{"id":64615,"date":"2026-02-25T03:05:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T03:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/?p=64615"},"modified":"2026-02-25T02:59:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T02:59:08","slug":"best-ssd-for-ps5-storage-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/test\/best-ssd-for-ps5-storage-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Best SSD for PS5 Storage Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Running out of space on your PS5 is a rite of passage for modern gamers. With massive titles like Call of Duty<\/em> and God of War Ragnar\u00f6k<\/em> easily devouring 100GB+ each, that internal storage vanishes in a blink. I\u2019ve 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\u2019ll break down the best expansion options to ensure your library keeps growing without technical hiccups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n

Our Top Picks at a Glance<\/h2>\n
\n
\n Best Overall<\/span>\n Samsung 990 Pro (Heatsink)<\/strong>\n Blazing fast speeds, reliable thermal management.<\/span>\n Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n Best Value<\/span>\n WD_BLACK SN850X (Heatsink)<\/strong>\n Elite performance at a great price.<\/span>\n Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n Budget Pick<\/span>\n Corsair MP600 Pro LPX<\/strong>\n Solid speed for the lowest cost.<\/span>\n Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Best SSD for PS5: Detailed Reviews<\/h2>\n\n
\n
\ud83c\udfc6 Best Overall<\/div>\n

Samsung 990 Pro (Heatsink) View on Amazon<\/a> <\/h3>\n
\n
Best For:<\/span> Hardcore Gamers<\/div>\n
Key Feature:<\/span> 7,450 MB\/s Read Speeds<\/div>\n
Rating:<\/span> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n

If you want the absolute fastest drive that stays within Sony\u2019s 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\u2014it fits perfectly in the PS5\u2019s narrow expansion slot without any clearance issues. The only real downside is that you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

Check Price on Amazon US<\/a>, UK<\/a>, CA<\/a>, DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <\/p>\n

\u2713 Free Shipping \u00b7 \u2713 Easy Returns \u00b7 \u2713 Secure Checkout<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\ud83d\udc8e Best Value<\/div>\n

WD_BLACK SN850X (Heatsink) View on Amazon<\/a> <\/h3>\n
\n
Best For:<\/span> Price-to-Performance<\/div>\n
Key Feature:<\/span> 7,300 MB\/s Speed<\/div>\n
Rating:<\/span> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\u2019s the smart choice for those who want flagship performance without the “Samsung tax.”<\/p>\n

Check Price on Amazon US<\/a>, UK<\/a>, CA<\/a>, DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <\/p>\n

\u2713 Free Shipping \u00b7 \u2713 Easy Returns \u00b7 \u2713 Secure Checkout<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\ud83d\udcb0 Budget Pick<\/div>\n

Corsair MP600 Pro LPX View on Amazon<\/a> <\/h3>\n
\n
Best For:<\/span> Thrifty Upgraders<\/div>\n
Key Feature:<\/span> Low-Profile Heatsink<\/div>\n
Rating:<\/span> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019ll 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\u2019s never an issue. It\u2019s a no-nonsense, plug-and-play solution that leaves you with more money to actually buy games.<\/p>\n

Check Price on Amazon US<\/a>, UK<\/a>, CA<\/a>, DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <\/p>\n

\u2713 Free Shipping \u00b7 \u2713 Easy Returns \u00b7 \u2713 Secure Checkout<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\u2b50 Premium Choice<\/div>\n

Seagate FireCuda 530 (Heatsink) View on Amazon<\/a> <\/h3>\n
\n
Best For:<\/span> Maximum Durability<\/div>\n
Key Feature:<\/span> 2550 TBW Endurance<\/div>\n
Rating:<\/span> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Check Price on Amazon US<\/a>, UK<\/a>, CA<\/a>, DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <\/p>\n

\u2713 Free Shipping \u00b7 \u2713 Easy Returns \u00b7 \u2713 Secure Checkout<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n
\ud83d\udc4d Also Great<\/div>\n

Crucial T500 (Heatsink) View on Amazon<\/a> <\/h3>\n
\n
Best For:<\/span> Modern Efficiency<\/div>\n
Key Feature:<\/span> 232-Layer NAND Tech<\/div>\n
Rating:<\/span> \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2014it means the drive generates less heat to begin with, which is great for the cramped internal bay of the PS5. It\u2019s a very sleek drive, and Crucial\u2019s 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\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n

Check Price on Amazon US<\/a>, UK<\/a>, CA<\/a>, DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <\/p>\n

\u2713 Free Shipping \u00b7 \u2713 Easy Returns \u00b7 \u2713 Secure Checkout<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

Buying Guide: How to Choose a PS5 SSD<\/h2>\n
\n

Choosing an SSD for your PS5 isn’t just about picking the biggest number on the box. Sony has strict requirements: you need a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD with a minimum sequential read speed of 5,500 MB\/s. However, I always recommend aiming for 7,000 MB\/s or higher. Why? Because as games become more complex, they rely more on fast data streaming. A faster drive today is “future-proofing” for the massive open-world games coming in the next few years. You also must have a heatsink. Without one, the drive will thermal throttle, causing your games to stutter or crash. You can buy a drive with a built-in heatsink (easiest) or add one yourself, but don’t skip this step! Finally, consider capacity. 1TB is a good start, but 2TB is the “sweet spot” for most gamers who want to keep 20+ modern AAA games installed at once.<\/p>\n

Key Factors<\/h3>\n