Summer is just around the corner. Temperatures have begun to rise and heat waves they won’t be long in coming. This is always a problem for devices like consoles and PCs, especially those that spend many hours on.
The consoles they are the most battered by the heat due to their cooling systems, that’s why I’ll give you some of them below tips to keep as cool as possible your PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S console.
10 tips for your console to survive summer heat waves
The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles are facing their second summer, one that apparently it will be as hot as the past. Heat waves are just around the corner, which means the time has come to prepare your play area for the high temperatures. How to get your console to survive the heat?
The 10 tips that I share below are the result of the recommendations of professionals and the experience of the years. They are divided into two blocks: locationY maintenance and habits.
Location
- Avoid placing the console near the wall or in narrow places: the corners and gaps in furniture attached to walls are very bad places to put your console in summer. The heat it gives off will build up, creating an environment that is very detrimental to operation.
- Under no circumstances place things on or under your console, not even the beautiful “gamer rug” that your grandmother has knitted for you with all her love. This also includes figures. Ideally, place it on the surface of the table or shelf.
- highlands are evil: Heat tends to accumulate on top, so higher shelves are usually a very bad idea for placing your console in the summer. In addition, more dust tends to accumulate, which will end up aggravating the operation of your console much faster. Do not place it on the ground either, look for a medium-low point.
- Look for “cool spots” away from currents: The air currents that enter through your window during heat waves are very hot and tend to contain a lot of dust, so avoid placing your console near the window and in points of drafts.
- Avoid placing your console near desk lampsThese emit heat when turned on. Obviously, don’t even think about pointing one of these directly at your console because you’ll end up frying it. Turn off the lamp because the light is very expensive.
- Although it usually looks very cool, try not to place your console and PC too close together… and much less stuck to a corner. Imagine the heat that will be generated at that point with the console and PC turned on, and the heat accumulated. Let the air run between both platforms, but in a good way.
- If you have a fan, you can place the console in its range. It’s not the most effective advice, but any help is welcome. Try not to apply this tip with the window open, because then you’ll be blowing hot air and dust directly onto your console. If you have air conditioning, avoid sudden changes in temperature.
Maintenance and habits
- Regularly clean your console to prevent accumulation of dust: if maintenance is important under normal circumstances, in summer you should take it to the extreme because in many areas dust accumulation tends to increase. If the cooling system is not working properly, your console will die before you see GTA VI.
- Avoid using multiple devices at the same time in the same room: I am aware that this is very complicated to comply with. Remember that each additional console and PC increases the temperature. If you do, remember not to place them too close to prevent them from heating each other up.
- Avoid playing during peak heat hours: The heat tends to become more intense as mid-day approaches and subsides a bit as night approaches.
Last but not least, remember stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, especially if you do very long gaming sessions and/or if you spend many hours sitting in front of the computer. It’s easy to forget that you’re getting dehydrated when you play/work.