A new Kickstarter campaign is making waves with its innovative cooling solution for the PlayStation 5, promising to tackle overheating issues and prevent instances where the rear I/O might melt. As of now, they’ve raised $89,000, eyeing a stretch goal of $125,000. The starting price for this cooling gadget is set at $39.
Named the Arctic PS5 cooler, this add-on claims the title of the world’s first AI-powered cooling system for the PS5. It’s designed as a clip-on that attaches to the back of Sony’s console, featuring either four or six fans to efficiently manage the heat. This unit runs on a single USB port and conveniently includes a pass-through USB to ensure you don’t lose any of your PS5’s connectivity options.
The folks behind this Kickstarter, SCRY, are introducing three different models to accommodate each version of the PS5: the original (lovingly referred to as the “fat” model), the PS5 Slim, and the newly released PS5 Pro. While the Pro and Slim versions sport a similar design with four fans (three on top and one underneath), the classic “fat” model boasts six fans.
Throughout the campaign page, SCRY emphasizes that these cooling add-ons are equipped with “smart thermal AI,” adjusting fan speeds based on the internal temperature of your PS5. It’s a familiar concept to PC users, but they suggest that when the console reaches 50C, the fans kick into high gear to maintain optimal cooling.
SCRY claims that their cooler offers a 30% reduction in operating temperature, bringing it down from a peak of 64C to just 55C. They’ve even got thermal imaging to back up their claims, showing a 9-degree drop in the hottest areas, notably around the ethernet port.
The aim of these coolers is clear: ward off any overheating woes, which have plagued certain games on Sony’s latest console. Titles like Final Fantasy XVI have been notorious for pushing the PS5 to its limits, and there have been rare cases where overheating led to melting components.
Not just stopping at coolers, SCRY’s Kickstarter campaign also includes a Gen 4 M.2 SSD with a heatsink, catering to players looking to upgrade their storage.
The stretch goal of $125,000 promises an exciting bonus: a free “vertikal” universal PS5 stand. They have other stretch goals at $75,000 and $100,000, with more details promised as these targets are met.
