Thermal paste and thermal pads are applied to the PS4 Pro’s accelerated processing unit(APU) to get efficient dissipation of operational heat. This achieves clearer graphics and smoother gameplay. However, prolonged use or improper installation may cause them to deteriorate, necessitating timely replacement to maintain stable performance. This guide will help you determine whether the thermal pads and paste of the PS4 Pro require replacement, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to replace them.
How to Tell Whether the Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads in the PS4 Pro Require Replacement?
Period of Use
Both thermal pads and thermal paste have a finite lifespan. Beyond this period, they may dry out, leach thermal fillers, or become contaminated, resulting in a decrease in performance. Consequently, you can assess whether the internal thermal pads and paste in your PS4 Pro have deteriorated and require replacement based on the console’s usage duration. Thermal paste may degrade after prolonged use, especially after extended exposure to high temperatures, whereas thermal pads generally have a longer lifespan (around 2 to 10 years). Should your PS4 Pro be subjected to extreme temperatures during use, its lifespan may be considerably shorter.
Deterioration in Performance
If you find frame drops, laggy controls, or excessive loading times whilst gaming, it is advisable to replace your thermal pad or thermal paste for an improved gaming experience. This is likely caused by overheating due to degraded thermal pad and paste performance, triggering your PS4 Pro’s thermal protection mechanism, which may reduce performance or even cause shutdowns. Should you have problems such as freezing or sudden crashes, this strongly indicates the thermal pad has likely failed. You should replace it immediately.
Abnormal Noise
Observe the PS4 Pro’s heat sinks. Should the fan speed become excessively high or produce significant noise, this indicates the device is currently overheating. This is most likely due to the inadequate thermal conductivity of the thermal pads and thermal paste, resulting in inefficient heat dissipation and cooling. You’d better replace the thermal pads and thermal paste before conducting further inspection.
Excessive Operating Temperature
Whilst other factors may contribute to excessive heat in the PS4 Pro, such as inadequate ventilation causing heat build-up or high game loads, once these are ruled out, When you notice the surface is overheating, or the product is displaying an overheating warning, particularly when operating at high frame rates. Should the unit remain noticeably overheated or its temperature change frequently despite the fan of the heat sink rotating normally, it is better to use fresh thermal paste and thermal pads.
Disassembly Inspection
If you possess knowledge of the PS4 Pro’s internal structure, you may disassemble the console for inspection following the manual’s guidance. Should the thermal paste have hardened, cracked, or exhibited oil separation, or if the thermal pads have lost elasticity or become deformed, you should employ fresh thermal interface material. Alternatively, you may engage a professional technician to perform the procedure or conduct specialised performance testing.
Why Replace the Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads in the PS4 Pro?
Limited Lifespan of Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads
Thermal paste and thermal pads have a limited lifespan. Thermal pads typically last between 2 and 10 years, whilst thermal paste can only be maintained for approximately one year. They cannot sustain the PS4 Pro throughout its entire operational life, so you must promptly replace both thermal paste and thermal pads once they have deteriorated. Particularly if you opt for thermal paste, more frequent inspection and maintenance will be required.
Enhancing Game Frame Rates 
Should the thermal paste and thermal pads on your PS4 Pro have been improperly installed from the outset, or if their cooling performance no longer meets your requirements, replacing them with new components is highly advisable. Inadequate thermal paste and pads fail to dissipate heat generated by the GPU, video memory, and other components efficiently, resulting in elevated temperatures and thermal throttling. This, in turn, causes a decline in gaming performance. Timely replacement enables shorter rendering times and higher frame rates.
Extending APU Lifespan
The PS4 Pro’s APU and GDDR5 memory chips also function max within the right temperature ranges. Inadequate thermal paste or thermal pads can cause heat to accumulate internally, potentially shortening the lifespan of the graphics card and memory over prolonged use or even causing damage. This may result in higher repair costs.
Reducing Heat Sink Noise
You may notice that under heavier workloads, the PS4 Pro tends to heat up more readily, causing the radiator fan to generate increased noise. Should thermal paste and thermal pads deteriorate, the heat sink must shoulder a greater cooling burden to maintain lower temperatures, resulting in faster operation. Replacing thermal paste and thermal pads enables the heat sink to operate at quieter levels, thereby enhancing the comfort of use.
