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Hair dryer level PS4 systems? Check thermal paste asap!

Zalusithix said:
Is this your entertainment center?
59088main_water2_lrg.jpg


Shuttle sound suppression system that used water to eliminate the damage done to the shuttle by reflected acoustic energy.
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PS5 confirmed.
 
pretty sure, i will do this in the next few weeks.

my launch ps4 can be really loud at times and there is no good reason for it except faulty thermal paste.

can you recommend a specific paste and cleaning stuff?
 
DrKelpo said:
pretty sure, i will do this in the next few weeks.

my launch ps4 can be really loud at times and there is no good reason for it except faulty thermal paste.

can you recommend a specific paste and cleaning stuff?
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I used Arctic Cooling MX-4 because my research led me to believe it was the best of whats out there. For cleaning - you'll need qtips and isopropyl alcohol 70% (rubbing alcohol). For accessing the console you'll need a Tork T9 security bit. A Philips bit and tweezers (if you have big hands). I also used a Cree 750 lumens flashlight.
 
vin-buc said:
Which paste did you use? I almost went the thermal pad route for the ram chips but decided not to.
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I used Noctua NT-H1 because it spreads easily and performed favourably in reviews.
But why did you use paste for the RAM chips? I thought that the plate above the chips doesn't have enough surface to take advantage of paste. There are those little dot bumps that leave too much space between the chip and the metal surface.

rambumpst1q8h.jpg
 
vin-buc said:
I've have a launch unit that gets hairdryer level loud (not kidding) when playing most games. With the new model releasing soon I was debating buying it since according to the new model thread, heat and noise are lower but I can't justify spending the money so I took matters into my own hands.

I decided to go ahead and completely disassemble my PS4 and do a thorough cleaning and thermal paste change. While there was dust - it wasn't as bad as I expected since the system is so compact. I got everything with my kids paintbrush (thick tip). But when I got to the motherboard - I was stunned that there was no thermal paste whatsoever on the chip. The backplate had some crusted paste which completely chipped off. I used Arctic Silver MX-4 paste and closed the system back up.

I've run MGS:Gz, PT and Tomb Raider (title screen only for TR). OMG - what a difference. It's unbelievable. I unfortunately don't have dB readings but it's so apparent there is no confusing the matter. It's not to say the system is dead silent - you can still hear the fans but the level is completely changed. Also, closing application to the home screen immediately kills the fan noise to nil.

I've created this thread with the hope of helping the ps4 console owners kill at least some of the noise. You need about $15 (thermal paste and T9 tork bit) and the confidence of taking the system apart.
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Yeah I did the same to mine. Much better.
 
My PS4 has been barely audible no matter what I play, but I had to reapply the paste on my 40GB PS3 at some point. There was barely any thermal paste and what was there, was crusted over. I applied some Arctic Silver 5, and the thing was as good as new. Haven't heard a peep from it ever since.
 
My PS4 used to be very quiet until recently. My brother's PS4 was louder in the same games.

It's not at hair dryer levels but it has noticeable worsened.
 
vin-buc said:
I used Arctic Cooling MX-4 because my research led me to believe it was the best of whats out there. For cleaning - you'll need qtips and isopropyl alcohol 70% (rubbing alcohol). For accessing the console you'll need a Tork T9 security bit. A Philips bit and tweezers (if you have big hands). I also used a Cree 750 lumens flashlight.
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thanks :)

will post the results
 
Krusenstern said:
I used Noctua NT-H1 because it spreads easily and performed favourably in reviews.
But why did you use paste for the RAM chips? I thought that the plate above the chips doesn't have enough surface to take advantage of paste. There are those little dot bumps that leave too much space between the chip and the metal surface.

rambumpst1q8h.jpg
Click to expand...

I didn't do anything with the ram chips - I almost did. You can buy these pads (1mm):

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l3/g8/...ds_Tape-Ultra_Extreme_Thermal_Pads-Page1.html

Which will also lower the heat emitting from the ram which will lower overall system heat.

