A Kickstarter campaign has emerged, promoting a new PlayStation 5 cooling device that claims to address overheating issues and even prevent the rear I/O ports from melting. When we checked in, the campaign had reached $89,000, with hopes to hit a stretch goal of $125,000. If you’re interested in the cooling unit, prices kick off at $39.
This gadget, aptly named the Arctic PS5 cooler, is touted as the first AI-powered cooling solution for the PS5. Designed to clip onto the rear exhaust of the console, the cooler comes equipped with either four or six fans working to dissipate heat efficiently. It’s powered via a single USB port, and thanks to a pass-through USB port, you won’t lose any connectivity options.
On offer from SCRY, the creators behind this project, are three distinct models catering to each version of the PS5: the original (“fat” model as they’ve termed it), the PS5 slim, and the newly launched PS5 Pro. The Pro and Slim models mirror each other closely with four fans—three positioned at the top and one at the bottom. The original version, meanwhile, boasts six fans.
As outlined on their Kickstarter page, these coolers feature what they call “smart thermal AI,” which dynamically adjusts fan speeds according to the internal temperature of the PS5. It remains to be seen how this approach might differ from traditional PC fan controls, which have been around for years. Once the temperature hits 50C, the fans are designed to ramp up to their highest speed, ensuring the console remains as cool as possible.
According to SCRY, this cooling element can reduce the console’s operating temperature by up to 30%, lowering it from a maximum of 64C to 55C. Thermal imaging on their site backs up these claims, showing a 9-degree Celsius reduction at the hottest point, near the PS5’s ethernet port.
The aim of these coolers is straightforward: to prevent overheating problems that seem to plague Sony’s latest console, particularly evident in games like Final Fantasy XVI. In extreme cases, overheating has reportedly been so severe that some of the rear connectors melted.
Besides these coolers, SCRY is also shining a spotlight on a Gen 4 M.2 SSD with a heatsink as part of their Kickstarter campaign lineup.
As for the campaign goals, reaching the $125,000 mark unlocks a free “vertikal” universal stand for the PS5. There are also incentives at the $75,000 and $100,000 levels, although details for these will only be revealed once those goals are met.
