PS5 SSD Storage Activated – Which SSDs Should You Buy? A FULL Guide

Last updated on 06 Nov 2021 📧 Subscribe
Contents hide
1 The Best SSD for Upgrading your PS5 Storage – Get It Right First Time
2 Recommended SSD Upgrades for PS5 Storage Expansion
2.1 RECOMMENDED – PS5 Storage Upgrade – Seagate Firecuda 530
2.2 Best Reviewed PS5 Storage Upgrade – Sabrent 1TB Rocket NVMe SB-ROCKET-NVMe4
2.3 Cheapest PS5 Storage Upgrade – Samsung 980 Pro MZ-V8P2T0B – Still TBC!
3 PC Gamer SSD for PS5 Storage Upgrades – The MSI SPATIUM M480
3.1 FASTEST PS5 Storage Upgrade – PNY XLR8 CS3140 M280CS3140
4 PS5 SSD Expansion Test – Step By Step Walkthough
5 All PS5 Compatible SSDs in 2021/2022 – UPDATED
6 Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

The Best SSD for Upgrading your PS5 Storage – Get It Right First Time

Finally, more than half a year after the release of the PlayStation 5, Sony has FINALLY enabled the ability to increase your PS5 Storage with that expansion slot. In this guide, I will explain some important things to consider before buying any compatible PS5 M.2 SSD, why it is different to a hard drive, and then recommend some drives that you should choose to upgrade your Playstation 5 Storage. We have waited a long time and although the ability to add USB storage for PS4 games has always been available, many of us have been crying out for the ability to add additional space for premium PlayStation 5 games on our system storage (that 825GB was getting pretty full!). The process of physically installing a new M.2 SSD inside your PS5 is actually surprisingly easy to do and will not invalidate your warranty. We already released a guide back in Nov 2020 to show users how to physically install an NVMe M2 solid-state drive, even before the feature was enabled by Sony in the latest firmware update. However, not all SSD are created equal and it is very important that you choose a compatible and high-performance SSD for your PS5, to make sure that it does not reduce your PlayStation 5 gaming experience, increase loading times or affect online multiplayer latency for the worse. Today I’m going to list several recommended SSD drives to install in your PlayStation 5 that can be used to store and play PS5 games directly.

If you are looking for the perfect Heatsink for your PS5 SSD, use my Guide here to PS5 Compatible SSD Heatsinks HERE. Or I have listed the Best M.2 NVMe SSDs for your PS5 Storage upgrade Below:

Here are the Recommended M.2 NVMe SSDs to Upgrade Your PS5 When the Software Update comes out of Beta

FASTEST – Seagate Firecuda 530 – Find it Here

2ND FASTEST – Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus – Find it Here

MOST AVAILABLE – Samsung 980 PRO – Find it Here

BEST PRICE – WD Black SN850 (Confirmed) – Find it Here

AORUS Gen4 7000s SSD – Find It Here

Inland Performance Plus 1TB SSD – Not Available

MSI SPATIUM M480 – Find it Here

Corsair MP600 NVMe SSD (TBC) – Find it Here

 

Sony Themselves state that your selected M.2 NVMe SSD should be:

Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD

Capacity: 250GB – 4TB

Cooling structure: Using an M.2 SSD with your PS5 console requires effective heat dissipation with a cooling structure, such as a heatsink. You can attach one to your M.2 SSD yourself, either in a single-sided format, or double-sided format. There are also M.2 SSDs that have cooling structures (such as heatsinks) built in.

Sequential read speed: 5,500MB/s or faster is recommended

Module width: 22mm width (25mm width is not supported)

Form Factor: M.2 type 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110.
These numbers can be found on retail listings for M.2 SSD devices. The first two digits refer to the width, the remaining digits to the length.

Socket type: Socket 3 (Key M)

Total size including cooling structure:
In millimeters: smaller than 110mm (L) x 25mm (W) x 11.25mm (H).
In inches: smaller than 4.33in (L) x 0.984 in (W) x 0.442in (H).

See below for full requirements.

Length

The following M.2 SSD lengths are compatible with PS5 consoles:
30mm, 42mm, 60mm, 80mm, 110mm (corresponding to the form factor type, per above).

Width
A 22mm-wide M.2 SSD module is required.
The total structure (including an added cooling structure) cannot exceed 25mm (0.984in).

Height
The total height of the M.2 SSD and its cooling structure (such as a heatsink) – whether built-in or separate – must be less than 11.25mm (0.442in).
The height must also be in the right place, in relation to the M.2 SSD’s circuit board:

  • The size below the board must be less than 2.45mm (0.096in).
  • The total size above the board must be less than 8mm (0.314in).

Playstation 5 SSD Upgrades – Important Buying Tips First!

Modern high-performance M2 SSD are much more expensive than the hard drives that previous generations of PlayStation console arrived with. It is important to remember that the price per gigabyte of an SSD is around 4 to 5 times more expensive than a hard drive, but also that there are many different kinds of SSD in the consumer market and if you buy the wrong type, you will either be unable to install the drive in your PS5, or you risk installing an inappropriate SSD for use in the system and put your data at risk. So, here or three important buying tips when looking at any SSD to increase your PlayStation 5 storage. 

