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Video game sizes have continued to soar beyond users’ wildest expectations, leaving most consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, in the dust due to their limited storage capacity. Thankfully, Sony has given users the ability to add an extra SSD to the PS5, allowing them to increase the overall storage capacity. That said, not all M.2 slots are compatible with the PS5, making searching for a suitable option slightly more challenging.
Take a look at the Best SSDs For PS5 compared with each other:
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Best SSD For PS5
Here are our picks for the Best SSD For PS5:
- Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
- Samsung 990 PRO 2TB
- XPG 2TB GAMMIX S70 Blade
- SABRENT 2TB Rocket Plus SSD + M.2 NVMe heatsink combo
- Crucial P3 Plus
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
Best Overall SSD For PS5
Capacities Available: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | PCIe: 4.0 x4 | Sequential Read: 7100 MB/s | Sequential Write: 6800 MB/s | NAND: 3D TLC | Heatsink: Yes
Pros
Cons
Performance: Performance for the Corsair MP600 PRO LPX has remained top-notch, with the drive boasting an output of 1000K/1200K IOPS. Similarly, it comes with excellent read speeds of 7100 MB/s, with write speeds sitting at an equally impressive 6800 MB/s. Corsair has continued to use the Phison E18 controller for this variant of the LPX as well, which remains an excellent choice for high-performance drives. You also get Micron 176 Layer B47R NAND along with DRAM Cache for an ideal experience.
Reliability: The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX does not disappoint when it comes to reliability, coming with a TBW rating of 3000 for the 4TB drive. Adding on to that, Corsair has labeled the drive with an MTBF of 17 million hours, which is a respectable figure. It is nice to see that the SSD also offers hardware encryption along with five years of warranty.
Design: The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX specifically targets the PS5, and its compact design reinforces that point. Despite the smaller size, Corsair has managed to incorporate a sizable heatsink. Much like the original iteration of the MP600, the entire structure is enveloped in a matte-black coating; however, removing the heatsink has now been facilitated through the addition of two screws.
You need a well-rounded drive for PS5: The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX perfectly fits the description of a well-balanced SSD for the PS5. Not only does it conform to all of Sony’s set standards, but it performs flawlessly while also maintaining adequate temperatures.
What Makes It The Best Overall SSD For PS5
Between PCIe 4.0 Speeds and excellent cooling, the Corsair MP600 PRO LPX is designed to deliver on all aspects. Additionally, it provides capacities up to 4TB, provides excellent real-world results, and maintains lower temperatures, making it the Best Overall SSD For PS5.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Endurance: 10/10 |
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB
Best Performance SSD For PS5
Capacities Available: 1TB, 2TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | PCIe: 4.0 x4 | Sequential Read: 7450 MB/s | Sequential Write: 6900 MB/s | NAND: Samsung V-NAND 3-bit MLC | Heatsink: Yes
Pros
Cons
Performance: When it comes to performance, the Samsung 990 PRO essentially triumphs over every other SSD it competes against. Powered by Samsung’s in-house Pascal controller, it demonstrates a generational leap with its sequential read and write speeds of 7450 MB/s and 6900 MB/s. Furthermore, the SSD also holds the title of being the world’s first consumer SSD to show off Samsung’s 7th-gen TLC V-NAND technology. While its feats over its predecessors are already apparent, the 990 Pro’s output reaches 1400K/1550K IOPS, guaranteeing blazing-fast access speeds.
Reliability: Rated for 1400TBW, the Samsung 990 PRO proves itself to be fairly reliable for the most part. Its remarkable endurance rating is also accompanied by an equally impressive MTBF rating of 1.5 million hours, reinforcing its position as one of the more reliable SSDs in the market.
Design: The Samsung 990 PRO comes with a standard M.2 SSD design reminiscent of older Samsung drives. It sports a label on each side, with basic information scattered around it. While the drive does not come with a heatsink, one can be added to it by paying extra. Moreover, Samsung has employed a Dynamic Thermal Guard along with a nickel-plated controller for better heat dissipation.
You need the best performance: Anyone looking for a capable SSD will be impressed by the Samsung 990 PRO’s blistering fast speeds.
What Makes It The Best Performance SSD For PS5
The Samsung 990 PRO is hailed as the apex of Gen 4 SSDs, and for good reason. It utilizes Samsung’s 7th Gen NAND technology, fast speeds, and consistent IOPS to check every box for performance-centric users, making it the Best Performance SSD For PS5.
