MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß is the happy owner of a PS4. However, since it sounded like a starting airplane, she almost bought an expensive PS5. But a cheap and simple fix saved the console.
In 2016, I gifted myself a PS4 as a reward for completing my studies. The original version was already discounted because the new, more powerful PS4 Pro was hitting the stores.
The console has been through a lot: relationships, moves, hot summers, and icy winters. Besides gaming, I also used it as a multimedia console for Netflix, Crunchyroll, and more for a long time. After almost 10 years, I can’t imagine living without it. Currently, I’m working on getting 100% completion in Horizon: Forbidden West.
However, I almost spent a lot of money on a PS5 recently: My PS4 sounded like a starting airplane while playing and was getting really hot. But my clever partner stopped me: there is even a completely free solution. And now the PS4 purrs like a kitten again, even with AAA games.
Buy an expensive PS5? No, clean the console!
Just like with my Steam Deck, saving my PS4 involved taking it apart. A console doesn’t just sound like a fully loaded jumbo jet when starting all by itself.
We followed the guide from iFixIt: First, we had to remove stickers, then unscrew three tiny Torx screws. After that, the cover could be removed, we unplugged the power supply, and ta-da: In front of us lay a naked PS4 that showed the wear and tear of long years of service.
I’ll let the pictures of shame speak for themselves:
10 years. 10 years of dust, dog hair, and dirt blocking the fans.
Of course, a console cannot work properly with such disgusting additional load. I wonder it didn’t simply catch fire eventually. When Horizon: Forbidden West was running, I didn’t even have to turn on the heating in winter at times.
Fortunately, the problem was quickly solved with a large garbage bag, disposable gloves, a brush, a microfiber cloth, and a few cotton swabs soaked in isopropanol.
The trigger for the heat issue was discovered quite quickly. Here’s how the thermal paste was distributed on the CPU:
Actually, I couldn’t do anything about it: thermal paste becomes firmer and sometimes even crumbly over time. That’s normal wear and tear. Because my partner mods consoles himself, we were also adequately equipped and could quickly provide replacements here.
Putting the PS4 back together was also quite quick. And the result?
My console purrs like a kitten again since the cleaning action. I can even hear the in-game sound again without having to turn the speakers up too loud!
When I think about how I could fix this completely for free and almost spent the then still valid 550 euros on a PS5, I get a cold shiver down my spine.
Saving money ruins the business
I have the luck that my partner has been overhauling and modding consoles for years. Accordingly, we already had the necessary tools and thermal paste at home. Those who don’t have that will need to invest a few euros in tools.
Otherwise, this was probably the best and, above all, the most cost-effective solution to prepare my old console for another five to ten years of faithful service. Also, I didn’t have to hand over more than 550 euros to Sony for a new console.
Of course, I would like a PS5. But at the moment, there is no game for which I would buy it. I don’t want to invest that much money just for the DLC of Horizon: Forbidden West. The most exciting games have been brought to market by Sony via Steam, and then I play them on my gaming PC.
So I can understand why the publisher wants to stop porting their AAA games slowly. Why buy the expensive console when the great game also runs on the home desktop?
When GTA 6, the next God of War, and maybe finally the third Horizon main title come out, I would finally have three very good arguments for the upgrade. Even if, perspective-wise, there will probably already be a PS6. Or whatever the successor to the PS5 will be called.
In general, it seems like the console war that had been sidelined is slowly coming back to life. During the Xbox Showcase at the Summer Game Fest 2026, Xbox announced similar steps to what Sony is currently planning for its AAA games: Xbox is re-entering the console war with Sony, and the winner is already clear
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