Is Sony Panicking Over PS5 Dev Kits Overheating Problems?

Sony is in a bit of a pickle following reports from supposed unnamed dev sources over PS5 Dev Kits overheating problems. These sources have filled the internet with speculation suggesting that the PlayStation 5 is lacking in power and pumping out too much heat for the console’s cooling system and power supply to handle.

The PS5 Heat Management System and its Overheating Issues

Almost every component in the new PS5 console, from the 8-core 16-thread 2 CPU operating at 3.5 GHzto the ultra-fast SSD and extremely overclocked 2.23 GHz GPU, is producing an unnecessarily high amount of heat.

This video tears down the internal components for a closet look.

This is especially true for users playing games that require higher power from the GPU. While many games don’t require maximum power to run, some new games push the GPU and CPU simultaneously, resulting in a great thermal dissipation.

The 10.3 TFLOP Navi 2X GPU SoC running on the console also utilize more electrical power to hit their respective thresholds and deliver great performance at the expense of overheating.

This overheating problem can potentially result in a greater risk of hardware components, such as the vapor chamber cooler, fans, and cooling array, breaking down over time due to the lack of proper push-pull configurations.

Think of it as slapping a jet engine onto a car and flooring the pedal for maximum RPM for3-5 hours every day.

The car’s engine and/or body won’t survive the long-term wear down without an efficient cooling solution. The same concept applies to the great speed Sony designed its latest console to run on but without proper cooling.

Touch the sides of your console to check if it’s warmer than usual and pay attention to loud, unusual sounds from the fans. These are signs that your PS5 has overheating issues.

What Sony is Doing to Provide an Efficient Cooling Solution

The PS5’s overheating issues may force Sony to prematurely redesign the CPU cooling system as well as the dev kit or chassis design on the PS5 console from scratch. Many reports and user forums suggest that the current design fails to efficiently dissipate heat just like the Xbox 360’s dreaded RRoD thermal issues.

This problem also explains one of Sony’s hidden fixes to the heating problem in the form of the massive ventilation on the PS5 devkit.

If you paid attention to the previous PS5 design leaks and concepts, you might have come across one strange design featuring an X-shaped case with side ventilations. This leak suggests that Sony was aware of the heating problems during the design phase. Following the latest reports, it might have to redesign the console similar to the Xbox Series X’s mini-ITX tower design.

According to the rumor mill, Sony might include liquid cooling in the new design, which might increase its per-unit manufacturing costs, forcing gamers into spending extra money. All these reports might still turn out to be rumors since the PS5 will require a massive upgrade compared to the passable cooling solutions Sony provided for the PS4.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X – Battle of Specifications

According to many users, Xbox Series S seems to have an edge over PS5, at least in the heat management department. Let’s find out if the specifications can support these claims with a brief comparison of the two consoles in the table below:

Sony’s solution might not be as good as the Xbox Series X’s huge 130mm fan or the many cooling solutions available to any PC gamer. Still, adding another potential cooling layer might improve the overall gaming experience.

The company also provided fans with some tips on preventing their PS5 from overheating during its initial launch in 2020. Some tips include:

• Placing the console at least 4 inches from any vertical surface.
• Keeping the console away from a rug or carpet with long fibers.
• Operating the console in well-ventilated spaces.
• Keeping the console uncovered at all times when operating.
• Using a cleaning tool like a vacuum cleaner to extract dust.

Workarounds or Passable Cooling Solutions Gamers Can Apply

Thanks to the efforts of veteran gamers in the rapidly growing gaming industry, there are several additional cooling solutions from the ones Sony provided that users can apply to different gaming consoles and PC.

These include:

• Placing the console on a wooden or stone surface for better insulation
• Turning off the PlayStation for 30-40 minutes if it’s physically warm/hot to the touch
• Removing the side cover while playing
• Buying a PS5 Dustproof Kit for more effective filtering
• Opting for a Suction Cooling Fan station to maintain temperatures and speed up the cooling

Go to Settings>Saved Data and Game/App Settings, and click on Game Presets. This option will allow you to choose whether all games launch in Performance mode (higher framerate), Resolution Mode (higher resolution), or Game Defaults. This way, you can preset the power levels for different games and prevent unnecessary consumption and heating.

Frequently Asked Questions : PS5 Dev Kits Overheating Issues

Final Thoughts

In the gaming industry, every generation inevitably has consoles that are prone to overheating or other damages. With speculation regarding the prominent heating, the issue is spreading rapidly among the gaming community and potential buyers. Sony must come up with a quickfire cooling solution and permanently solve the problem. If you’re experiencing similar heating problems with your console or have another cooling solution that works, feel free to let us know in the comment section.

For more news related to PS5, Xbox Series X, PC gaming, and other consoles, visit Techie Trickle Gaming today.