The Best SSDs for PS5 in 2024

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One compelling feature of the Sony PlayStation 5 is its M.2 slot, which accommodates a second internal solid-state drive to supplement the gaming console’s standard SSD. Not just any SSD will do, however—you need a drive that meets Sony’s exacting standards for interface, thickness, speed, and more. Fortunately, many of today’s PCI Express 4.0 NVMe SSDs qualify as PS5-compatible, even some that aren’t expressly marketed as such. Installing the secondary stick may take a bit of work, but it will let you keep a much larger game library on hand. Below, we’ve lined up the details on our favorite PS5-friendly SSDs that we have tested. After the breakout of these top-rated SSDs, look for a buying guide that will tell you all you need to know about choosing and installing the right model for you.

Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Crucial T500
Best High-Performance SSD for the PS5

Bottom Line:
Micron’s Crucial T500 is among the best full-featured PCIe 4.0 internal solid-state drives you can buy for building or upgrading a high-end PC.

PROS

Available in both heatsink and non-heatsink versions

Strong benchmark scores

High-quality software included

Compatible with PlayStation 5

CONS

Fairly high cost per GB

No 4TB version (yet)

SPECS

Name
Value

Internal or External

Internal

Internal Form Factor

M.2 Type-2280

Interface (Computer Side)

M.2 Type-2280

Capacity (Tested)

2 TB

NAND Type

TLC

Controller Maker

Phison

Bus Type

PCI Express 4.0

NVMe Support

Rated Maximum Sequential Read

7400 MBps

Rated Maximum Sequential Write

7000 MBps

Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating

1200 TBW

Warranty Length

5 years

Learn More
Crucial T500 Review

Acer Predator GM7000
Best Blend of Features and Performance in an SSD for the PS5

Bottom Line:
With blistering throughput speeds and fine benchmark results, Acer makes a splash with its Predator GM7000, the first PCI Express 4.0 SSD in its line and every bit as lethal as its gaming laptop and monitor brandmates.

PROS

Slightly exceeds its blistering rated speeds

Good all-around benchmark performance

256-bit AES hardware-based encryption

Includes free cloning-software download

PlayStation 5 compatible

CONS

Ships with graphene-embedded foam heat spreader rather than aluminum heatsink

SPECS

Name
Value

Internal or External

Internal

Internal Form Factor

M.2 Type-2280

Interface (Computer Side)

M.2 Type-2280

Capacity (Tested)

2 TB

NAND Type

TLC

Controller Maker

InnoGrit

Bus Type

PCI Express 4.0

NVMe Support

Rated Maximum Sequential Read

7400 MBps

Rated Maximum Sequential Write

6700 MBps

Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating

1200 TBW

Warranty Length

5 years

Learn More
Acer Predator GM7000 Review

WD Black SN850X
Best SSD With a Robust Heatsink for the PS5

Bottom Line:
The WD Black SN850X takes the company’s flagship PCIe 4.0 gaming SSD and makes it even better, offering higher capacity and improved test results (including a new PC Labs record in the 3DMark Storage benchmark). About all it lacks is hardware-based security.

PROS

Capacities up to 4TB

Available with or without heatsink

Exceeded both its sequential read and write speed ratings

Aced PCMark and 3DMark storage tests

CONS

Lacks 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption

SPECS

Name
Value

Internal or External

Internal

Internal Form Factor

M.2 Type-2280

Interface (Computer Side)

M.2 Type-2280

Capacity (Tested)

2 TB

NAND Type

TLC

Controller Maker

SanDisk

Bus Type

PCI Express 4.0

NVMe Support

Rated Maximum Sequential Read

7300 MBps

Rated Maximum Sequential Write

6600 MBps

Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating

1200 TBW

Warranty Length

5 years

Learn More
WD Black SN850X Review

Samsung SSD 990 Pro
Best Dual-Use (PS5 or PC) Internal SSD

Bottom Line:
Samsung’s SSD 990 Pro is a zippy PCI Express 4.0 internal drive that’s a step up from its predecessor, offering excellent performance for creative tasks, if not necessarily for gaming.

PROS

Impressive overall performance

Compatible with PlayStation 5

Includes powerful Samsung Magician software

256-bit AES hardware-based encryption

CONS

Mediocre gaming benchmark scores

SPECS

Name
Value

Internal or External

Internal

Internal Form Factor

M.2 Type-2280

Interface (Computer Side)

M.2 Type-2280

Capacity (Tested)

2 TB

NAND Type

MLC

Controller Maker

Samsung

Bus Type

PCI Express 4.0

NVMe Support

Rated Maximum Sequential Read

7450 MBps

Rated Maximum Sequential Write

6900 MBps

Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating

600 TBW

Warranty Length

5 years

Learn More
Samsung SSD 990 Pro Review

TeamGroup T-Force Cardea A440 Pro Special Series
Best SSD With Massive (4TB!) Capacity Options for the PS5

Bottom Line:
Billed as “Made for the PS5,” TeamGroup’s T-Force Cardea A440 Pro Special Series SSD also works well with laptop or desktop PCs, and it comes in capacities up to 4TB. The PCIe 4.0 drive proved fast in our testing, if a touch short of its rated speeds.

