Choosing the Right SSD for Your PS5 – Your Questions Answered
Upgrading your PS5 with an m.2 SSD to improve your overall available storage is a lot more complex than a lot of people think! In the previous generations of Playstation consoles, the choice was easy (buy a SATA hard drive or SSD – of which there were literally thousands of different types in the market that were suitable) but in the case of the Playstation 5, you need to look at surprisingly specific SSDs, known as M.2 NVMe SSDs. these need to be of a certain architecture, length, speed and variation. Add to that the fact these SSDs can get rather hot and require the use of heatsinks in many cases – something that most non-PC savvy buyers have never even seen or thought about previously. This all leads to those looking at upgrading the storage in their PS5 with a new SSD having a lot of questions that may seen easy to some or fantastically technical to others. So today I wanted to list the 20 more frequently asked questions that people have about upgrading the SSD in their PS5. I have avoided obvious questions and the actual process of installing an SSD (as those are answered in ALOT of detail and with diagrams HERE on an article and HERE in a video on YouTube). These are questions that are a little technical and understandably more NVMe-SSD-novice based. No question is too silly or too obvious, so let’s get started.
Most Frequently Asked Questions on PS5 SSD Upgrades
Below is the first group of the 10 most frequently asked questions about upgrading your PS5 storage with an SSD. There is also a full video covering all 10 questions in more detail, with diagrams and a few on-screen examples. Under each question, I have placed a link that will open up the video at the exact point where I cover that question. That way you can either read or watch the answer, based on your own convenience. Let’s begin.
Do Double Sided SSDs need extra cooling underneath in the PS5?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 01:36
The short answer – No! Double-sided SSDs do not need any additional heat dissipation along their base, just along the top of the SSD when connected. The longer answer is that although a double-sided SSD has chips on both sides, the most important part that needed to be kept at a low/optimal temperature is the controller (the brain of the drive) which is located on the top. The actual data lives on chips called ‘NAND’ and the bigger the SSD, the likelihood that there are more of these and that some are located on the bottom of the SSD. NAND actually works better when it is a little warmed. Additionally, the PS5 is 95% READ activity and 5% WRITE activity typically, something that does not particularly raise the temperature of the NAND (though it DOES on the controller). Therefore you do not need to worry about any extra cooling or heat dissipation on the base of the SSD in the PS5.
Should You use the PS5 SSD expansion slot with or without the cover?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 04:22
Where possible, you should always use the PS5 M.2 SSD slot with the cover on it. Although this seems a little counter-intuitive (as it prevents airflow over the SSD from the big internal PS5 fan, that is why the heat dissipation qualities of an SSD heatsink are necessary. If you run your PS5 with the cover on the m.2 SSD slot REMOVED, then although this will allow airflow to cool the SSD heatsink on your m.2 drive, it may interrupt/compromise the airflow internally on the PS5 towards the much, MUCH more important CPU, GPU and memory inside that keep the system running. These need extra cooling too and that is why the PS5 uses the negative pressure 2 vent system internally to ensure air is circulated in, through and out of the system as fast as possible! There are exceptions, such as the Sabrent PS5 SSD designed Heatsink that I reviewed here, but otherwise, I would always recommend using the cover for the overall better health of your PS5.
Should you remove the stickers and labels on the SSD and will it invalidate my warranty?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 07:28
Definitely, definitely not! There is no need. In older SSDs, removing the branded label to ensure that the SSD heatsink you installed contacted the chips on the drive was much more important. Modern SSDs no longer have this problem and adequate/proficient heat dissipation through this label has long been possible. Additionally, some brands actually prevent you from doing this as it could damage the SSD and can void your warranty (with some having tell-tale stickers that show you removed it). So yeah, no need to remove the SSD label inside
How do you upgrade the firmware on an SSD in my PS5?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 08:53
The sad truth is that you cannot do this easily. It is NOT possible to upgrade the firmware on an SSD from within the PS5 Software/ecosystem. Also, you cannot just put the SSD in a USB enclosure or docking station and update, as the SSD can ONLY be updated with a direct connection to a PC/Laptop motherboard, as the delivery system and direct interface with the SSD controller are too deep in the drive’s architecture. It is recommended that you install the SSD in a PC/Laptop slot and update it that way, but do bear in mind that it will likely format the drive when doing this, so make sure your game data is available to download again or moved over to your internal PS5 system SSD first.
