PS4 Fan Noise

Data Ghost said:
OKAY so I have been plagued by loud PS4 fans on numerous PS4's and had come to the conclusion that 'whisper quiet' PS4's were just a myth (apologies to the people who I dismissed before, love you).

I have just received PS4 replacement number 4 after the last one started suffering from a weak disk loading mechanism (like my first PS4). To my complete surprise its REALLY QUIET.

Some of you may remember my original vid where I demonstrate the fans kicking in as I boot up MGSV to the title screen (an excellent way to demonstrate the issue):

http://youtu.be/f6Oh71t2ees

Well here is my replacement PS4 under the same conditions, and well, listen for yourself. The difference is incredible:

http://youtu.be/FmCI9cIlIbI

A couple of things to note, this machine is brand new, not refurbished, and has probably been recently built. I also have my new system horizontal rather than vertical but before you say it, I had tried my previous noisy systems horizontal as well but they were just as noisy.

Im really happy as you can imagine. Whilst I had just learned to ignore the noise it was never ideal, and it really does seem like its a lottery. With all the faulty disk drives and loud fans Im not greatly convinced on the PS4 build quality as a whole.
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Did you keep track of the model numbers on your ps4s while going through them?
Is the new ps4 a CUH-11XX model?

The PS4 CUH-11 refresh uses slightly less power, has a 10% larger heat sink and the fin design is better which lets air flow with less turbulence. Providing the console is assembled correctly the potential for a quieter system is there.
 
I seemingly have a new issue now. A week or two back (right around 2.02 I believe?), my PS4 started making a slight grinding noise when booting up that lasts for about a second. I know it's the fan, but i'm not sure what prompted this issue. Is there anything I can check or do on my own, or do I have to send this back?
 
I think you should be more concerned if you don't ever hear the fan.

You hear the fan because it is doing it's job. It is cooling your system. Some games tax the system more than others... That will result in higher internal temperature which will make the fan run faster in order to move more air.
 
Moosehole said:
I think you should be more concerned if you don't ever hear the fan.

You hear the fan because it is doing it's job. It is cooling your system. Some games tax the system more than others... That will result in higher internal temperature which will make the fan run faster in order to move more air.
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This post should be in the OP. http://neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=140038636&postcount=499

It has nothing to do with the game. I went through the exact same thing. First one would blast the fans all the time. The second never does.
 
Moosehole said:
I think you should be more concerned if you don't ever hear the fan.

You hear the fan because it is doing it's job. It is cooling your system. Some games tax the system more than others... That will result in higher internal temperature which will make the fan run faster in order to move more air.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I used to say, however I can FEEL the fans blowing the air out of the back which is moderately warm, and the top of the console is only barely warm so there is no heat buildup inside. They are working I just barely hear them.

Just played battlefield 4 multiplayer and I would always hear the fans step up and down during play, even if I had only just turned the console on. No so with this new one. If they are stepping up and down I can't hear it anymore.
 
I just sent my PS4 back because of an extremely loud and clicking fan. It's out in the open air, horizontal, in my 68 degree SF house.

Really hope the one I get back is quieter...
 
I feel like I have lucked out in this regard. My PS4 is freaking whisper quiet and I have never heard the fan ramp up into a full blown blower.
 
Well....I've thrown all my games at it and it's remained completely quiet. I have kept the volume down just to listen to it. Played all the usual fan revving suspects with not so much as a whoosh!

Check out another pair of comparison videos showing the fans going wild during The Last of Us on the previous console. In the first vid you can hear the fans from across the room!:

http://youtu.be/n6RizzBLG6w

...and the same part of the game on the new console, quiet, even though I'm right next to it:

http://youtu.be/E5_564xjsSA

I think its fair to say that these videos are absolute proof. Hopefully I've given people the kind of useful comparisons I was looking for when I had a noisy console.

EDIT: Its also worth noting that when I bring up the OS during a game (which is another time that can drive the fans wild) it remains the same.
 
big_z said:
Did you keep track of the model numbers on your ps4s while going through them?
Is the new ps4 a CUH-11XX model?

