ive been modding controllers a long, long time...
From my experiences over the years, I have had the pleasure to work on 5 different kinds of PS3 controllers.
1st is a SIXAXIS that I got back in June 2007 with my 60GB PS3, the special thing about that one was it had smoke case, yes a smoke case. I really miss it since I have yet to work on one like it since, i call it the 1st generation SIXAXIS, heres some pics of my earlier mods when I just got started....
2nd version I worked on was also a SIXAXIS, but thoughout the smoke case, it had a black case like every controller since, well until the newer dualshock3s, but more on that later. I call this the 2nd generation SIXAXIS
The next type of controller I worked on I call the 1st generation DualShock3, it had what looked like a SIXAXIS board with rumble motors, to go a bit deeper, it had the same plug that connected the board to the touch pad, I believe you had to slide them in. Also another tell tail piece is it has a black touch pad holder, the same as all the SIXAXIS
Next I call the 2nd generation DualShock3, it has white touch pad holder, a new board which had the bluetooth internally mounted, instead of the little plug in all the other previous controllers, also the touch pad had a new evolved connector to the board which used contact points, but make sure you dont loose the little rectangular piece of foam that makes the connection secure, or you aint gonna be able to start ur controller lol (personal experience). thank god I made vids taking it apart or I would never have figured out that I forgot that little thing....
Last I call the 3rd generation DualShock3 controller, which are available in three new colours, blue, red, and my favourite, SILVER! black is also still available. It features a new touch pad holder which also now houses the rumble motros, on previous dualshocks the motors were held in place by 2 screws each. Now they are held in by two-sided sticky foam tape.
Theres my little experience with PS3 controllers and how I can tell them apart, in 5 versions...