Should you always buy the SSD and Heatsink from the same brand?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 10:32
Almost always yes! SSDs that arrive with a heatsink included generally mean that the heatsink has been applied onto the NVMe SSD at the factory level, which will have industrial-grade dust and environmental control. This will limit any dust during the application process and ensure a cleaner connection. Additionally, unlike a 3rd party generic heatsink that is ‘made for all’, a heatsink that is made and applied by the same brand as the SSD will mean that it can be crafted and applied in a much more precise way to the chips on the SSD PCB that need heat dissipation the most – that means that the thermal padding and shape of the heatsink will be designed around the SPECIFIC shape of the SSD and chips. The only time this is NOT the case is when you have SSDs that include a heatsink that you ‘apply yourself’, such as the Viper Patriot VP4300 or TeamGroup T-Force Cardea A440 – Both VERY, VERY good SSDs which include 2 different heatsinks each, but neither is pre-applied.
Why are PS5 SSDs out of stock or low stock and still very expensive?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 13:20
There are ALOT of things that have affected the SSD market in the last 2-2.5 years that have all resulted in buying an SSD for your PS5, PC, NAS Laptop or whatever is considerably more difficult. Aside from obvious factors, such as the demand for new PCIe 4 SSDs in PS5 since the feature was enabled in Aumtun 2021 AND the impact of working practices and demand during the COVID19 pandemic, there have also been three big other factors that hurt SSD availability and increased pricing. They were/are:
- A cryptocurrency known as CHIA that, rather than using graphics cards and GPU power (like most other crypto including Bitcoin), relied on storage media and this resulted in large storage HDDs and faster SSDs being bought rapidly worldwide
- The US-China trade war that formally started in 2019 resulted in the motion of stock and resources used in the production of SSDs being slowed/stopped worldwide
- Semi-conductor shortages in the east (a hugely important component used in all technology, not just SSDs) that was also harmed by massive droughts in Taiwan (where most of the world’s semiconductors are produced)
SSDs are slowly becoming more available and the pricing less crazy, but they are still not back to their same level compared to where they were in 2018/2019. You can find out a lot more information on this by watching the video below from my YouTube channel:
Do games load from the PS5 SSD expansion slot faster than the internal PS5 SSD?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 17:50
Not ALL games run faster on the M.2 SSD expansion slot of the PS5, but some certainly do. The internal PS5 SSD (based on testing and approximations, not directly from Sony themselves sadly) has a maximum sequential (big data) read of 5,500MB/s or so and a 4K random read IOPS (smallest data in massive quantities) of around 600-750,000. That means that if you install an SSD that is significantly greater than these values (good examples are the Seagate Firecuda 530, WD Black SN850, Samsung 980 Pro and T-Force Cardea A440 Pro Special SSD – which can hit 7,300MB/s Red and 1,000,000 IOPS), then you can run a lot of games faster. The KIND of games makes a lot of difference. Big, sandbox/open-world games will have ALOT of IOPS performance to factor in and therefore big games like GTA, RDR2, No Man Sky and Cyberpunk will likely load faster on a faster m.2 SSD than the internal PS5 SSD. But smaller, level/compact world games will likely seem no different on either.
