The PS4 Pro’s extra graphics capability lives in one custom processor, not a pair of separate GPUs. Opening the launch model reveals why that performance needed more room: a higher-capacity power supply, a large heat-pipe cooler and substantial fan, alongside a removable standard 2.5-inch hard drive. The detailed teardown covers model CUH-7015B, so its exact board and fastener details should not be assumed to apply to every PS4 Pro revision.
Which PS4 Pro did the teardown examine?
iFixit published its photographic teardown on November 11, 2016, using a launch-family CUH-7015B, part of the CUH-70xx series. Sony also released a piece-by-piece teardown video, reported by PlayStation LifeStyle. Sony’s video and iFixit’s independent teardown are related coverage, but the component identifications and repairability assessment discussed here are iFixit’s.
The CUH-7015B is a useful look at the Pro’s original design, not a universal schematic. Later CUH-71xx and CUH-72xx systems can differ in internal parts and fasteners.
What becomes accessible before a full teardown?
The console’s outer panels and screws conceal a modular interior rather than a sealed, glued assembly. The removable hard-drive bay is the most practical point of access for owners: changing storage does not require removing the motherboard or cooling assembly. Deeper work—such as reaching the fan—means taking apart much more of the console. iFixit notes that its teardown is not a repair guide.
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- 4K gaming and entertainment - games and movies shine with amazing 4K clarity
- graphics become sharper and more realistic, skin tones become warmer and more lifelike, while textures and environments burst into life like never before
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iFixit’s launch-unit walkthrough lists a Phillips #0 screwdriver, T8 Torx screwdriver, tweezers, spudger, plastic opening tools and canned air. For repair work, use a labeled screw map, good lighting, a nonconductive work surface and antistatic precautions. Thermal pads should be replaced only when their correct thickness and placement are known; guessing can compromise contact or stress the board.
Why is the PS4 Pro larger than the base PS4?
The Pro’s power delivery and heat management take up meaningful space. iFixit gives the launch Pro’s power supply a 289-watt rating, compared with 165 watts for the original 2013 PS4. Those figures describe supply capacity, not the console’s constant or typical gaming consumption. Despite the much higher rating, iFixit found the Pro supply was only about 74.2 grams heavier than the original PS4 unit.
The larger cooler is another major part of the answer. The more capable APU produces heat that must be carried away from the board, so the Pro uses a broad copper heat sink and heat-pipe assembly, thermal pads over multiple chips, and a substantial centrifugal fan. The fan in iFixit’s launch teardown is a Nidec unit rated at 2.1 amps at 12 volts—about 25.2 watts at its nameplate maximum, not its normal operating draw.
Rank #2
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What is on the motherboard?
One processor package, not two GPUs
At the centre is the Sony/SCEI CXD90044G system-on-chip. It combines the AMD Jaguar CPU cores with Radeon-based graphics. The Pro’s “double GPU” description refers to its enhanced graphics capability, not two separate physical graphics chips. iFixit lists an eight-core AMD Jaguar x86-64 CPU at 2.1 GHz and Radeon graphics rated at 4.2 TFLOPS as platform specifications; neither number is a measurement made by physically inspecting the board.
Video, I/O and power components
iFixit identified a Panasonic MN864729 HDMI transmitter, a Cypress CYUSB3312 USB 3.0 hub controller, and several power-management parts, including an Infineon/International Rectifier IR35218 PWM controller and Fairchild FDMF6840C 50-amp power stage. It also identified Marvell-based wireless hardware, including an 88W8897 Avastar component beneath Sony’s wireless module, plus Rohm power-management and motor-control components.
Some identifications are tentative: iFixit described the Sony/Renesas R9J04G011FP1 and Sony CXD90036G as likely I/O controllers. They are teardown identifications, not all an official Sony parts list.
Rank #3
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- More HD Power: Turn on Boost Mode to give PS4 games access to the increased power of PS4 Pro
- HDR Technology : With an HDR TV, compatible PS4 games display an unbelievably vibrant and life like range of colors
How is the memory arranged?
Eight Samsung K4G80325FB-HC28 GDDR5 chips, each listed as 1 GB, provide the platform’s 8 GB GDDR5 main memory. The board also includes Samsung K4B4G0846E-HC28 DDR3 chips; iFixit’s component listing identifies 512 MB on the relevant board side. Platform specifications commonly describe the console as having 8 GB GDDR5 plus 1 GB DRAM. These descriptions refer to different memory pools and should not be added together as though the result were one interchangeable 9 GB block available to games.
What do the storage and optical drive reveal?
The PS4 Pro has a removable, upgradeable 2.5-inch hard drive. The drive in iFixit’s teardown was an HGST HTS541010A9E680, a factory example rather than a guarantee that every retail unit shipped with the same drive. iFixit noted that the drive label referred to 3.0 Gb/s, associated with SATA II, despite Sony’s SATA III promotion; that labeling observation does not establish the negotiated interface speed of every Pro or replacement drive.
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Rank #4
- Heighten your experiences. Enrich your adventures. Let the super charged PS4 Pro lead the way
- 4K TV Gaming : PS4 Pro outputs gameplay to your 4K TV
- More HD Power: Turn on Boost Mode to give PS4 games access to the increased power of PS4 Pro
- HDR Technology : With an HDR TV, compatible PS4 games display an unbelievably vibrant and life like range of colors
- Turn on Boost Mode to give PS4 games access to the increased power of PS4 Pro
How repairable is the PS4 Pro?
iFixit scored the launch unit 8/10 for repairability, citing modular construction, a non-proprietary hard drive and the absence of adhesive. That score is iFixit’s assessment, not an industry standard, and it does not mean every repair is easy.
- Storage: The removable drive is the most straightforward upgrade.
- Power supply and internal access: Reaching components involves removing exterior panels, screws and shielding; connectors can fit tightly.
- Fan, heat sink and motherboard: These require extensive disassembly. A fan replacement can involve removing the motherboard and heat-pipe assembly.
Dust, restricted airflow, fan wear and thermal-interface issues can all contribute to noise; cleaning or replacing thermal compound is not a guaranteed fix. Do not treat thermal-paste replacement as a casual performance upgrade, and do not apply liquid metal as routine maintenance. For fan work, follow a model-specific procedure such as iFixit’s PS4 Pro fan replacement guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why revision numbers matter
Before ordering a motherboard, fan, heat sink or chassis part, identify the full CUH model number on the console. CUH-70xx, CUH-71xx and CUH-72xx units can have different board layouts, fan arrangements, thermal hardware and screw patterns. iFixit separates revision families in its PS4 Pro parts catalog; a CUH-72xx motherboard listing illustrates why model-specific matching matters. Do not assume a visually similar replacement board is interchangeable.
Best Value
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What to check in a used PS4 Pro
The teardown is useful as a checklist, not a guarantee of the condition of any particular used console. Confirm the CUH model, test HDMI output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB ports and optical drive, and check whether the fan becomes excessively loud under load. Look for missing screws, damaged panels, stripped fasteners or signs of poor previous repairs. If storage is slow or the drive’s history is unknown, account for a possible replacement; an SSD improves responsiveness rather than graphics capability.
For the original launch-model component layout and tool list, see iFixit’s PS4 Pro teardown and its teardown summary.
Quick Recap
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