The reported fault

The PS5 Slim powered on and produced a normal picture. After running for several minutes, the screen suddenly went black and the television reported that the HDMI cable had been disconnected. Power cycling could restore the picture for a short time, but the fault returned.

Why the HDMI port was replaced first

The symptoms could be caused by a worn or damaged HDMI socket, so the port was professionally replaced and inspected under magnification. The console initially appeared to work, but the same dropout returned during extended testing. This showed that the socket was not the only cause.

Trying to keep the cost down

Before recommending replacement of a very expensive decoder, we attempted a controlled reflow of the original RTD2175P. This was done to test whether the fault came from deteriorated solder connections rather than an internal failure of the chip. It gave the customer a chance of a lower-cost repair before committing to a costly replacement component.

The console again worked at first. After several minutes, the display dropped out and the television reported that the HDMI connection had been lost. The console itself remained powered on and operating.

What was actually happening

Further diagnosis pointed to the Realtek RTD2175P HDMI decoder fitted to this PS5 Slim motherboard. The decoder could initialise and produce video when cold, but after a short period the HDMI communication between the console and television would fail. Once that handshake collapsed, the TV behaved as though the cable had been unplugged even though the console was still running.

Why this repair costs much more

Many earlier PS5 motherboards use the Panasonic MN864739 HDMI encoder. It is more common and much cheaper to source. This PS5 Slim used the RTD2175P, which typically costs us around $286 AUD before labour.

• The RTD2175P is scarce and expensive to source.
• Replacement requires specialist BGA microsoldering equipment.
• The board needs careful preparation, alignment and controlled heating.
• Extended testing is needed to confirm the display remains stable once warm.
• The high part cost also increases warranty and replacement risk.

The customer chose professional repair

After we explained the diagnosis and the higher cost, the customer approved the RTD2175P replacement through us. They decided that having their own console professionally repaired was a better option than buying another device with an unknown history. They also valued that we stand behind our workmanship and had first tried the lower-cost repair path before recommending the expensive chip.

The result

Once authorised, the RTD2175P decoder was replaced and the console was tested for stable HDMI output. The repair process confirmed why some PS5 Slim HDMI jobs cost far more than a standard port replacement: the symptoms may look similar, but the failed component, part price and level of board work are very different.

Why we shared this case

Not every PS5 no-signal fault comes from the HDMI port. A console can produce video at first and still lose the HDMI handshake once the decoder warms up. By sharing real repair cases, we help customers understand why proper diagnosis matters and why we seek approval before replacing high-cost components.