The launch PS4 Pro packs its faster graphics hardware into one custom AMD/Sony processor, backed by a larger power supply and a substantial heat-pipe cooling system. iFixit’s teardown also found a removable 2.5-inch hard drive and a modular layout that makes storage upgrades straightforward—but reaching the fan or motherboard takes extensive disassembly.
Which PS4 Pro was torn down?
iFixit published its photographic teardown on November 11, 2016, using a launch-model CUH-7015B from the CUH-70xx family. Its component markings and internal layout should therefore be read as findings about that unit, not a universal schematic for every PS4 Pro. The teardown is documented at iFixit’s PS4 Pro teardown. Sony also released a piece-by-piece teardown video, covered by PlayStation LifeStyle.
The photos show how the console’s performance upgrade affects its power delivery and cooling, as well as which parts owners can reach without dismantling the whole machine.
What can you access without a full teardown?
The hard-drive bay is the most accessible upgrade point. The PS4 Pro uses a removable, standard 2.5-inch drive; replacing it does not require removing the motherboard or cooling assembly. The outer panels and screws provide access to other internal areas, but reaching deeper components involves progressively more disassembly. Tamper-evident or warranty-warning stickers may also be encountered; their legal effect depends on the region and applicable warranty rules.
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For a full component-by-component photographic sequence, see the teardown guide. iFixit explicitly notes that a teardown is not itself a repair guide.
Why is the PS4 Pro bigger than the base PS4?
The extra space is not simply for a faster GPU. The Pro’s more capable processor needs more power and heat removal, so the design accommodates a larger power supply, heat sink, heat pipes and fan. iFixit lists the launch Pro’s power supply at 289 watts, compared with 165 watts for the original 2013 PS4. These figures are the supplies’ rated capacities, not measurements of typical electricity use while gaming.
Despite that higher rating, iFixit reported that the Pro power supply was only about 74.2 grams heavier than the original PS4’s. The supply is removable during disassembly, though its connectors and internal shielding make access less simple than swapping the hard drive. The comparison and repairability assessment are summarized in iFixit’s teardown coverage.
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How does the cooling system work?
The launch unit contains a large copper heat sink connected by heat pipes, thermal pads serving multiple chips, and a substantial centrifugal fan. The heat-pipe assembly spreads heat away from the processor toward the heat sink, where the fan moves air through the cooling structure. Shielding and structural plates surround parts of the board and cooling hardware.
iFixit identified the fan as a Nidec unit rated at 2.1 amps at 12 volts, which works out to a 25.2-watt nameplate maximum. That calculation is not a claim about the fan’s normal draw during play. The size of the cooling hardware reflects the thermal demands of the more capable APU; it is a central part of the console’s design, not an optional enthusiast add-on.
What is on the motherboard?
One processor package, not two GPUs
The board’s main processor is marked SCEI CXD90044G. It combines the AMD Jaguar CPU cores and Radeon-based graphics in one custom system-on-chip. The PS4 Pro’s enhanced graphics capability is therefore not implemented as two separate physical graphics processors. iFixit lists an eight-core, 2.1 GHz AMD Jaguar CPU and Radeon graphics rated at 4.2 TFLOPS as platform specifications; those figures are not measurements made by opening the console.
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Memory chips
Eight Samsung K4G80325FB-HC28 chips provide the system’s 8 GB GDDR5 pool. iFixit also identified Samsung K4B4G0846E-HC28 DDR3 memory on the board. The platform is often described as having 8 GB of GDDR5 plus 1 GB of additional DRAM, but the board listing and system-level memory allocation are not interchangeable descriptions. The extra DRAM is a separate pool; it should not be treated as another 1 GB freely available to games alongside the GDDR5.
Video, I/O and power components
The board includes a Panasonic MN864729 HDMI transmitter and a Cypress CYUSB3312 USB 3.0 hub controller. iFixit tentatively identified a Sony/Renesas R9J04G011FP1 I/O controller and a Sony CXD90036G I/O controller, so those identifications are best treated as likely rather than definitive. Other markings include an Infineon/International Rectifier IR35218 PWM controller, a Fairchild FDMF6840C 50 A power stage, Rohm power-management and motor-control parts, and Marvell-based wireless hardware, including an 88W8897 Avastar component beneath the Sony wireless module. These are teardown identifications, not a complete official Sony parts specification.
