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Sony’s October 2020 teardown revealed a launch-era PlayStation 5 built around a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2-based graphics engine, a high-speed custom SSD, and a notably large cooling system. It showed how those parts fit together—not that the console is equivalent to a particular PC graphics card or that its peak specifications are sustained in every game.
What Sony’s teardown actually showed
Published on October 7, 2020, before the console’s November launch, Sony’s teardown walked through an early PS5 design. Removing the stand and white outer panels exposed a large intake fan, the mainboard and custom processor, the cooling assembly, an M.2 expansion bay, the disc-drive assembly in the disc model, and the power supply. Sony also showed dust-catcher channels intended to make routine dust removal more accessible.
The walkthrough is useful evidence of Sony’s layout and design choices, but it is not a performance test. Sony documented the physical system; independent inspection by iFixit added component identification, including the GPU’s 36 compute units and custom SSD controller. TechInsights’ semiconductor analysis likewise identified a Zen 2 CPU combined with a custom RDNA 2 graphics unit.
Sony’s official teardown is available at PlayStation Blog.
#1 Best Overall
- Model Number CFI-2000
- Includes DualSense Wireless Controller, 1TB SSD, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI Cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)
- Vertical Stand sold seperately
Original launch PS5 specifications
The following figures describe the original launch models, not every later PS5 revision. Sony published the core specifications in its November 2020 launch announcement and its March 2020 hardware specification article.
| Component | Launch-model specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Custom AMD Zen 2, 8 cores and 16 threads; variable frequency up to 3.5 GHz |
| GPU | Custom AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine; 36 compute units, variable frequency up to 2.23 GHz |
| GPU peak arithmetic figure | Approximately 10.28–10.3 TFLOPS theoretical peak |
| System memory | 16 GB GDDR6; 448 GB/s bandwidth |
| Internal storage | Custom 825 GB SSD; 5.5 GB/s raw read bandwidth |
| Ray tracing | Hardware-accelerated |
| Display features | 4K/120 Hz and 8K output capabilities; VRR support depends on HDMI 2.1 display compatibility |
| Rated power | 350 W disc model; 340 W Digital Edition |
| US launch price | $499.99 disc model; $399.99 Digital Edition in November 2020 |
The launch prices are historical, not current prices. Likewise, the power figures are product ratings, not measurements of typical gameplay electricity use.
What “RDNA 2-based” means—and what it does not
Sony’s own wording is “AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.” The qualifiers matter: this is a custom console GPU, not a retail Radeon RX 6000 card placed inside a console. Sony confirmed hardware ray-tracing acceleration, but the RDNA 2 label alone does not establish that the PS5 implements every feature of every later desktop RDNA 2 product.
Rank #2
- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- HDR technology, 8K output, 4K TV gaming, Up to 120 fps with 120Hz output, Tempest 3D AudioTech
- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Version; Wireless controller; USB cable, HDMI cable, AC power cord. Nogtox PVT HDMI_cable
The approximately 10.28 TFLOPS figure follows from 36 compute units, 64 shader processors per unit, and a maximum 2.23 GHz frequency. It is a theoretical peak based on those specifications, not a promise that games continuously deliver that arithmetic throughput. CPU workload, memory behavior, storage, rendering techniques, software APIs, and game-specific optimization all influence performance. For the same reasons, mapping the PS5 to one PC graphics card by TFLOPS is only a rough and often misleading comparison.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Sony’s specification article describes variable-frequency CPU and GPU operation. The published 3.5 GHz CPU and 2.23 GHz GPU figures are maxima, not fixed clocks guaranteed in every workload. Variable frequency gives the system room to manage power and heat; it also makes a simple clock or TFLOPS comparison less informative across different platforms.
Why the PS5 is so large: cooling and airflow
Sony’s teardown showed a large fan drawing air through the chassis, a substantial heatsink, and a vapor-chamber cooling arrangement. The processor uses liquid metal as its thermal interface material. Together, these parts help transfer heat away from the custom SoC and move it through the console’s airflow path. The roomy enclosure reflects the physical space required for that cooling approach as well as Sony’s acoustic and thermal design choices.
Rank #3
- 🚀 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
- 🚀 Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
- 🚀 RAM: 16GB GDDR6
- 🚀 GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
Dust-catcher channels provide designated access points for removing accumulated dust, while the side panels can be removed. Those features make limited maintenance easier to reach; they do not establish that the PS5 runs hotter or quieter than a competing console. The teardown contains no controlled comparative temperature or noise measurements, so claims about relative heat or acoustics require separate testing.