Does SSD write speed matter on the PS5 expansion bay?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 20:00
At the moment (at the end of 2021) the answer is largely ‘NO’. An SSD installed inside your PS5 will likely be used for READ activity (i.e loading a game) more than 95% of its time in operation and only write activity happening when you are downloading/moving games to the SSD. Likewise, Sony has only allowed the PS5 system to internally store a handful of different storage activities on the system to access the M.2 SSD bay. However, as time goes on and developers are able to make the most of the SSD slot on this system and the massively faster SSDs inside (as well as streamers and video editors that want to store 4K high-quality PS5 gameplay in the hours-at-time), then write speed might well matter more and more. So, in the short term, it doesn’t matter. In the long term, it’s hard to say.
Can I use M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 3 SSDs in the PS5 and if not, why not?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 21:43
No, you definitely cannot use PCIe Gen 3×4 SSDs (such as those older than Firecuda 510, Samsung 970 Plus, WD Black SN750) in the PS5 M.2 expansion slot. This is largely down to the PS5 internal SSD being faster than the maximum performance possible than even the fastest PCIe Gen 3 SSD. Therefore Sony has restricted SSDs in the PS5 m.2 expansion bay to PCIe Gen 4 only, as these are the only SSDs that can match/exceed the PS5 internal SSD. Thi ensures that all games will run well on the M.2 SSD as, or even better than, the internal PS5 SSD. This is especially important for online/multiplayer games, but also a general good thing for players.
Why did you get the PS2 designed plates for PS5?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 22:52
For those that are interested in the build of the Playstation 5 system that I use in my videos on NASCompares, below is a link to an article where I have broken down a guide on how to create the PS2 plate design of the PS5, as well as where to buy/find/make the components that make up this system.
Click the Image below for the PS2 Designed PS5 Design Guide – Or Click HERE
Here is the Video that answers all of the first 10 Most common questions about upgrading your PS5 SSD:
Below is a further 10 more most commonly asked questions about upgrading the storage in your PS5 console with an m.2 SSD. Once again, each question is answered in written form, as well as including a link to the video (at the correct time on the vid) where I go into more detail on this question, with examples, diagrams and/or demonstrations. You can read or watch the answer at your convenience.
Do the Speed of PS5 SSD Upgrades get better if you go for a larger capacity and why?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 00:50
In almost all cases, the larger the capacity (i.e in GB or TB) that an NVMe SSD is, the higher the performance. The reason for this is that the part of the SSD physically that contains your data is modules known as NAND. The larger the capacity, the more NAND will be present on the SSD hardware. So, when the drive is being accessed (especially in writing activity) it means taht the drive is normally writing to several NAND modules at once – thereby multiplying the amount of activity and therefore increasing the total amount being done per second. This is not always true however and can depend on how the SSD manufacturer has arranged the NAND storage evenly. So, a 1TB SSD can physically have 2x 512GB NAND modules onboard or 4x 256GB. It is the same amount of storage on both SSDs, but the one with 4 NAND modules will almost always run higher in key performance areas like throughput and IOPS.
Does Changing the heatsink on the PS5 SSD I have installed damage the SSD or result in anything else bad?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 04:02
In most cases, changing the SSD heatsink will not cause any damage, as heatsinks will either be attached with a light adhesive to the heatsink OR are not attached at all and are just pressed strongly against a thermal heating pad, which is attached to the heatsink. The only time that changed a heatsink can potentially the heatsink can be harmful is when an SSD includes the use of silicon/silica paste (as found in the Add Link A95, 192 and A90 for example) as these SSDs are INCREDIBLY well attached and removing the heatsink can leave a tonne of residue or even crack the SSD physical PCB board if done poorly. Likely some SSDs arrive in highly sealed surrounding heatsink cases (sh as the WD Black SN850+Heatsink) and removing those will break the heatsink for the most part entirely.
Do PS4 Games run better on the SSD I install in my PS5 expansion bay?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 07:29
Most of the PS4 generation games that are played on the PS5, but stored on the m.2 SSD expansion bay WILL run better than if they were stored on the internal SSD bay. However the difference will be very small, as these kinds of games have not been designed with NVMe SSD storage in mind, so have a set loading pattern and protocol that can only operate ‘so fast’ as it goes through its routine. Bigger games that are open world or sandbox will load faster, but fairly linear loading games will see little or no different than they would have loaded from an external HDD/SSD or a PS4 Pro with a 2.5″ SSD inside.