For the APU I used a thick pea type (densely applied) but didn't spread it. The contact with the frame will spread it. I also checked if this was true by disassembling a second time because I incorrectly fed the mobo power cable through a slot that it shouldn't have gone through.
 
Stevey said:
Lol, thats nearly as loud as a jet plane taking off.
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If you are far enough away from the jet, sure. Certainly not if you're anywhere near it though. Remember that decibels are a logarithmic scale. Every 6-10dB is more or less doubling the perceived loudness.
 
vin-buc said:
You and Lexad should count your blessings :)

I remember some conspiracy theory that during the ps4 launch there was some deranged xbox fanboy who sabotaged thermal paste applications in order to overheat consoles. I'm really not into conspiracy theories but it's definitely a coincidence. Anyway, while not dead silent it's a significant improvement over what it was for me.
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Well that is silly.

Even though I have been lucky and both my PS4s (I've owned two) and my X1 have been silent, clearly enough people are complaining about it, that it's an issue. How widespread, who knows. But the fact that so many people here all confirm the same noise level problems, means that it's a problem that exists.

I remember reading on other sites, where some thought the DS4 rubber joystick problems weren't real, because their launch DS4s weren't peeling. While that's great and all for those with no issues, people aren't going to make this up and are having issues, so Sony should be addressing it. Honestly, I find it shocking that people have consoles with hair dryer/jet engine level of noises. That isn't acceptable.

That + the DS4 issues, it's just really disappointing at the quality issues with PS4. Even more frustrating if it's something like thermal paste, that surely could be changed without any added cost?
 
vin-buc said:
Sony's own testing actually shows that the CH-1100 model (second model) is actually louder than the CH-1000 model (launch). Both are shown up by the CH-1200 model (although not by much).

All these details can be found in the CH-1200 thread.
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Maybe at launch - but what about after 6mths use?
 
Mononoke said:
Well that is silly.

Even though I have been lucky and both my PS4s (I've owned two) and my X1 have been silent, clearly enough people are complaining about it, that it's an issue. How widespread, who knows. But the fact that so many people here all confirm the same noise level problems, means that it's a problem that exists.

I remember reading on other sites, where some thought the DS4 rubber joystick problems weren't real, because their launch DS4s weren't peeling. While that's great and all for those with no issues, people aren't going to make this up and are having issues, so Sony should be addressing it. Honestly, I find it shocking that people have consoles with hair dryer/jet engine level of noises. That isn't acceptable.

That + the DS4 issues, it's just really disappointing at the quality issues with PS4. Even more frustrating if it's something like thermal paste, that surely could be changed without any added cost?
Click to expand...

Least we remember the RRoD which is likely why the less powerful XB1 is bigger than the PS4...MS didn't want a repeat at any cost.

Personally I would have preferred the PS4 be a bit bigger and quieter
 
I remember taking apart my YLOD phat PS3 and seeing a giant blob of crusty white cream squashed between the heatsink and CPU. These things are mass produced and the thermal paste application has nowhere near the amount of care that a PC builder would put into it.

That being said I don't think anyone's PS4 is running "silent". We are still talking about some pretty powerful hardware in a confined space. Fans have to do their work in getting the heat out of there.
 
Mine has been REALLY loud recently. Yes I would compare it to a hairdryer.

I bought it new last November so its not a launch unit. Pretty much anything seems to get those fans going at full speed.

I don't want to open it up while its still under warranty though. I've heard just spraying air into it to clean our dust might help?
 
Defcon_2Fast4u said:
I recently sold my launch PS4 because of how loud it was. Given I had the PS protection plan, I was going to keep it, but when I saw the Batman Limited Edition PS4, I sold it and got this one. My god is new one is just as loud if not louder. Reading this got me thinking. But I have the one year on it, so I will not attempt anything on this beauty just yet.
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Strange enough, I got the limited edition Playstation Anniversary PS4 and didn't see an uptick in sound from my launch model to that one. I even ran them side by side. I can't test it after months of use, as I gave away my launch PS4 to someone else on here. So it's possible my base levels are louder. But I never get that uptick in jet engine/hair dryer noise levels. My old 360 and PS3s had those issues, so I know what people are talking about.