Tip 1 – Buy M.2 NVMe, not M.2 SATA

The format of a more modern SSD in 2020/2021 in terms of physical size have favoured the M.2 interface of drives. In its most basic form, M2 is a much more compact and direct connection between the storage media drive and the PC or console. However M2 has been around a long time and in fact, when it comes to getting an SSD for your PS5, you need to make sure you get an M.2 SSD that is NVMe or PCIe based. More cost-effective (i.e lower price) M2 SSD arrive in SATA format, which is considerably slower than NVMe M.2 Key and is also unsupported by the PlayStation 5. So when looking at an SSD to increase your PS5 storage, if it looks incredibly cheap, there is a good chance that it is SATA and not NVMe PCIe.

Tip 2 – Avoid QLC NAND and Choose TLC and 3D TLC NAND SSD

Another major change in SSD technology in recent years that has allowed much larger capacity options in gigabytes and terabytes is the improvement of the chips inside that hold the storage inside. The actual storage inside an SSD is contained on multiple cells known NAND, which depending on the quantity and quality chosen by the manufacturer, result in a larger capacity, faster access and improved durability. The majority of gamer and prosumer SSD used in modern consoles utilise TLC or MLC grade NAND. These provide a great balance between storage, speed and endurance. Recently the new QLC (Quad Layer Cell) quality of NAND in SSD has provided huge capacity options, allowing between 4tB and 8TB capacity. However, this larger capacity comes at a big drop in performance and endurance, therefore QLC NAND SSD is NOT recommended for use in PlayStation 5 storage upgrades. I strongly recommend buying M.2 NVMe SSD with TLC or 3D TLC memory.

Tip 3 – PCIe Gen 4 Vs PCIe Gen 3 SSD

Finally, make sure you buy an M2 SSD that is rated at PCIe Gen4 x4 or higher. More modern SSD make a point of highlighting that they are PCIe Gen4, as these are the SSD that can provide at least 4000-5000MB/s, getting theoretically as high as 8000MB/s. This has resulted in the cost of PCIe Gen 3 SSD falling in price and in some cases be as much as 50% cheaper than PCIe gen 4 SSD. Do not buy a PCIe Gen 3 NVMe SSD for your PlayStation 5, as this will severely bottleneck the performance of the PS5 when storing and accessing your game data. Both types of M2 SSD look identical, but if the specifications or retail box do not clearly state PCIe Gen 4, avoid them!

Recommended SSD Upgrades for PS5 Storage Expansion

So now you know that in order to upgrade your PS5, you need to buy an M.2 SSD that is NVMe supported, is PCIe Gen 4 and one that uses TLC or 3D TLC NAND. That narrows the list of SSDs that you can buy in 2021 from around 100,000 down to about 5,000. That is still ALOT to choose from, arriving in multiple brands, capacities, reported speeds and endurance. So, now I will break the choice down even more for you. Below I have highlighted the PS5 Compatible SSDs (remember not PS5 Hard Drives – VERY important) that you can install in your Playstation 5 to increase your storage. Each of the M.2 SSD below is available in at least 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB options, along with why I recommend them (based on Price, Speed, Endurance, Build Quality and more). Let’s take a look at the best SSD for PST Upgrades below.

Important!!! – Remember, Sony is still yet to fully complete and confirm the full specification list of supported SSDs that will be supported with the PS5 Storage Expansion Bay when enabled, so although I am 95% certain that all of the SSD below will be supported, you should double-check the Playstation 5 Compatibility list when it is published before you buy! Sony reserves the right to change the list of compatible M.2 NVMe SSD that they support.

 

RECOMMENDED – PS5 Storage Upgrade – Seagate Firecuda 530

Optional Heatsink ($55+), Max Reported Read/Write – 7,300MB/s & 6,900MB/s, Capacity Available 500GB – 4TB, Warranty 5yrs + 3yrs Data Recovery Services , $140-950

  • Newest Generation of Phison E18 Controller and Premiered on the Seagate Firecuda 530 Series
  • Insane performance, increasing at each capacity between 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB that is faster than the PS5 uncompressed performance speed
  • Included 3 years of Data Recovery services with the 5yr Manufacturer’s Warranty
  • Reported 1,000,000 Random Read/Write IOPS at the 4TB model
  • Included Enterprise Heatsink

 

 

Best Reviewed PS5 Storage Upgrade – Sabrent 1TB Rocket NVMe SB-ROCKET-NVMe4

Does Not Include Heatsink, Max Reported Read/Write – 5,00MB/s & 4,400MB/s, Capacity Available 500GB – 2TB, Warranty 5yrs, $199-999

  • NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 Interface. PCIe 4.0 Compliant / NVMe 1.3 Compliant.
  • Power Management Support for APST / ASPM / L1.2.
  • Supports SMART and TRIM commands. Supports ONFi 2.3, ONFi 3.0, ONFi 3.2 and ONFi 4.0 interface.
  • Advanced Wear Leveling, Bad Block Management, Error Correction Code, and Over-Provision.
  • All Sabrent SSDs come with FREE Sabrent Acronis True Image for Sabrent Software for easy Cloning.

