Sony has made an intriguing tweak to the heatsink design of the new PlayStation 5 Pro, although they did it with little fanfare. As highlighted by the popular console repair YouTube channel TronicsFix, the PS5 Pro’s heatsink isn’t the usual glossy, smooth surface. Instead, it sports a distinctive rectangular spiral pattern.
You can check out their video, titled “The PS5 Pro Upgrade No One Is Talking About,” which dives deeper into this subtle yet significant alteration.
TronicsFix suggests that this carefully crafted surface design is likely aimed at mitigating the creation of dry spots and surface oxidation—issues that can arise when liquid metal thermal interface material (TIM) spreads unevenly across the heatsink. This pattern might also slightly enhance the contact surface area.
If you’ve ever dealt with applying liquid metal, you’re probably aware that it tends to form into small pools. It’s much more prone to overflow compared to traditional thermal pastes, which can lead to unwanted spreading. Systems built to accommodate liquid metal typically incorporate a seal or barrier around the heatsink, preventing this conductive liquid from escaping and potentially damaging other components.
TronicsFix also points out that liquid metal movement could become more pronounced over time, especially in PlayStation consoles that are kept in a vertical position. Given Steve’s extensive experience in repairing and fine-tuning numerous PS5s and other consoles, his insights likely reflect a pretty accurate depiction of reality.
What’s particularly interesting is Sony’s decision to include these spiral ‘grooves’ on the heatsink, which interfaces with the AMD APU. Traditionally, cooling enthusiasts and extreme overclockers focus on ‘lapping’ surfaces to a mirror-like finish for optimal performance. However, when liquid metal enters the scene, it seems the rules change. Surely, Sony has conducted thorough testing, comparing this new heatsink design to the classic smooth version, and concluded that it brings enough benefits to be worth implementing.
With the PS5 Pro now boasting enhanced processing capabilities, especially with its upgraded GPU, these heatsink modifications are likely a key strategy to avoid thermal throttling issues.
The PS5 Pro was officially revealed in early September but only started reaching consumer hands earlier this month. As enthusiasts and experts continue to dissect its design, we gleaned most technical insights from lead architect Mark Cerny during the launch’s live stream, and there are undoubtedly more details to uncover in the upcoming months.