Honestly, I'm now nervous that my PS4 will become loud as hell in a year or two. It happened with my last gen consoles, and with so many people already having these issues early on, well shit. Doesn't give me much hope for the future.

goonergaz said:
Least we remember the RRoD which is likely why the less powerful XB1 is bigger than the PS4...MS didn't want a repeat at any cost.

Personally I would have preferred the PS4 be a bit bigger and quieter
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Me too, honestly. Although I keep seeing people saying they can't wait for the Slim model PS4 though. Why would a smaller version have less issues? I didn't get a slim PS3, but did slim PS3 version eliminate all sound problems?

So maybe it's not a size issue (especially if OP is right and it's a thermal paste problem).

Skux said:
I remember taking apart my YLOD phat PS3 and seeing a giant blob of crusty white cream squashed between the heatsink and CPU. These things are mass produced and the thermal paste application has nowhere near the amount of care that a PC builder would put into it.

That being said I don't think anyone's PS4 is running "silent". We are still talking about some pretty powerful hardware in a confined space. Fans have to do their work in getting the heat out of there.
Click to expand...

Of course none is silent. I imagine various factors explain why some don't hear any noise at all (general house noises, such as fans, air conditioning etc. The distance people sit from their PS4. The set up of their home entertainment system such as ventilation).

But having an uptick of noise where it sounds like your fans are struggling. Where you get hair dryer levels. Where people say it's like a jet engine. That is something anyone would be able to hear and notice.
 
A lot of companies go the other way and put too much thermal paste just in case - which hurts thermal performance, since thermal paste isn't as good a conductor as the heatsink. Interesting that Sonys problem instead was using too little - or using a poor grade of it that dried, flaked, and chipped off.

When my Falcon 360 RRoD'ed I was surprised that the TP was rock solid (as in hard, not good), and there was way too much.

Should be just a thin film, as thin as you can go while still visually covering the chip.
 
Mononoke said:
Well that is silly.

Even though I have been lucky and both my PS4s (I've owned two) and my X1 have been silent, clearly enough people are complaining about it, that it's an issue. How widespread, who knows. But the fact that so many people here all confirm the same noise level problems, means that it's a problem that exists.

I remember reading on other sites, where some thought the DS4 rubber joystick problems weren't real, because their launch DS4s weren't peeling. While that's great and all for those with no issues, people aren't going to make this up and are having issues, so Sony should be addressing it. Honestly, I find it shocking that people have consoles with hair dryer/jet engine level of noises. That isn't acceptable.

That + the DS4 issues, it's just really disappointing at the quality issues with PS4. Even more frustrating if it's something like thermal paste, that surely could be changed without any added cost?
Click to expand...

The build quality of the system is pretty bad - controller and all. With that said, I guess they had to make sacrifices to release a more powerful system than its main competitor at a lower price.
 
wumster3000 said:
The build quality of the system is pretty bad - controller and all. With that said, I guess they had to make sacrifices to release a more powerful system than its main competitor at a lower price.
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:/

That makes me wonder how long these things will last then? I don't even want to think about how PS4s will run in 4 years after heavy use.
 
Launch PS4, whisper quiet on an open shelf. Must've been lucky.
Launch PS3, still kicking along on an open shelf. Must've been lucky.
 
Mononoke said:
:/

That makes me wonder how long these things will last then without having issues? I don't even want to think about how PS4s will run in 4 years after heavy use.
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I think it's hit and miss.

My console is used regularly, the controllers are used regularly.

My system can be loud with certain games, but it can also be incredibly quiet with others. I've also never experienced any issues with the controllers.

