Best SSD for PS5: Speed & Storage Guide

The PS5 comes with a fast built-in drive, but it fills up quickly when modern games can take up 50 to 100 GB each. Adding more storage means you can keep all your favorite games installed without constantly deleting and redownloading them. An SSD upgrade is the best way to expand your console's capacity while keeping load times fast.

The KingSpec NE series stands out as the best external SSD for gaming on PS5, offering speeds up to 7,400 MB/s and reliable performance that matches Sony's requirements. Other strong options include the Samsung 990 Pro and WD_BLACK SN850X, which both deliver excellent speeds and come with built-in heatsinks. The right SSD for you depends on your budget and how much storage space you need.

Installing an SSD in your PS5 is easier than you might think. You'll want to choose a drive that meets Sony's speed requirements and includes proper cooling. This guide will help you pick the right SSD and show you exactly what to look for.

Key Takeaways

• SSDs must meet PS5 speed requirements and include heatsinks for proper performance
• Storage capacity options range from 1TB to 4TB based on your gaming needs
• Installation takes about 10 minutes and requires only a basic screwdriver

External drives offer flexible storage that works across multiple devices. Check out our external SSD collection for reliable backup and transfer solutions.

Best SSDs for PS5 in 2026

The Samsung 990 Pro leads the pack with read speeds reaching 7,450MB/s, while budget options like the Lexar NM790 deliver solid performance at lower price points. Most drives now include built-in heatsinks and meet Sony's speed requirements without issue.

Top Overall Picks and What Sets Them Apart

The Samsung 990 Pro stands out as the best overall choice for your PS5. It delivers read speeds up to 7,450MB/s with an integrated heatsink that keeps temperatures stable during long gaming sessions. The drive comes in sizes from 1TB to 4TB, giving you plenty of room for your game library.

The WD_BLACK SN850X offers another excellent option with speeds reaching 7,300MB/s. It's officially licensed by Sony, which means guaranteed compatibility with your console. The pre-installed heatsink fits perfectly in the PS5's expansion slot without any modifications needed.

The Corsair MP600 Pro LPX rounds out the top tier with read speeds of 7,100MB/s and write speeds of 6,800MB/s. Its low-profile heatsink design ensures it works seamlessly with the PS5's internal bay. You can find this drive in capacities up to 8TB if you need maximum storage space.

Performance Comparison of Leading SSDs

Here's how the leading PS5 SSDs stack up:

The Samsung 990 Pro consistently shows the fastest load times in real-world testing. Games like Spider-Man 2 and Horizon Forbidden West load 1-2 seconds faster compared to mid-tier options. The performance gap narrows between the top drives, so any choice above 7,000MB/s will work great for your gaming needs.

Temperature performance matters for sustained gameplay. The WD_BLACK SN850X runs coolest under heavy loads, staying below 65°C even during extended sessions.

Value Choices for Different Budgets

The Lexar NM790 offers the best value for budget-conscious gamers. It hits 7,400MB/s read speeds without a heatsink included, but you can add an affordable third-party heatsink for under $15. You'll save $30-40 compared to premium options while getting nearly identical performance.

The Samsung 990 EVO Plus sits in the mid-range sweet spot. It provides 7,250MB/s speeds with a bundled heatsink at a price between budget and premium drives. This drive makes sense if you want proven reliability without paying top dollar.

The Crucial T500 delivers 7,400MB/s performance at competitive prices. It includes a heatsink and comes in 1TB and 2TB sizes that often go on sale. For most gamers, a 1TB or 2TB drive provides enough space to keep 10-20 games installed at once.

Premium drives like the Samsung 990 Pro cost more but offer better warranty coverage and longer lifespan ratings. Budget options still meet Sony's requirements and perform well for everyday gaming.

SATA drives provide affordable upgrades for older systems and secondary storage. Discover our SATA SSD collection for budget-friendly performance improvements.

