What’s the greatest SSD general?
Although you will get sturdy efficiency from all the highest selections for SSDs (often known as solid-state drives), a few of them are extra cost-efficient than others. Whereas looking for the very best SSD, we landed on the Lexar NM790, because it presents 4TB for lower than $300. In any case our exams, it was both in step with our different high performers or it was higher. Nonetheless, the opposite choices on this record have been so comparable that when you discover a whole lot on one among them, they will just do as effectively to your PlayStation 5.
With so many superior titles obtainable for the PS5, the console’s 1TB SSD can rapidly replenish with all that gaming goodness. Fortunately, you may simply bulk up your storage and pace by including an inner SSD. Not all SSDs are equal, although. For example, the drive must have a warmth sink — an integral part to stave off overheating. In case your solid-state drive would not have one, you will have so as to add it manually. We have made some recommendations under to assist with that course of.
We have been testing SSDs for years, and particularly since 2021, when Sony unlocked the choice so as to add extra storage. Should you’re able to increase your sport library, preserve studying. We have examined a number of drives, together with the 4TB Seagate FireCuda 530, which we put in on this how-to function. You could find the outcomes of these efficiency exams under.
Watch this: Set up an M.2 SSD in your PS5 with a warmth sink improve
Finest M.2 SSDs of 2024
The Lexar NM790 SSD has a built-in warmth sink, letting it hit as much as 7,400MB/s learn and 6,500MB/s write speeds. Lexar’s optimum thermal administration additionally helps preserve it cool throughout intense workloads.
The Samsung 990 Professional with Warmth Sink showcases cutting-edge developments in unique NAND reminiscence (which reduces erase and write instances and requires much less chip space per cell), controller and software program tech. The SSD is tailor-made for PC and console avid gamers and creators looking for storage options with distinctive efficiency, energy effectivity and thermal administration.
The worth listed is for the 2TB drive, but it surely additionally presents 1TB for $90.
Samsung’s high-end M.2 drive was a logical first alternative for lots of PS5 modders, however the unique model did not embody a built-in warmth sink — which is required for operation. You can purchase a separate one and fasten it, however that is a couple of further steps.
Conveniently, this glorious Samsung 980 Professional SSD is now obtainable with a warmth sink, which makes it an all-in-one bundle. There are two present configurations, a 1TB mannequin and a 2TB mannequin, with the worth roughly doubling for the bigger mannequin.
The large 4TB Seagate FireCuda 530 features a built-in warmth sink, which is a requirement for an inner PS5 drive. There are 1TB, 2TB and 4TB fashions.
After I put in and arrange the drive, I attempted transferring a couple of video games from the default drive to my new SSD. Name of Responsibility, which is almost 200GB, transferred in about 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Returnal — round 50GB — transferred in about 40 seconds.
Corsair’s PS5-compatible M.2 drive comes with a warmth sink. We examined the 2TB model, however there’s additionally a 1TB model.
Usually I would stick to M.2 drives with built-in warmth sinks, so make your complete improve course of simpler, however I am going to make an exception for this PNY XLR8 drive as a result of
Simply slot the slim M.2 drive within the slot, screw the brand new cowl panel over it and also you’re all set. We have examined the drive and added its switch time scores to the chart under.
That is the PNY warmth sink and canopy combo, which makes it simple to put in an M.2 drive that does not have its personal warmth sink.
Apart from the Samsung and Seagate variations, this Western Digital drive might be the most well-liked M.2 alternative for the PS5. It additionally consists of the wanted warmth sink in-built, which I like to recommend as a a lot simpler option to get your console storage upgraded.
The WD Black is available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB sizes, though I am unable to see going by way of all the trouble required to open the PS5 and set up these for a mere 500GB of additional house, particularly with some video games getting near 100GB in dimension. 1TB looks as if the very best worth to your cash.
That is the unique Samsung 980 Professional 1TB drive that wants a separate warmth sink. Should you’ve received one and may connect it, it is a inexpensive possibility and straightforward to seek out. The worth of this mannequin has even dropped by a couple of {dollars}.
The benefit of including an M.2 inner drive to your PS5 is you can each retailer and play PS5-native video games from it. Common exterior onerous drives can retailer PS5 video games, however not play them. (Each retailer and play PS4 video games.)
Should you’re taking place the add-your-own-heat sink route, this is likely one of the hottest elements for PS5 homeowners. Players have reported that it is an ideal match for the PS5’s M.2 slot, particularly when paired with the Samsung 980 SSD.
To connect a warmth sink like this, you normally want some thermal tape to attach the warmth sink to the drive. On this case, there’s an included thermal pad that sticks the 2 elements collectively. That is vital as a result of, with out the proper of thermal administration, the M.2 drive may get too scorching within the tightly constricted PS5 inner drive slot.
To check these M.2 SSD drives for the very particular goal of storing and taking part in PS5 video games, our major concern is knowledge switch pace. All of the drives suitable with the PS5 will play and cargo video games seamlessly. The one time you are more likely to discover the drive in motion is when transferring full video games both to or from it.
To check the pace of those drives, we downloaded particular video games onto the PS5 inner drive and transferred these video games to the newly put in M.2 drive. Then we transferred the identical video games again to the inner SSD. The video games we use for this check are Remaining Fantasy VII Remake, at 81GB; and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, at 39GB. We used a stopwatch to time the transfers and listed every consequence within the chart above.
We replace this record commonly, and under are solutions to a number of the commonest PS5 M.2 SSD questions.
How do I take away the PS5 cowl?
Does my M.2 drive want a warmth sink?
What video games will run from a PS5 M.2 drive?