The PS4 CUH-11 refresh uses slightly less power, has a 10% larger heat sink and the fin design is better which lets air flow with less turbulence. Providing the console is assembled correctly the potential for a quieter system is there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, I was not aware that there had been a slight revision to the PS4. Anyway I don't have the model numbers of the previous PS4's, however I can confirm that this one is the new CUH-11 model.
 
big_z said:
The PS4 CUH-11 refresh uses slightly less power, has a 10% larger heat sink and the fin design is better which lets air flow with less turbulence. Providing the console is assembled correctly the potential for a quieter system is there.
Click to expand...

Really? Where is this info?

IIRC Kernl had a CUH-11 (after many changes) and still wasn't happy - he changed the paste which sorted it...but happy to believe there is hope out there!
 
I got my replacement PS4 back a little over a week ago. It's quieter than the one I sent in, but it's still too loud for my liking.

I actually bought Far Cry 4 on Xbox One simply because the system is dead quiet. Oh, and suspend/resume.
 
goonergaz said:
Really? Where is this info?

IIRC Kernl had a CUH-11 (after many changes) and still wasn't happy - he changed the paste which sorted it...but happy to believe there is hope out there!
Click to expand...

just google ps4 cuh-1100 and a comparison should be in the first few links.
 
Data Ghost said:
Thanks for the info, I was not aware that there had been a slight revision to the PS4. Anyway I don't have the model numbers of the previous PS4's, however I can confirm that this one is the new CUH-11 model.
Click to expand...

Interesting...I guess I should consider getting a revision at some point. Mine isn't unbearable but super quiet does sound appealing.
 
My white one started whisper quiet, but over time the fans have become much louder. Really sucks when trying to watch a movie or during quiet parts.
 
PS4s seems like a roulette wheel nightmare as to whether you get a quiet one or a crappy loud one.

Really makes me worried as I am going to get one soon.
 
Mine is noticable on while playing some parts of Dragon Age, it never gets incredibly loud but loud of enough to be noticable during quiet scenes, I have to turn the sound up to drown out the sound. But then in Destiny I never heard the fan beyond the usual hum.
 
badb0y said:
I feel like I have lucked out in this regard. My PS4 is freaking whisper quiet and I have never heard the fan ramp up into a full blown blower.
Click to expand...

Same here. My PC's disc drive is loader than my PS4(fan, disc and all). With the TV on, you don't notice it at all.

Currently playing Dragon Age.
 
I reached the same conclusions as the guy top of the page, there are loud and quiet ps4s in the wild. It's not just noise though, there is also a large difference in heat production. My destiny bundle ps4 barely ever heats up. The launch system I used to use was really hot to touch. The air at the back was also much hotter. I think someone has already pointed out this, I think it's related to chip binning. Considering how much Sony was trying to produce to cover the demand they clearly didn't have the luxury of choosing the best chips, so they probably slapped every chip that was stable enough to work. In fact there were a lot of ps4s that didn't work after unboxing.
 
garginator850 said:
So? Deal with it.
Click to expand...
Excellent contribution.

GameAddict411 said:
I reached the same conclusions as the guy top of the page, there are loud and quiet ps4s in the wild. It's not just noise though, there is also a large difference in heat production. My destiny bundle ps4 barely ever heats up. The launch system I used to use was really hot to touch. The air at the back was also much hotter. I think someone has already pointed out this, I think it's related to chip binning. Considering how much Sony was trying to produce to cover the demand they clearly didn't have the luxury of choosing the best chips, so they probably slapped every chip that was stable enough to work. In fact there were a lot of ps4s that didn't work after unboxing.
Click to expand...
If you only play Destiny on your Destiny bundle PS4, that's why it doesn't heat up ;)

I assume you test the same games on the consoles when you compare.
 
Mogwai said:
Excellent contribution.


If you only play Destiny on your Destiny bundle PS4, that's why it doesn't heat up ;)

I assume you test the same games on the consoles when you compare.
Click to expand...

Off course I did, I tested killzone on both in pretty similar conditions and my launch system sounded like it's about to take off, while on my destiny ps4 it was completely silent.
 
Dedication Through Light said:
Mine is noticable on while playing some parts of Dragon Age, it never gets incredibly loud but loud of enough to be noticable during quiet scenes, I have to turn the sound up to drown out the sound. But then in Destiny I never heard the fan beyond the usual hum.
Click to expand...