Key PS5 SSD Features and Compatibility Requirements

The PS5 requires specific technical specifications for compatible storage upgrades. Your M.2 NVMe SSD must meet Sony's standards for interface type, speed, physical dimensions, and thermal management to work properly with the console.

Interface and Speed Standards

Your PS5 storage upgrade needs an M.2 NVMe SSD with a PCIe Gen4 interface. Sony requires a minimum sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s to match the console's internal drive performance.

The Gen4 SSD standard is required. Gen3 drives will not provide adequate performance for PS5 games. Your drive must use the M.2 2280 form factor, which means it measures 22mm wide and 80mm long.

Most modern PCIe 4.0 drives meet the speed requirement. However, you should verify the specifications before purchasing. Some budget Gen4 drives fall below the 5,500 MB/s threshold and may cause performance issues or compatibility warnings.

Heatsink and Cooling Solutions

Your PS5 M.2 SSD must include proper cooling to prevent thermal throttling during gameplay. The console has a dedicated expansion slot with limited clearance for an SSD heatsink.

The maximum dimensions for your drive with heatsink are 110mm length, 25mm width, and 11.25mm thickness. Some drives come with pre-installed heatsinks designed specifically for PS5 compatibility. Others require you to purchase and attach a separate cooling solution.

Metal heatsinks work better than basic thermal pads. Your cooling solution should make direct contact with the drive's controller and NAND chips. Without adequate cooling, your drive will slow down during extended gaming sessions.

NAND Type and Endurance Ratings

Most PS5-compatible drives use TLC NAND or TLC 3D NAND flash memory. TLC (Triple-Level Cell) technology stores three bits per cell and offers a good balance of performance, capacity, and cost.

Samsung drives often feature V-NAND, which is their proprietary 3D NAND technology. These drives stack memory cells vertically to increase density and improve reliability. Your drive's endurance rating, measured in TBW (terabytes written), indicates its expected lifespan.

A 1TB drive typically offers 600-1,200 TBW. A 2TB model usually provides 1,200-2,400 TBW. These ratings exceed what most users will write during the drive's useful life.

Capacity Options and Use Cases

You can choose from 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB options for your PS5 storage expansion. A 1TB PS5 SSD provides space for approximately 15-20 games, depending on file sizes.

Modern games like Call of Duty can exceed 100GB each. If you play multiple large titles, a 2TB drive offers better value per gigabyte. The 4TB option suits users who want to store their entire game library without managing installations.

Your PS5 lets you play games directly from the M.2 drive without transferring files back to internal storage. This makes any capacity upgrade more convenient than external USB drives, which only work for PS4 games.

Portable gaming storage extends your library beyond the console. Learn more by checking out our article: US5 Portable SSD is Your New Essential Companion, for insights on mobile storage solutions.

How We Test and Evaluate PS5 SSDs

We test PS5 SSDs through systematic benchmarks, real-world gaming scenarios, and long-term reliability assessments to help you find the best drive for your console. Each drive undergoes identical testing conditions to ensure fair comparisons across performance, temperature management, and endurance metrics.

Testing Methodology and Benchmark Tools

We use a combination of software tools to measure SSD performance on PS5 hardware. CrystalDiskMark and similar benchmark utilities run on Windows PCs to verify manufacturer specifications for read and write speeds. These tools help us confirm whether drives with DRAM cache perform better than those without it.

Temperature monitoring happens during extended gaming sessions using thermal sensors. We track how hot each drive gets under load, which matters because excessive heat can throttle performance. Drives with built-in heatsinks typically maintain lower temperatures than bare drives.

We also test installation difficulty and compatibility. Some SSDs include heatsinks that fit perfectly in the PS5's expansion slot, while others require additional hardware. Your experience matters, so we note which drives install easily and which ones present challenges.

Real-World Game Loading and Performance

We measure actual game loading times across multiple AAA titles exceeding 100GB. Each game launches from a cold start at least five times per drive, and we average the results. Games like Call of Duty and Spider-Man serve as our primary benchmarks because they stress storage systems heavily.