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Endurance: 10/10 |
XPG 2TB GAMMIX S70 Blade
Best Budget SSD For PS5
Capacities Available: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | PCIe: 4.0 x4 | Sequential Read: 6300 MB/s | Sequential Write: 6800 MB/s | NAND: 3D TLC | Heatsink: Yes
Pros
Cons
Performance: Based on the Micron 176-layer TLC V-NAND flash, the XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade reaches speeds up to 7400 MB/s Read and 6800 MB/s Write. However, that is not entirely true for the PS5 since the sequential read speeds are limited to 6300 MB/s when used with the console. Naturally, that should not be a deal breaker by any means, especially considering its ability to achieve read-and-write IOPS of up to 750,000. More importantly, the drive features the Innogrit IG5236 controller and TLC NAND, allowing it to compete with higher-end SSDs. It also uses Dynamic SLC Caching technology in conjunction with the DRAM cache buffer for an overall performance uplift.
Reliability: The XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade is rated for an endurance rating of up to 1480 TBW, which places it a notch above most of the competition. Adding on to that, it also boasts an MTBF rating of 2 million hours. Topping all of that off is support for E2E Data Protection, RAID engine, and AES 256-bit encryption, all of which contribute to improving the longevity of the drive.
Design: Much like the non-blade version of the GAMMIX S70, the S70 Blade’s design is far from novel, sporting an all-black finish. Furthermore, it has been bundled with a sleek aluminum strip that acts as the primary heatsink while also complementing the rest of the design. Despite the thinner density of the included heatsink, it is certainly a welcome addition.
You are on a budget: Anyone on a strict budget is destined to be pleased by the XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade’s incredible price-to-performance ratio.
You want faster speeds: The XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade competes with the higher-end SSDs with its fast read and write speeds.
What Makes It The Best Budget SSD For PS5
The XPG GAMMIX S70 Blade pushes the boundaries of what constitutes a budget-friendly drive, integrating enthusiast-grade features at a value offering. XPG makes all of that possible thanks to the IG5236 controller as well as the newer 176-layer NAND Flash. It takes the crown as the Best Budget SSD For PS5 thanks to its incredible read and write speeds and lower overall price tag.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Endurance: 8/10 |
SABRENT 2TB Rocket 4 Plus SSD + M.2 NVMe heatsink combo
Best SSD With Heatsink For PS5
Capacities Available: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | PCIe: 4.0 x4 | Sequential Read: 7000 MB/s | Sequential Write: 6850 MB/s | NAND: 3D TLC | Heatsink: Yes
Pros
Cons
Performance: The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus is powered by the Phinson18-E18 controller, which allows it to utilize the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface to its maximum potential. It reaches sequential read speeds of 7000 MB/s which are backed up by write speeds of 6850 MB/s. Moreover, the drive uses Micron B47R 3D NAND TLC, ensuring reliable performance in most applications. The drive further eliminates any room for performance concerns, delivering impressive read/write IOPS of up to 650K/750K.
Reliability: Unlike most modern SSDs, Sabrent decided to opt for more reliable TLC memory for the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus, which is an added plus. Its endurance rating goes up to a whopping 1400TBW on the 2TB variant, which proves to be enough even for the most demanding of users. Lastly, the drive is also backed up with five years of warranty.
Design: Design-wise, the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus does not deviate from the industry standard for the most part; however, a layer of copper heatsink can be found on the front for added heat dissipation. The heatsink itself comes encapsulated in a rose-gold finish, with black stripes traversing through the bottom two corners. That said, installing the bundled PS5 heatsink for a little extra is recommended in order to avoid any kind of thermal throttling.
You want a capable PCIe Gen 4 drive: Packed with fast sequential speeds, support for a beefy PS5 heatsink, and great durability; the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus does not miss the mark in any aspect.
You are looking for an SSD with a capable heatsink: Sabrent’s custom heatsink eliminates the risk of running into any thermal throttling issues even under demanding workloads, making it a great deal.
What Makes It The Best SSD With Heatsink For PS5
The Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus conforms to every new standard set for modern gaming, which includes fast read and write speeds, DirectStorage as well as the NVMe 1.3 protocol. It displays solid real-world performance while also offering capacities of up to 8TB. More importantly, it also maintains reasonable temperatures thanks to the PS5 heatsink, making it the Best SSD With Heatsink For PS5.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Endurance: 9/10 |
Crucial P3 Plus
Best Value SSD For PS5
Capacities Available: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | Form Factor: M.2 2280 | PCIe: 4.0 x4 | Sequential Read: 5000 MB/s | Sequential Write: 4200 MB/s | NAND: 3D TLC | Heatsink: No
Pros
Cons
Performance: The Crucial P3 Plus brings PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4 speeds at a much more budget-friendly price tag. In order to achieve a lower price, Crucial has made use of Micron’s 176-layer QLC NAND while also excluding any DRAM cache for the drives. The drive uses the Phison PS5021-E2IT controller, reaching commendable sequential read and write speeds of up to 5000 MB/s and 4200 MB/s, respectively.