 

 

 

Cheapest PS5 Storage Upgrade – Samsung 980 Pro MZ-V8P2T0B – Still TBC!

Does Not Include Heatsink, Max Reported Read/Write – 7,000MB/s & 5,500MB/s, Capacity Available 500GB – 2TB, Warranty 5yrs, $119-399

  • Unleash the power of Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for next-level computing
  • 980 PRO is raising the bar for NVMe SSDs, delivering read speeds up to 6,900 MB/s
  • To ensure stable performance, the 980 PRO uses nickel coating to help manage the controller’s heat level and a heat spreader label to deliver effective thermal control of the NAND chip
  • Embedded with Samsung’s cutting-edge thermal control algorithm, 980 PRO manages heat on its own to deliver durable and reliable performance, while minimizing performance fluctuations during extended usage

 

 

PC Gamer SSD for PS5 Storage Upgrades – The MSI SPATIUM M480

Does Not Include Heatsink, Max Reported Read/Write – 7,000MB/s & 5,500MB/s, Capacity Available 500GB – 2TB, Warranty 5yrs, $TBC

  • Latest Gen NVMe SSD from Gamer/Mobo Giants MSI, supporting PCIe 4.0 NVMe 1.4 SSD
  • Peaking at 7,000MB/s Read and 6,850MB/s Write, thanks to the powerful Phison E18 Controller
  • Optional Heatsink available
  • PCIe Gen4x4 interface and complies with the NVMe 1.4 standard

 

 

FASTEST PS5 Storage Upgrade – PNY XLR8 CS3140 M280CS3140

Optional Heatsink ($25+), Max Reported Read/Write – 7,500MB/s & 5,650MB/s, Capacity Available 1TB – 2TB, Warranty 5yrs, $199-399 

  • Upgrade your M.2 PCIe Gen4 enabled computer to enjoy the extreme performance you demand​
  • The NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 interface delivers exceptional performance of up to 7,500MB/s seq. read and 5,650MB/s seq. write speeds; slower when equipped in PCIe Gen3 x4 motherboards​
  • The enhanced bandwidth of the NVMe Gen4 interface allows for extreme performance and low latency, making it superior to SATA based SSD’s​
  • Ultra-high performance is ideal for demanding applications, high-end games, and intense workloads​
  • Backed by a 5 Year Warranty with support from our US-based technical support team​

 

 

PS5 SSD Expansion Test – Step By Step Walkthough

Here is a installation Guide, originally made last year in this article HERE. The NVMe SSD installation took place on a completely uninitialised PlayStation 5, as I did not want the latest firmware update affecting any potential results in this installation. I unboxed the system and prepared the console for drive installation. The installation of the NVMe was pretty straightforward and only required a Phillips head screwdriver and around 5-minutes.

The drives I wanted to test were Seagate ironwolf 520 and Samsung 980 Pro, both NVMe PCIe Gen4 X4 drives that promise between 5,000-7,000 MB/s. This is still lower than the potential maximum performance of the PlayStation 5 internal storage(9,000MB/s+) and likely the disparity between current NVMe controllers and the core Playstation system is likely the reason for this upgrade option currently being disabled in the software. Until the likes of the Phison E18 PCIe 4 SSD controller being mass-produced or WD/Samsung getting there alternative out there, this will significantly slow down drive testing by Sony. Nevertheless, these two drives are two of the fastest NVMe available in the world right now and ideal for testing in the base PS5 right now.

Removing the lid of the PS5 is incredibly straight-forward and does not require tools. most first-time users may be quite hesitant to mess around with this plastic plate for fear of breaking or damaging them, but the removing of the plate (the side that does not have the PlayStation logo, but rather the side with the optical disc input if you purchased that version) is incredibly straight-forward.

First, you need to slightly lift the top right corner as shown in the images below, then you need to slide the plate down and it comes off exceptionally easily, revealing the internal cooling fan and that small metal module where we install NVMe SSDs.

Next, you will need a small cross screwdriver to remove the single screw that keeps this expansion port cover in place. Remember, lefty loosey, righty tighty!

Upon removing this plate, you will see the full-length NVMe SSD m 2 bay. 

Mixed install the NVMe in the available bay. Don’t worry about getting it the wrong way round, just be gentle and the notched groove in the SSD media drive can only go in one way.

Once the drive is slotted inside, remove the screw at the top end of the NVMe day, as this is the holding bracket for the in NVMe M.2 Drive

Ensure that the circular silver metal bolt is in the correct circle groove of the controller board, then place the NVMe flat, thin screw the top of the bracket to secure the NVMe in place.

Now you need to replace the metal into covering and reinsert the screw to secure it in place.

Now I reconnect the base stand, ethernet cable and power connector for the PS5. Then simply boot the device with the power button, insuring I have already synced the controller or have it connected via USB.