I've had three PS4s. All were similar in regards to noise. Some games rev the fans up high, some don't. Destiny never caused them to kick in much. Diablo made all three rev really high. Loud enough that I preferred to use headphones. GTA does it some when driving downtown, and a lot when the game is rendering high grass, otherwise not much. Trials makes it kick in a lot, as does TLOU. In terms of noise, it's by far the worst of the three next gen consoles from my experience since XB1 and Wii U make no noise whatsoever other than the disc spinning.
 
So, this years winter games seem to make the fan come on more than the release titles.

I hear mine a lot during Far Cry 4, a bit during GTA V, a bit during Dragon Age: Inquisistion and a bit during Assassins Creed: Unity.

I guess this is normal, as its just pumping out the hot air being produced.
 
Tetranet said:
Dualshockers (which I can't link) has some nice info taken from a Japanese site that opened up the PS4. It doesn't seem like much of an "upgrade" but it's definitely different.
Click to expand...

I don't get the mobo pictures. Seems like just one mobo with shots of both sides.
Am I missing some pics for the comparison between models?

I don't see any difference with the heatsink either.
edit: nevermind it's one homogenous unit instead of a sort of 2-part one now.

Also zomg it's 50g lighter :P
 
Might be slightly OT but I'm more amazed that the air intakes still doesn't have some kind of filter. It takes the air from below the console (if you have it vertically) so it will suck up some good amount of dust. Every Fan should have a filter!

The Xbone has a huge ass fan that actually sucks in the air to cool it down (axial) while the PS4 has more power, is way smaller and has a fan that just blows the hot air out (centrifugal). It's basically the cheaper option that makes the most sense for small cases that don't have a proper way to get cool air in. That's why all (most) stock PC graphic cards have centrifugal fans and are louder than the axial versions.

I would always prefer a slightly larger version of anything if it means it's quieter.
 
Derpyduck said:
I've had three PS4s. All were similar in regards to noise. Some games rev the fans up high, some don't. Destiny never caused them to kick in much. Diablo made all three rev really high. Loud enough that I preferred to use headphones. GTA does it some when driving downtown, and a lot when the game is rendering high grass, otherwise not much. Trials makes it kick in a lot, as does TLOU. In terms of noise, it's by far the worst of the three next gen consoles from my experience since XB1 and Wii U make no noise whatsoever other than the disc spinning.
Click to expand...

Sorry to bump this thread, and also quote myself, but I've since given my PS4 to my daughter (living room TV) so we didn't fight for time with it and to use as a Hulu Plus box for my wife. I replaced it with a PS4 I bought from Amazon this month. It says it's manufactured in September 2014.

The noise on the new one is completely different than every other PS4 I've owned or used at a family member's house. It makes the same low whooshing sound that all PS4s make, but unlike the other PS4s the fans never kick up louder/faster in games like Trials, TLOU, inFamous etc. It's the same low whooshing sound all the time. It doesn't even kick up when I'm in a game and then go to the main PS4 UI with the game running in the background.

So now when people claim their PS4 is quiet all the time, I know what they mean. I wonder what the difference between the models is though. Why do a lot of PS4s have fans that kick up really loudly while other PS4s don't?
 
Derpyduck said:
So now when people claim their PS4 is quiet all the time, I know what they mean. I wonder what the difference between the models is though. Why do a lot of PS4s have fans that kick up really loudly while other PS4s don't?
Click to expand...

Probably the same reason as to why certain DS4 controllers have crappy analog sticks and some don't.

It seems like Sony didn't manufacture the first batches with the best components available.
 
I started playing Tomb Raider DE two days ago and was kind of shocked how loud my PS4 can get in certain situations. I don`t remember my first PS4 beeing that loud while playing TR. On the other hand it`s much quieter than my old PS4 while playing TLOU.
You can`t have it all I guess....
 
CryTharsis said:
I started playing Tomb Raider DE two days ago and was kind of shocked how loud my PS4 can get in certain situations. I don`t remember my first PS4 beeing that loud while playing TR. On the other hand it`s much quieter than my old PS4 while playing TLOU.
You can`t have it all I guess....
Click to expand...

This is why i'm waiting for either a cooler chipset or slim model.
 
Mogwai said:
Probably the same reason as to why certain DS4 controllers have crappy analog sticks and some don't.