What is the Slowest M.2 NVMe SSD that you can use on the PS5?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 09:14
If you have been looking at particularly low cost (and therefore inevitably slower) NVMe SSDs to upgrade your PS5 and M.2 SSD Storage expansion bay, jsut to store media and PS4 games that won’t see the full benefit of top tier SSDs, then you might be wondering what is the lowest and slowest drive you can upgrade with. Currently, it is largely agreed that the Adata XPG GAMMIX S50 Lite is the lowest tier drive you can use. It has a reported performance of 3,900MB/s Sequential (big data) Read and 3,200MB/s Sequential Write. Also, with a 4K Random IOPS (so smaller, high quantity accessed data) of 490,000 Read – these performance benchmarks are from ADATA themselves and are almost half the performance of the likes of the WD Black SN850, Seagate Firecuda 530 and XPG GAMMIX S70. If you only want a drive for storage size vs price and are not too fussed about performance, this is the lowest you can go in 2021/2022
What is the Write Speed of the Internal PS5 SSD?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 12:05
The honest answer is that no one really knows the internal PS5 SSD sequential Write speed. The Read speed seems to be at around 5,000-5,500MB/s, but as the system is quite closed in it’s processes (for reasons of simplicity and stability with causal users), there is almost no way to accurately measure the write speed. Even when transferring games from an m.2 SSD or USB drive to the internal PS5 SSD is no use, as there is an element of encryption, compression and/or checking happening internally when moving data that results in the speed of transferring data completely inaccurate when compared to conventional write activity on a PC. Most estimates online have erred towards between 1,800-2,800MB/s sequential write speed. But even then, this is by no means precise or reliable.
Can You fill an M.2 NVMe SSD in your PS5, then Remove the SSD from your PS5 and install it in another PS5 to play the games?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 15:16
Unfortunately, no. Due to the PS5 encrypting/locking the games as they are downloaded to/moved in the system to that SPECIFIC PS5, the result is that if you powered down the PS5, took the M.2 SSD out, installed it in ANOTHER PS5 that even has the same PSN account registered, the rebooted – you would still be greeted a the start-up screen with a message saying that this SSD needs to be formatted for use. Doing so will result in the drive being completely deleted from existing data in order to format it and link it with the new PS5. It is even near impossible to clone an NVMe SSD onto another one (even using an external forensic level m.2 docking station) in case you wanted to ensure you kept a copy of games that get removed from the PSN storage later (see Kojima’s P.T demo for example) as the data on the SSD and formatting process are linked to THAT SSD and its serial number.
Which PS5 SSDs Deals Should You Look for on Black Friday?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 16:51
Since Sony enabled the M.2 SSD storage bay of the PS5, there have been dozens of new SSDs released on the market that are supported by the system. Now that a lot more PS5 compatible SSDs are available, this has resulted in a lot more affordable and competitively priced options appearing on the market. At the bottom of this article, you will find the FULL LIST of PS5 Compatible SSDs (with their performance and where to buy them). However, right now, in terms of Price, Performance and Value. The best options for most people are the Seagate Firecuda 530, the WD Black SN850 and the Samsung 980 Pro. They are by no means the only SSDs out there and you may well see some great deals on lesser-known SSDs, such as the Addlink A95, the XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade, the Viper Patriot VP4300 and the always popular Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus series. Alternatively, you can visit the PS5 SSD Black Friday Deals Page here.
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Seagate Firecuda 530
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Samsung 980 Pro
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WD Black SN850
|
| 500GB – $149.99
1TB – $239.99 2TB – $489.99 4TB – $949.99. |
250GB – $69.99
500GB – $119.99 1TB – $199.99 2TB – $429.99 |
500GB – $169.99
1TB – $249.99 2TB – $549.99 |
Should You Buy a PS5 SSD that features an Innogrit Rainer IG5236 or Phison E18 Controller?
