Key Takeaways
1. Tiny PS5 Redux Launch: The YouTube channel Not From Concentrate introduced the Tiny PS5 Redux, a smaller, user-assembled version of their original compact design.
2. Design Improvements: The new model features a larger 6-litre chassis made from aluminium, enhanced cooling, and easy-to-clean components, addressing stability and temperature issues from the original.
3. Enhanced Cooling and Performance: Improved cooling efficiency, with a redesigned intake system and additional fans, has reduced temperatures by around 6 °C, preventing thermal throttling and frame drops.
4. Connectivity and Storage Upgrades: The Redux includes internal Wi-Fi antenna placement, foldable Bluetooth antennas, and support for full-size 2280 SSDs up to 4 TB, eliminating the optical drive for a digital-only setup.
5. Community Project: The Tiny PS5 Redux serves as a community project with available design files on NFC’s Patreon, allowing builders to customize and assemble their versions with specific parts and tools.
Following the rise of PlayStation modding, creators have been introducing innovative upgrades to Sony’s consoles. From Devyn Johnston’s sleek BoxPlates that allow for a more horizontal setup, to Zac Builds’ liquid-cooled “PS3 Pro” that overclocks the 2006 PlayStation 3 for Gran Turismo 6 to run at 60 FPS, another modder has transformed the PS5 into a more compact and user-friendly device.
Tiny PS5 Redux Introduced
The YouTube channel Not From Concentrate (NFC) has launched the Tiny PS5 Redux, a polished version of their popular small-form-factor project, now made for fans to assemble on their own. As stated in the video description, the Redux is “the refined, simplified version designed so that you can finally make it,” complete with a full guide for assembly available in the NFC store.
Design Improvements
The original Tiny PS5 was about 60 percent smaller, fitting into a 3.3-litre SkyReach 4 Tiny case with custom mounts and cooling. However, it ran slightly warmer than the original and had issues with power supply stability. The new 6-litre Redux version not only fixes these problems but also enhances the overall quality and ease of service.
The chassis is made from aluminium and has a wrap-around bezel that features a matte finish due to Cerakote, complemented by dark-smoke acrylic side panels for a subtle view of the internals. The top plate has precision openings for USB ports and spring-loaded power and eject buttons, which are held in place with magnets for easy cleaning.
Enhanced Cooling and Performance
The lighting is designed to be subtle; the system LED is set within a polished-aluminium pocket handle, diffusing light through a 3D-printed guide. This handle serves as both a grip for carrying and a vent for exhaust.
Inside, the original heatsink plates are retained but are now paired with an Alpenföhn Black Ridge CPU cooler and two 120 mm slim Noctua fans arranged in a push–pull setup. Additionally, three 60 mm Noctua fans help expel heat through the pocket-handle exhaust.
Thermal testing on Expedition 33 (Quality preset, motion blur off, film grain off) yielded notable results. The improvement in cooling efficiency comes from a newly designed intake system. The host, Erick, 3D-printed a shroud featuring larger intake channels and added a neoprene gasket to prevent the hot air from circulating back into the system. This revamp lowered temperatures by around 6 °C and resolved the frame drops previously caused by thermal throttling.
Connectivity Upgrades
Because the aluminium shell reduced wireless performance, the Wi-Fi antenna is now placed internally beneath the top acrylic panel. Additionally, foldable external Bluetooth antennas on the back panel help minimize lag and connection issues.
Storage has seen significant enhancements as well. The earlier Tiny PS5 was restricted to short 2230 M.2 drives with a cap of 2 TB, but the Redux version now includes an M.2 extension cable and a 3D-printed bracket, allowing for a full-size 2280 SSD. This version can accommodate a 4 TB drive and a dedicated heatsink.
The optical drive from the previous model has been eliminated for a more streamlined, digital-only setup. Since the PS5 requires a drive for firmware updates, the YouTuber kept the disc-drive control board connected and powered inside the chassis. The console detects it as functional even without the actual mechanical drive. A custom 3D-printed mount secures this board behind the motherboard, ensuring that updates can still be completed without external clutter.
Final Touches
To complete the build, a revamped controller charging dock matches the titanium-and-black theme. It retains NFC’s magnetic pogo-pin charging system but adds a steel-plate base for improved weight and stability.
The previous Tiny PS5 had a recurring problem of unexpected shutdowns while playing graphically demanding games. Thermal tests showed that these shutdowns weren’t linked to overheating but rather due to the 250 W GaN power supply, which struggled with newer games that drew more than 230 W. Switching to a 500 W GaN unit completely fixed this issue.
The Redux also serves as a community project, with design files for the PS5 model 1215A available on NFC’s Patreon. Builders can source aluminium parts from SendCutSend, 3D-print the remaining pieces, and utilize a mounting bracket for the Black Ridge cooler, though the mod still requires careful assembly and some soldering skills.
You can check out the full setup process in detail below for an in-depth look at the Tiny PS5.
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