PS5 vs. Xbox Series X Airflow Testing: Cooling Design Efficiency & Flow Paths



Read more about Cyberpunk 2077➜ https://cyberpunk2077.mgn.tv

This video compares the PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series X airflow & cooler design using Schlieren photography, which allows us to visualize the air density gradient around the consoles.
Sponsor: Linode Hosting – get $100 credit with GN (https://geni.us/UaKrUmF)

Please consider supporting this type of unique testing work by grabbing a toolkit, mouse mat, bar runner, or shirt from our store: https://store.gamersnexus.net/ – thanks to our Patreon backers and store customers for making it possible to buy testing equipment like this!

Watch our PlayStation 5 thermal testing from previously: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmggkW6usmQ
Xbox Series X thermals got done today and is being edited/rendered/QC’d, then will go up.
Watch our original RTX 3080 FE Schlieren photography video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVaGRtX80gI

Schlieren photography is useful for visualizing air patterns and movement when the air density has a gradient — or a change in density — surrounding a product. This isn’t a perfect testing method and doesn’t tell us thermal performance (we use thermocouples for that, and the Series X thermals will be uploaded in a few days), but it does tell us how the air exits the consoles, how obstructed it might be, and what directions it takes. This also allows us to the opportunity to closer analyze the console’s internal heatsink design: Even though we can’t see the heatsink with this imaging, we can see how the air exits the device and at what angle, and speed, and all of these factors allow us to better understand the finstack impedance and angles. The Sony PlayStation 5 already had thermal testing in one of our previous pieces, with the Xbox Series X thermals coming up soon.

Like our content? Please consider becoming our Patron to support us: http://www.patreon.com/gamersnexus

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Xbox Series X & PlayStation 5 Airflow
03:12 – Setting Up for Schlieren Imaging
05:24 – Xbox Airflow Patterns
10:36 – Xbox Flow Patterns (Continued)
11:42 – Xbox Intake Flow Patterns
14:50 – Xbox Series X Airflow Patterns: Side Vent
17:21 – Xbox Series X Thermals – Power Off
19:55 – PlayStation 5 Airflow Patterns
23:33 – PlayStation 5 – Side Orientation
24:55 – Conclusion

** Please like, comment, and subscribe for more! **

Links to Amazon and Newegg are typically monetized on our channel (affiliate links) and may return a commission of sales to us from the retailer. This is unrelated to the product manufacturer. Any advertisements or sponsorships are disclosed within the video (“this video is brought to you by”) and above the fold in the description. We do not ever produce paid content or “sponsored content” (meaning that the content is our idea and is not funded externally aside from whatever ad placement is in the beginning) and we do not ever charge manufacturers for coverage.

Follow us in these locations for more gaming and hardware updates:

t: http://www.twitter.com/gamersnexus
f: http://www.facebook.com/gamersnexus
w: http://www.gamersnexus.net/

Editorial, Testing: Steve Burke
Schlieren Setup, Video: Andrew Coleman
Video: Keegan Gallick

Source

38 thoughts on “PS5 vs. Xbox Series X Airflow Testing: Cooling Design Efficiency & Flow Paths”

  1. Please consider supporting this type of unique testing work by grabbing a toolkit, mouse mat, bar runner, or shirt from our store: https://store.gamersnexus.net/ – thanks to our Patreon backers (https://patreon.com/gamersnexus ) and store customers for making it possible to buy testing equipment like this!
    Watch our PlayStation 5 thermal testing from previously: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmggkW6usmQ
    Xbox Series X thermals got done today and is being edited/rendered/QC'd, then will go up.
    Watch our original RTX 3080 FE Schlieren photography video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVaGRtX80gI

    Reply
  2. Had you considered maybe a marquee at the top of the video which declares it is not thermal testing and a reminder gesture to see the top of the screen with some arrow next time you may believe that viewers may bbe misguiding themselves with their pre-conceived notions?

    Reply
  3. I would think the gas coming out of that cylider to be cooler than room temps. Given the properties of what happens when a gas is decompressed. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

    Reply
  4. Lods of love Steve, I am hoping the Series X design will finally show how archaic and lacking innovation PC hardware/building has shown to be over the last decade. Considering it's size, power, noise levels, and price. It's time for the PC hardware scene to step it up, maybe then I will find interest in the scene again. Keep loving the kitty cats old wise one, I shake you by the hand.

    Reply
  5. I just can't believe how cheap the PS5 looks. Microsoft really did make the better console in terms of build quality and power. And the modular design of it is genius. Also, before anyone asks, I'm not a console gamer. PC all the way.

    Reply
  6. Every time I see the Xbox next to the PS5 it's surprising given all of the people freaking out (pre-release) to how big the XB is, it's LOOKS small vs the PS5.
    I know the volume might be similar but the system really feels smaller vs the tall boi PS5.

    Which I've only seen the XB in a store which seems way tiny …vs my PC 😛

    Reply
  7. Xboxs fan and airflow looks like ceiling exhaust fan. I think PS5s design was more focused on pushing the cool air into the motherboard components, it acts more as an intake radiator. On the other hand Xbox actually doesn't pushes any cool air in it just pushing out the hot air from inside. But as we can see PS5 not only pushes cool air directly very close to the internal components it also pushing out lot of hot air from the system and acting as a decent exhaust.

    Reply
  8. Glad to see you’re finally using that Xbox you keep showing off! Btw if you dont have an Xbox series S for your thermal comparison video, if you need one Ive got one i wouldn’t mind lending you in the name of research, as I’m actually really curious to see what the thermals are like myself

    Reply
  9. For an over-engineered cooling system they sure didn't think it through in full. The exhaust points down toward the ports, damn near melted the HDMI cable on a hotter day here in Australia, I suddenly had some crazy display behaviour before a hard and very strange crash that left some real nasty noise coming out of the TV speakers. Checked the back and the cable was actually hot and very soft/malleable in a way that it isn't normally near to the back of the ps5.

    Reply
  10. I bet this channel has done more work in testing than the actual manufacturers ever did. Because it would cost them millions of dollars to do what GN did for like a 100 bucks of daily expenses. Plus the people at GN are actually competent.

    Reply
  11. I think MS said that rear exhaust hole was intended as "emergency exhaust" in case you manage to completely block the top vent, doubt it allows enough air flow to compensate for the main vent being blocked, but at least it would provide some exhaust if you were dumb enough to place something on top of the console.

    Reply
  12. 8:23 Microsoft could use instead of circle pattern, a hexagon pattern for increasing the surface area for the air to bypass. Hexagon structures are also more mechanical rigit in the flat plane.

    Reply

Leave a Comment