Sony’s latest PlayStation 5 Pro has slipped onto the scene with a rather intriguing tweak in its heatsink design. TronicsFix, a popular YouTube channel dedicated to console repairs, recently uncovered that the heatsink on the PS5 Pro isn’t the typical glossy and smooth surface you’d expect. Instead, it sports a rectangular spiral surface detail, which breaks from the norm.
What could Sony have in mind with this unique design? TronicsFix suggests that the intentionally crafted surface pattern aims to mitigate dry spots and surface oxidation issues caused when liquid metal thermal interface material (TIM) shifts across the heatsink. Additionally, this pattern might help enlarge the contact surface area just a tad.
Anyone who’s dabbled with liquid metal knows it tends to pool and can wander off into areas it’s not meant to. Unlike traditional pastes, it’s far more likely to move unwantedly. To combat this, systems using liquid metal heatsinks usually have some form of barrier or seal surrounding the heatsink, ensuring this electrically conductive material doesn’t spill over and harm other components.
There’s another nuance to consider. TronicsFix points out that in PlayStation systems, which often stand upright, the movement of liquid metal might be more pronounced over time. With extensive experience in fixing and fine-tuning countless PS5s (and other consoles), his insights are likely quite accurate.
The choice by Sony to introduce the rectangular spiral ‘grooves’ on the heatsink’s contact point with the AMD APU is particularly fascinating. It somewhat bucks traditional cooling approaches. Typically, extreme overclockers and enthusiasts go to great lengths to ensure both the processor and heatsink surfaces are polished to perfection. However, the advent of liquid metal seems to have rewritten the rules. It’s safe to assume that Sony conducted thorough A/B testing with this new heatsink against a more traditional mirror-smooth one and found this innovation beneficial enough to incorporate.
Given the PS5 Pro comes with a significant leap in processing power—especially with its upgraded GPU—these redesigned heatsink ‘grooves’ are likely one of several measures to fend off thermal throttling.
Though the PS5 Pro was officially announced in early September, eager consumers only started receiving units earlier this month. Enthusiasts and experts are still dissecting its components to uncover the finer details of the new design. Yet, most of the technical insights were shared by lead architect Mark Cerny during a launch live stream, shedding light on what makes this Pro model tick.
