When Sony launched the PlayStation 5 in 2020, it wasn’t attainable to broaden the console’s storage. Fortunately, that modified with a software program replace that the corporate pushed out lower than a yr later. And with how large some recreation installs have develop into in recent times, it’s an excellent factor, too: the PS5’s built-in 667GB of area might have been ok within the system’s first yr, however in 2024, the default drive is totally limiting.
The excellent news is an ordinary PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD can resolve all your PS5 storage woes. If that mess of acronyms has you recoiling, don’t fear: you’ll see that it’s not all that difficult. And if all you wish to know is what the perfect PS5 SSDs are, they’re proper on the prime.
Learn extra: These are the perfect SSDs in 2024
Finest PS5 SSDs in 2024
Corsair
Capability: As much as 8TB | Sequential learn efficiency: 7,100MB/s | Sequential write efficiency: 6,800MB/s | Connection: M.2
The Corsair MP600 Professional LPX makes it to the highest of our checklist for the perfect PS5 SSD for being the whole bundle. It’s quick, providing wonderful efficiency and browse speeds of as much as 7,100MB/s. It additionally comes with a pre-installed heatsink and a five-year guarantee. Better of all, the MP600 is inexpensive. After launching at $190, you may routinely discover the 1TB variant on sale for lower than $100, whereas the 2TB mannequin will set you again between $160 and $210. It’s not the quickest NVMe on this checklist, however so far as no-fuss choices go, it’s exhausting to beat the MP600.
- Constructed-in heatsink
- Inexpensive
- Not the quickest Gen4 mannequin
Essential
Capability: As much as 4TB | Learn efficiency: 7,300MB/s | Write efficiency: 6,800 MB/s | Connection: M.2
If you wish to save a bit of cash by putting in your individual heatsink, the Essential T500 is a superb choice. With learn speeds of as much as 7,300MB/s, it greater than meets Sony’s technical necessities, and you may regularly discover the 1TB mannequin for as little as $60 when it’s on sale. Essential additionally provides a model with a heatsink, so it’s price including each the Corsair MP600 and Essential T500 to a value watch checklist and shopping for whichever mannequin is cheaper whenever you’re able to improve your PS5.
- Quick
- Accessible with or with out heatsink
SABRENT
Capability: As much as 8TB | Sequential learn efficiency: 7,000MB/s | Sequential write efficiency: 6,600MB/s | Connection: M.2
Of all of the SSDs on this checklist, the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus is probably the most attention-grabbing. It comes with a novel heatsink that you just set up rather than the storage enlargement slot’s steel cowl. Sabrent claims this design improves cooling efficiency. Anticipate to pay greater than you’d for a mannequin with a extra generic heatsink, with the 1TB variant coming in at $130 and the 2TB mannequin costing between $230 and $280.
- PS5-specific heatsink design
- Not as quick as different choices
- Costly relative to different drives
SAMSUNG
Capability: As much as 4TB | Learn efficiency: 1,050MB/s | Write efficiency: 1,000MB/s | Connection: USB 3.0
As I clarify beneath, you may’t run PS5 video games from an exterior drive — however you should use one to retailer any video games you aren’t taking part in for the time being (and that features older PS4 video games). One among my favourite transportable drives is the Samsung T7. It could actually write information at a speedy 1,000 MB/s. In case you plan to make use of the drive completely for at-home use, it can save you cash by shopping for the usual mannequin as a substitute of the Defend variant, which has a rugged exterior for additional safety for many who are all the time on the go. I’ve been utilizing T7 drives to retailer my images, music and video games for years, and I’ve but to see one fail me. The newest mannequin, the Samsung T9, boasts learn/write speeds of as much as 2,000MB/s.
- Inexpensive
- Dependable
- Rugged variant obtainable
- Can’t play PS5 video games from exterior drive
How we check PS5 SSDs
After serving to to keep up this information for the previous two years, I’ve examined many of the SSDs really helpful on this checklist, both for PS5 or laptop use. I additionally purchased and used our prime decide in my very own PS5.
How a lot PS5 storage do I want?
The PlayStation 5 will settle for inside drives with between 250GB and 8TB of storage capability. In case you already personal a PS5, likelihood is you may have an inexpensive concept of how a lot storage you want on your recreation library. In case you’re shopping for an SSD with a brand new PS5, or shopping for for another person, it’s tougher to inform what you may want for a high-performance expertise.
