PlayStation 5 is unique in that it’s the only console on the market to leverage the cooling advantages of liquid metal. However, Sony’s implementation of the high-end thermal interface seemingly continues to be problematic despite design shifts that attempt to address potential issues. According to one developer, the problem is leaving Sony “concerned”, as reports of console failures grow.
In the Broken Silicon podcast, Path of Titans developer Matthew Cassells, shared that hundreds of players, as well as members of their development team, have reported unexpected shutdowns with their PS5 consoles. Cassells highlights the issue isn’t exclusive to his game, with the likes of Call of Duty and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also forcing the system to shut down.
Cassells cites that internal troubleshooting leads them to believe that liquid metal inside the PS5 is the culprit. More specifically, the default vertical orientation of the console is causing the thermal interface to oxidise and/or shift off the system’s APU, creating dry spots and thermal issues.
Content creators, such as TronicsFix, previously reported this issue a few years ago. The YouTuber stresses that regularly cleaning your console, keeping heatsinks and fans free of dust and debris, should reduce the risk of liquid metal oxidising. Orienting the system vertically can cause pooling of the thermal interface but resting it horizontally should create a more even spread.
PS5 launch models appear more prone to this issue, as Sony implemented a ridged heatsink design for PS5 Slim and Pro which aim to better keep the liquid metal held in place. However, Cassells asserts that newer variants are still prone to failure in their experience, despite these efforts.
Part of the reason for the lack of certainty surrounding this issue stems from a lack of debugging tools. Cassells shares that he’s unable to troubleshoot CPU or GPU temperatures through Sony’s software. At the very least, it seems like the issue is on Sony’s radar.
The question now becomes: if this issue is widespread, will Sony offer support to affected consoles outside of their warranty periods? The last thing PS5 needs is an issue akin to PS3’s Yellow Light of Death or Xbox 360’s Red Ring of Death.
For the moment, short of replacing the thermal paste inside your PS5, the easiest thing you can to do mitigate this problem is lay it horizontally and keep it free of dust.
