PS5 Liquid Metal Doesn't Dry Out, It Hardens: What That Means for Your Console
Updated: Oct 20
If you've heard that the liquid metal inside a PS5 "dries out" over time, you're not alone. We've said it ourselves in older posts. A new two-year experiment reported by Tom's Hardware shows that's not quite right, and the real story matters if you're thinking about PS5 liquid metal replacement. Here's what the test found, what it means for PS5 overheating, and how we handle it at our PS5 repair Burlington shop.
What the two-year experiment found
Hardware enthusiast and Thermal Grizzly boss der8auer examined a two-year-old liquid metal application under an electron microscope. His finding: the liquid metal doesn't dry out. Instead, the gallium in it reacts with the cooler's metal and forms a solid compound.
According to the article, the test showed:
After one hour: the liquid metal was still liquid.
At two months: no liquid was visible, and crystals had formed everywhere.
After two years: nothing had changed further.
In der8auer's words, the liquid metal "reacted chemically and it formed a solid compound," so the metal is still there, just in another form.
Myth vs fact: liquid metal doesn't dry out, it hardens
Liquid metal thermal material is an alloy of gallium and indium, often with tin, that's liquid at room temperature. Over time, here's what happens depending on the cooler surface, per the article:
On copper: gallium bonds with copper to form a compound called CuGa2. That layer conducts heat at about 100 W/mK, versus roughly 400 for copper, so about a quarter as well. It stays solid up to about 254°C, so "you will not be able to melt it again."
On nickel plating: gallium forms NiGa5 instead. Nickel keeps the layer about 10 times thinner, though NiGa5 conducts heat worse than the copper compound.
The article also says the hardened layer grows about 1 micrometre a day until it reaches about 50 to 100 micrometres, depending on temperature and how much gallium is available.
What this means for PS5 owners
The PS5 uses liquid metal between its main chip and cooler. The Tom's Hardware article doesn't test a PS5. But the chemistry it describes explains why an aged layer is a concern: once liquid metal has turned into a solid compound, that compound moves heat less effectively than the bare metal it replaced. Less effective heat transfer at the chip can mean higher temperatures and a cooling system that has to work harder.
That's why, on an older console, it's worth looking at the liquid metal layer rather than just blowing out dust. If you're seeing loud fans, sudden shutdowns or "console is too hot" errors, our GTA 6 overheating guide covers the warning signs.
Why removing old liquid metal takes care
The article notes that hardened residue is tricky to remove and can't simply be wiped off with isopropyl alcohol or acetone. It also says liquid metal "should stay in the enthusiast bubble" and isn't meant for the average user. In other words, this isn't a DIY job. It's work for a technician who has the right tools and patience.
Our PS5 liquid metal replacement and deep clean
Our GTA 6-ready deep clean handles both problems at once:
Full internal cleaning of dust from the fan and heatsink
Careful removal of the old liquid metal layer
Fresh liquid metal applied to the processor
Works for PS5 or Xbox
$99, done in about 2–3 hours
See our PlayStation repair page for the other PS5 repairs we handle, including HDMI ports.
FAQ
Does PS5 liquid metal dry out?
Not exactly. According to a two-year test reported by Tom's Hardware, liquid metal reacts with the cooler's metal and hardens into a solid compound instead of drying out. That compound conducts heat less well than the original metal surface.
Can old liquid metal cause PS5 overheating?
It can contribute. The hardened compound moves heat less effectively, which can mean higher temperatures, especially when combined with built-up dust. The article didn't test a PS5 specifically, so we check each console's temperatures and condition in person.
Is PS5 liquid metal replacement something I can do myself?
We don't recommend it. Liquid metal conducts electricity, and the article notes hardened residue is tricky to remove and that liquid metal is best left to enthusiasts. Our technicians do it as part of the $99 deep clean.
Book your PS5 liquid metal replacement in Burlington
Whether you're in Burlington, Oakville or Hamilton, our console repair Burlington team can get your PS5 or Xbox running cool again. Book online at level2repair.com/dropoff or visit us at 3114 Rotary Way, Burlington, ON. Learn more about our overheating repair in Burlington.
Source: Tom's Hardware, "Experiment shows liquid metal TIM doesn't dry out; it turns solid", published October 16, 2026.
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