I was playing Dark Souls yesterday. It was late afternoon, I was doing pretty good when suddenly BAM my PS3 turned off. I tried turning it on again but instead a yellow light flashed and 3 high-pitched beeps followed.
 
After a quick internet search it turned out to be the infamous yellow light of death. I successfully managed to get the hairdryer trick working, but after 5 minutes of playing my console turned off again; I was still able to restart it but it quickly became obvious that this problem isn't exactly temporary.
 
I mailed Sony support but have yet to receive an answer. So I turn to you guys: what's your advice? Is there a way to save my PS3, or am I doomed to get a new one? Will Sony be willing to repair/replace it? It sure sucks to have my PS3 dead with Uncharted 3 around the corner, but what pains me the most is the fact that I can't play Dark Souls anymore...

I was playing Dark Souls yesterday. It was late afternoon, I was doing pretty good when suddenly BAM my PS3 turned off. I tried turning it on again but instead a yellow light flashed and 3 high-pitched beeps followed.
 
After a quick internet search it turned out to be the infamous yellow light of death. I successfully managed to get the hairdryer trick working, but after 5 minutes of playing my console turned off again; I was still able to restart it but it quickly became obvious that this problem isn't exactly temporary.
 
I mailed Sony support but have yet to receive an answer. So I turn to you guys: what's your advice? Is there a way to save my PS3, or am I doomed to get a new one? Will Sony be willing to repair/replace it? It sure sucks to have my PS3 dead with Uncharted 3 around the corner, but what pains me the most is the fact that I can't play Dark Souls anymore...

Mine also died while playing Dark Souls

CONSPIRACY!

Doomed I'm afraid, Sony will offer to repair it but it will be about the cost of a new one. I recommend salvaging the HDD and selling it for spares.

the cost of getting it repaired (by Sony anyways), is not worth it.

You might however be able to take it to a local pc shop and they could do it on the cheap. Idk the cost or availability of what you need to get done, but my disc drive broke and I got my local guys to fix it for 60 bucks. Pretty damn good deal.

If this is a no go... it might me worth trying to buy another on craigslist since this system will be relevant for maybe... 2 years at the most...

happened to me. Sony will repair, but repair won't last forever... If you're up for it, I'd recommend just going with the PS3 slim and sell your PS3 for spare parts.

Try defibrillators.

I think you should backup all your save games and settings to a USB stick ASAP. That's what I would do.

Then get a new one I suppose - from the posts before mine, repairing it isn't worth it. On the bright side, a new console is less likely to break than a old repair one.

Fuck the YLOD. It's the reason I haven't had a PS3 in 2 years now. If you don't have warranty, Sony will be of no help unless you pay. The paying part was the problem for me. My mom wouldn't pay for it. Now I'm stuck going to my friends house until I get a job and buy my own damn PS3. YLOD CAN GO (insert many curses and disgusting remarks).

you can always squeeze a little more life with a proper reflow...