Find the answer in the Video above at – 19:06
Although there are ALOT of M.2 SSDs that can be used on the PS5 (see MASSIVE compatibility list below), in terms of their onboard hardware and specifications they can be broken down into three different types:
- Ones that use in-house development teams – Such as Samsung, Crucial and WD
- Ones that use the Phison Controller Series (E16 and E18) – Such as Seagate, Gigabyte, MSI and Sabrent
- Ones that use the Innogrit Rainer (IG5236) Controller – Such as Adata XPG and the Patriot Viper VP4300
Now the first category (in-house development) is always going to provide the best value and availability, as the brand controls every part of the development and sourcing of components. However, they release much fewer completed products/refreshes of a component than 3rd parties like Phison and Innogrit that create numerous components that are then utilized by hundreds of SSD brands – because they are dependant on the market constantly demanding their product. That is why there are ALOT of Phison E16 and E18 SSDs in the market right now, as they were one of the first to not only come up with a PCIe 4 controller, but also to develop multiple controller variations within it. Because they have such a large % of the market in SSD controller usage, they can be spread a little thin, resulting in a little less availability and potentially a higher price for SSDs with their newest gen controllers. The Innogrit controller on the other hand is a great newer and their PCIe 4 SSD Controller (the Innogrit Rainer IG5236) does not command the same level of notoriety on SSDs and instead provides a near-identical (and in some cases higher) performance and durability, whilst still being more affordable than the Phison E18 SSDs. Add to this that practically ALL Innogrit IG5236 Controller SSDs (for example the XPG Gammix S70, S70 Blade and Viper Patriot VP4300) ALL include a premium grade heatsink (or an additional heatshield in some cases) whilst STILL being lower in price than a Phison E18 of the same level/capacity. That said, the PS5 tends to give a slightly higher benchmark on a Phison E18 controller. Ultimately, for overall PS5 performance, go for a Phison E18 Controller SSD. For the best value, whilst still having high performance and a heatsink, go for the Innogrit SSD controller drives.
Here is the video that answers all of the next 10 most common questions about upgrading your PS5 SSD:
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 | |
What is the Best PS5 SSD Heatsink – The Do’s and Don’ts
Most M.2 NVMe SSD that you might look at for your PS5 will NOT arrive with a heatsink. Some brands do include optional heatsinks for $20-40, but there will likely be PC-Grade gamer heatsinks and much, much too tall for the allocated PS5 Expansion storage slot for upgrades. Sony provided a handy upgrade guide for how big the NVMe SSD needs to be, alongside details of the type that is recommended.
Now, there are ALOT of M.2 NVMe SSD Heatsinks on the market – THOUSANDS! So it is important to know which ones are compatible and which ones you should completely avoid. Heatsink AND SSD together should NOT exceed in millimeters 110mm (L) x 25mm (W) x 11.25mm (H) and in inches 4.33in (L) x 0.984 in (W) x 0.442in (H). Another big thing to remember is that some SSD heatsinks use rubber bands to hold the M.2 NVMe SSD and the HEATSINK together. I would strongly recommend avoiding these kinds of heatsinks as they have a tendency not to last vast amounts of time and the silicon rubber bands (if produced poorly) can wear away. I strongly recommend a met surrounding heatsink case/enclosure like the one below, as it has 2 layers of internal thermal padding, the metal surrounding the whole SSD (assisting heat dissipation) and is screwed in place. Last point. The majority of NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 4×4 SSDs right now are going to be 2280 (that is the length of the SSD), as this tier of SSD have only JUST been released in the last 6-9 months. However, they WILL get longer (to accommodate more storage cells and bigger capacity) so the fact the PS5 supports up to 22110 lengths SSDs is quite handy. If you are reading this guide much later in 2021/2022, then DO CHECK that the SSD you are installing in your PS5 is 2280 or 22110, as the heatsink will also need to be this length too (as the screw holds an SSD Board mount need to match). This is much, MUCH less of a concern in 2021 however, so you can ignore this right now. So, there you have it, those are the do’s and don’ts for buying a heatsink for your PS5 SSD upgrade. Below are 5 great examples of M.2 NVMe SSD Heatsinks that will fit in your PS5 Expansion slot. They vary in price, design, height, colour and density. Take a look:
UPDATED – The Recommended Ones Below Keep Selling out, so I have added more!