PS5 video games are a little bit smaller on common than their PS4 equivalents, usually taking on between 30GB and 100GB, with some notable (and very talked-about) exceptions. In case you’re a fan of the Name of Obligation sequence, putting in Fashionable Warfare III and Warzone 2.0 would require about 250GB. In different phrases, a full Name of Obligation set up will take up greater than one-third of the PS5’s inside storage. In case you’re not a CoD fan, although, likelihood is you’ll be good to retailer between six to 10 video games in your PS5 internally earlier than working into issues.
You additionally want to contemplate your web pace. In case you stay in an space with sluggish broadband, the “you can just download it again” rationale doesn’t actually work. At my outdated dwelling, a 100GB obtain took me round eight hours, throughout which period it was troublesome to concurrently watch Twitch or, say, publish articles about upgrading PS5 SSDs. Maintaining video games round on the off-chance you’ll wish to play them in some unspecified time in the future is smart.
Off the bat, there’s principally no level in going for a 250GB PS5 SSD. Economically, 250GB drives aren’t that less expensive than 500GB ones — and virtually, that basically isn’t a variety of area for contemporary video games to stay on. 500GB drives, coming in at round $60 to $80, are a good choice, however the candy spot for many is to go for a high-capacity 1TB drive, which ought to run you about $100. That may greater than double the PS5 storage you may have obtainable for video games with out breaking the financial institution.
When you have the cash, 2TB drives typically provide marginal financial savings per gigabyte, and may typically be discovered when different fashions are out of inventory. Until you’re rolling in money and wish to flex, 4TB and 8TB fashions ought to largely be prevented, as you’ll find yourself paying extra per gigabyte than you’d with a 1TB or 2TB drive.
Whereas the 825GB PS5 solely gives 667GB of storage, that’s largely as a consequence of storage being reserved for the working system and caching. In case you set up a 1TB PS5 SSD, you will have, inside a margin of error, 1TB of storage obtainable for video games.
Lastly, all of our suggestions will work with the PS5 Slim and PS5 Professional.
Are you able to play PS5 video games on an exterior SSD?
Exterior exhausting drives are likely to value lower than inside SSD counterparts (and there’s an excellent probability you may personal one already). However sadly, there are restrictions on what you are able to do with them. An exterior SSD connects to your PS5 through USB, and is just appropriate for enjoying PlayStation 4 video games, or storing PS5 titles. That is helpful when you have something however the perfect high-speed web — it’s sooner to maneuver a PS5 recreation out of “cold storage” on an exterior drive than it’s to re-download it — or wish to maintain your PS4 library available.
As a result of limitations right here, you don’t want the highest-performing mannequin, though you need to go for SSDs over HDDs for improved switch speeds and cargo occasions. Any fundamental transportable drive from a good model will do, with the Essential X9 Professional and Samsung T5 being choices we’ve tried and may suggest.
Which SSD playing cards are suitable with the PS5?
The official reply to this query is an “M.2 Socket 3 (Key M) Gen4 x4 NVME SSD.” However even inside that seemingly particular description, there are nonetheless extra issues to contemplate. The primary necessities Sony has laid out for compatibility come down to hurry, cooling and bodily dimensions.
For pace, Sony says drives ought to be capable to deal with sequential reads at 5,500MB/s. Early testing confirmed that the PS5 would settle for drives as sluggish as 4,800MB/s, and that video games that faucet into the SSD usually — reminiscent of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside — would trigger no points. Just about the one factor the PS5 will outright reject is one that does not match the Gen4 x4 spec.
In our opinion, although, utilizing a drive slower than the specification is a danger that, in the event you don’t have already got that drive mendacity round, isn’t price taking. Simply because we haven’t discovered points but doesn’t imply there received’t be video games that may very well be problematic sooner or later. The value distinction between these marginally slower Gen4 drives and those that meet Sony’s spec isn’t large, and also you may as nicely cowl all of your bases.
Barely extra difficult than pace is cooling and measurement. Most new SSDs are going to be simply fantastic; the PS5 can match 22mm-wide SSDs of nearly any size (30mm, 40mm, 60mm, 80mm or 110mm, to be exact). The overwhelming majority of drives you discover shall be 22mm broad and 80mm lengthy, so no downside there.
It must be famous that the system can match a 25mm-wide drive, however that width should embody the cooling resolution. Talking of, Sony says SSDs require “effective heat dissipation with a cooling structure, such as a heatsink.” The utmost peak supported by Sony’s slot is 11.25mm, of which solely 2.45mm may be “below” the drive.
