The perfect SSDs for PS5 in 2024

When Sony released the PlayStation 5 in 2020, it wasn’t attainable to develop the console’s storage. Fortunately, that modified with a software update that the corporate pushed out lower than a 12 months later. And with how large some sport installs have develop into in recent times, it’s a superb factor, too: the PS5’s built-in 667GB of house might have been ok within the system’s first 12 months, however in 2024, the default drive is completely limiting.

The excellent news is a normal PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD can clear up 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 sophisticated. And if all you wish to know is what the most effective PS5 SSDs are, they’re proper on the high.

Learn extra: These are the best 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 Pro LPX makes it to the highest of our record for the most effective PS5 SSD for being the whole bundle. It’s quick, providing wonderful efficiency and skim 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 record, however so far as no-fuss choices go, it’s arduous to beat the MP600.

Professionals

• Constructed-in heatsink
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Not the quickest Gen4 mannequin

$95 at Amazon

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 Crucial 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’ll often discover the 1TB mannequin for as little as $60 when it’s on sale. Essential additionally gives a model with a heatsink, so it’s price including each the Corsair MP600 and Essential T500 to a worth watch record and shopping for whichever mannequin is cheaper whenever you’re able to improve your PS5.

Professionals

• Quick
• Obtainable with or with out heatsink

$82 at Amazon

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 record, the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus is essentially the most attention-grabbing. It comes with a novel heatsink that you just set up rather than the storage growth 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.

Professionals

• PS5-specific heatsink design

Cons

• Not as quick as different choices
• Costly relative to different drives

$130 at Amazon

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 utilize one to retailer any video games you aren’t enjoying in the meanwhile (and that features older PS4 video games). Considered one of my favourite transportable drives is the Samsung T7. It could possibly write information at a speedy 1,000 MB/s. In the event you plan to make use of the drive solely for at-home use, it can save you cash by shopping for the usual mannequin as a substitute of the Protect variant, which has a rugged exterior for additional safety for individuals who are at all times 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.

Professionals

• Reasonably priced
• Dependable
• Rugged variant obtainable

Cons

• Can’t play PS5 video games from exterior drive

$70 at B&H Photo

How we check PS5 SSDs

After serving to to keep up this information for the previous two years, I’ve examined a lot of the SSDs really helpful on this record, both for PS5 or pc use. I additionally purchased and used our high decide in my very own PS5.

How a lot PS5 storage do I would like?

The PlayStation 5 will settle for inner drives with between 250GB and 8TB of storage capability. In the event you already personal a PS5, likelihood is you’ve an inexpensive concept of how a lot storage you want ​​in your sport library. In the event you’re shopping for an SSD with a brand new PS5, or shopping for for another person, it’s harder 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 extremely popular) exceptions. In the event you’re a fan of the Name of Responsibility sequence, putting in Modern Warfare III and Warzone 2.0 would require about 250GB. In different phrases, a full Name of Responsibility set up will take up greater than one-third of the PS5’s inner storage. In the event 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 velocity. In the event you stay in an space with sluggish broadband, the “you may simply obtain it once more” rationale doesn’t actually work. At my outdated house, a 100GB obtain took me round eight hours, throughout which period it was tough 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 actually isn’t quite a lot of house for contemporary video games to stay on. 500GB drives, coming in at round $60 to $80, are an honest choice, however the candy spot for many is to go for a high-capacity 1TB drive, which ought to run you about $100. That can greater than double the PS5 storage you’ve obtainable for video games with out breaking the financial institution.

If in case you have the cash, 2TB drives generally provide marginal financial savings per gigabyte, and might typically be discovered when different fashions are out of inventory. Except you’re rolling in money and wish to flex, 4TB and 8TB fashions ought to principally be averted, as you’ll find yourself paying extra per gigabyte than you’d with a 1TB or 2TB drive.

Whereas the 825GB PS5 solely offers 667GB of storage, that’s largely as a consequence of storage being reserved for the working system and caching. In the event 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 Pro.

