Some repairers warn of a supposed reliability problem with the PS5 when it is placed vertically. Is there really cause for concern?
It seems that you should not place your PlayStation 5 vertically. It is in any case an idea that is spreading after the publication of an article on the site WololoJanuary 5, 2023. It has since been taken up by other media which alert on the subject – in the wake of the Indian branch of the very famous IGN. The bias would be as follows: a design problem in the cooling system would prevent the use of the PS5 vertically, under penalty of experiencing major malfunction problems in the more or less long term.
The origin of the supposed problem has been fueled in particular, for months, by two repairers located in France – I Love My Console and Logic-68 Consoles System -, as well as by videographer TheCod3r, specializing in publishing repair videos. Contacted by Numerama, PlayStation France provided no comment. The official communication therefore remains the same as during the announcement: the PS5 can be placed vertically or horizontally, thanks to the base provided.
What would be wrong with the PS5
What would be the reported problem?
The PlayStation 5’s cooling system uses liquid metal, a superior solution to regular thermal paste (due to its much better thermal conductivity). In the architecture of the console, it is firmly pressed against the processor. The problem? It is likely to sink due to gravity, then escaping from where it needs to be.
Two consequences are noted:
- Leaving its location, the liquid metal loses its effectiveness, which could have an impact on the performance of the cooling system;
- In the worst case, the liquid metal flows to other components, damaging them until the PS5 is unusable.
On several pictures shared by I Love My Console and Logic-68 Consoles System, we can actually see inconveniences at the level of the seal, insufficient to prevent the liquid metal from flowing elsewhere. On September 17, 2021, on FacebookI Love My Console already showed the extent of possible damage.
Questioned by Numerama, Anthony Montmirail, manager of Logic-68 Consoles System, testified: “ My observation, and that of other repair colleagues, is that we often see the thermal liquid of the PS5 which, when it is vertical, necessarily moves towards the lower part of the processor (…). For my part, I have noticed, as indicated by my images which are now making the rounds of Twitter posts and YouTube videos, that this lack of liquid can damage the surface of the processor.. He adds that other technicians have noted ” a completely burnt joint “, causing ” much greater damage “.
Are there other aggravating factors?
We asked Anthony Montmirail if there were other factors that could cause liquid metal to escape from its cooling chamber (example: placing the console in a place that is too closed, which would cause the components to overheat) . For him, the PlayStation 5 is sufficiently ventilated and “ there is enough to let the air pass “. On the other hand, shocks must be avoided, which seems logical.
How many PS5s are we talking about?
This is the main problem of this subject: is the PS5 in front of a major concern, comparable to the Red Ring of Death of the Xbox 360 and the Joy-Con Drift of the Nintendo Switch? Nothing is less sure. ” I can’t quantify, but neither am I the only one in the field to inform and prevent “, believes Anthony Montmirail. Benjamin Tramontana (I Love My Console), he mainly targets the first generation PlayStation 5. On Facebookhe said: There are a few first-gen PS5s that have a problem, not all PS5s. In this regard, the console has already undergone two revisions to its cooling system.
On our side, we started using a PlayStation 5 well before the launch and we saw absolutely no problem, whether in horizontal or vertical use. This, while it was regularly transported from one point to another, without noticing any malfunction. No need to specify that our PS5 works very often, sometimes for sessions of several hours in a row. In addition, in our entourage, we have never heard of a problem related to liquid metal (or even a problem at all).
Should we really be worried?
It is easy to fall into alarmism when seeing the photos and reading the words of the repairers (whose job it is). But everything suggests that this is a small sample of consoles and that there is an amplification phenomenon linked to the power of social networks. Sony has sold over 30 million PS5s since November 2020. If there was a widespread manufacturing defect, then we would have heard more about it and Sony would have had to communicate about it. It will also be recalled that, on promotional tools, the PS5 is constantly presented in a vertical position. Moreover, as with any sophisticated product, zero risk does not exist.
If you’re really scared (we can’t deny that the problem exists), use your PlayStation 5 horizontally, without locking it in a piece of furniture. But don’t shy away from installing it vertically – you may not have a choice, after all, due to the problematic design. “ Also, I invite you, at the end of the warranty, to simply do a little overhaul. Have your console opened for a fluid replacement and you’ll be set “, recommends Anthony Montmirail.
Are Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X affected?
No, because Microsoft uses classic thermal paste.
