Sony Playstation 2 - thermal management
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Sony Playstation 2 - thermal management

I've recently been trying to build up a folder containing images of thermal management solutions - very handy to dip into when trying to come up with ideas for a project!

Today a Playstation 2 fell into my hands and naturally I couldn't help reaching for the screwdriver. I thought I'd share the pics of the internal assembly with you...

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1. Main chassis with a MONSTER fan on the top! Do these things judder around the room like a washing machine on full spin when you switch them on?

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  1. Rear of the chassis. The two diagonal brackets push hard on the back of some devices that get hot, foring them into a heatsink on the other side of the PCB.
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3. Rear of the chassis with one of the push brackets removed. You can see the devices underneath.

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4. Close up of the fan module and exhaust grille.

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5. Underside of fan module with heat-pipes. Some SERIOUS thermal management is going on here!

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6. Another shot of the heat-pipes. The two flat plates were smeared with trouser-ruining compound (thermal paste) and make contact with the topside of the two devices I mentioned earlier.

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7. Closeup of the heat-pipes and another exhaust vent. The heat-pipes seem to be soldered to the screening frame for maximum conduction into the chassis.

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8. Screening frame

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9. Screening frame reverse. What material do you think it is? Steel with tinplate perhaps?