As we can see, this is the limit to which you can currently utilise an NVMe on the PS5, as they have ensured that the system will not boot with this media expansion by populated with an SSD. This will change once the latest PS5 System Update is out of beta. You can find out more below:

All PS5 Compatible SSDs in 2021/2022 – UPDATED

Although Sony enabled the Playstation 5 SSD expansion slot in Summer 2021, they have yet to issue a FULL compatibility list of ALL drives that can be used. I have been testing a huge number of M.2 NVMe SSDs with PS5 in the last 3 months in order to create a master list of all the drives that work (here on the blog, as well as over on YouTube in my PS5 SSD Test Series HERE). Below is a breakdown of all the currently available and supported SSDs that are compatible with PS5 (with help on Reddit, Twitter and others).

BLUE = COMPATIBLE

GREY = UNCONFIRMED

BRAND MODEL ID SIZES CONTROLLER NAND R/W SPEED CHECK AMAZON
Acer Predator GM7000 512, 1TB, 2TB Innogrit 1G5236 Micron3D TLC 7,400 / 6,700 MB/s
ADATA XPG Gammix S70 Blade 1TB, 2TB Innogrit IG5236 3D Nand 7.4K / 6.4K MB/s
ADATA XPG Gammix S70 1TB, 2TB Innogrit Rainer IG5236 Micron 3D TLC 7.4K / 6.4K MB/s
ADATA XPG Gammix S50 Lite 1TB, 2TB Silicon MotionSM22 67 Micron 3D TLC 3.9K / 3.2K MB/s
ADATA XPG Gammix S50 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Addlink A95 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5018-E18 Micron3D TLC 7.1K /6.8K MB/s
Addlink A92 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5016-E16 Micron QLC 4.9K / 3.6K MB/s
Addlink A90 1TB, 2TB N/A 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Addlink H90 with heatsink 1TB, 2TB N/A  3D TLC 5.0K / 4,4K MB/s
Addlink S90 no heatsink 1TB, 2TB N/A 3D TLC 5.0K / 4,4K MB/s
Apacer AS2280Q4 500, 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Asgard AN4 512, 1TB, 2TB Innogrit IG5236 YNTC 3D TLC 7.5K / 5.5K MB/s
Corsair MP600 Pro XT Hydro X 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5018-E18 Micron3D TLC 7.1K / 6.8K MB/s
Corsair MP600 Pro XT 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5018-E18 Micron3D TLC 7.1K / 6.8K MB/s
Corsair MP600 Pro Hydro X 2TB Phison PS5018-E18-41 3D TLC 7.0K / 6.55K MB/s
Corsair MP600 Pro Standard 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5018-E18-41 Micron3D TLC 7.0K / 6.55K MB/s
Corsair MP600 Core 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5016-E16 3D QLC 4.95K / 3.95K MB/s
Corsair MP600 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 4.95K / 4.25K MB/s
Crucial P5 Plus 500, 1TB, 2TB Crucial NVMe Micron TLC 6.6K / 5.0K MB/s
Galax HOF Pro 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Gigabyte Aorus 7000S 1TB, 2TB Phison E18 Micron TLC 7.0K / 6.85K MB/s
Gigabyte Aorus 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.0K MB/S
Goodram IRDM Ultimate X 500, 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0 / 4.5K MB/s
Inland Performance Plus 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5018-E18 Micron3D TLC 7.0 / 6.85 GB/s
Integral Ultima Pro X3 500, 1TB, 2TB N/A  3D TLC 5.0 / 4,4K MB/s
Intel DC P5800X 400, 800, 1.6TB Intel InteL Optane 2nd Gen 7.4 GB/s / 7.4
Kingmax PX4480 500, 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 3D Nand 5.0 / 4.4K MB/s
Klevv CRAS C920 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5018-E18 3D TLC 7.0K / 7.0K MB/s
Lexar NM800 500, 1,000 GB InnoGrit IG5236 3D TLC 5.8K / 7.4K MB/s
Micron 3400 512, 1TB, 2TB Micron Based Micron 3D TLC N/A 
Micron 2450 256, 512, 1TB N/A Micron 3D TLC N/A 
MSI Spatium M480 500, 1TB, 2TB PhisonPS5018-E18 Micron 3D TLC 7.0K /6.85K MB/s
MSI Spatium M470 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Kioxia 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Mushkin Gamma 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5018 E18 Micron 3D TLC 7.1 / 6.8 MB/s
Mushkin Delta 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5016-E16 Micron 3D TLC 4.9 / 3.9 MB/s
Patriot Viper VP4300 1TB, 2TB Innogrit Rainier IG5236 Micron 3D TLC 7.4K / 6.8K MB/s
Patriot Viper VP4100 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Plextor M10P Series 512, 1TB, 2TB Innogrit Rainier IG5236 Kioxia TLC 7.0K / 5.0K MB/s
PNY XLR8 CS3140 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E18-41 Micron 3D TLC 7.5K / 6.85K MB/s
PNY XLR8 CS3040 500GB, 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16-32 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.6K / 4.3K MB/s
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 500, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5018-E18 Micron 3D TLC 7.2K / 6.9K MB/s
Sabrent Rocket Q4 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5016-E16 Micron 96L QLC 4.9K / 6.85K MB/s
Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Samsung PA9A1 (OEM) 250, 500, 1TB, 2TB Samsung Elpis Samsung 3D TLC 7.0K / 5.2K MB/s
Samsung 980 Pro 250, 500, 1TB, 2TB Samsung Elpis Samsung 3D TLC 7.0K / 5.0K MB/s
Seagate FireCuda 530 500, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5018-E18 Micron 3D TLC 7.0K / 6.9K MB/s
Seagate FireCuda 520
 1TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Seagate FireCuda 520 500, 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Silicon Power US70 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 3D Nand 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Smartbuy Stream E19T 500, 1TB Phison PS5016-E19-35 Toshiba 3D TLC 3.3K / 3.0K MB/s
Smartbuy Impact E16 500, 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Team Force Cardea Z44Q 2TB, 4TB Phison PS5012-E161 Micron 3D QLC 5.0K /4.0K MB/s
Team Force T Create Classic 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Kioxia 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Team Force Cardea Ceramic A440 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5086-E18 Micron TLC 7.0K / 6.9K MB/s
Team Force Cardea Ceramic C440 1TB, 2TB Phison PS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Team Force Cardea Zero Z440 256, 512, 1TB PhisonPS5016-E16 Toshiba 3D TLC 5.0K / 4.4K MB/s
Transcend MTE240S 512, 1TB N/A 3D TLC 3.8K / 3.2K MB/s
Western Digital Black SN850 500, 1TB, 2TB SanDisk 8-Channel 96L Bics4 7.0K / 5.1K MB/s