Dust that restricts airflow can contribute to cooling problems. Owners should use the maintenance steps Sony specifies for their exact model rather than treating the teardown as an invitation to dismantle a working console. Liquid-metal servicing is especially unsuitable as a casual cleaning task: handling it incorrectly or damaging its containment can cause serious damage.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe custom SSD is more than a capacity figure
The launch PS5’s internal drive is a custom 825 GB SSD with a stated raw read bandwidth of 5.5 GB/s. Sony paired the storage with a custom I/O architecture and hardware decompression. That combination is intended to move and unpack game assets efficiently, helping games load and stream data in ways that would be difficult with a conventional mechanical drive.
Rank #4
- Enjoy smooth and fluid high frame rate gameplay at up to 120 fps for compatible games, with support for 120Hz output on 4K displays.
- PS5 consoles support an 8K output, so you can play games on your 4320p resolution display.
- Maximize your play sessions with near-instant load times for installed PS5 games.
- 825GB SSD allows ultra-fast load times, while 3-D audio output produces crisp acoustics.
- Explore uncharted virtual territories and slay dragons with this sleek Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console.
Raw bandwidth is not a guaranteed loading-time measurement. Compression, decompression, game-engine design, access patterns, and patches affect what a player experiences. System software also uses part of the nominal 825 GB, so the entire stated capacity is not available for installed games.
The console includes a bay for a user-installed compatible M.2 NVMe SSD. Compatibility is not just a matter of choosing any drive labelled NVMe: Sony’s current M.2 SSD installation guidance sets performance and physical-fit requirements, including clearance for a heatsink. A drive that is too tall or too long, or lacks suitable cooling, may not fit or operate as intended. Expansion adds flexibility, but the custom internal storage itself is not an ordinary user-swappable M.2 drive.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the teardown means for maintenance and repair
The design offers some accessible owner tasks, but “accessible” is not the same as “easy to repair.” iFixit’s independent teardown documented serviceability details alongside the internal components.
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Best Value
- Slim Design, players get powerful gaming technology packed inside a sleek and compact console design.
- 825GB of storage, keep your favorite games raeady and waiting for you to jump in and play
- Ultra-High Speed SSD, maximize yoru play sessions with near instant load times for installed PS5 games
- Integrated I/O, the custom integration of the PS5 console's systems lets creators pull datat from the SSD so quickly that they can design games in ways never before possible
- Ray Tracing, immerse yourself in owrlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games
- More accessible: removing the outer panels, cleaning designated dust-catcher areas, and installing a compatible M.2 expansion SSD.
- More involved: replacing or removing internal assemblies, reaching the mainboard, or working around liquid metal. Deep disassembly and model-specific parts can be required.
- Use caution: repair outcomes can depend on exact model compatibility, parts, and firmware pairing. Opening the console can also carry warranty or damage risks, depending on the repair and local rules.
For a working console, routine cleaning and a correctly specified expansion drive are more appropriate owner tasks than liquid-metal replacement or board-level repair. For a fault, consult PlayStation Support or a qualified repair service before attempting work that risks damaging the system.
Disc model, Digital Edition, and later revisions
The two original launch models share the central CPU/GPU platform and broad architecture. The disc version has an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive; the Digital Edition omits it and has a different enclosure profile. That distinction affects physical game and movie-disc use, as well as access to disc-based game purchases. Sony’s launch announcement lists different dimensions, weights, and rated power for the two launch versions.
This teardown covers an early launch-era PS5, not every console sold later. Sony has revised PS5 internals across later CFI model families, and the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro are separate designs. Heatsinks, boards, weight, power behavior, and internal layout may differ by revision. Sony’s CFI-11XXB safety guide is an example of model-specific documentation and warns that specifications and design may change. Identify the exact model number before applying teardown instructions or buying a model-specific part.
What the teardown ultimately tells us
The PS5 is not simply a desktop RDNA 2 graphics card in a box. It is a custom AMD/Sony system built around Zen 2 CPU cores, a variable-frequency RDNA 2-based GPU, a tightly integrated SSD and I/O path, and a substantial cooling solution. The teardown makes those design priorities visible; it does not turn peak specifications into a direct measure of game performance, nor does it make every internal repair a safe DIY job.
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