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The hunt for a PlayStation 5 gaming console is way easier than it was when the system first launched. You can find Sony’s epic video game console in stock at places like Amazon, Best Buy and Sony. Now, with so many awesome games to choose from, the console’s 1-terabyte solid-state drive can quickly fill up with all that video game goodness. For this reason, you’ll probably be looking for some extra storage for your PS5. An aftermarket SSD may be the solution you’re looking for. Keeping your storage and budget needs in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best M.2 SSDs for the PlayStation 5 below.
Sony unlocked the PS5’s extra internal storage drive in 2021, a year after the console launched. This means you can dig into that extra space to level up up your console’s storage capacity. All you need to do is grab the best M.2 SSD to bulk up your storage and speed to get the most out of your gaming experience. Whether you’re intending to keep a collection of useful saves or install new games, there are plenty of M.2 SSD Playstation 5 storage options to give you that extra storage boost.
It can be a challenge to find a superfast M.2 drive, specifically one with an integrated heatsink. That’s an essential component for your operating environment, if you want to stave off overheating. So if your solid-state drive doesn’t have one, you’ll have to add it manually. We’ve made some suggestions below to help with that process.
If you’re ready to expand your game library, keep reading. We’ve tested several drives, including the 4TB Seagate FireCuda 530, which we installed in this how-to feature, and you can find those transfer time results below.
Watch this: Install an M.2 SSD in your PS5 with a heatsink upgrade
Best M.2 SSDs of 2023
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The Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink showcases cutting-edge advancements in exclusive NAND memory (which reduces erase and write times and requires less chip area per cell), controller and software tech. The SSD is tailored for PC and console gamers and creators searching for storage solutions with exceptional performance, power efficiency and thermal management.
The price listed is for the 2TB drive. It also offers 1TB for $90.
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Samsung’s high-end M.2 drive was a logical first choice for a lot of PS5 modders… but the original version didn’t include a built-in heatsink, which is required for operation. Sure, you could buy a separate one and attach it, but that’s a few extra steps.
Conveniently, this excellent Samsung 980 Pro SSD is now available with a heatsink, which makes it an all-in-one package. There are two current configurations, a 1TB model and a 2TB model, with the price roughly doubling for the larger model.
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The big 4TB Seagate FireCuda 530 includes a built-in heatsink, which is a requirement for an internal PS5 drive. There are 1TB, 2TB and 4TB models.
After I installed and set up the drive, I tried transferring a few games from the default drive to my new SSD. Call of Duty, which is nearly 200GB, transferred in about 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Returnal, around 50GB, transferred in about 40 seconds.
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Corsair’s PS5-compatible M.2 drive comes with a heat sync. We tested the 2TB version. There is also a 1TB version.
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Normally I’d stick with M.2 drives with built-in heat sinks, so make the entire upgrade process easier. But I’ll make an exception for this PNY XLR8 drive, because PNY also makes a separate PS5 SSD cover panel, complete with built-in heat sink, for $20.
Just slot the slim M.2 drive in the slot, then screw the new cover panel over it and you’re all set. We’ve tested the drive and added its transfer time scores to the chart below.
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Final Fantasy VII (81GB)
Seagate FireCuda 530 (4TB) 1:05 6:00Samsung 980 Pro (1TB) 1:08 5:56Corsair MP600 Pro LPX (2TB) 1:04 5:54PNY XLR8 CS3140 (1TB) 1:16 6:11Samsung 990 Pro with heatsink 1:02 5:54
- Console main storage to M.2 (in minute:seconds)
- M.2 to Console main storage (in minute:seconds)
Spider-Man: Miles Morales (39GB)
Seagate FireCuda 530 (4TB) 0:33 2:57Samsung 980 Pro (1TB) 0:31 2:53Corsair MP600 Pro LPX (2TB) 0:33 2:54PNY XLR8 CS3140 (1TB) 0:40 2:53Samsung 990 Pro with heatsink 0.29 2.54
- Console main storage to M.2 (in minute:seconds)
- M.2 to Console main storage (in minute:seconds)
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Besides the Samsung and Seagate versions, this Western Digital drive is probably the most popular M.2 choice for the PS5. It also includes the needed heatsink built in, which I frankly recommend as a much easier way to get your console storage upgraded.
The WD Black comes in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB sizes, although I can’t see going through all the effort required to open the PS5 and install these for a mere 500GB of extra space, especially with some games getting close to 100GB in size. 1TB seems like the best bang for your buck.
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This is the original Samsung 980 Pro 1TB drive that needs a separate heatsink. If you’ve got one and can attach it, it’s a less expensive option and easy to find. In fact, the price on this model has even dropped by a few dollars.
The advantage of adding an M.2 internal drive to your PS5 is that you can both store and play PS5-native games from it. Regular external hard drives can store PS5 games, but not play them. (Both store and play PS4 games.)
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If you’re going down the add-your-own-heatsink route, this is one of the most popular parts for PS5 owners. Gamers have reported that it’s a perfect fit for the PS5’s M.2 slot, especially when paired with the Samsung 980 SSD.
To attach a heatsink like this, you usually need some thermal tape to connect the heatsink to the drive. In this case, there’s an included thermal pad that sticks the two parts together. That’s important because without the right kind of thermal management, the M.2 drive could get too hot in the tightly constricted PS5 internal drive slot.
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We update this list regularly, and below are answers to some of the most common PS5 M.2 SSD questions.
How do I remove the PS5 cover?
Does my M.2 drive need a heat sink?
What games will run from a PS5 M.2 drive?
How we test PS5 M.2 drives