 

PS5 COMPATIBLE UPGRADE SSDs SEPT 2021

SSD Meets Requirements to Work Notes (Important) Price & Links
Seagate FireCuda 530 Yes confirmed by Seagate. Included heatsink works 500GB – $149.99, 1TB – $239.99, 2TB – $489.99, 4TB – $949.99.
Western Digital SN850 Yes confirmed by Western Digital. Included heatsink works 500GB – $169.99, 1TB – $249.99, 2TB – $549.99
Gigabyte 7000s Gen4 Yes confirmed by Gigabyte. Included heatsink works 1TB – $199.99, 2TB – $399.99
Patriot Viper VP4300 Yes confirmed by NASCompares Included heatsink works 1TB – $224.99, 2TB – I don’t know if this ever released?
Samsung 980 Pro Yes. Confirmed by fragilityv2. Needs a heatsink 250GB – $69.99, 500GB – $119.99, 1TB – $199.99, 2TB – $429.99
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Yes. Confirmed by The Verge. Needs a different heatsink than the one included 1TB – $200, 2TB – $469.99, 4TB – $999.99
Corsair MP600 Pro Yes confirmed by NASCompares Needs a different heatsink than the one included 1TB – $199.99, 2TB – $399.99
Inland Performance Plus Yes (unconfirmed) Needs a different heatsink than the one included 1TB – $189.99, 2TB – $399.99
Adata Gammix S70 Yes confirmed by NASCompares Needs a different heatsink than the one included. Very difficult to remove. 1TB – $149.99, 2TB – $299.99
MSI Spatium M480 Yes confirmed by NASCompares Needs a heatsink Not listed yet. More Info here.
Micron 3400 Yes confirmed by NASCompares Needs a heatsink Not listed yet.More Info here.
PNY CS3040 Yes. Confirmed by /u/EmergencyPomelo5180 and PNY. Included heatsink is too tall. Get version without heatsink and add your own. Also, the rated read speeds are just above the minimum specified at 5,600 MB/s reads 500GB – $89.99, 1TB – $156.99, 2TB – $308.99, 4TB – $699.99
PNY CS3140 Yes. Confirmed by PNY. Included heatsink is too tall. Get version without heatsink and add your own 1TB – $199.99, 2TB – $449.99
TeamGroup T-Force Cardea A440 Yes (unconfirmed) Aluminum heatsink is too tall, graphene heatsink may need replaced. 1TB – $179.99, 2TB – $399.99
Plextor M10P(G) Yes (unconfirmed) Included heatsink is too tall Not listed yet. Product page here.
Titanium Micro TH7175 Yes confirmed by NASCompares Needs a heatsink 1TB – $279.99, 2TB – $489.99
Mushkin Enhanced Gamma Yes (unconfirmed) Needs a heatsink 1TB – $216.99, 2TB – $499.99
GALAX HOF Extreme Yes (unconfirmed) Included heatsink is too large Pricing unknown, information here.
Addlink A95 Yes confirmed by NASCompares Heatsink Included 1TB – $218.99, 2TB – $448.88

 

 

Frequently asked questions

Can I insert a SATA drive into the PS5 console?
No. 

Should I remove the M.2 SSD if I send my PS5 console for repair?
Yes. Please remove the M.2 SSD before sending it for repair. 

Can I format part of the M.2 SSD for use on the PS5 console?
No, you must format the entire M.2 SSD.

Is it okay to install a heatsink on an M.2 SSD with a built-in heatsink?
No. If your M.2 SSD has a built-in heatsink, we recommend against adding any additional heatsinks. Doing so may reduce the effectiveness of the built-in heatsinks.

How is an M.2 SSD different to USB extended storage on PS5 consoles?
PS5 games are playable on M.2 SSD storage.
PS5 games can be downloaded directly to M.2 SSD storage. 
PS5 games can be updated on M.2 SSD storage. 