Sabrent PS5 SSD Designed Heatsink – $19.99
- DESIGNED FOR PS5: Engineered to fit perfectly and easily into the PS5 SSD expansion slot. The installation has never been easier on the PS5
- REVOLUTIONARY COOLING: Made from High-Quality CNC’d aluminium, the Sabrent PS5 Heatsink was specifically designed to maximize cooling performance and simplify the installation
- UPGRADE YOUR PS5! Rather than creating a heatsink that would only trap the heat in the metal cover, we designed a heatsink that replaces the native PS5 cover. This allows for better cooling using the native fan as well as being a larger heatsink
- INDUSTRIAL QUALITY: This SSD heatsink method also uses Sabrent’s “Sandwich Design” which ensures even pressure throughout the SSD for efficient and consistent heat transfer unlike methods used by other brands
- CONVENIENCE: Comes with an installation guide as well as screws and thermal tape for easy convenient installation
ElecGear PS5 SSD Designed Heatsink – $34.99
- [PS5 NVMe Heatsink] – The patent-pending cooler is exclusively designed for PlayStation 5 internal NVMe SSD. It features a heat pipe and a huge solid aluminum heatsink. The high performance comes from the numerous cooling fins and the delicate utilization of air circulation sucked by PS5 main cooling fan. The streamlined profile is a snag fit with the middle frame of PS5 chassis. The heatsink is the ultimate cooling solution to the heat management of extreme Gen4 gaming SSD
- [Heat Pipe and Thermal Pads] – A 5mm heatpipe seamlessly embedded in the lower aluminum deck. The passive design with no cooling fan is aiming for being totally silent. The heat produced by SSD will be absorbed by the heat pipe and effectively conducted to the extensive aluminum fins. Two pieces pre-divided thermal pads are included for excellent heat connection. 0.8mm and 1.5mm thickness option adapts to any PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- [Improved Mounting Post] – It seems the leading maker Sony does not belong to M.2 SSD industry. We don’t think that the stock screws mount M.2 SSD appropriately in the memory compartment. ElecGear did it better with a re-designed fixing structure for your gaming SSD. The modified guide post, standard M.2 screw and even a copper washer to adjust the height of SSD are included in the box
- [Compatibility Note] – The cooler fits both PS5 Ultra HD and Digital editions. In terms of hardware, it’s compatible with any standard NVMe M.2 solid state drive. Fully tested with WD Black SN850, Samsung 980 Pro and Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0. It supports 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 form factor and also works with 22110 in the future. Please be noticed: The SSD maker’s thin heatsink should be removed before installing, for example, Corsair-Force MP600 and ADATA XPG
PNY XLR8 Gaming PS5 SSD Designed Heatsink – $24.99
PNY XLR8 PS5 SSD Heatsink is designed for PS5, integrating the original PS5 SSD cover, PNY offers a brilliant design, combined the cover with heatsink which provides extreme cooling performance, taking your extra upgraded PS5 NVMe SSD to the extreme. Not only can you destroy the competition, and play more games, but your system can look good while doing so.
