Choosing the best PS5 SSD can be tricky these days, particularly with so many different options available. It doesn't help that sites like Amazon sometimes return sponsored ads together with search results, allowing less reputable manufacturers to buy their position at the top of the page. As such, those looking for the best PlayStation 5 M.2 drives will likely need to do a bit more digging to ensure that they don't get burnt.
Every Major Video Game Release Coming Soon For PS5 And PS4
From JRPGs to platform, racing, and fighting titles, here are all the major new PS5 games set to release in 2024 and later.
Officially, the PlayStation 5 supports PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSDs up to 8 TB in size. Although it's possible that slower SSDs may still work, Sony recommends using drives with sequential read speeds of 5,500MB/s or faster. It's not quite as simple as just finding the cheapest drive that meets these requirements though, as prospective buyers will also need to factor things like heat dissipation, reliability, and after-sales service into their decision.
In addition to the drives listed below, Game ZXC also tested a Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus together with Sabrent's custom PS5 heatsink. Despite working initially, the drive failed within three months of installation and Sabrent was unable to provide a return address within the country that the drive was purchased. As such, it is difficult to recommend Sabrent products, especially to those living outside of the United States.
The Best PS5 SSD #1 - Samsung 990 Pro
SAMSUNG 990 PRO w/ Heatsink SSD
- Brand
- Samsung
- Transfer rate
- 7,450 MB/S Read, 6,900 MB/S Write
- MTBF
- 1.5 million hours
- DRAM
- LPDDR4
- Warranty
- 5 Years
Those trying to find the best PS5 SSD need look no further than the Samsung 990 Pro with heatsink. The 2TB model can regularly be picked up for under $150 during sales and the speeds are lightning-fast; even when compared to some of the more expensive options. It's also one of the most highly-rated PlayStation 5-compatible M.2 drives on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.8 stars after more than 2,400 user ratings. The 980 Pro is also a solid option, although given how similarly priced it is and its faster sequential reads and write speeds, the 990 Pro will make a lot more sense to most players.
The Best PS5 SSD #2 - Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
Corsair MP600 PRO LPX
- Brand
- Corsair
- Transfer rate
- 7,100MB/S Read, 5,800MB/S Write
- MTBF
- 1.7 million hours
- DRAM
- LPDDR4
- Warranty
- 5 Years
The Corsair MP600 PRO LPX can't quite keep up with the 990 Pro when it comes to random and sequential read and write speeds but is still more than fast enough for use in a PlayStation 5. Better still, these drives are incredibly reliable, with only a very small percentage of users reporting issues with them after purchase. For whatever reason, the white heatsink model can usually be picked up for a lot less than the black one, making it a much better option for those looking for a decent PS5 SSD. This is because the drive won't be visible after installation due to the console's outer casing, so the color makes no difference whatsoever.
The Best PS5 SSD #3 - WD Black SN850X
WD BLACK 2TB SN850X
- Brand
- Western Digital
- Transfer rate
- 7300 MB/S Read, 6350 MB/S
- MTBF
- 1,750,000 Hours
- DRAM
- LPDDR4
- Warranty
- 5 Years
The list price of the WD Black SN850X is quite a bit higher than both the 990 Pro and the MP600. It boasts better read speeds than either of the aforementioned drives though, resulting in marginally faster loading times. The odd second here and there may not seem like much to many, but in games with a lot of loading screens or those that make use of higher-resolution textures, this can quickly start to add up. Like the aforementioned Samsung and Corsair offerings, the SN850X also has a heatsink option and comes with a five-year warranty, providing players with some additional peace of mind.