This beforehand meant among the hottest heatsinked Gen4 SSDs, together with Corsair’s MP600 Professional LP, wouldn’t match inside the PS5’s storage enlargement slot. Since Engadget first printed this information in 2021, most NVMe makers, together with Samsung, have come out with PlayStation-specific fashions that meet these necessities. That mentioned, if you wish to avoid wasting cash, naked drives are sometimes cheaper, and it’s trivial to discover a cooling resolution that may work for the PS5.
The one part in an NVMe SSD that basically requires cooling is the controller, which with out a heatsink will fortunately sear a (very small) steak. Most SSDs have chips on just one aspect, however even on double-sided SSDs, the controller is more likely to be on prime, as producers understand it must be positioned there to raised dissipate warmth.
So, head to your PC part vendor of selection, and decide up principally something that meets the really helpful dimensions. An excellent search time period is “laptop NVME heatsink,” as these shall be designed to slot in the confines of gaming laptops, that are much more restrictive than a PS5. They’re additionally usually cheaper than those labeled as “PS5 heatsinks.”
One suggestion is that this $6 copper heatsink, which attaches to the PS5 SSD with sticky thermal interface materials. It really works simply fantastic, and in performing stress exams on a PC, we couldn’t discover something steel that didn’t maintain temperatures below management. Whenever you’re looking out, simply be sure the answer you go for measures not more than 25mm broad or 8mm tall (together with the thermal interface materials) and has a easy technique of set up that’s not going to trigger any complications.
One last item. When purchasing for a PS5 NVMe, there’s no motive to purchase a Gen5 mannequin over a extra inexpensive Gen4 mannequin. As issues stand, Sony’s console can’t benefit from the brand new commonplace, and although Gen5 drives are backward suitable, they’re costlier than their Gen4 counterparts. Simply purchase the quickest and highest-capacity Gen4 mannequin you may afford.
The right way to set up an SSD into your PS5
Earlier than trying so as to add extra storage through a PS5 SSD, guarantee that you’ve Sony’s newest software program put in. When you’re up-to-date, set up of a PS5 SSD is pretty simple. Sony recommends a #1 Phillips or crosshead screwdriver, however this is not rocket science. Any crossed screwdriver of the same measurement will do fantastic.
1. Energy every little thing right down to take away the stand
Earlier than trying so as to add extra storage through an NVMe, guarantee that you’ve Sony’s newest software program put in. When you’re up-to-date, set up of a PS5 SSD is pretty simple. Sony recommends a #1 Phillips or crosshead screwdriver, however this is not rocket science. Any crossed screwdriver of the same measurement will do fantastic.
Start by powering down your PS5, unplugging every little thing, eradicating the stand and flipping it over to its underside. When you have a launch PS5, that’s the aspect with the disc drive; when you have the launch Digital Version, it’s the aspect with out the PlayStation brand cutout.
Sony has a video information to popping off the surface cowl right here, however the gist is you gently raise up the opposing corners and slide the panel towards the flat finish of the console. There’s a knack to this, and it requires little or no effort or energy. In case you’re not getting it, relatively than power issues, readjust your grip and check out once more.
2. Entry the drive bay
When you’ve received every little thing open, you’ll see an oblong piece of steel with a screw holding it in place. Take away that screw and also you’ll be capable to entry the drive bay.
You’ll see 5 holes inside, every numbered akin to the usual SSD drive lengths I discussed earlier. The one numbered 110 can have a steel insert and screw inside. You should unscrew the screw with a screwdriver, after which unscrew the insert together with your fingers and transfer it to the related gap. For many drives, it’s going to be 80.
3. Slot within the SSD
Then take your SSD and slot it in. The slot is on the edge closest to the quantity “30,” and SSDs are keyed to solely slot in a technique, so once more, no power is required. If it’s not sliding in, don’t power it. You’ll discover the SSD doesn’t sit flat. That’s fantastic and is as meant.
4. Screw the drive bay again in
As soon as the SSD is seated, take the screw you faraway from the insert, line it up with the little notch on the finish of your SSD, and push down so it meets the insert. Give the screw just a few turns — it doesn’t must be very tight — and also you’re performed.
Exchange the steel cowl and screw it down, after which slide the plastic outer shell again on.
Whenever you first activate the PS5, it’ll immediate you to format the drive. Try this! You’ve gotten now efficiently expanded your console’s storage, and may set about downloading and transferring video games to it.
We’ll be updating this information as extra SSDs come to market and onto our check bench, so be happy to bookmark it for whenever you want it.