Is it possible to store part of a game on M.2 SSD storage?
No.

What should I do if I experience gameplay issues when I play games stored on an M.2 SSD?

  1. Press the PS button on your controller to go to the control center, and then select Downloads/Uploads. Pause any ongoing downloads
  2. If you are trying to play a game on disc, please wait for the full installation to finish. 
  3. If you are still having issues, please move the game from M.2 SSD storage to console storage.

Do PS5 consoles support Host Memory Buffer?
No. Additionally, M.2 SSD devices that support HMB (Host Memory Buffer) may see slower-than-expected performance because the PS5 does not support HMB.

 

 

 

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      PS5 SSD Storage Activated - Which SSDs Should You Buy - A FULL Guide
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      153 thoughts on “PS5 SSD Storage Activated – Which SSDs Should You Buy? A FULL Guide”

      2. I tried a new PS5 Slim, and my house doesnt have any ethernet ports, and in my bedroom, i got between 100-171 at the most on a wifi 6 router, but on all my devices like my iPhone 15 Pro Max, Aplle Tv 4k, i got constant 374 mbps. I had constant problems it give me issues loading the store, if it did at times, it wouldnt load images, just squares with cracks through the middle. Or when i try to use the search to find a game, it would sorry couldnt find what your looking for. I got a new tv in the living room, thats next to the router, and im thinking of getting another PS4 again soon, and connecting it to a ethernet cable and see the difference.
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      4. Didn’t bother verifying your settings, but…

        If you want to optomize your PS5 to the maximum.

        Assuming your wifi can at least do 1GB, including upload speed, more or less.
        Changing the wifi 6 bandwidth to 160mhz, or at least 80mhz, ideally at the furthest channel range, with a cat8 ethernet cable connected to the PS5, would potentially reach the maximum speeds that the ps5 can get to, from its 1gb cap.
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      7. It is unusual that the Speed degrades so much with wifi 5 since it should Support speeds much greater than that.
        Also for games not just the speed but the latency – thus the ping time and its variance (jitter) – is very relevant, specially in fps shooter/egame sports.

        Try wifi 5 over the router of your ISP or a dedicated wfi 5 router/access point.
        Those results might be interesting.
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      8. I have the ASUS GT-AXE1100 wifi 6 router for my Gigabit internet router. Me and my wife have Google Pixel 6 phones that are able to get on wifi 6 band a well as my PC, but I can’t get my PS5 to recognize the wifi 6 band. No one on youtube can seem to give a straight answer as to how to do this only information about alot of stuff people already know.
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      10. You’re network is not setup correctly. If you have a 1Gbpe connection and only get 100Mbps over Wi-Fi 6 (Wireless AX) then you need to tweak your settings. For example, to get those fast speeds, you need to ensure your Wi-Fi 5ghz and 6ghz bands are using 160Mhz and nothing lower (80,40,20 will cap you greatly). Then beam forwarding helps as well to include MU-MIMO. Sadly PS5’s wireless card is only 2X2 MU-MIMO and only support 80mhz bandwidth channel (which really sucks, why Sony =/). Because of this, it will be very difficult for the PS5 to reach anywhere near 1Gbe speeds over Wi-Fi. Heck, I get 700Mbps over Wireless AC on the 160mhz bandwidth channel on my laptop. AX has the capacity to go higher.
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      14. Can I use my frontier Wii fii 5 model nvg468mq, with a Linksys E7350?

        Trying to prove that frontier interent is capable with Wi-Fi 6 through the nvg468mq modem.

        After being on the phone they told me that they do not have a Wi-Fi 6 modem. Only wii fii 5
        .

        Should I change my internet service?
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      15. How stable is the connection. I’m not too fussed about the speed side obviously being wired will cut down the stability issues but I’ve always wondered how that was on wifi6
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      17. I liked the sabrent but your review detailing the endurance of all ssds and the rocket 4 ranks behind the cuda, 980, and even the wd has me worried… last thing I want is it to crap out on me in a few years after spending 300+
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      20. Those are pretty slow speeds. Unfortunately both the PS5 and Xbox Series X have poor WiFi chips in them. You may get up to 150Mb-200Mb but that is it. I installed a LAN cable on both, and now get my full rated 600Mb/s download speeds from Fiber internet connection.
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      22. I ended up going with the 1TB Western Digital Black SN750SE. Bought it for $119. After install the PS5 showed 5042mbps speed. After formatting it had 1001gb of storage.

        The 1TB Seagate FireCuda 520 is another value option that may be more readily available. I believe they are around $149, a little faster than the one I bought.

