PS5 Pro console in cardboard box runs for a year

A PlayStation 5 Pro console assembled inside a cardboard shoebox has completed a year of daily operation without any issues. The unusual project was created by a pawn shop owner in the United States who acquired the video game's internal electronic components for just 100 dollars. The story gained attention after the creator shared the results of his twelve-month experience with the modified device.

How the components ended up in a cardboard box

The device's origin stems from a scam pulled at a Walmart supermarket in the United States. A customer bought an original PlayStation 5 Pro, removed all of its essential internal electronic parts, and returned the empty plastic shell to get a full refund. Later, a Reddit user known as bayareapyro, who runs a pawn shop, bought the board with the processor directly from that customer for 100 dollars for personal use. Lacking affordable replacement shell options on the market, he decided to house the components in a shoebox.

The overheating challenge and the fan solution

When the project was revealed online, several users predicted that the video game would quickly fail due to the lack of the original cooling system, designed to direct airflow inside the factory shell. Indeed, without the original plastic structure, the PlayStation 5 Pro board overheated in about 30 minutes when running demanding games like Crimson Desert, or when using the PSVR2 virtual reality headset. To bypass this limitation, the owner installed an external household fan pointed at the board, which allowed for constant daily use without further issues.

The myth of dust buildup without the original shell

Another major concern raised by critics of the project was that dust accumulating on the exposed electronic components would destroy the device in a short time. However, after a full year of use, the console owner found no significant dirt buildup that impaired its performance. According to the project's creator, dust only becomes a serious issue in the original models because it gets trapped and accumulates inside the closed shell, blocking the air vents. Without the outer plastic cover, air flows freely around the electronic parts.

The scarcity of replacement parts on the market

The decision to improvise the cardboard housing highlights a real difficulty faced by the console's consumers. Although the manufacturer and third-party companies sell various accessories, complete replacement shells are extremely rare on the market. When they do appear on auction sites like eBay, these plastic parts usually cost close to 200 dollars in the United States. With the improvised shell and the household fan, the user saved 800 dollars compared to the console's official suggested price, which starts at 900 dollars in the United States and 900 euros in Europe, keeping the device ready to run the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.

With information from Wccftech, TweakTown, mobidevices.com.