Last month, Sony released a PlayStation 5 update that allowed all users to take advantage of the console’s storage expansion bay. This was something that Sony had promised even before the PS5 was released last November, but only now are users able to expand their storage and run games directly from a third party drive. And because the formatted PS5 internal drive only offers 665 GB of storage space and game file sizes seem to be getting larger and larger, many will likely want to take advantage of an additional (or larger) drive.
While adding a second drive to the PlayStation 5 is relatively easy there are a few important details that users should be aware of. The first is that the PlayStation 5’s slot is only compatible with PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, which is a relatively new form of NVME drive with extremely fast read/write speeds. Another important thing to note is that Sony recommends that these SSDs use a heatsink. Some models come with a heatsink pre-installed and others need to have a third-party heatsink attached. And finally, if users want to ensure that their drive is as fast as the PS5’s internal, proprietary SSD, they should look for a drive that offers at least 5,500 MB/s (Megabytes per second) read speed.
As expected, there are several options for gamers to choose from when adding an SSD to their PS5. Game Rant has tested many of the popular brands when it comes to hard drives and gaming tech, and a few have stood out as the best options for the PS5.
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
- Speed: 7,100 MB/s read; 6,800 MB/s write
In February 2022, Corsair unveiled its M.2 SSD for the PlayStation 5, the MP600 PRO LPX. As with the other drives on this list, Corsair's PlayStation 5 SSD exceeds the recommended read/write speeds for installing in the Sony console. And for those who want to future-proof their PS5, this is one of the few options that offers 4TB of storage space, albeit at a steep price.
The drive itself is lightning fast regardless of if users are transferring data or loading games directly from the drive. The Corsair SSD's thermal profile keeps it as cool as possible thanks to the attached heat sink and the High-Density 3D TLC NAND design of the drive should ensure that it is long-lasting.
WD_Black SN850
- Speed: 7,000 MB/s read; 5,300 MB/s write
Western Digital has been a mainstay when it comes to gaming storage, both external and internal, and their products are focused towards gaming more than anything else. Their WD_Black SN850 drive is perfect for the PS5, boasting up to 7,000 MB/s read speed and 5,300 MB/s write speed.
In our testing of the WD_Black SN850, it was more than capable of matching or exceeding the load times of the internal PS5 drive. Being able to purchase a model with an included heatsink is a huge plus, because it ensures quality cooling on the drive. It’s also a cool-looking drive, even if the user won’t ever see it once installed. This is also the drive that Mark Cerny endorsed when he was adding a drive to his PS5.
Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink
- Speed: 7,450 MB/s read; 6,900 MB/s write
The Samsung 990 Pro model without a heatsink is already at the top of the class when it comes to PCIe Gen 4 SSDs for gaming PCs, but PS5 owners will want to pay attention as well. Whether users want to install a heatsink themselves or wait until January 23, 2023 for the version that comes with a pre-installed heatsink, this SSD is a monster in PlayStation's current-gen console. With up to 7,450 MB/s read speed and up to 6,900 MB/s write speed, the Samsung 990 Pro has all of the bases covered when it comes to storage and offers either a 1TB or 2TB specifically geared towards the PS5 with a 4TB on the horizon in 2023. Yes, it's squeaking out just a little extra speed in terms of read but the write speed is a big jump over the 980, which was one of our favorite SSDs.
Random read/write speeds are not a huge consideration for the PS5, but it's worth pointing out that Samsung has made a 55% improvement in that area with the 990 Pro over the 980 Pro. Plain and simple, this is an incredible SSD and likely near the upper limits of what the PS5 is going to be able to take advantage of with its PCiE 4.0 compatibility. And slotted in a PC, the SSD is going to be even more powerful.
Seagate FireCuda 530
- Speed: 7,300 MB/s read; 6,900 MB/s read
Seagate currently makes the only expansion SSD for the Xbox Series X console and their FireCuda 530 SSD is at the top of the class when it comes to read/write speeds. It boasts 7,300 MB/s read speed and 6,900 MB/s write speed, significantly higher than any of the other drives that we tested. Seagate is one of the few brands to offer a 4TB model for those who want to really boost their storage space. But beware that the extra space on a drive like this is absurdly pricey.
The FireCuda 530 makes the list because its specs are so impressive and many users will want to seek out a brand they can trust with as fast of a drive as possible. PC gamers might also opt for the Firecuda because of its heatsink design, which is a collaboration with EK Water Blocks, who specializes in PC cooling solutions.
It’s worth mentioning that while read and write speeds are an important consideration for a PS5 SSD, these three models more than exceed the recommended specs set by Sony. In fact, it’s likely that the advertised speeds are faster than the PS5 is even capable of taking advantage of. The most important part is the comparison and each of these drives delivered loading times, copying times, and transfer times that were nearly identical to each other and the internal PS5 SSD.
At present, the main differentiator is the price and there’s no way around it – these drives are not cheap. Those who want to get a drive that at least matches the storage space of the PS5 (pre-formatting) are looking at a price tag of $250 or more, and those who want to boost the storage space by a TB or two will be spending the same amount that they spent on the PS5 console. Prices will eventually come down, but with the current situation hampering supply chains it’s the current reality in tech.
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