PS4 horizontal on or elevated from wood

[micdhack]

I don't have a heat meter to test this so I just want to ask from a physics perspective what is more likely to be more effective.

I noticed that my PS4 gets quite hot. I have it horizontal on a wooden surface. Ideally on top of a metal surface probably it would have been better since heat conductivity for metals is better but I've noticed in many forums people elevating the console in order to reduce heat (putting rubber stickers on the edges).

If you elevate the console, you get a flow of air underneath since the warmer air will start moving up and off the edges of the console while cooler air will fill in the gaps. However, air is a worse heat conductor from wood. Sure, the wood does get hot around the area of conduct and it does not diffuse that heat as effectively to the rest of its body but isn't better than just air?

 

[NascentOxygen]

Hi micdhack. http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5725/red5e5etimes5e5e45e5e25.gif

Initially, while the wood is cold it probably is good for taking away heat. But once it warms up, where is the heat to go to? Wood is not a good conductor of heat, so it then serves to block the escape of heat, like an insulator. Whereas at least air keeps moving, so the warmed air is continuously replaced by cooler air and the cooling process can go on endlessly. Not so with the timber barrier.

The metal heatsink, too, must shed heat somehow, usually it just acts as a large surface transferring the heat to surrounding air. Being a good conductor of heat, this works effectively. Not so good with timber.