Fast travel times within open-world games show how quickly drives handle random read operations. We compare these results against the PS5's internal SSD to determine if expansion drives maintain similar speeds.

Reliability, Endurance, and Software Utilities

Drive endurance ratings measured in TBW (terabytes written) indicate how much data you can write before potential failure. We check manufacturer warranties and MTBF (mean time between failures) specifications. Drives with higher TBW ratings and longer warranties typically last longer under heavy gaming use.

Some manufacturers provide software utilities for monitoring drive health, updating firmware, and checking remaining lifespan. These tools usually run on Windows laptops or gaming laptops rather than directly on PS5. We test whether these utilities work reliably and provide useful information about your drive's condition.

PS5 SSD Installation and Practical Tips

Installing an SSD in your PS5 requires a Phillips head screwdriver and takes about 15 minutes. Proper thermal management keeps your drive running at peak speeds, while knowing common fixes saves you time if issues arise.

Step-by-Step PS5 SSD Installation Guide

Turn off your PS5 and unplug the power cable. Remove the base by gently lifting it off.

Place your console on a flat surface with the PS logo facing down and the power button away from you. Slide the white cover panel up and to the right to remove it. You'll see a metal plate with a screw near the expansion slot.

Unscrew the metal plate and lift it away. Remove the small screw and spacer inside the expansion slot. Slide your M.2 SSD into the connector at a 30-degree angle, then press it down flat. Replace the spacer at the correct position for your drive length and secure it with the screw.

Put the metal plate back on and reattach the white cover panel by sliding it from right to left until it clicks. Reconnect your power cable and turn on your console. Your PS5 will detect the new drive and prompt you to format it.

Best Practices for Thermal Management

Your SSD needs a heatsink to prevent overheating during gaming. Most SSDs come with a pre-installed heatsink that fits the PS5's expansion slot. The heatsink must be less than 11.25mm tall to fit under the metal cover.

If your drive doesn't include a heatsink, buy one separately before installation. Choose aluminum or copper heatsinks with thermal pads that make full contact with the drive's chips. Poor cooling can cause your SSD to throttle speeds or trigger thermal warnings during gameplay.

Make sure your console has ventilation on all sides. Don't place your PS5 in enclosed spaces where heat can build up.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your PS5 doesn't recognize the new drive, turn off the console and reseat the SSD by removing and reinstalling it firmly. Check that the drive meets the minimum 5,500 MB/s read speed requirement.

A "repair storage" message means the drive wasn't formatted correctly. Go to Settings > Storage > M.2 SSD Storage and select Format as M.2 SSD Storage. This erases all data on the drive.

Your console might display temperature warnings if the heatsink isn't making proper contact. Remove the drive and verify the thermal pads touch all chips. Replace damaged or compressed thermal pads with new ones that are 1-2mm thick.

Games that won't launch from the SSD need to be moved back to internal storage temporarily, then moved back to the M.2 drive. This resets any file corruption issues.

Understanding SSD interfaces helps you choose the right upgrade path. Get the full breakdown in our comparison, NVMe vs SATA: Which Is Faster?, to make informed storage decisions.

KingSpec SSDs: Premium PS5 Storage Solutions

KingSpec offers two exceptional options that meet Sony's strict performance requirements while delivering outstanding value for gamers who demand reliability.

KingSpec XG7000 M.2 NVMe 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD

The KingSpec XG7000 delivers blazing-fast sequential read speeds up to 7,400 MB/s, exceeding Sony's 5,500 MB/s requirement by a significant margin. This flagship drive features advanced thermal management for sustained gaming performance and high-endurance TLC NAND flash for years of reliable service.

Available in multiple capacities, the XG7000's M.2 2280 form factor fits perfectly in the PS5's expansion slot. When paired with a compatible heatsink, this drive maintains optimal temperatures throughout extended gaming sessions.

KingSpec X400 Series M.2 NVMe 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD

The X400 series offers exceptional value for gamers seeking PS5-compatible storage without compromising on performance. This drive meets all PlayStation 5 technical specifications while providing a budget-conscious upgrade path.

