World's First PS5 Slim Console Hides a Big Fat Secret

pcmag.com:

There's a good chance Sony will eventually decide to release a slimmer version of the PS5 console, but Matt from YouTube channel DIY Perks(Opens in a new window) decided not to wait.

Matt set about taking the PS5 Digital Edition and turning it into a custom PS5 Slim that's less than 2cm thick. The end result looks more like a closed laptop than a games console, but it doesn't tell the whole story of this mod.

The PS5 has a TDP of 180 watts, meaning there's a lot of heat to deal with inside the PS5 casing, let alone a slimmed-down model. Matt tackled this by opting for copper sheets and a custom water cooling solution that channels water over the hot-running components.

As you can see in the video, the custom case and water cooling system worked really well, beating the standard air cooling system in terms of temperature. Matt's slim console ran the PS5 SoC at between 46-65C, the RAM at 52C, and the VRM at 44C. That's compared to 75C, 94C, and 71C respectively for Sony's mass-produced solution.

The big fat secret comes in the form of the power and cooling system required to make this PS5 Slim function without melting. It's huge, but can be hidden either by attaching it to a wall or sliding it inside a cabinet (assuming it can still dissipate enough heat). You've also got to consider the required pipes attached to the back of the slim console allowing water to be pumped over the components.

If and when Sony does design an official PS5 Slim, it will need to produce a console that's compact while managing to integrate cooling and a PSU within the casing. It certainly won't be as small as this build, but I bet Sony gets close to something the size of a PS4 Pro in terms of width and height, but likely a bit thicker to allow