It seems like Sony didn't manufacture the first batches with the best components available.
Click to expand...

There are new PS4s making the same loud noises. I'm not sure what the difference is between a quiet and loud PS4, but it's definitely not something attributable to launch.
 
Sorry for the bump, but couldn't see any more recent threads on this.

Every so often (maybe once a week or less) my ps4 will make what I can only describe as a slight rumbling/vibrating sound. Not very loud and easy to miss if you're not as ocd as I am. This will always be when first powering the console up and the only way to be sure of clearing it is shutting it down, removing the power lead and pressing the power button a few times till it stops making the beeping noise.

Sorry if that's a bit vague but anyone else experience this or have any idea on the cause?

Just to note the fan seems to be running fine and--bar certain parts of uncharted 4--is pretty quiet.
 
I have my original PS4 launch console (Pre-orderd from Amazon ahead of release) and the fans have never bothered me much up until Uncharted 4. The fans are SOOO loud when playing this game, I don't recall it in the LoU PS4 edition, Destiny or the like. Anyone else notice louder fans while playing Uncharted 4? Think the bearings in my fan are going bad?
 
Mine USED to be silent. Now its so loud its almost unbearable. It actually puts me off from gaming on it
 
Mines hitting ridiculous noise levels, to the point it can be heard on a different floor/rooms. I tried taking it apart but the back screw to remove the bottom case is made of cheese
 
Frostburn said:
I have my original PS4 launch console (Pre-orderd from Amazon ahead of release) and the fans have never bothered me much up until Uncharted 4. The fans are SOOO loud when playing this game, I don't recall it in the LoU PS4 edition, Destiny or the like. Anyone else notice louder fans while playing Uncharted 4? Think the bearings in my fan are going bad?
Click to expand...

Let's put it this way..I can only play the game with headphones on it's that loud. :/ I'm planning on selling my PS4 when Neo hits and upgrade but who is to say the same problem doesn't occur?
 
Frostburn said:
I have my original PS4 launch console (Pre-orderd from Amazon ahead of release) and the fans have never bothered me much up until Uncharted 4. The fans are SOOO loud when playing this game, I don't recall it in the LoU PS4 edition, Destiny or the like. Anyone else notice louder fans while playing Uncharted 4? Think the bearings in my fan are going bad?
Click to expand...

oh wow, me too..

it seems that UC4 really push the PS4 to its limit. Never had any fan noise issue before uncharted 4, and now i can hear it even when playing overwatch..
 
TAS said:
Let's put it this way..I can only play the game with headphones on it's that loud. :/ I'm planning on selling my PS4 when Neo hits and upgrade but who is to say the same problem doesn't occur?
Click to expand...

I'm going to be extremely sceptical of the next ps4 unless it is addressed specifically. I've resorted to putting mine in an empty closest across the room and running cables out under the door....

I even opened mine up, and it was hardly dirty. Haven't been motivated enough to check the thermal paste.
 
Yeah, the fans during Uncharted 4 are off the chart annoying.

My PS4 also has a weak drive.. you pretty much have to force the disc in. On top of two controllers having peeling thumb sticks. The build quality by Sony is fucking horrible.

If it wasn't for the exclusives I'd probably just ditch the thing and just play everything on my One.
 
Here are the cases where my PS4 gets incredibly loud:

MGS V: When being in the Helicopter

Uncharted 4: The Main Menu

DOOM: Some Menus, Some Fights and surprisingly often when running around with no enemies on screen. This is the game where my PS4s fan gets most often ultra loud.

Dark Souls 3: Sometimes for one or two minutes after starting the game. Also when pressing the home button, while being in the game.

If you say you got a silent PS4, please try these games and scenarios and tell me the results :)
 
th4tguy said:
Mine was laud until I redid the thermal paste. Now it's quieter than my 2nd non launch unit.
Click to expand...

Same here, bought it at launch and uc4 and a ton of other games made it sound like a roaring jetplane.

After replacing the thermal paste and a bit of cleaning of the fan it's silent to the point that after I booted it up and played some I thought the fan was broken (it was not) :D
 
It only really goes to "11" when uncharted 4 is playing. I could hear it even with headphones on.
This was after I cleaned all the dust inside of it as well. Perhaps I should have checked the paste while I was there.
All over games are fine.
 
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