PROS

Compatible with Sony’s PlayStation 5

Available in capacities up to 4TB

Generally solid performance scores

Moderately priced compared with its peers

CONS

Short of its rated sequential read/write speeds in testing

Relatively low AS-SSD copy scores

SPECS

Name
Value

Internal or External

Internal

Internal Form Factor

M.2 Type-2280

Interface (Computer Side)

M.2 Type-2280

Capacity (Tested)

2 TB

NAND Type

TLC

Controller Maker

Phison

Bus Type

PCI Express 4.0

NVMe Support

Rated Maximum Sequential Read

7400 MBps

Rated Maximum Sequential Write

7000 MBps

Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating

1400 TBW

Warranty Length

5 years

Learn More
TeamGroup T-Force Cardea A440 Pro Special Series Review

Kingston Fury Renegade SSD
Best Value in an SSD for the PS5

Bottom Line:
The Kingston Fury Renegade SSD offers good value in a PCI Express 4 high-performance gaming SSD, with benchmark scores that were solid, though out of the top tier.

PROS

Comes in capacities up to 4TB

Moderately priced 1TB and 2TB versions

Matched its sequential read and write speed ratings in testing

Comes with Acronis True Image HD backup/cloning software

Above-par durability (TBW) ratings

CONS

Middling overall test scores

Lacks hardware-based encryption

SPECS

Name
Value

Internal or External

Internal

Internal Form Factor

M.2 Type-2280

Interface (Computer Side)

M.2 Type-2280

Capacity (Tested)

2 TB

NAND Type

TLC

Controller Maker

Phison

Bus Type

PCI Express 4.0

NVMe Support

Rated Maximum Sequential Read

7300 MBps

Rated Maximum Sequential Write

7000 MBps

Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating

2000 TBW

Warranty Length

5 years

Learn More
Kingston Fury Renegade SSD Review

Buying Guide: The Best SSDs for PS5 in 2024
In selecting the drives featured above, the main requirement—other than proving their overall mettle as solid gaming SSDs in our benchmarking—was that they meet Sony’s official criteria for use with a PS5. Most but not all of our choices are marketed by their manufacturers as PS5-friendly.On the other hand, a number of M.2 solid-state drives—some touted as PS5-compatible—fall short in one requirement: Their rated data transfer speed or throughput is short of the recommended 5,500MBps. This is the only spec for which Sony allows some wiggle room. However, we’re still not recommending any below the 5,500Mbps speed threshold, since many of these drives also lack a dynamic random access memory cache (DRAM), instead using a bit of your computer’s system memory as a cache. The PlayStation 5 does not support this kind of scheme, a fact that can potentially reduce drive performance when the drive is under duress. PS5 Drive Size: How Tall and Long Can a PS5 SSD Be?For obvious reasons, an SSD’s physical height is a critical factor in determining its PS5 compatibility. “Height” in this case is its thickness. Sony recommends that any SSD for the PS5 have a heat dissipation device—a heatsink or heat spreader—which will add to its bulk. But it can be only so big and still fit.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

The secondary drive must fit in the PlayStation’s M.2 bay, which allows a total thickness of 11.5mm (up to 8mm from above the board and up to 2.5mm from below it). This eliminates most drives with nonremovable, finned heatsinks, but some manufacturers are developing compact heatsinks and thin heat spreaders for use in confined spaces. As for drive length, the PS5 supports drives from 30mm to 110mm long. In practical fact, all our picks (and indeed most consumer M.2 SSDs) are the Type-2280, or 80mm, length.The Upgrade: How to Install an SSD in Your PS5 Installing a second SSD in your PlayStation 5 (see our how-to guide) is not difficult. The only tools you’ll need are a small (#1) Philips screwdriver and perhaps a pair of tweezers for screw handling.Your first step is to run a system update. Then you turn off the console’s power, add a heatsink or spreader to the SSD if one isn’t already in place, and remove the PS5’s side panel. (That can be done without tools, but it may require a little muscle and care.)

PS5 with an SSD in its expansion slot (Credit: Will Greenwald)

Next, remove the expansion slot cover and the M.2 screw, seat the new SSD in the expansion slot, insert the spacer as indicated, and screw the drive into place. Then you close the PS5 back up, format the new drive, and you’re good to go.Whether you managed to nab your PS5 for close to its $499.99 list price or paid a big premium for it, plenty of fast, affordable M.2 PCI Express 4.0 solid-state drives are available that that can fit in its secondary slot. And should you be one of those incredibly patient souls who’s still waiting for a PS5 price drop, there’ll be all the more compatible SSDs to choose from when you finally get your console.

Recommended by Our Editors

So, Which PS5 SSD Upgrade Should You Buy?Our key measure, all else being equal on the spec front, is to look at the cost per gigabyte for any drive you are looking at, using the current sale price. SSD prices tend to rise and fall, and it’s often possible to score a fair bit more capacity than you might think if you shop around. A little math can make it easy to compare the relative value of two drives of different capacities if you look at the cost per gigabyte.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

The PlayStation 5’s built-in SSD has a capacity of 825GB, of which 667GB is free out of the box. Generally, you should be able to fit nine or 10 AAA games on the drive—today’s titles on average take 50GB to 60GB of storage, although some are considerably larger. For example, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes the franchise’s trend toward ballooning file sizes to a new high by filling nearly 220GB, so your available space may be gone sooner than you’d think. Fortunately, the PS5 supports secondary drives with capacities ranging from 250GB to a whopping 4TB.Below we’ve broken out the specs on our favorite tested PlayStation 5-compatible solid-state drives that we outlined above. Since your console has that open M.2 slot, you might as well put it to good use. While SSD prices are moderate at the moment, it’s smart to future-proof your PS5 by getting the highest-capacity drive you can afford and loading it with your favorite games. Happy fragging!

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