This doesn't change the fact other people are having issues, but I think there's definitely a quality issue across the systems and probably depends on where they were put together, rather than system design.
 
Doctor_Thomas said:
My PS4 isn't loud, but it's definitely louder with certain games than others. Is that a symptom of the same issue?
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Different games will stress the system to different levels. Some games push the PS4 a lot harder, and thus will make it noisier than it would be under other games. This would happen regardless of how good the thermal conductivity between the chip and heatsink is.
 
I'm just going to wait until the revision is proven quiet and enters mass circulation, then I will have mine replaced since it is under warranty at GameStop. I will probably even wait until next year to see if a slim model is announced.
 
Zalusithix said:
Different games will stress the system to different levels. Some games push the PS4 a lot harder, and thus will make it noisier than it would be under other games. This would happen regardless of how good the thermal conductivity between the chip and heatsink is.
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I've only really noticed it get really bad with TLOU:R to be fair. I've always assumed it was something to do with the stress on the system, I guess it's just odd that TLOU:R is one of the games that does it.
 
My PS4 was loud as well so I replaced the thermal paste. Applied whatever comes with the Noctua heatsinks and it hasn't made much of a difference. I also have a dog so it was very dirty inside. I don't know, feel like it should have made a difference
 
Doctor_Thomas said:
I've only really noticed it get really bad with TLOU:R to be fair. I've always assumed it was something to do with the stress on the system, I guess it's just odd that TLOU:R is one of the games that does it.
Click to expand...

I don't have that game, but it doesn't surprise me at all that a Naughty Dog game would push the system. Sure it's a remaster/port, but they're still going to try and get everything out of the system that they can.

Also don't confuse how hard a system is pushed with the end visuals. Getting a great result is a matter of efficiently pushing the system to its limits. A port/remaster by nature isn't going to be as efficient as a game developed from the ground up around it.
 
Zalusithix said:
I don't have that game, but it doesn't surprise me at all that a Naughty Dog game would push the system. Sure it's a remaster/port, but they're still going to try and get everything out of the system that they can.

Also don't confuse how hard a system is pushed with the end visuals. Getting a great result is a matter of efficiently pushing the system to its limits. A port/remaster by nature isn't going to be as efficient as a game developed from the ground up around it.
Click to expand...

Given what we know about the development of the remaster, I guess it does make sense that it really pushes the PS4.
 
Revengineer said:
Want to be a massive bro and record your steps? Just pics maybe?
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Looking up some specs and making a plan as we speak. Hoping I get a chance over the next few days, feels like this is a job I want an afternoon to spend on (fear of breaking being the biggest reason for going slow!) but when I do I'll take some pics no problem.
 
Mine probably gets a quarter of hair dryer volume at the very worst, and it's only with certain games in certain situations.

Mines out of warranty now I think, so if I end up with a noisy system it might be fun to clean it out like you did.
 
wumster3000 said:
The build quality of the system is pretty bad - controller and all. With that said, I guess they had to make sacrifices to release a more powerful system than its main competitor at a lower price.
Click to expand...

I don't think the console has a bad build at all. When you open up the console - it's amazing how it's all laid out - it's very impressive. The thermal paste seems to be the culprit IMO. And I know it's part of the build but its application is not part of the design.

My kids are playing LPB3 as I type and it's almost inaudible. This game used to make the console hum before.
 
MoonGazing said:
Hm so do we have to dissemble the bottom half of the ps4 in order to get to the motherboard or can i just open the top half without touching the bottom?
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It pretty much all has to come out. My advice is that you clean the fan with a paintbrush. Do the same with the heatsink. If you have compressed air - use that as well but brushing is mandatory. I didnt use any compressed air.
 
MoonGazing said:
Hm so do we have to dissemble the bottom half of the ps4 in order to get to the motherboard or can i just open the top half without touching the bottom?
Click to expand...

From the video it seems that you will have to completely remove the entire top portion to remove the mother board and flip it over to access the cpu.
 
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