What Sony Didn't Tell You About The PS5 Pro

Summary

In this teardown of the PlayStation 5 Pro, the most powerful console from Sony, the video explores its design, features, and improvements over previous models. Key highlights include enhanced performance, upgraded thermal management with a larger heat sink, better GPU utilization for smoother gameplay, and improved accessibility for repairs, such as a more easily replaceable CMOS battery. The PS5 Pro also introduces Wi-Fi 7 support, an upgraded wireless chip, and a new setup for the solid-state storage controller. Overall, the teardown showcases Sony’s focus on refining manufacturing and improving reliability in this mid-gen refresh.

Takeaways

• 😀 The PS5 Pro offers impressive performance upgrades, especially in games like Assassin's Creed Mirage, which defaults to 4K 60fps with enhanced visuals.
• 😀 The PS5 Pro is slightly lighter and smaller than the original PS5 while maintaining a more compact design without sacrificing power.
• 😀 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth stands out as one of the most impressive upgrades, running at a smooth 60fps with better visuals on the Pro.
• 😀 The PS5 Pro features improved cooling with a larger heat sink and better thermal management, including added copper pipes for heat dissipation.
• 😀 The PS5 Pro's SEOS battery is more accessible for repairs, addressing past issues with difficult-to-replace batteries in earlier consoles.
• 😀 Liquid metal application in the PS5 Pro is used more liberally than in the original PS5, improving heat transfer, with new channels added to the heat sink for better dispersion.
• 😀 The PS5 Pro's main chipset has been shrunk in size, possibly to a 5nm process, compared to the older PS5 systems, improving efficiency and performance.
• 😀 The PS5 Pro introduces 2GB of DDR5 RAM to free up GDDR6 memory, which benefits performance in games.
• 😀 The PS5 Pro supports Wi-Fi 7, offering faster connectivity over the previous generation's Wi-Fi 6.
• 😀 Despite the increased performance, the PS5 Pro may still be susceptible to a slightly louder fan due to the enhanced heat management required for more powerful components.

Q & A

What are the key performance improvements in the PS5 Pro over the original PS5?

The PS5 Pro offers enhanced resolution and performance for certain titles, such as *Assassin’s Creed Mirage* and *Armored Core 6*. The Pro also runs *Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth* at 60fps with smoother visuals, showcasing the GPU's increased headroom.

How does the size of the PS5 Pro compare to the original PS5?

Despite the PS5 Pro being more powerful, it is actually lighter and takes up slightly less space than the original PS5. This makes it more compact while maintaining performance improvements.

What changes have been made to the PS5 Pro's cooling system?

The PS5 Pro features a larger heatsink with seven copper heat pipes compared to the six on the original PS5. This enhances the thermal management to handle the increased heat output from more powerful components.

What improvements have been made in terms of the PS5 Pro's cooling efficiency?

Sony has added more copper pipes and redesigned the liquid metal application on the chips, improving heat dissipation. The Pro’s heat sink has also been optimized with channels to spread the liquid metal more evenly, enhancing cooling efficiency.

How is the PS5 Pro's CMOS battery more accessible than in previous models?

The PS5 Pro features an easily accessible CMOS battery, unlike earlier models where replacing the battery could be cumbersome. This allows for straightforward repairs and reduces the risk of future maintenance issues.

What is the significance of the PS5 Pro's DDR5 memory addition?

The PS5 Pro adds 2GB of DDR5 memory, which helps to free up some of the shared GDDR6 memory for gaming, improving performance by providing additional bandwidth for resource-heavy tasks.

Has the PS5 Pro's wireless capabilities been upgraded?

Yes, the PS5 Pro now supports Wi-Fi 7, offering faster and more stable wireless connectivity compared to the previous PS5, which had Wi-Fi 6 support.

What changes have been made to the PS5 Pro's motherboard compared to earlier models?

The PS5 Pro's motherboard has been redesigned, with a thinner die for the main chip and new placement for certain components like the SSD controller. These changes aim to improve performance and thermal management.

Why did Sony use so many screws in the PS5 Pro's assembly?

Sony uses many screws in the PS5 Pro’s assembly to ensure the motherboard stays straight and supported. This is critical to prevent bending and flexing that could damage the chipset, especially with a high power output of 390W.

What are some user experience improvements in the PS5 Pro's design?

The PS5 Pro's design is more user-friendly, with accessible components like the CMOS battery and a modular structure for potential upgrades. This makes maintenance easier and offers more customization options for users.