        My advice, if your playing PS5 games, get the more expensive, faster storage. If your playing PS4 games with PS5 enhancements, buy the cheap, slower storage. If your playing PS4 games, just buy an external SATA SSD.
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      23. made a huge mistake in installing my 2tb ssd into my PlayStation 5, managed to ball the inner screw in the expansion bay. what i did was just put the ssd into the slot and left the cover off. Do i need to send the unit to sony for repair or just game on as everything seems to be working just fine?? thanks.
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      25. When testing you should confirm both wifi 5 and 6 are connecting via the 5 gigahertz band. My PS5 was set to automatic and chose 2.4 gigahertz on my Nest WiFi router (wifi 5). This band has a lot of interference and dramatically impacted my performance. I had to manually set it to use 5 gigahertz.
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      28. This a good video however, your test reflects the 500gb. If you test at least the 2 tb we will be able to see this ssd’s true performance. For example I’m currently using the 2tb of the sabrent rocket 4 plus on my PS5 and I get read speeds of 6658. ( the highest of seen on any ssd to date.) Please test the 2tb of the firecuda 530 for the ps5. Test games like red dead redemption 2, gta 5, cyberpunk ect…games with the longest load times.
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      31. I’m a bit confused as to why the WD SN850 beats out the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus when comparing 2tb option. I get why firecuda is the best but not sure I understand why sn850 is recommended over R4P other then needing to register the warranty (no big deal in my eyes)
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      32. The fact that there are a-holes buying these up just to scalp them is laughable. How pathetic of a human being do you have to be to scalp a f’n ssd? Hahahah! Losers.
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      33. I have a question. I’ve found a Firecuda 530 in stock with this model number ZP1000GM3A013. I’m seeing different model numbers for the 530 1TB. Is the model I mentioned above compatible with the PS5? I asse so, but the varying model numbers for the 1TB have me on the cautious side.
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      34. im in the beta and been watching read speed for ssd cards, the firecuda 530 and pny xlr8 cs3140 1 tb have the same read speeds for the ps5 after installing. im using the pny xlr8 cs3140 and im getting the same speed as firecuda, what a steal at a cheaper price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! also the aorus, sabrent ssd cards. samsung and WD have the slowest read speeds, just watch videos on youtube you will see. but my pny is just as fast a firecuda 530
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      40. WHAT IS THE BEETA SERVICE? HE KEEPS SAYING BEETA. BEETA? BEETA SERVICE? OHHH YOU MEAN BETA. BETA DUDE, BETA. NOT BEETA. (BAE-TA) LIKE IM TALKING TO MY BAE, THEN ADD TA (TUH) LIKE DUH BUT WITH A T. (BAE-TUH).
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      46. I have a PS5, and it sits on the tv stand collecting dust. Between this memory storage update delays and now the process to upgrade it ain’t worth it. I use the Xbox Series X, much easier to expand the memory and a better console overall.
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      49. Hey I have a question just looking at the list of ssd u think or should work on the ps5. I was looking at the Gammix S70. Would u be able to tell me if it would fit In the ps5 with the heatsink since it can’t be removed? Thank you
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      50. Another reason to not buy either next gen console

        What are you going to fill the 1TB SSD with? Previous gen games most likely

        Pathetic

        I currently have over 28TB on both my PS4/XBOX
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      53. my question is what are we going to see within spec with the primary ssd option and is it going to support 8TB models of ssd or will there have to be a modification within a revision to 2x 8TB ssd..

        noting there is no different running shit off usb ssd vs internal ssd..
        so you could do a complete 7+16x eatx main board full of 4-8x gen 4 raid ssd raid cardsand do mass nvme storage nas and do 28-56 ssd’s in a nas setup.. 448TB
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      55. This is all really awesome info for when i decide to purchase. But also reaffirms why Microsoft made the right move, would rather pay 200 for one thats just plug and play and you know itll work out of the box. Sony is complicating this.
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      56. I ordered the 1tb WD_BLACK SN850 with a Heatsink? …………… A day later, I read online that Mark Cerny has purchased the exact same SSD?………. So if mine doesn’t work………… The Ps5 architect has bought the wrong one too? I think I am safe tho, Mark Cerny is a very smart guy
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      66. Hi guys! Robbie here! REQUEST!!! If you have a PS5 Beta Software Update code unused and want to help me test out piles of SSDs for PS5 and help everyone shortlist compatible drives + performance benchmarks, please email me on Robbie (at) nascompares.com. I will ( of course) make it worth your while! Thank you and hope you enjoy the videos!
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      72. hello there been looking at this one on amazon uk: PNY XLR8 CS3040 4TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Gen4 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD), Read Speed up to 5,600MB/s – M280CS3040-4TB-RB
        priced at £589.25 which is not bad for a budget m.2 ssd 4TB
        the read is 5,600MB/s BUT the write is 3,900MB/s
        so i am not sure if the write speed would be a problem with the ps5?
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      73. You really can’t comment on what people should buy until you put it in a PS5, fill up the SSD storage with games and then see which ones STILL perform how they are supposed to. Some of these drives drop down around 3-3.5GBps once they have less than 20% storage left
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      75. This is just a nightmare for costumers. Even if these meet the requirements, the SSD may be slow or flat out be not work at all. Sony themselves said this on the same page. What kind of engineers do they have up at Sony HQ?! Be careful with some of those
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      76. I’ll let everyone else be the guinea pigs. Time will tell if these SSDs will function at the same level as the internal SSD. Sony either needs to release their own branded SSD expansion, or at least certify specific third party SSDs for 100% compatibility with the PS5. Im not ok with the possible limitations of uncertified SSDs.
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      77. Second video watched on your channel about the PS5, I wasn’t really confident commenting on the previous video after watching but now that I know what to look for I’m feeling more confident.
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      79. The best upgrade on the PoS5 is to buy an XsX, i’ve not looked back since and I have more games to play than on the $ony platform.
        Plug and play, no side panels or power downs, done!.
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      84. Hello the wd black 850 is way higher than the samsung 980pro. 980pro does not reach the 7000 mark as the 850black does. I see you only mentioned the very highest speed all over the 7000 mark. You should have mentioned the cost an availability. All the 4tb ssd are $1000 up to $1500. THE LOWEST I would go is samsung 980pro with read around 670gb $480 2tb an Wdblack 850 $550 2 tb I can’t find the Cuda plus just plain an the sabrent plus both over $700
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      85. So… is the XPG Gammix S70 SSD really advised, or not? I see it listed in the video, but not in the description or the heatsink guide. Plus, I dunno if the heatsink included will fit in the PS5 or not.
        It’s the only 1TB drive in my price range of within $200 (after shipping + tax) and is well above the read speed, but the PS5 SSD spec requirement sheet says, “smaller than 4.33in (L) x 0.984 in (W) x 0.442in (H)”. The Amazon listing reports the XPG drive is “‎3.15 x 0.99 x 0.59 inches” LxWxH, and the Newegg lists… in “Height, Width, and Depth”.

