UPDATE1: for those doubters
Reference for Operating temperature
Reference for life of capacitors (third paragraph in Reliability and length of life section)
UPDATE2: For the FCC reports.
For people who quote the FCC as testing the product to run @ 5-35 degrees, this is incorrect. The manufacture(Sony) specifies the operating temperature to the FCC who then tests the product for conducted and radiated RFI. ( not performance rather compliance)
There is a lot of misconception on the internet about the Specification of the PS4 operating temperature, where many unknowing fans are stating that the PS4 runs cool based on the operating temperature specified for the PS4.
With the final specs and wattages released for the PS4 it seams we are being dupped, which I will try to explain below.
So what does Operating temperature mean, and why is it important?
Firstly the operating temperature is the surrounding temperature around the unit. The air temperature (ta) and its specified at 5- 35 degrees. This means the maximum temperature of the environment around the ps4 cannot exceed 35 degrees, and if it does the life of the ps4 is reduced or as reports are showing the YLOD will be triggered.
But I hear you say that it doesn't get that hot where you live!
True, but remember a few things
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That new tv, or other appliances you have near the PS4 increase the temp, also as you put games around the unit or put it on a shelf the heat becomes caught in that area increasing the temp, we all know how the xbox360 loved hot temps and its rated operating temperature was much higher
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As the unit is played more dust will be caught in the fans and vents of the unit reducing the capacity to cool the unit and bring on another YLOD. Just check out how the Xbox360 faired last gen with hot environments
OK, So I can fix that by cleaning my PS4 and placing it away from everything else so why worry?
Well the ps3 max ambient temp was 55 degrees, that's 20 degrees higher. So if you played the PS3 and PS4 at the same operating temperature the PS3 would have a life 4x that of the ps4! . Whoa, What the!. So here is how it works, basically when you de-rate components (and in the case of these machines the Capacitors mainly affect the life) for ever 10 degrees lower the temperature the life approximately doubles, so because the lifetime of the ps3 is set at 55 degrees and the ps4 is 35 degrees and assuming that Sony aimed for the same lifetime then the ps3 will last 4x longer.
So there you have it, for some reason Sony has de-rated the operating temperature in the PS4 by 20 degrees, but why? was it to make it smaller? was it the addition of the extra gddr5 at the last moment? or to make the device cheaper using lower spec parts?
Watch for the incoming recommended system set-ups coming in 2014 when people start having problems. ( this is most likely why ps4 should be mounted on the side)
Nidan
Predictions JAN 08
2008 PS3-19.5M(actual 19.5) XBOX360-23M(actual 27.5) Wii - 37M(actual 45.8M)
End of 2009 PS3-27 25M XBOX360-30 35M Wii - 48 63M (revised DEC 08)
Price Point
Mid 2008 Wii $250 Xbox360$249 Xbox360(HDD)$299 PS3 $399
Mid 2009 Wii $189 Xbox360$199 Xbox360(HDD)$249 PS3 $339
Mid 2010 Wii $ 149 Xbox360$159 Xbox360(HDD)$199 PS3 $289
