Debates about the cooling ability of the new PlayStation 5 model can finally be put to rest. Sony's current-generation console launched back in November 2020, leading to stiff competition with Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S. While the PlayStation 5 has been highly praised for its powerful performance and advanced DualSense controller, the appearance of an updated model has concerned some gamers.
A newer and slimmer edition of the PlayStation 5, the CFI-1100 model, recently began arriving in Japanese and Australian stores. However, rumors quickly began to spread that this new PS5 model ran much hotter than the original version of the console, which could lead to performance issues. A deep dive into the console revealed the use of a much smaller heat sink, which could expose vital circuitry to damage if it fails to perform as well as the original PS5's larger heat sink. Less copper was also used in the heat sink's construction, likely due to the recent rise in copper prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and temperature tests found the new model to run 3C hotter than its predecessor. However, a subsequent test which compared the temperature of both versions revealed that the new PS5 model actually runs cooler than the original, despite the use of a smaller heat sink.
A review from Eurogamer finally puts the PlayStation 5 cooling argument to rest, confirming that the new PlayStation 5 model is functionally identical to the older version. Both performance and a hardware tests of the new model, directly compared to an older model, found no significant differences between the two. The new CFI-1100 model is about 300 grams lighter than the old CFI-1000 model, and its also includes a new screw for the console's stand. As for temperatures, there exist a few degrees of difference between parts of the two models, with the new model being cooler in some areas and warmer in others, but there should be no practical change in performance or reliability. A YouTube deep dive from Digital Foundry also reflects this in-depth testing, claiming that the new PS5 model performs virtually identically to the old one.
Watch Digital Foundry's analysis of the new PS5 on YouTube here.
Despite the appearance of a new PlayStation 5 model on the market, it is still incredibly difficult to acquire this sought-after piece of new-gen hardware. Since the console's launch in November 2020 availability has been consistently low, leaving many gamers scrambling to get their hands on a PS5. Sony CEO Jim Ryan recently predicted that PlayStation 5 production would ramp up over the summer, so hopefully the latest member of the PlayStation lineage will be more readily available by 2022.
While many were concerned about the new PlayStation 5's cooling ability, research suggests that the new model's heat sink is a non-issue. Extensive testing reveals that both models perform identically, with no notably negative effects on performance or internal hardware stability due to temperature. With a powerful and well-built new version already on the market in some countries, it is possible that gamers will have less trouble acquiring a PlayStation 5 in the near future.
Source: Eurogamer, Digital Foundry/YouTube