How to Replace the Thermal Paste in a PS4 Pro
Step 1: Remove the Heat Sink
First, you should prepare tools such as a screwdriver and tweezers. Following the manual, remove the screws and dismantle the PS4 Pro’s casing. Locate the thermal paste application point and detach the heat sink. Before proceeding with this step, you must make sure the device is completely powered down for safety.
Step 2: Clean the Surface of the Chip and Heat Sink
You must not apply new thermal paste directly over old thermal interface material. Like dust, moisture, and other contaminants, old thermal interface material has higher thermal resistance and will reduce the adhesion between the new thermal paste and the chip surface. Therefore, before installation, you must clean the surfaces of both the heat sink and the chip using a cleaning agent such as isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth.
Step 3: Apply Fresh Thermal Paste
You may determine the required amount of thermal paste based on the supplier’s recommendations, and squeeze out a small amount first during application. You can add more subsequently, avoiding the need to remove excessive material that may lead to wastage or difficult cleanup. You may apply it yourself to ensure even coverage across the surface, or allow it to spread naturally.
Step 4: Reinstall the Heat Sink
After reapplying the thermal paste, align the heat sink and press it onto the paste to form an extremely thin bonding line, offering more thorough contact between the chip and heat sink. The thermal paste offers high flexibility, so not necessary to apply high pressure to prevent damage to the chip. Verify that the paste is fully distributed without air bubbles, and wipe away any excess material.
Step 5: Assembly and Testing
Given that thermal paste offers low viscosity and is not enough for achieving optimal fixation, you should use fixtures, screws, or another method for more secure fastening. This will further extend its service life. Finally, you must reassemble the casing and screws, reconnecting the heat sink to the fan. Then restart the PS4 Pro for a stress test, and observe the temperature changes in real-time to determine whether the new thermal paste is performing effectively.
How to Replace Thermal Pads in a PS4 Pro
Replacing the thermal pad in a PS4 Pro has steps, including removing the heat sink, cleaning the surfaces, installing the new pad, and reassembling the system. However, due to the differing forms and structures of thermal pads and thermal paste, the procedures for sticking the thermal pad and securing the heat sink differ.
Applying Thermal Pads
Owing to their solid sheet form and pre-determined thickness, thermal pads are simpler to apply than thermal paste. This makes your replacement process much easier. After thoroughly cleaning the heat sink and chip, peel off the protective film from one side of the thermal pad and affix it to the chip. Press repeatedly to ensure a tighter bond and expel as much air as possible. Similarly, thermal pads are highly pliable and should not be subjected to excessive pressure to prevent harm to either the pad or the chip.
Installing the Heat Sink
After affixing the thermal pad to the chip, ensure it remains free from creases, curling, or damage. Should this occur, you must fit a new thermal pad. Subsequently, peel off the protective film from the opposite side and affix the heat sink to the thermal pad. After confirming that the thermal pad shows no problems of overlapping or displacement, reassemble your PS4 Pro. If the thermal pad lacks an adhesive layer and becomes misaligned, it may be reused after realignment during installation.
What Shortens the Lifespan of Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads in the PS4 Pro？
Improper Selection and Installation of Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads
The selection of thermal pads and the application of thermal paste directly influence the operating performance. Firstly, when selecting these materials, you should choose an appropriate thermal conductivity value. Because the PS4 has a high heat output, it’s generally recommended to use 6-8W thermal pads for the APU section, and thermal paste for the chip section. Lower thermal conductivity will result in inadequate heat dissipation. Applying thermal pads too thinly or applying thermal paste too sparsely will lead to incomplete filling, increasing thermal resistance and consequently reducing heat dissipation efficiency. Therefore, select the same thermal pad thickness based on the gap size between the APU, chip, and heat sink, or apply an enough thick layer of thermal paste.
Improper Installation of Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads
Before use, ensure the surfaces of both the chip and the heat sink are thoroughly cleaned. This prevents dust or residual thermal materials from compromising heat dissipation efficiency. Such issues can cause overheating, which not only shortens the lifespan of the thermal paste and pad but also adversely affects the longevity of the PS4 Pro itself.
