayStation 5?

    -The host managed to fix the second PlayStation 5 by replacing the HDMI retimer chip, which allowed the console to display a signal on the monitor.

  • What was the gross profit for the day after selling the working PlayStation 5?

    -The gross profit for the day was £3,260 after selling the working PlayStation 5.

Outlines

00:00

🛍️ Introduction to the Repair Challenge

The video begins with the host buying a faulty PlayStation 5 from eBay for £170, hoping to fix it and sell it for a profit. The console is described as being in decent condition with minor scuffs. The eBay listing mentioned a 'blue light of death' issue and a possibly tampered warranty sticker, which intrigued the host and prompted the purchase. Upon testing, the console powers on briefly before shutting down, confirming the issue.

05:01

🔍 Initial Diagnosis and Sponsor Mention

The host performs a preliminary check on the PlayStation 5, noting that the warranty sticker appears intact despite the console's issue. The console is tested and exhibits a continuous blue light before shutting down, indicating a potential problem. The host expresses hope that the issue is not related to the APU and shares a sponsored offer from iFixit, providing viewers with a discount on toolkits and other repair items.

10:02

🧰 Disassembly and Further Inspection

The host disassembles the console to inspect the internal components. Noting a dusty fan and a bent fan grill cover, the host cleans the console and checks for power supply voltages, finding them to be within expected ranges. An error code 80820 is observed, suggesting a power or short issue. The host proceeds to diagnose the board for shorts, checking common failure points and the South Bridge IC.

15:04

🔩 Repair Attempt and Component Replacement

After identifying a potential issue with the South Bridge IC, the host decides to replace it. The process involves heating the IC, removing it, and reballing the replacement part. The host meticulously cleans and reflows the solder, ensuring a proper connection. However, after replacing the South Bridge, the console still exhibits the same issue, leading the host to suspect a different problem.

20:06

🔬 Continued Diagnostics and Unforeseen Obstacle

The host continues to troubleshoot the console, checking various components and connections. Despite not finding any obvious issues, the console fails to boot properly. The host then discovers a crack on the APU, which was initially overlooked. This crack is deemed a significant setback, as it indicates the console may not be worth repairing. The host decides to sell the non-functional console on eBay to recoup some costs.

25:06

💡 HDMI Fault Investigation and Resolution

With another faulty PlayStation 5, the host investigates a potential HDMI issue. After checking the HDMI port and performing several tests, the host finds no apparent faults. Despite this, the host decides to replace the HDMI port as a last resort. After the replacement, the console still does not work. Eventually, the host replaces the HDMI retimer chip, and surprisingly, the console begins to work, resolving the HDMI fault.

30:10

📊 Conclusion and Profit Calculation

The video concludes with the host calculating the profit from the repair attempt. The total cost of parts was 50p for the port, and the sale price was estimated at £160 for the non-working console and £250 for the working one, resulting in a gross profit of £3260 for the day. The host also mentions a giveaway on the Discord channel sponsored by iFixit and thanks viewers for watching.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡eBay

eBay is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell a wide variety of goods and services. In the context of the video, the presenter purchases faulty electronic items from eBay with the intention of fixing them and reselling them for a profit. eBay serves as the initial source of the items that become the subject of the repair attempts.

💡Profit or Loss

This refers to the financial outcome of the video's central activity, which is buying broken electronics and attempting to repair them for resale. A profit would mean the resale value exceeded the purchase and repair costs, while a loss would indicate the opposite. The series title 'Profit or Loss' reflects the uncertain nature of this venture.

💡PlayStation 5 (PS5)

The PlayStation 5 is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. In the video, the PS5 is the specific electronic item that the presenter buys from eBay to repair. It is significant as it is the main product that the presenter works on, aiming to fix common issues like the 'Blue Light of Death'.

💡Blue Light of Death

This is a term used in the video to describe a specific error state in the PlayStation 5 where the console powers on but then quickly shuts off, signaled by a blue light. It is a common issue that the presenter is trying to diagnose and fix, which is central to the video's narrative.

💡iFixit

iFixit is a website and community that provides free repair guides for electronic devices. In the video, iFixit is mentioned as a sponsor, offering a discount on their toolkits. The presenter uses iFixit's resources, likely referring to their guides and tools, to assist in the repair process of the PS5.

💡Warranty Sticker

A warranty sticker is a seal that indicates whether a device has been opened or tampered with. In the context of the video, the presenter inspects the warranty sticker on the PS5 to determine if it has been previously repaired or opened, which could affect the warranty status and the approach to fixing it.

💡SSD (Solid State Drive)

An SSD is a type of data storage device that uses internal memory to store data, resulting in faster performance compared to traditional hard drives. In the video, the SSD is mentioned as a component of the PS5 that the presenter checks for issues, as problems with the SSD can cause the console to malfunction.

💡APU (Accelerated Processing Unit)

The APU is a part of the PS5 that combines the CPU and GPU into a single chip. It is responsible for the console's processing power. In the video, the presenter suspects an issue with the APU as a cause for the PS5's malfunction and inspects it as part of the troubleshooting process.

💡Soldering

Soldering is a process used to join electronic components to a circuit board by melting a metal alloy (solder). The presenter uses soldering in the video to reattach components, such as the South Bridge IC, which is a critical step in the repair of the PS5.

💡HDMI Port

HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and it is a port used to transmit audio and video signals. In the video, the HDMI port is a focus of the repair because the PS5 is not outputting a signal to the display, leading the presenter to diagnose and eventually replace the HDMI port.

💡Disc Edition

The Disc Edition refers to a version of the PlayStation 5 that includes a disc drive for playing physical game discs. This is in contrast to the digital edition, which does not have a disc drive. The video's subject is a Disc Edition PS5, which is significant as it may have different repair considerations compared to the digital edition.

Highlights

Repairing a faulty PlayStation 5 console purchased from eBay for £170.

The console initially powers on but then shuts down, showing a 'Blue Light of Death'.

The warranty sticker appears intact, suggesting the console may not have been previously opened.

The repair process is sponsored by iFixit, offering a discount on toolkits.

A suspected issue with the AMD Processor Unit (APU) is ruled out after inspection.

The console is diagnosed with an error code 80820, indicating a power or short issue.

A physical crack is discovered on the APU, which was initially overlooked.

The decision is made to resell the non-repairable console on eBay to recoup some costs.

A second faulty PlayStation 5 is acquired with an HDMI fault, despite an intact warranty sticker.

The HDMI port is found to be clean and without damage, leading to confusion over the fault.

After extensive testing, all components seem functional, leaving the repairer puzzled.

A desperate measure to replace the HDMI port is taken, despite no apparent issues.

Surprisingly, replacing the HDMI port resolves the issue, allowing the console to display correctly.

The repairer emphasizes the importance of thorough inspection and considering all possibilities.

A giveaway is announced for the I Fix It Discord channel, offering a starter kit up to £50.

The console is successfully sold for a profit, concluding the episode with a total profit of £85,770.