A recent study of the PlayStation 5 Pro suggests that the new console might have fixed a rumored design issue found in the standard PlayStation 5. This problem could potentially make a PS5 completely inoperable. Although the console hasn’t faced major failures, it appears that Sony has discreetly implemented changes to avoid this issue in the PS5 Pro.
The PS5’s GPU can reach impressive clock speeds of up to 2.23GHz, which led Sony to choose liquid metal over traditional thermal paste for heat conduction to the heatsink. While liquid metal offers significantly improved thermal conductivity, it comes with a serious risk. If it leaks from its designated area, it can short-circuit the motherboard, potentially ruining the console. In early 2023, there were reports suggesting that this problem might arise in PS5s that are kept upright for long durations, raising alarms among users.
Fortunately, it was later explained that the liquid metal interface in the PS5 is mainly a concern for used consoles that have been taken apart for repairs. Brand new and unopened PS5s are at minimal risk for this issue. However, it seems that Sony has designed the internals of the PS5 Pro to reduce the chances of liquid metal leaks as much as possible. A recent teardown comparison by the YouTube channel How-FixIT revealed that the heatsink block in the newer console features surface ridges that likely aid in evenly distributing the liquid metal over the chip.
PS5 Pro Features Optimized Heatsink Design That Can Prevent Potential Liquid Metal Spillage
The design of the heatsink features surface ridges that help reduce the chances of liquid metal accumulating at the bottom of the chip, which could harm the thermal efficiency of the PS5 Pro. In contrast, the PS5 Slim has a flat heatsink contact area, indicating that Sony has taken steps to address liquid metal issues with the PS5 Pro. Additionally, there are other subtle improvements in the PS5 Pro; notably, an easy-access bay for the CMOS battery was added, making it simple for users to replace the battery if it fails.
To date, there haven’t been significant reports of liquid metal leaks among PS5 users, with some even doubting the likelihood of such issues. However, the modifications to the heatsink in the PS5 Pro suggest that Sony is vigilant about identifying and preventing potential hardware failures. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are well-crafted systems, making it unlikely that they will suffer from notorious failures like the Xbox 360’s Red Ring of Death.