- Part No : M22110PSVHS-XR-RB
- Design to integrate PS5 SSD cover & heatsink
- Greatly improves cooling efficiency
- Included spare screws x1 + Thermal pads
- Compare to no heatsink, cools downs the SSD over 40%*
- Recommended SSD: XLR8 CS3140 Gen 4×4
INEO / GRAUGEAR PS5 SSD Designed Heatsink G-PS5HS01 – $34.99
The new GRAUGEAR/INEO heat pipe cooler G-PS5HS01 reduces the temperature of your M.2 NVMe SSDs in the PlayStation®5 by up to 50% and thus contributes to a longer lifetime of your SSDs. The performance of your M.2 NVMe SSDs is also positively influenced by the GRAUGEAR/INEO heat pipe cooler G-PS5HS01. The Ø7mm copper heat pipe and the copper fins and aluminium heat sink ensure maximum performance.
- Heat Pipe from Copper maximum performance
- The reduced temperature of M.2 NVMe SSD up to 50%
- Designed for PlayStation®5
- Compatible with Single/Double-sided M.2 2280 SSDs
- 1 x G-PS5HS01, 4 x Thermal Pads
- 1 x Screwdriver1 x SSD mounting screw
- 1x Screws, 1 x Manual, 1 x Warranty card
QIVYNSRY M.2 heatsink 2280 SSD Double-Sided Heat Sink
- Designed for desktop computers, but works with PS5
- Aluminum body, Anodic Oxidation Surface Treatment;
- with 10°C – 30°C cooling effect;
- Compatible with Singel/Double sided M.2 NVME NGFF SSD;
- Easy to install, and not damage the hard disk.
Includes:
- 1* EZ NVMe Heatsink-Silver
- 2* Thermal pads
- 5* Screws.
- 1* Installation guide.
SUPER BUDGET OPTION – Akuoly M.2 SSD Heatsink 4 Pack Aluminum Heatsink Cooler Cooling
- To Save Your Device from Fail Prematurely–Reduce the risk of hardware failure due to overheating. The gap of these Akuoly heatsinks between the larger fins increases the area of the board and thus provides for greater heat transfer
- Made of High Quality Aluminum–Made of high quality aluminum, great thermal conductivity. An aluminum heatsink is a passive heat exchanger that efficiently transfers heat through electronic signal or mechanical signal with device, thus keeping a regulation of the temperature of the device at an optimal level
- Suitable for Various Devices–Suitable for heating elements on Wi-Fi routers, M.2 SSD, AC adapters, chargers, high power amplifier transistor semiconductor devices and so on
- Cheerful 4 Pack Heatsink & Thermal Pads– 4 pieces x aluminum heatsink Cooling Fin (each 70mm x 22mm x 6mm), large surface area and great fins; with 4 pieces of double-sided thermal tape whose thermal conductivity: about 1.3 W / (m·K).
- Material: Aluminum
- Size: 70mm (L) x 22mm (W) x 6mm (H)
- Package: 4 Pack x Aluminum Heatsink Cooling Fins
- 4 Pieces Double-sides Thermal Tape whose thermal conductivity: about 1.3 W / (m·K).
SGTKJSJS M.2 Heatsink SSD Cooler for PCIE NVME
Excellent little kit. Comes with: A screwdriver, a cleaning and drying towelette(not needed if the m.2 is new and/or not dusty) and it has two dark blue(.5mm) for the bottom(U bracket) and two light blue(1mm) for the top(heatsink) for 2 m.2 drives. There is a protective film on BOTH sides of each of the thermal tape piece. Remove BOTH pieces of film of EACH of the thermal tape pieces and apply them. Once the thermal tape is on both sides(1 blue-bottom, 1 light blue-heatsink) place the bottom of your m.2 drive into the U bracket/bottom of the thermal unit. Next make sure that the top piece(heatsink) has the open spot for the screw for your motherboard facing the back to leave space to attach. Next, line up the holes and gently drop the top heatsink into the U bracket/bottom.
Package list
- M.2 SSD heatSink X2
-
Silicone thermal pad X4
-
Fixing screw X8
-
screwdriver X1
EZDIY-FAB M.2 2280 SSD heatsink
Double-Sided Heat Sink, High-Performance SSD Cooler for PCIE NVME M.2 SSD or SATA M.2 SSD- Red or Black – $15
- Designed for desktop computers, but works inside PS5
- Aluminum material for best heat dissipation and maximum performance.