Are you able to play PS5 video games on an exterior SSD?

Exterior arduous drives are likely to price lower than inner SSD counterparts (and there’s a superb likelihood 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’ve got something however the most effective high-speed web — it’s quicker to maneuver a PS5 sport out of “chilly storage” on an exterior drive than it’s to re-download it — or wish to hold your PS4 library readily available.

Because of the limitations right here, you don’t want the highest-performing mannequin, though it is best to go for SSDs over HDDs for improved switch speeds and cargo instances. Any fundamental transportable drive from a good model will do, with the Essential X9 Professional and Samsung T5 being choices we’ve tried and might suggest.

Which SSD playing cards are appropriate with the PS5?

The official answer 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 velocity, Sony says drives ought to have the ability 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 — comparable to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart — 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 threat that, when you don’t have already got that drive mendacity round, will not be price taking. Simply because we haven’t discovered points but doesn’t imply there gained’t be video games that might be problematic sooner or later. The value distinction between these marginally slower Gen4 drives and those that meet Sony’s spec will not be large, and also you may as effectively cowl all of your bases.

Barely extra sophisticated than velocity is cooling and dimension. Most new SSDs are going to be simply high-quality; 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 vast and 80mm lengthy, so no downside there.

It needs to 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 “efficient warmth dissipation with a cooling construction, comparable to a heatsink.” The utmost peak supported by Sony’s slot is 11.25mm, of which solely 2.45mm will be “beneath” the drive.

This beforehand meant among the hottest heatsinked Gen4 SSDs, together with Corsair’s MP600 Professional LP, wouldn’t match throughout the PS5’s storage growth slot. Since Engadget first revealed 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 can work for the PS5.

The one element in an NVMe SSD that actually requires cooling is the controller, which with no 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 high, as producers realize it must be positioned there to raised dissipate warmth.

So, head to your PC element vendor of alternative, and decide up principally something that meets the really helpful dimensions. An excellent search time period is “laptop computer 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 advice is that this $6 copper heatsink, which attaches to the PS5 SSD with sticky thermal interface materials. It really works simply high-quality, and in performing stress exams on a PC, we couldn’t discover something steel that didn’t hold temperatures below management. Whenever you’re looking, simply make sure that the answer you go for measures not more than 25mm vast 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 very last thing. When searching for a PS5 NVMe, there’s no cause to purchase a Gen5 mannequin over a extra inexpensive Gen4 mannequin. As issues stand, Sony’s console can’t benefit from the brand new normal, and although Gen5 drives are backward appropriate, they’re dearer than their Gen4 counterparts. Simply purchase the quickest and highest-capacity Gen4 mannequin you may afford.

Methods 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 got Sony’s latest software installed. 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 dimension will do high-quality.

1. Energy the whole lot right down to take away the stand

Earlier than trying so as to add extra storage through an NVMe, guarantee that you’ve got Sony’s latest software installed. 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 dimension will do high-quality.

Start by powering down your PS5, unplugging the whole lot, eradicating the stand and flipping it over to its underside. If in case you have a launch PS5, that’s the aspect with the disc drive; when you’ve got the launch Digital Version, it’s the aspect with out the PlayStation emblem 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 power. In the event you’re not getting it, quite than pressure issues, readjust your grip and take a look at once more.

2. Entry the drive bay

When you’ve acquired the whole lot open, you’ll see an oblong piece of steel with a screw holding it in place. Take away that screw and also you’ll have the ability to entry the drive bay.

You’ll see 5 holes inside, every numbered equivalent to the usual SSD drive lengths I discussed earlier. The one numbered 110 may have a steel insert and screw inside. It is advisable 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 pressure is required. If it’s not sliding in, don’t pressure it. You’ll discover the SSD doesn’t sit flat. That’s high-quality and is as supposed.

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 a number of turns — it doesn’t have to be very tight — and also you’re completed.

Change 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 got now efficiently expanded your console’s storage, and might set about downloading and shifting 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.