Sony has quietly slipped a fascinating change into the heatsink design of its new PlayStation 5 Pro. This tweak features what can only be described as a rectangular spiral pattern instead of a completely smooth surface. The discovery was made by the popular console repair YouTuber TronicsFix.
TronicsFix suggests that this new surface pattern on the heatsink is crafted specifically to mitigate issues like dry spots and surface oxidation. These issues arise from the way liquid metal thermal interface material (TIM) tends to migrate across the heatsink. He also points out that this pattern might slightly boost the overall contact surface area.
If you’ve ever handled liquid metal, you know it doesn’t always behave like traditional paste—it’s prone to pooling and can flow into unwanted areas. This is particularly concerning as liquid metal is electrically conductive, which is why systems designed to use it typically incorporate a seal around the heatsink to prevent the substance from slipping out and potentially damaging other components.
TronicsFix also notes that the problem of liquid metal migration is worse for those who use their PlayStation in a vertical position. Having repaired and fine-tuned a significant number of PS5 consoles, Steve at TronicsFix is likely drawing from a substantial pool of practical experience.
The inclusion of these spiral grooves is particularly intriguing in the context of conventional cooling insights. Historically, extreme overclockers aim for a perfectly flat, polished heatsink surface through a process known as ‘lapping’. However, the introduction of liquid metal has prompted a reevaluation of these standards. It stands to reason that Sony thoroughly tested this heatsink design against a traditional mirror-smooth variant and found the changes beneficial enough to incorporate.
With the PS5 Pro’s upgraded processing capabilities, especially with its more powerful GPU, it’s plausible that these new heatsink grooves are part of Sony’s strategy to stave off thermal throttling.
Released to the public earlier this month, the PS5 Pro has already drawn attention for its design innovations, but a full understanding of its technical achievements was primarily gleaned during launch, courtesy of lead architect Mark Cerny’s live stream. As enthusiast and expert teardowns continue, more details about this exciting new console are bound to be unearthed.
