A Kickstarter campaign has launched a new cooling unit for the PlayStation 5, promising to tackle overheating issues and prevent the melting of the rear connections. As of this writing, the campaign has garnered $89,000, with aspirations of reaching a stretch goal of $125,000. The innovative cooling component starts at an accessible $39.
Introducing the Arctic PS5 cooler, this device markets itself as the first AI-powered cooler specifically designed for the PS5. It’s an easy-to-attach vent that hooks onto the console’s rear exhaust, equipped with either four or six fans actively working to disperse heat. Utilizing just one USB port, it conveniently includes a pass-through USB, so you don’t lose any of the console’s original ports.
To address whether your PS5 is overheating, there’s a related video titled “Is Your PS5 OVERHEATING?” available for viewing.
The creators behind this Kickstarter, SCRY, offer three different versions tailored to each PS5 model: the original, which they cheekily nickname the “fat” model, the PS5 slim, and the newest member of the family, the PS5 Pro. Both the Pro and Slim versions feature a configuration of four fans, three on top and one beneath, while the original “fat” variant includes six fans in total.
As prominently emphasized on their campaign page, each cooling unit leverages “smart thermal AI” to auto-adjust the fan speeds according to the PS5’s internal temperatures. However, it’s worth noting that this technology isn’t wildly different from how PC fans have been regulated for years. The fans are designed to jump to full speed when temperatures hit 50°C to maintain optimal coolness.
According to SCRY, their cooling solution reduces the console’s temperature by 30% compared to standard conditions, bringing it down from a high of 64°C to about 55°C. Thermal imagery showcased on their site visually demonstrates a 9°C cooling at the most heat-prone point, specifically around the ethernet port at the console’s back end.
The aim of these cooling accessories is to ward off overheating issues that might afflict Sony’s latest gaming console. Last year, some games, like Final Fantasy XVI, supposedly suffered from these overheating problems. In extreme cases, it was reported that the console could even heat up enough to melt some of the rear I/O ports.
In addition to the cooling units, SCRY is promoting a Gen 4 M.2 SSD complete with a heatsink in its Kickstarter campaign.
The campaign’s stretch goal is set at $125,000, with the promise of a free “vertikal” universal PS5 stand if they hit this milestone. Other stretch goals at $75,000 and $100,000 remain under wraps, only to be unveiled upon being unlocked.
