UPDATE 1/11: It seems that the initial report was based on a misunderstanding. The liquid metal issue should not impact new PS5 consoles that are set up vertically, but it may potentially be a problem with used systems that have been opened for repairs or whatever other reason. There does not seem to be a significant risk of this occurring regardless.
Original story follows.
PlayStation 5 users are advised not to stand their console upright, as doing so may cause permanent damage to the system’s hardware. This is reportedly due to a design flaw related to the cooling system for the PlayStation 5’s Accelerated Processing Unit.
Sony launched the PlayStation 5 in November 2020, though supply chain issues meant it was a while before many fans could get their hands on it. While it falls a little behind the Xbox Series X in GPU and storage, both offer similar performance. The PS5’s unique design also makes it stand out from the grey monolith of the Xbox Series X. Sony and Microsoft also both designed their consoles to stand up vertically, and the machines are often shown that way in promotional media.
However, doing so with the PS5 may be a bad idea, according to a report on Wololo.net. This is due to an apparent design flaw related to the liquid metal layer between the PlayStation 5’s APU chip and heat sink. The liquid metal is prone to leaking when the PS5 is left sitting upright for an extended period. When users stand the PS5 vertically, liquid metal may start to move or seep out. This inhibits the console’s ability to manage the heat coming off its APU, potentially damaging the processor. The liquid metal can also drip onto other sensitive components, causing a short circuit. This problem exists on both versions of the PS5.
The defect seems to have been discovered by a console repairman who goes by TheCod3r on YouTube. He released a video about the PS5’s defect three months ago, and other technicians have noticed similar problems with Sony’s latest console. While not every PlayStation 5 is guaranteed to suffer from this defect, it is a risk for every user who leaves their console standing upright, so it may be a good idea to lay it on its side just in case.
For anyone wondering, the PS5’s liquid metal is an alloy made from the elements indium and gallium. The latter is famous for its ability to melt in a human hand. When combined, the alloy is liquid at room temperature and is very good at conducting heat. This makes it a suitable medium for transferring heat from the processor to its heat sink. However, since liquid metal also conducts electricity, it can cause a short circuit if it seeps into other components.
This is part of why liquid metal isn’t used in other game consoles. However, Sony believed its engineers had found a solution to that problem. Unfortunately, these malfunctions show that this was not precisely the case.
Source: wololo.net