The X400 series delivers reliable PCIe 4.0 speeds with efficient power consumption that maintains lower operating temperatures. Its controller optimizes performance for gaming workloads, ensuring consistent load times. The drive works seamlessly with third-party heatsinks and provides guaranteed PS5 compatibility backed by KingSpec's quality standards.

Wrap Up

Upgrading your PS5 storage transforms your gaming experience by eliminating constant file management. The right SSD keeps load times fast while giving you room for dozens of titles.

Whether you choose the high-performance KingSpec NE series, the reliable Samsung 990 Pro, or budget-friendly options like the Lexar NM790, you'll enjoy seamless gameplay without compromises.

Consider exploring KingSpec's portable SSD collection and internal SSD options for additional storage solutions across all your devices. With straightforward installation and proven performance gains, an SSD upgrade ranks among the smartest investments for serious gamers who demand speed and reliability.

Installation issues can derail your upgrade plans quickly. Find solutions by reading our troubleshooting guide, Hard Drive Not Showing Up: Quick and Easy Fixes, before you start your installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key features to look for in an SSD compatible with PS5?

Your PS5 requires an M.2 NVMe SSD with PCIe 4.0 interface. The drive must achieve minimum read speeds of 5,500 MB/s to match the console's internal storage.

The SSD must fit in a slot that accepts drives up to 110mm in length and 25mm in width. The total height including the heatsink cannot exceed 11.25mm.

Storage capacity should be at least 250GB. 1TB or 2TB options give you better value and let you store more games.

How does the read/write speed of an SSD impact PS5 gaming performance?

Read speeds determine how quickly your PS5 loads game data. Games load faster when your SSD meets or exceeds the 5,500 MB/s minimum requirement.

Write speeds affect how quickly you can install games and save progress. Higher write speeds reduce installation times and eliminate delays during autosaves.

You won't notice major differences between SSDs that meet Sony's minimum requirements. A drive with 7,000 MB/s read speed performs similarly to one with 5,500 MB/s in actual gameplay.

What are the top-rated SSD models recommended for PS5 users?

The Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD is officially licensed for PlayStation and delivers excellent speeds. This drive comes with a pre-installed heatsink designed for PS5.

Samsung 980 Pro is a popular choice among PS5 users. The heatsink version fits perfectly in the console's expansion slot and provides reliable performance.

WD Black SN850X offers high speeds and comes in multiple capacities. The drive includes a heatsink option that meets PS5's thermal requirements.

Can you explain the process of installing a new SSD in a PS5?

Power off your PS5 and unplug all cables. Remove the console's side panel by lifting it from the bottom corner and sliding it off.

Locate the expansion slot cover with horizontal lines and remove the screw holding it in place. Inside, you'll find a spacer and screw that secure the SSD at different lengths.

Insert your SSD at a 30-degree angle into the M.2 slot. Push it down gently and secure it with the spacer and screw, then replace the cover and side panel.

Your PS5 will prompt you to format the new drive when you power it back on. This process takes a few minutes and prepares the drive for game storage.

Are there any specific brands that are officially endorsed or recommended by Sony for PS5 upgrades?

Sony officially licenses the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 use. This means the drive meets all of Sony's technical requirements.

You can use any M.2 SSD that meets the technical specifications listed on Sony's official requirements page.

Popular brands like Samsung, Western Digital, and Kingston produce compatible drives without official licensing. These drives work as long as they meet speed and size requirements.

Is it necessary to have a heatsink with the SSD for PS5, and if so, why?

Your PS5 SSD generates heat during operation and needs cooling to maintain performance. Without proper cooling, the drive slows down to prevent damage from overheating.

Sony requires all expansion SSDs to include a heatsink or cooling structure. The console's compact design limits airflow around the expansion slot, so dedicated cooling is important.

You can buy an SSD with a pre-installed heatsink or get one separately. The total height of your drive plus heatsink must be under 11.25mm to fit in the expansion bay.