PlayStation 5 GDDR6 memory reaches potentially critical temperatures due to seemingly inadequate PS5 cooling solution design

[TheWerner]

No the article states, that the console might/very likely will develop faulty ram in hotter climates or summer because the ram is for whatever reason not adequately cooled. Probably very likely after 2-3 years in normal use, earlier if used extensively.

I have had a similar issue with my initial PS4 which developed weird crashes after 2 1/2 years (adequatly just out of warranty) while trying to fix this with a better cooling I noticed that the ram (among many other things problematic with its cooling like the famous plaster they used for the processor cooling) had sloppily applied thermal pads which were way too small. Undercooled ram very likely was the reason why my console back then developed crashes after the warranty period.
Inadiquately cooled silicon deteriorates over time, and in case of ram, this causes bitflips in the long run which then creates weird crashes!
Seems like the initial run of PS5s will run into the same issue. Glad that scalpers scalped most of it, I hope they really will have their stock and no one will buy it waiting for a fixed revision (although I doubt this will happen)

[Yo Yo Ma]

Perhaps don't play it 72 hours straight.

[BigPoppaCBONE]

I suppose "Console memory temperature stays below manufacturers max specification" isn't as clickbaity.

[Nytebyrd]

Ya'll just mad PS5 already taking the lead as main go to console? RROD didn't still stop Xbox 360 from selling, neither will this for the PS5.

actually Xbox fixed that with free replacements. Will Sony do that? I highly doubt it.

MS replaced the failed products bc they were legally obligated to do so. The options being waiting and being sued by millions of people which would lead to losses in the billions or fix/replace the product which would cost millions.

This wasn't out of kindness. Right now, companies are dealing w/ being sued for putting out controllers with joystick designs almost outright intended to fail after a certain amount of use.

Where this is different is Steve points out Sony can get memory modules certified w/ higher thermal capacity.

[Nytebyrd]

Steve is usually good w/ his testing. He failed to point out though that these temps are within standard operating temps. That said, he did point out that they could very easily get the memory modules certified for higher temps.

Another thing, he intentionally ran these tests as if they were general benchmarks, putting maximum temps on all components. These won't be your standard operating temps and you'd typically only see that sort of draw for moments, not an hour straight. What's more is a simple update to increase fan speed by 5-10% would radically change his thermal results and he admits this.

The fan used has the capability to be turned up significantly more than it currently is set to on their curve. If we were given full control over it, as we are in a pc, I certainly would do so. Yet it's not necessary as things stand. It's also possible, if not likely, had the rams temps gotten any hotter that the fan may have ramped up.

[Dave Cc]

Well I've never built a high end PC with heatsinks on just PART of the memory, so what is be pointed out here is VALID, the design is FLAWED and will lead to those edge case failures.
Will be fixed in the next iteration I'm sure.

[Bluphoenicks]

CAP - - i have a ps5 - this is absolutely a non issue- hatas gonna hate

[XikoNorris]

There have been quite a bit of cases of ps5 issues in Brazil.

Hot country in summer, I wonder if this might be contributing to it.

[ROGER HURT]

I suppose someone is going to sit in a room at 95 degrees and play a video game? I highly doubt it. Especially if you spend a good amount of time gaming to begin with, your going to want to feel comfortable. Not like the console is going to be outdoors.

[Ryan Lucas]

This is very concerning since I can not use a air conditioner, health reasons forbid me to use one. So gaming in a hot room is my normal during CA hot summers.
Temperatures in Southern California do exceed 100°F in summer, so gaming is not always comfortable. Having a system pump out almost 200° heat is going to be a nightmare come the summertime.

[jeffman1968]

you guys and girls need to go outside and ride a bike, build something constructive, rake the yard.....

[Jacob]

Plenty of people that can't afford beds still buy these consoles. Trust me when you are an internet installer u see everything.  People sit inside 90+degrees and have 80inch tvs but won't pay for ac.

[Randy Abramovitz]

 :o Muffin fan.

[DannyW]

Has this test been done in the same way on the new Xbox to see how they compare?

[kawiipops]

My ps5 BURNT OUT! No warning then the screen went blank, smoke, flash and burning electrical sound and smell that could of caused a fire had I not been there to turn it off straight away. The burning smell does seem worse around that area. It's now been 3 days and I've a total 5hrs30 on the phone trying to sort it out and Sony have still not arranged to pick up my console, apparently a supervisor will call me back at some point.