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What storage and optical hardware does it use?
The teardown unit had a 1 TB HGST HTS541010A9E680 5,400-rpm hard drive. That factory drive is not necessarily the drive fitted to every retail console. iFixit noted that Sony promoted SATA III support while the drive label referenced 3.0 Gb/s, commonly associated with SATA II; other reporting has described the drive as SATA III-capable. The label discrepancy alone does not establish the negotiated interface speed of every PS4 Pro or replacement drive.
Rank #4
- Heighten your experiences. Enrich your adventures. Let the super charged PS4 Pro lead the way
- 4K TV Gaming : PS4 Pro outputs gameplay to your 4K TV
- More HD Power: Turn on Boost Mode to give PS4 games access to the increased power of PS4 Pro
- HDR Technology : With an HDR TV, compatible PS4 games display an unbelievably vibrant and life like range of colors
- Turn on Boost Mode to give PS4 games access to the increased power of PS4 Pro
A compatible 2.5-inch SATA SSD can improve loading times and general responsiveness compared with a mechanical hard drive. It will not increase graphics performance, resolution or frame rate. Back up user data before a replacement; the new drive must be initialized with PS4 system software rather than being assumed to work immediately as a drop-in drive. The teardown lists a Blu-ray drive rated at 6× CAV and DVD at 8× CAV.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How repairable is the PS4 Pro?
iFixit rated the launch unit 8/10 for repairability, citing modular construction, a non-proprietary hard drive and the absence of adhesive. That score is iFixit’s assessment, not an industry-wide standard. It does not mean every repair is easy: storage access is relatively direct, while fan, heat-sink and motherboard work requires much deeper disassembly.
- Hard drive: the most practical owner upgrade; access is far simpler than a full teardown.
- Power supply and internal areas: require panel and screw removal, with care around connectors and shielding.
- Fan: requires extensive disassembly, including removing the motherboard and heat-pipe assembly. See the fan replacement guide.
- Thermal interface: replacing thermal compound entails deep access to the heat sink and is a repair task, not a guaranteed way to eliminate fan noise. Thermal pads should not be substituted by guesswork: incorrect thickness can prevent contact or stress the board.
For the launch teardown, iFixit lists a Phillips #0 screwdriver, T8 Torx screwdriver, tweezers, spudger, plastic opening tools and canned air. A screw map or labeled containers, good lighting, a nonconductive work surface and antistatic precautions are sensible additions for hands-on work. Use a dedicated repair guide for the specific job rather than treating the teardown photo sequence as instructions.
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Do later PS4 Pro revisions have the same internals?
No. The documented CUH-7015B is a CUH-70xx launch-family unit. CUH-71xx and CUH-72xx revisions can differ in fasteners, board layouts, fan arrangements and thermal hardware. iFixit separates parts by revision in its PS4 Pro parts catalog, and its CUH-72xx motherboard listing illustrates why a similar-looking component should not be presumed interchangeable. Check the full CUH model number before ordering a board, fan, chassis part or other revision-specific component.
What the teardown means for owners and used-console buyers
The PS4 Pro’s interior shows the trade-off behind its performance increase: one more capable CPU/GPU package requires stronger power delivery and more elaborate cooling, adding size and internal complexity. The design still offers useful modularity, particularly for storage, but deep repairs are not beginner-level jobs.
When inspecting a used unit, check the full CUH model, confirm HDMI output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB ports and optical-drive operation, and listen for excessive fan noise under load. Look for damaged panels, missing screws, stripped fasteners or signs of poor prior repair. A known-good drive matters; if storage is the weak point, an SSD is an option for faster loading, not better graphics. Do not assume that a later revision will use exactly the same parts or have the same noise behavior as the launch model.
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