Sony’s recent rollout of the PlayStation 5 Pro came with an intriguing tweak to its heatsink design that has caught the attention of the tech-savvy community. The well-known console repair channel, TronicsFix, revealed a discovery that sheds light on this change: the PS5 Pro’s heatsink isn’t your usual smooth-surfaced component. Instead, it boasts a distinctive rectangular spiral pattern.
In a video titled “The PS5 Pro Upgrade No One Is Talking About” on YouTube, TronicsFix delves into the rationale behind this machined surface pattern. The theory suggests it’s a clever move aimed at minimizing dry spots and oxidation issues linked to the liquid metal thermal interface material. Typically, this material has a knack for spreading where you least desire—unlike traditional thermal pastes—which poses a challenge engineers have had to address by incorporating seals or barriers to prevent potential havoc within the console.
The channel posits that consoles standing upright might exacerbate issues with the liquid metal spreading over time. With his extensive experience in repairing PS5s and similar devices, Steve from TronicsFix speaks with authority when he hypothesizes on these thermal dynamics.
Sony’s choice to add these spiral grooves on the surface interfacing with the AMD APU marks an unconventional departure from the traditional wisdom of cooling solutions. Enthusiasts of extreme overclocking often go to great lengths to ensure the processor and heatsink surfaces are impeccably smooth, yet liquid metal is changing the way we think about efficient heat management. It’s likely Sony tested both this new design and the traditional flat and smooth surface, finding this new approach beneficial enough to implement.
With the PS5 Pro packing more power under the hood, particularly with its enhanced GPU, these heatsink grooves may play a crucial role in preventing thermal throttling as the console reaches its performance peak.
Sony officially lifted the curtain on the PS5 Pro in early September, but it only became available for gamers to purchase this month. Though enthusiasts are still peeling back the layers of this console’s design, most technical insights were already shared by lead architect Mark Cerny in a detailed launch presentation. This new design invites both curiosity and excitement as users and experts continue to explore its capabilities.
