Ps3 Jailbreak,
Only affects the software (No need for a chip).
If you jailbreak correctly you won't have any problems.
However the jailbreak only works for ps3 that have software of 3.55 and lower. If the ps3 software is >3.55 there's no current jailbreak. Keeping this in mind, new games that requires software >3.55 will not work.
(some of the games that are >3.55 are getting patched to work with 3.55 but not all of them)
After jailbreaking you can at any time return to the official firmware. But if you go to an official firmware above 3.55 you will not be able to jailbreak again (for the time being). (you can at all times switch between CFW 3.55 and OFW 3.55)
Don't pay anyone to jailbreak for you, just check this thread.
http://www.lebgeeks.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=8288
In case you got a ps3 and decided to jailbreak, note that the tutorial is a bit outdated, just use the newest multiman
V2.01.00 and a file called BDEMU2 instead of BDEMU.