        …I think I’m out of luck.
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      89. Gamers who are wise will buy a 2tb sata 3 ssd like Samsung 860 evo and store unplayed ps5 games on it and bank on it’s super speed to also transfer the ps5 games back to the Console to play them.
        At this rate, Sony is asking you to spend the amount required for another ps5 on storage which is ridiculous in my humble opinion.
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      92. Dont forget you have to have a cooling structure. One reason to avoid the WD is they charge crazy amounts for the heatcsink models. the one WD model supported 1TB 199 normally 239.99 on sale now for no heat sink , 249 on sale from 299 for same unit with heatsink. I would recommend waiting on 3rd party heat sinks.
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      99. WD confirmed today that the SN850 is compatible with the PS5. Read speeds is likely the more important thing to consider, writes are more important for something like a database etc.
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      100. Avoid sabrent like the plague, I had a 512GB drive that died after 5 months, got a replacement that died after 3 months! Switched to ADATA and no issues. I’ll be waiting for ADATA to release a compatible drive
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      105. Guys, please upvote this so more people see.
        DO NOT GET THE SAMSUNG 980 PRO.
        It uses Host Memory Buffer. M.2 SSD devices that support HMB are not supported on the PS5.
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      126. Nass Ithanks for you vid I’m thinking of buying 1TB WD Black SSD you put the link below, do you recommend the Heatsink version more? To protect from heat would it fit with that incorporated?
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      132. Thank you so much for this video. I had an SN850 1TB for a while now. After watching this video I decided I will toss it into my PC and picked up the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB with matching heatsink. Glad I watched it.
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      135. oh dear, the xbox fanboys are going to do massive damage control now that they realize, why Sony was indeed waiting for a proper NVME 4 ssd that will completely saturate the bandwidth as much as possible, which was what the ps5 needed for its storage expansion slot so it works perfect with the internal storage ssd.
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      137. Thank you for this in-depth SSD walkthrough. I was wondering, is it advisable to get a PS5 compatible SSD without the heatsink? Would the absence of the heatsink negatively influence the lifespan or performance of the SSD due to overheating during gaming? Would appreciate your feedback. ????
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      141. The only reliable test is: start downloading a game, start timer, stop when downloading ends, divide size in MB/GB and time in seconds, you get MB/s or GB/s. The built-in test is pure shit, it shows way lower values than real downloading (games, patches etc.) usually gets. Can easily say that WiFi 5Ghz speed is capable of >200Mb/s based on games downloading. Haven’t tested out again since changed to 500Mb/s but I’ll give it a try soon. It’s definitely enough to have comfortable delete & redownload approach.
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      147. Well you can all beta test it for me, PC Master Race. Get back to me on those thermals before it gets anywhere near my PS5’s expansion slot (after Sony finally unlock the damn thing).
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      148. I just thought of this. Know how Some m.2 NVMe Drive come with there own fan or heatsink. What if Sony is creating a new side panel that will accommodate nvme heatsink or fan. The ps5 digital edition will look like the disc version but with the bump at the top when stood vertical. And the disc version will look thicker without bump.
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      150. Would love to hear more about Ethernet performance on PS5. I’m toying whether to go down the wired route or consider purchasing a wi-fi 6 modem. Any advice?
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      153. i would be more interested to know how low is the latency when for example using the Wifi 6 and direct connection to a future PSVR2 who maybe get an option for Wifi 6
        would that be fast enough ?
        would it be possible for the PS5 to be connected to Lan to the internet and in the same time use the Wifi6 to make a direct connection to the PSVR2

        As now it looks like the PSVR2 will use 1 cable using the USB port on the front of the PS5 but looks to me that an option for an upgrade box connected on the PSVR2 with Wifi6 would be possible.
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