Reliability: Sure, the 800TBW rating may not be as high as the other products I have listed. But, given Crucial’s choice of high-quality components along with a 5-year warranty, the drive will easily last you for several years to come with zero hiccups.
Design: Crucial has kept the design extremely simple for the P3 Plus, which is expected from a value-oriented drive such as this one. You are presented with a plain matte-black design, with stickers that cover the controller and flash memory. Its barebone design is further highlighted by the absence of any onboard heatsink, which is a bit disappointing.
You are on a budget: The Crucial P3 Plus is an extremely value-oriented drive, reserved for anyone on a limited budget.
What Makes It The Best Value SSD For PS5
Despite the lower TBW ratings, the Crucial P3 Plus ranks among one of the cheapest Gen 4.0 x 4 SSDs one can get their hands on, making it the Best Value SSD For PS5.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 7/10 | Endurance: 7/10 |
Other PCIe Gen 4.0 SSDs:
Important SSD Key Terms
Here are some terms you need to look out for when searching for the Best SSD For PS5
- Sequential Read/Write Speed: The read and write speeds are a determining factor of how fast data can be written to and read from a particular drive.
- Endurance: Measured in Terabytes Written, the endurance rating is a direct measure of the number of Terabytes that can be written to a drive.
- IOPS: Input and Output operations per second are generally used to measure the amount of read and write operations your SSD is capable of performing in a second.
- NAND: NAND refers to non-volatile flash memory used to store data using cells.
- TLC: Triple Layer Cell is a type of NAND memory used to store a total of 3 bits on each cell.
- QLC: Quad Layer Cell is another type of flash memory used to store four bits per cell, providing more storage space by scaling down on durability and overall performance.
- Controller: The controller acts as the central component of your drive and is responsible for dealing with read and write operations, error correction, and optimization.
- MTBF: Mean Time Between Failure or MTBF rating is assigned by a manufacturer, representing the average time a component can stay active before running into a failure.
How We Picked The Best SSD For PS5
These are the factors I considered when coming up with my list of the Best SSDs For PS5. Make sure to read How To Buy the Right SSD For Your PC for more information.
- Performance: Read and write speeds directly indicate how well an SSD performs, which is then followed by random read/write speeds and Input/Output operations per second. To put into perspective, PCIe 4.0 SSDs are theoretically limited to a maximum sequential speed of 8000 MB/s, meaning anything nearing that figure will likely provide excellent performance.
- Endurance and Reliability: A good way to measure the endurance of your selected SSD is by looking at the specified TBW ratings provided by the manufacturer. Similarly, ensuring that you opt for a reliable option with lower chances of data corruption and failure is equally crucial. The MTBF rating provides an accurate indication of that, allowing you to gauge the reliability of your drive.
- Cooling Solutions: It is vital to make sure that the SSD you end up going with comes with adequate cooling capabilities in the form of heatsinks. It is worth noting that some SSD manufacturers offer optional heatsink options for the PS5, which are mostly worth opting for.
- How To Install An SSD in PS5
Contrary to popular belief, installing an SSD into the PS5 has been made fairly easy for the most part. All you need is the latest system software, your desired SSD, and a screwdriver for mounting the drive. Before starting the installation, you must ensure that you have installed the heatsink onto the M.2 drive. Start by plugging off your PS5 and laying it horizontally on a flat surface, and make sure the PlayStation logo is facing down.
The white cover can be removed by applying some force towards the base. Removing the top cover will reveal the SSD cover and the single screw holding it into place. Unscrewing the cover unveils the SSD slot along with marked labels for different SSD sizes. Simply slot in your SSD and screw it in place by aligning it with the previously-mentioned size labels. After this, all you need to do is close everything back up and power up the PS5. The system will eventually undergo a brief formatting process, configuring the drive for future use.
An external SSD gives the PS5 the ability to store a lot more games, which is always helpful. A 2TB drive can fit more than 50 PS5 games; however, that mostly depends on the sizes of games. No, PCIe Gen 3 SSDs are not compatible with the PS5.Frequently Asked Questions
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[CPU Coolers & RAM Expert]
Hayyan Serwer is a tech enthusiast, with a love for PC building and article writing. Hayyan specializes in writing about CPU coolers and RAM kits. Hayyan has been familiar with the tech industry for over half a decade now, and has now stepped into providing quality reviews for the latest and greatest tech.
Get In Touch: hayyan@tech4gamers.com
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