Kickstarter Initiative Promises $39 AI-Driven PlayStation 5 Add-On Can Lower Exhaust Temperatures by Up to 9°C

A recent Kickstarter project is making waves with its new PlayStation 5 cooling unit, said to fix overheating problems and even prevent the melting of the rear I/O ports. At the time of writing, the campaign has raised $89,000, pushing towards a target of $125,000. The pricing for this innovative cooling device starts at $39.

The gadget, called the Arctic PS5 Cooler, claims the title of the first-ever AI-powered cooler for the PS5. This clip-on device attaches to the rear exhaust of Sony’s gaming console and uses either four or six fans to effectively manage heat. Conveniently powered by a single USB port, it also offers a pass-through USB, ensuring you don’t lose any connectivity options while using it.

The folks at SCRY, who are behind this Kickstarter, have designed three distinct versions of this PS5 cooler. There’s one for each major console version: the original PS5, which they’re referring to as the “fat” model, the PS5 Slim, and the newly released PS5 Pro. The Slim and Pro variants share a similar design, featuring four fans – three positioned at the top and one at the bottom. The original “fat” PS5 version, on the other hand, comes equipped with six fans.

Throughout the Kickstarter page, SCRY heavily emphasizes their use of “smart thermal AI,” which is meant to control fan speeds based on the console’s internal temperature. However, it raises the question of how this technology differs from the traditional PC fan management systems that have been in use for years. The fans are designed to reach full speed at 50 degrees Celsius, aiming to keep things cool under heavy gaming sessions.

SCRY boasts that their cooling units slash temperatures by 30% compared to the console’s standard cooling. They demonstrate a reduction in peak temperature from 64 degrees Celsius down to 55 degrees. Through thermal camera imaging, they exhibit a 9-degree drop at the PS5’s hottest point, located near the ethernet port.

These coolers aim to address overheating issues that have plagued Sony’s latest console, particularly in warm climates or during intensive gaming sessions with titles like Final Fantasy XVI. There have even been rare reports of the PS5 overheating to the point that some of the rear ports have melted.

In addition to these PS5 cooling solutions, SCRY is also showcasing a Gen 4 M.2 SSD with an integrated heatsink as part of their ongoing campaign.

If the campaign achieves its stretch goal of $125,000, backers will receive a complimentary universal PS5 stand called “Vertikal.” Additional stretch goals at $75,000 and $100,000 have been set, but details on these will be unveiled once they’re unlocked.