Best SSD for PS5 Storage Expansion
Running out of space on your PS5 is a rite of passage for modern gamers. With massive titles like Call of Duty and God of War Ragnarök easily devouring 100GB+ each, that internal storage vanishes in a blink. I’ve spent years testing NVMe drives in everything from high-end PCs to consoles, and I can tell you that the Samsung 990 Pro is currently the king of the mountain. In this guide, I’ll break down the best expansion options to ensure your library keeps growing without technical hiccups.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Best SSD for PS5: Detailed Reviews
Samsung 990 Pro (Heatsink) View on Amazon
If you want the absolute fastest drive that stays within Sony’s power and thermal envelopes, the Samsung 990 Pro is it. Released as the successor to the legendary 980 Pro, it pushes the PCIe Gen4 interface to its absolute limit with sequential read speeds of up to 7,450 MB/s. During my testing, I noticed that game load times were virtually indistinguishable from the PS5’s internal SSD, often finishing a few fractions of a second faster. The integrated slim heatsink is a work of art—it fits perfectly in the PS5’s narrow expansion slot without any clearance issues. The only real downside is that you’re paying a premium for that Samsung brand reliability and top-tier IOPS performance. While cheaper drives exist, I find the peace of mind offered by Samsung’s Pascal controller and nickel-coated thermal management well worth the extra investment for a long-term storage solution.
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WD_BLACK SN850X (Heatsink) View on Amazon
The WD_BLACK SN850X is widely considered the rival to Samsung, and in many ways, it’s the more practical choice for most people. Western Digital has optimized this drive specifically for gaming, offering sequential reads of 7,300 MB/s. In real-world PS5 usage, you won’t feel any difference between this and more expensive drives. I personally love the industrial aesthetic of the WD_BLACK heatsink; it feels incredibly rugged and does a fantastic job of dissipating heat during long sessions of *Gran Turismo 7*. It’s frequently on sale, often undercutting the 990 Pro by a significant margin. While it doesn’t quite reach the same peak IOPS as the Samsung, the “Game Mode 2.0” technology (though more relevant for PC users) ensures the drive is always ready for heavy asset streaming. It’s the smart choice for those who want flagship performance without the “Samsung tax.”
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Corsair MP600 Pro LPX View on Amazon
Don’t let the “Budget” label fool you; the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX is a beast. Corsair was one of the first to market a drive specifically branded for the PS5, and it shows. With 7,100 MB/s read speeds, it comfortably clears Sony’s 5,500 MB/s recommendation. The “LPX” stands for Low Profile, meaning the heatsink is designed to fit in the PS5’s slot with room to spare for optimal airflow. While it might be a few seconds slower in transferring a 100GB file compared to the 990 Pro, you’ll never notice the difference while actually playing games. The honest limitation here is the slightly higher operating temperature under sustained heavy writes compared to the beefier heatsinks, but for standard gaming use, it’s never an issue. It’s a no-nonsense, plug-and-play solution that leaves you with more money to actually buy games.
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Seagate FireCuda 530 (Heatsink) View on Amazon
The Seagate FireCuda 530 is widely regarded as the “pro” choice for high-end users. Why? Because of its insane endurance rating. At the 2TB capacity, it offers a 2550 Terabytes Written (TBW) rating, which is nearly double that of most competitors. This means you could download and delete massive games every single day for years and the drive wouldn’t break a sweat. It uses the high-end Phison E18 controller and Micron’s 176-layer TLC NAND, pushing speeds up to 7,300 MB/s. The heatsink was co-designed with EKWB, a leader in water cooling, and it’s one of the most efficient thermal solutions I’ve ever seen on an M.2 drive. You’re paying for extreme reliability and professional-grade components. If you plan on keeping your PS5 for its entire decade-long lifecycle, this is the drive that will likely outlast the console itself.
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Crucial T500 (Heatsink) View on Amazon
The Crucial T500 is one of the newest entries to the market, and it brings a lot of modern tech to the table. By using Crucial’s advanced 232-layer NAND, it manages to be incredibly power-efficient while still hitting speeds of 7,400 MB/s. In my experience, efficient power usage is an underrated benefit—it means the drive generates less heat to begin with, which is great for the cramped internal bay of the PS5. It’s a very sleek drive, and Crucial’s software support for firmware updates is top-notch. While it doesn’t have the “brand prestige” of the WD_BLACK in the gaming space yet, its performance in asset-heavy games like *Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart* is flawless. It’s a fantastic alternative if the other top-tier drives are out of stock or if you simply prefer Crucial’s reliability (they make their own flash, after all).
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Buying Guide: How to Choose a PS5 SSD
Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 Pro | Performance King | ★★★★★ | Check |
| WD_BLACK SN850X | Balanced Value | ★★★★☆ | Check |
| Corsair MP600 Pro LPX | Budget Build | ★★★★☆ | Check |
| Seagate FireCuda 530 | Reliability/Endurance | ★★★★★ | Check |
| Crucial T500 | Energy Efficiency | ★★★★☆ | Check |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will installing an SSD void my PS5 warranty?
No, it absolutely will not. Sony has designed the PS5 with an accessible expansion slot specifically so users can upgrade their own storage. As long as you follow the official instructions and don’t physically damage the console components while doing so, your warranty remains fully intact. It’s a very simple process that only requires a Phillips-head screwdriver and about five minutes of your time.
Do I really need a heatsink for the PS5?
Yes, you definitely do. The PS5’s expansion slot is located in a corner of the console that doesn’t get as much direct airflow as the main processor. Without a heatsink, high-performance Gen4 SSDs can reach temperatures over 80°C. When this happens, the drive slows down to protect itself, which leads to game stuttering or even crashes. A heatsink is non-negotiable for a stable experience.
Can I play PS5 games directly from the added SSD?
Yes, that is the primary benefit! Unlike external USB hard drives, which can only store PS5 games or play older PS4 games, an internal M.2 SSD works exactly like the built-in storage. You can install, play, and update PS5 games directly from the new drive. In many cases, you’ll actually find that the new drive is slightly faster than the console’s original internal storage.
What is the maximum storage capacity the PS5 supports?
As of the latest firmware updates, the PS5 supports M.2 NVMe SSDs with capacities up to 8TB. While 8TB drives are currently extremely expensive (often costing more than the console itself), it’s good to know the overhead is there. For most users, 1TB or 2TB is the most cost-effective choice, while 4TB is great for those with massive libraries who hate deleting anything.
How do I move my existing games to the new SSD?
Once you install the drive and format it (the PS5 will prompt you automatically), go to Settings > Storage > Console Storage > Games and Apps. From there, you can select “Move Content” and choose the games you want to transfer to the M.2 SSD. Transfers are incredibly fast; a 50GB game usually moves in under a minute. You can also set the M.2 SSD as the default install location.
Final Verdict
If you just want the best of the best, grab the Samsung 990 Pro—it’s the enthusiast choice for a reason. However, I usually point my friends toward the WD_BLACK SN850X because the “real world” difference is negligible and you often save $20-$40. If you’re on a strict budget, don’t sweat it—the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX will still feel like a massive upgrade over the base console storage.