Is the new PS5 model worse than the original? Teardown explores revised components

Date:
Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:01:17 +0000

Description:
With a new heat sink and fan design, which of the PlayStation 5 consoles currently for sale proves to be the best?

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Its noticeably lighter and in mass production right now, meaning if youre still waiting on buying a PS5 , the newly-released CFI-1100 version of the PlayStation 5 is likely the one youre going to end up with.

But is it better than the original?

Thats a point thats still up for debate. Multiple teardowns of the new revision, now shipping to customers, have appeared on the web (notably from the excellent Digital Foundry and Austin Evans ), which paint a confusing picture of the new PS5, and raise questions about its ability to stay cool. US-only: PS5 restock tracker PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition : which PlayStation 5 console should you choose? PS5 storage expansion: the best SSD for PS5 in
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Whats going on under the hood? As well as the new easy-to-twist screw for the stand, theres also a revised Wi-Fi module that, so far at least, doesnt
appear to offer much of a difference in terms of performance.

But the big change is a 300g weight reduction. The majority of that (277g) comes from a new lightweight cooler design, down from 1639g on the original PS5 to 1368g on the new CFI-1100 version. Heres where things start to get interesting. The new heat sink reduces the number of heat pipes from six down to four, and uses less copper in its construction a material known for its excellent thermal performance in favor of aluminium. Theres also a new fan with more blades in it.

It appears to be a more affordable cooling component for Sony to make, then but the power draw from the internals appears to be the same, according to Digital Foundry. But you wouldnt expect a smaller heatsink constructed with materials with poorer thermal conductivity to run cooler, so whats the thinking here? Analysis: A cautious launch and a more sought after model number?

Its possible that Sony was overly cautious in its initial construction of the PS5. To have a successful console launch, you not only need to get machines into players hands, but also ensure that they work reliably.

Once a device goes mass market, theres no telling how people are going to use them a PlayStation could be stacked in a media center, or left next to other hot components and devices, not to mention simply being used in hot or humid climates. Sonys engineers have likely tested units in all sorts of stressful conditions, but its still near impossible to account for all the variations
in set up and lifestyle that real-world users will have. As such, the
original PS5 design may have had more cooling than was necessary, and with a few months worth of real-world user data to draw upon, Sonys been able to confidently slim down the console and reduce its manufacturing costs.

However isnt it better to be safe than sorry? There will be some who will
have more trust in the older designs heavier cooler construction, which could potentially make the earlier models (with the CFI-1000 number) sought after
in the future.

Regardless, youd assume that the older models are now being phased out in favor of this revision, as Sony announced its now making a profit on the disc version of the console, so stay eagle-eyed when buying if you have a preference. The best PS5 games



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/is-the-new-ps5-model-worse-than-the-original-te ardown-explores-revised-components/


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