Overclocking
If you seek smoother performance and higher frame rates, using higher frequency settings will cause the chip to generate greater heat, resulting in increased thermal load. Under prolonged high-load operation, thermal pads and thermal paste will accelerate ageing, thereby shortening their service life. Therefore, if you use high-frequency settings, you may need to replace the thermal pads and thermal paste more frequently. For example, you might need to replace them every six months, or whenever your device experiences overheating, excessive noise, or other related problems.
Inappropriate Operating Environment
On the one hand, different types and models of thermal paste and thermal pads have different operating temperatures. Exceeding this range may cause the thermal paste and thermal pads to perform erratically or even fail. Therefore, you should select better materials and consider the ambient temperature of the application environment. Furthermore, it is advisable to position your PS4 Pro in a well-ventilated location. This allows heat emitted by the heat sink to dissipate more quickly, preventing heat accumulation and extending the service life of both the heat spreader and thermal paste.
Which is Better for PS4 Pro: Thermal Pads or Thermal Paste?
Ease of Installation
The application of thermal pads is simpler, allowing for quicker and more convenient replacement with fewer errors. Furthermore, provided the pads lack adhesive layers or are damaged, they can be reworked and reused without incurring excessive error costs.
Thermal Conductivity
Both thermal pads and thermal pastes offer various models to match different thermal conductivity requirements. Thermal pads typically exhibit thermal conductivities ranging from 1 to 15 W/m·K. Variants such as carbon fibre and graphite pads achieve even higher values, though at a premium cost. Thermal pastes generally offer conductivities between 1 and 8.5 W/m·K. While lower overall than pads, they can be compressed to extremely thin bond lines, delivering satisfactory heat dissipation.
Service Life and Maintenance
Thermal pads offer a longer service life than thermal paste, and thermal paste degrades more rapidly. Therefore, thermal pads are the superior choice if you wish to extend the maintenance interval for your PS4 Pro.
Applicability
Thermal paste is the preferred option for the PS4 Pro’s more intricate and textured core processor chip surface structure. Its superior flowability and adhesion provide better gap-filling performance on uneven surfaces compared to thermal pads. For thicker chips and heat sink gaps, thermal pads offer greater dimensional flexibility. Both materials provide silicone-free variants to get a more secure and stable operation for silicon-sensitive chips.
FAQs
May I simply apply a fresh layer of thermal paste?
You must thoroughly remove all traces of the old thermal paste. Deteriorated thermal paste compromises the contact between the new paste and the heat sink, thereby increasing thermal resistance. This not only prevents the new paste from performing effectively but also lengthens the heat transfer path, resulting in reduced cooling efficiency.
Can Thermal Pads and Thermal Paste be Reused?
Thermal paste must not be reused. However, for thermal pads without adhesive layers that remain undamaged and undistorted, if the cooling performance remains satisfactory, you may reuse them.
What is the Operating Temperature Range for Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads?
Thermal paste operates within a temperature range of approximately -50 to 200°C, whilst thermal pads function within a range of approximately -60 to 200℃.
Which is More Expensive: Thermal Pads or Thermal Paste?
This is up to the model you have used. Thermal pads are generally pricier, with certain high-performance variants commanding a higher cost. However, they offer a longer service life than thermal paste, providing cost-effectiveness over the long term. Thermal paste requires frequent replacement, which may entail higher costs.
Why Does the PS4 Pro Continue to Overheat after Replacing the Thermal Paste or Thermal Pad?
You must verify that the thermal pad or thermal paste has been selected and installed correctly. If no issues are found, you should consider other factors, such as whether the heat sink is properly fitted or damaged, and ensure that dust inside the device is promptly removed.
Can Thermal Paste and Thermal Pads be Used Together on a Graphics Card?
Generally, using a single thermal interface material is enough for thermal management requirements. Concurrent use of thermal paste and thermal pads may instead result in a poor thermal contact area, thereby resulting in lower heat dissipation.
Final Thoughts
New thermal paste and thermal pads can enhance the performance of your PS4 Pro. Are you deciding to replace the thermal paste and thermal pads in your PS4 Pro? GALLOP INNOTEK offers a range of high-quality thermal pastes and thermal pads, ideal for compact devices like the PS4 Pro and those with high thermal loads. Contact us for personalised service.
