PS5s Kept Vertically May Cause Damage

The latest generation of console gaming has arrived with the release of the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 (PS5). While the console has generally received positive reviews, hardware repair shop owners have recently raised concerns about a potentially dangerous flaw in some units.

At issue is the use of liquid metal as a cooling medium for the PS5's APUs (application processing units). Liquid metal is a common choice for bonding coolers to hot processing units as it allows for the efficient transfer of heat and helps prevent melting. Typically, a thin film of liquid metal is sufficient for proper cooling. However, it seems that some PS5s may be using an excessive amount of liquid metal, leading to issues when the seal between the APU and the cooler breaks.

If the seal is compromised and the PS5 is oriented vertically, liquid metal can leak out and cause damage. Repair shop owners have shared pictures of broken PS5s with liquid metal dripping down the mainboard. These incidents have occurred when the consoles were being stored vertically and the APU seal somehow cracked, causing the liquid metal to leak out.

Console repair specialist TheCod3r documented one such case in October. The PS5 in question had been stored vertically in its original packaging for months and would not boot when it was eventually sold. Upon disassembling the console, TheCod3r found liquid cooling all over the mainboard, likely causing a short circuit due to the conductive properties of liquid metal. Two separate repair shops in France have also reported similar incidents.

To avoid this issue, it is recommended to store your PS5 horizontally. If you notice your console shutting down due to overheating or if the fan is working unusually hard, it may be worth checking with a repair shop to see if any liquid metal has escaped. It is currently unclear what might cause the seal between the PS5's APU and coolant to crack. This hardware flaw may not be widely known yet, but that could change as the PS5 shortage ends and more units are shipped. Sony announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that the shortage is officially over, with 30 million PS5s having shipped.

This article has been written by Gaurav Advit.