Cracked APU behavior

[simkard]

Dear All,

I'm just wondering what are the behavior(s) of a PS5 with a cracked APU ?

• Is it still powering on ?
• Might it work some seconds/minutes before crashing ?
• UART error codes linked to this problem ?

Thanks for your inputs

 

[stetofix]

The behavior of a cracked APU depends on the spot where it cracked. I had cases from no start to failing during booting.
Sometimes no UART codes to subsystem UART error codes due to failing to communicate with the APU.
(For example: UART error C0920002 = USB C redriver issue. In my case the USB C redriver was fine, but one line was shorted by a crack at the APU. This was a clear visible as thermal hotspot on the broken die edge.)

 

[simkard]

The behavior of a cracked APU depends on the spot where it cracked. I had cases from no start to failing during booting.
Sometimes no UART codes to subsystem UART error codes due to failing to communicate with the APU.
(For example: UART error C0920002 = USB C redriver issue. In my case the USB C redriver was fine, but one line was shorted by a crack at the APU. This was a clear visible as thermal hotspot on the broken die edge.)

Thanks for your feedback on this subject.

By side of that, UART error codes are generated by Northbridge isn't it ?
So even if APU is cracked/down/killed/unresponsive, we should have specific UART error codes showing up ?

 

[NandoLawson]

How do you manage to crack the APU? O.o

 

[simkard]

That's a good question !
I actually don't have any PS5 with a cracked APU, but I was wondering what would be the behavior of such a problem.
Keeping in mind that the APU is probably the only part which cannot be saved/replaced (+ some other chips/ICs too)

 

[stetofix]

Thanks for your feedback on this subject.

By side of that, UART error codes are generated by Northbridge isn't it ?
So even if APU is cracked/down/killed/unresponsive, we should have specific UART error codes showing up ?

Yes, the UART codes are generated by the southbridge. Mostly very early within the first five seconds when a PS5's power cord plugged in. The southbridge perform a preboot check and each subsystem gets powered for a split second in a sequence and reports direct or indirect back.
As long as the southbridge is online and the NOR is ok, there should be UART error codes showing up.

How do you manage to crack the APU? O.o

This more common as you maybe think. If the PS5 gets dropped sometimes the pressure from the cooling block is enough to break the edge of the die. Or at the edm-040, where the cooling block is glued to the backplate and not screwed is enough movement possible to create a good lever with the hole heatpipe to breake edges from the APU die.

 

[NandoLawson]

Ouch, that's bad. I hope I'll never drop my console.

Am I right that the APU isn't replaceable?

 

[stetofix]

APU, TPM-chip and three of the SSD NANDs (at the newer four chip version Idk) are unique or contains unique data which can only replaced as a set.

 

[NandoLawson]

Yea that's what I thought. Thx for all your infos.