Does this sound familiar?
- The fan is very loud, even on quieter games
- A warning appears about the console's temperature
- The console shuts off during a game and may not restart right away
- Games stutter or slow down after you've played for a while
- The air coming out of the vents is very hot, or you can see dust in the vents
Why consoles overheat
A modern console is a powerful computer in a small box, with a fan that pulls in room air the whole time it's on. Everything in that air ends up inside: dust, carpet fuzz, pet hair and more. It builds up on the fan and across the fins of the heatsink like a felt blanket, and the air can't get through. The console responds by spinning the fan faster, and eventually it shuts down to protect itself.
A console that was left in a closed TV cabinet or stacked with other equipment is especially at risk. If you heat with a wood stove or have a big fluffy dog, you probably have even more dust.
What we do
We open the console and clean the fan and heatsink properly. We check the thermal paste, and we look for other signs of heat damage. Then we run it under load and listen to how it sounds. Most of the time, people are shocked at how quiet their console gets. We'd be happy to show you what came out of yours, because it can be impressive.
How to help it stay cool
- Keep a few inches of open space around the vents.
- Keep it out of closed cabinets, or leave the doors open when you're playing.
- Don't set it on carpet, and don't let it sit on the floor if you can help it.
- Turn it off once in a while, instead of always leaving it in rest mode.
Fast, friendly great service. Pleasant to work with, knowledgeable and efficient.
Questions we get a lot
How often should a console be cleaned?
It depends on your home. If you have pets, carpet or a console on the floor, every year or two is reasonable. Otherwise, wait until you hear the fan getting louder. A gentle vacuum around the outside vents helps a lot in between.
Can I clean it myself with compressed air?
You can blow air through the outside vents with the console off and unplugged, but hold the fan still if you can. Spinning a fan too fast can damage it. The heavy dust is usually on the inner fins, and getting to that means opening the console.
Do you replace thermal paste?
Yes, when it's needed. PS5 consoles use liquid metal on the processor, which takes extra care, so we don't disturb it unless there's a reason to. Other consoles use regular thermal paste that dries out over time.
Will cleaning void my warranty?
Opening a console can affect the manufacturer's warranty. If yours is still covered, check with them first. For a console that's out of warranty, it isn't a concern.