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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Teardown reporting describes a grooved heatsink around the APU in some PlayStation 5 Slim consoles labeled CFI-2116, resembling the liquid-metal containment design seen in the PS5 Pro. The intended benefit is keeping liquid metal in place—not a confirmed boost to performance or lifespan. A later teardown also found different internal hardware under the same CFI-2116 label, so the model number alone does not identify one guaranteed build.
What the reported PS5 Slim change is
Tom’s Hardware reported on December 2, 2025, that console technician and modder Modyfikator89 shared teardown images of a PS5 Slim labeled CFI-2116. The heatsink shown has grooves around the area that contacts the APU, a design resembling the grooved heatsink previously seen in the PS5 Pro. The coverage presents those grooves as a way to help retain liquid metal at the chip-and-heatsink interface. Tom’s Hardware’s teardown report is an observation and interpretation, not an official Sony announcement.
![PlayStation 5 Slim Digital with 1TB SSD Storage, Wireless Dualsense Controller - PS5 Gaming System, White [video game] (Renewed) [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31GFnxuXZPL._SL160_.jpg)
This is a cooling-hardware detail, not a reported new processor or performance tier. The available coverage does not establish that the change makes games run faster.
Why the CFI-2116 label does not guarantee the same internals
A teardown report published October 4, 2026, described a Marvel’s Wolverine Limited Edition console labeled CFI-2116 with an EDM-051 motherboard, a revised heatsink, and changes to the liquid-metal area. VideoCardz’s report cautioned that CFI-2116 can cover different internal revisions.
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- 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
That means the designation is not enough to establish that a particular console has the EDM-051 board or the exact heatsink shown in either teardown. The reporting does not provide a reliable way for buyers to identify a specific internal configuration from the outside.
What the upgrade does—and does not—prove
The design rationale is improved liquid-metal retention around the APU. That is not the same as evidence of a measured improvement. The reviewed teardown coverage supplies no controlled comparison of temperatures, fan noise, failure rates, or console lifespan, and does not establish that the design reduces maintenance needs.
Rank #2
- Model Number CFI-2000
- Includes DualSense Wireless Controller, 1TB SSD, Disc Drive, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI Cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)
- Vertical Stand sold separately
Both accounts are third-party teardown reporting. The reviewed coverage does not include a public Sony confirmation or an official explanation of the change. Accordingly, the careful description is that a grooved heatsink and revised liquid-metal area have been reported in particular consoles—not that every PS5 Slim has received a verified reliability upgrade.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this means if you are buying a PS5 Slim
- Do not treat CFI-2116 as proof that a console contains one particular board or heatsink revision.
- Do not pay extra on the assumption that a specific unit has the reported cooling design or delivers lower temperatures, quieter operation, or longer life; those outcomes are not demonstrated by the cited teardown reports.
- The evidence concerns factory internals. It does not establish that the heatsink is sold separately or that this change is a practical user retrofit.
For comparing revisions, the evidence supports discussing the observed heatsink geometry, the proposed liquid-metal containment approach, and any board revision explicitly identified by a teardown. It does not support numerical claims about thermal, acoustic, or longevity gains.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Console Bundle with additional Gray Camo Controller and DualSense Charging Station
- 1TB of storage / Ultra-High speed SSD / Integrated I/O
- 4K-TV gaming / HDR technology / Tempest 3D AudioTech
- Slim Design / Ray Tracing / Up to 120fps with 120Hz output / HDR Technology
- Adaptive Triggers / Backwards Compatibility & Game Boost
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