- Compatible with Singel/Double sided M.2 2280 SSDs.
- Easy to install.
- Beautiful metal surface treatment, installed in the chassis to form a beautiful landscape.
Includes:
- 1* EZ NVMe Heatsink-Silver
- 2* Thermal pads
- 5* Screws.
- 1* Installation guide.
MHQJRH M.2 2280 SSD heatsink – SINGLE SIDE SSD USE ONLY – VERY TIGHT FIT!!
Double-Sided Heat Sink, Matching Thermal Silicone pad for PCIE NVME M.2 SSD or SATA M.2 SSD – $9.99
- Designed for Compact M.2 NVMe SSD Installation
- Aluminum body, Anodic Oxidation Surface Treatment.
- Aluminum alloy-Groove design, greatly increase the heat dissipation area, with 10°C – 30°C cooling effect.
- Compatible with Singel/Double-sided M.2 2280 SSDs.
- Easy to install, and not damage the SSD
- Advancing Gene thermal pad is made from Nano Silicon Grease Material, with good thermal conductivity ability. Soft enough and good ductility, compatible with uneven surfaces of the M.2 SSD. Low viscosity, with no damage to the SSD label.
Includes:
- M.2 SSD heatSink X1
- Silicone thermal pad X3
- Fixing screw X6
- Screwdriver X1
Ice Cold Ineo M.2 heatsink 2280 SSD
Thermal Silicone pad for M.2 PCIE NVMe SSD – $10.99
- The NVMe heatsink are able to support the NVMe SSD type 70x20mm
- Please place the silicone cooling pad between the heatsink and the SSD to prevent damage to the SSD and protect the particles of the SSD, which can effectively extend the life of your SSD.
- Package including: 1 NVMe Aluminum heatsink, 2 silicone thermal pad, 1 user manual, 1 screw driver , 1 guarantee card, 1 screw
- Each product has strict tested before We sent it to you and offer 1 Year Limited Warranty, Life-time free technical support by ineo.
Includes:
- 1 NVMe Aluminum heatsink
- 2 silicone thermal pad
- 1 user manual
- 1 screw driver
- 1 1 screw
WARSHIP Pro M.2 2280 SSD Heatsink
PCIE NVME or SATA m2 2280 SSD Double-Sided Heat Sink – Black – $8.99
- Suports PCIE NVME M.2 2280 size SSD or SATA M2 2280 size SSD
- Aluminium alloy, silver plating , anodic oxidation surface treatment
- Easy to install, NO damage to the SSD.
- Aluminum alloy-Groove design with 10°C – 30°C cooling effect
Includes:
- HeatSink X2
- Big Silicone thermal pad X 2
- Small Silicone thermal pad X 10
- Screws X 6
- Screwdriver X1
Best Budget Choice – Nankui SSD Heatsink Surround – SINGLE SIDE SSD USE ONLY – VERY TIGHT FIT!!
NVMe Heatsink for m.2 2280 SSD,Double-Sided Cooling – $5.99
- Originally designed for desktop computers, This M.2 SSD heatsink compatible with all single sided Type.
- Simple Lock design, easy to install
- Double Aluminum alloy-Groove design, greatly increase the heat dissipation area, with 7°C – 30°C cooling effect (Varies depending on the environments), Ensure the high-speed and long-lasting performance of SSD, continuous high-speed reading and writing and long-term game performance are still strong
- Main body material: Aluminum alloy, anodic oxidation surface treatment. Dimensions: 76.5*24.*12mm , Nano Silicon Grease Material Dimensions：70*20*T.4 ，Thermal conductivity：3W/m-k
Includes:
- M.2 SSD heatSink X1
- Silicone thermal pad X3
- No Screws – Clicks Shut
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