Overheating - the constant problem of any gaming equipment, whether it be a PC or a gaming console like the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The problem is also a challenge addressing for developers and consumers alike, forcing them to create ways to manage gaming equipment's temperature and prevent such a problem. While the PC has its own creative ways to manage its temperatures effectively, consoles don't because of their self-sustaining nature.
So do external cooling fans work on the video game consoles of the day?
On The PlayStation Side...
Sony has quite the experience when it comes to fixing overheated consoles. The PHAT PlayStation 3 has a common problem called the Yellow Light of Death (lovingly known as YLOD) wherein the console's GPU failed due to low-quality underfill used during the console's assembly, per the Retro Consoles Wiki and Console Wizard.
YLOD is more likely to happen to a PHAT PS3 than the later version because Sony used a very low-quality thermal paste on both the GPU and CPU, increasing its temperature while in use.
The problem was so widespread that the BBC covered the issue and aired a parody video of it.
While the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 do not have this problem (or as widespread as the YLOD), owners of PS3 likely became vigilant for any dust accumulating on their next PlayStation console.
Though external fans for the PlayStation 4 and 5 have become widespread, their use is, unfortunately, not recommended. According to Old School Gamers, using them doesn't offer many advantages and can even damage the console itself.
The only solution to prevent overheating with a PlayStation console is proper ventilation and making sure no dust is blocking the console's ventilation ducts to promote good ventilation.
On The Xbox Side...
The Xbox consoles also have a similar (and just as popular) problem in the form of the Red Ring of Death (RROD) for the Xbox 360. While there are various factors at play when such a problem occurs, one of them is overheating, as evidenced by two red flashing lights around the Xbox 360's power button, per Inverse.
The problem was so widespread that YouTubers created parody videos of the problem on the video-sharing platform - and it gets worse from there. Microsoft VP of Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg said in "Power On," the 2021 documentary about the Xbox's history, that the company had no sense of how big of an issue it was at the time, and that it didn't know how to deal with it.
Much like Sony's track record, Microsoft's next console, the Xbox series X|S didn't have a problem as widespread (or popular) as the RROD. However, people are still selling external cooling fans for the video game console to alleviate fears of their Xbox console overheating.
While there are some pockets of success in using an external cooling fan, professionals and almost every Xbox user swears by the effectiveness of the cooling fans Xbox consoles have from the get-go.
According to Reddit user wugeezy, external cooling fans do more harm than good; the best option is to leave the console alone and make sure it's well-ventilated. How-To Geek agrees with wugeezy, stating that an Xbox's cooling system is more than capable of handling the heat. Keeping it clean, well-ventilated, and replacing broken cooling components are the only ways people can help manage an Xbox console's heat.
Bottom Line
The cooling and ventilation systems of both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Seres X|S consoles are more than capable of handling their console's heating and keeping it at an acceptable level. Using an external cooling fan will only make things worse for console games in the long run.
Getting one is not worth the money nor the risk it prsents.
