The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The best expansion for PS5 games is a PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe SSD with an effective, PS5-compatible heatsink. Choose at least 250GB, a sequential read rating of 5,500MB/s or faster, and a complete drive-and-cooler assembly no wider than 25mm or thicker than 11.25mm. A 1TB drive suits a moderate library, 2TB is the most practical capacity for many players, and 4TB or 8TB makes sense for a very large collection.
M.2 storage can download, copy, update and launch PS5 games directly. USB extended storage is useful for archiving PS5 games, but you must copy those games back to the console’s internal storage or an M.2 SSD before playing them. The recommendations below are informed choices, not a guarantee that every third-party drive will perform identically to the PS5’s internal SSD.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick recommendations
These are the strongest choices for different priorities. Sequential figures are manufacturer or guide ratings, not guaranteed in-game loading times.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
| Drive | Capacities | Quoted sequential speed | Cooling and PS5 designation | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 Pro with heatsink | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB | 6,900/7,450MB/s read/write as reported by TechRadar’s guide | Heatsink version available; no PS5-specific licensing stated | Players prioritizing high-end performance |
| WD_BLACK SN850P | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB | 7,300/6,300MB/s read/write | Heatsink included; officially licensed for PS5 | Large libraries, especially the 8TB model |
| Bare M.2 drive plus a compatible cooler | Depends on the SSD | Must meet the PS5 read requirement | Examples include Sabrent SB-PSHS, ElecGear PS5 NVMe SSD Heatsink and icepc M.2 Heatsink for PS5 | Shoppers who find a better-priced bare drive and can verify fit |
At full price, the 1TB and 2TB versions of the SN850P can be poor value compared with competing drives. Its 8TB version is aimed at owners who want the largest officially licensed option and do not expect to upgrade again soon.
#1 Best Overall
- PCIe 4.0 SSD Extreme Performance: M.2 SSD 2TB adopts PCIe Gen 4 x 4 controller, supports NVMe 2.0 technology, featuring sequential read/write speeds of up to 7100/5300 MB/s, the PCIE 4.0 2TB SSD NVMe SSD is fit for most motherboards and Desktops, Laptops, All-in-one PCs, and etc, FANXIANG S880ER with Heatsink SSD for PS5 delivers incredible storage performance
- NVME SSD for Gaming: Designed for hardcore gamers, S880ER with Heatsink PCIe 4.0 SSD is compatible with PS5 and DirectStorage, enables faster loads for an extreme gaming experience, and it is your best partner for victory in Game. Upgrade your game console storage, enabling a extraordinary experience in game
- Professional Performance for Working: Built-in high-quality 3D NAND flash memory that delivers incredibly high transfer speeds for short boot time, fast application loading, and fast file processing. M.2 SSD 2TB is designed for high performance, and enabling a extraordinary experience in productivity for professionals, and videomakers even under heavy workloads
- Efficient Thermal Control: S880ER with Heatsink M.2 SSD for PS5 has unique heatsink design, which can effectively help reduce the temperature of the PCIe 4.0 SSD when it is working. Even during extended gaming sessions or intense data processing tasks, the SSD for PS5 remains cool, maintaining consistent high performance. This means no slowdowns, allowing you to enjoy peak speeds at all times
- 5-Year Service: Our 2TB NVMe SSD for PS5 come with a 5 years after-sales service and lifetime technical support. FANXlANG is a trustworthy storage product brand with more than 20 years of manufacturing experience
PS5 M.2 SSD requirements you must meet
Sony’s current expansion specification is the compatibility checklist. Meeting it makes a drive a plausible choice, but Sony also says it cannot guarantee every third-party SSD, even when the published figures match.
| Requirement | What to check |
|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe. M.2 SATA SSDs are not supported. |
| Capacity | 250GB minimum and 8TB maximum. |
| Supported form factors | 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. |
| Sequential read | Sony recommends 5,500MB/s or faster. |
| Maximum complete width | 25mm, including the heatsink or other cooling structure. |
| Maximum complete thickness | 11.25mm, including the SSD, heatsink and any protruding parts. |
| Cooling | An effective heat-dissipation structure is required. A built-in heatsink is acceptable; do not stack a second heatsink over one already fitted. |
Measure the assembled product, not an uncooled SSD’s bare circuit board. A replacement-shield-style cooler may fit one PS5 revision but be too large for another. This matters particularly when moving between the original console, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro: do not assume a listing that says “for PS5” fits every revision.
Speed ratings also need context. Sony warns: “Not all games are necessarily playable with the exact same performance provided by the PS5 console’s internal Ultra-High Speed SSD, even where the M.2 SSD device’s sequential read speed is faster than 5500MB/s.” A higher number is useful headroom, but it is not a promise of shorter loading screens in every game.
Which expansion should you buy?
Samsung 990 Pro with heatsink: the speed-focused option
TechRadar names the Samsung 990 Pro its best high-end PS5 SSD. The range is available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities, with a heatsink option and quoted read/write figures of 6,900/7,450MB/s in that guide. In TechRadar’s own benchmark, it recorded approximately 7,465.49MB/s read and 6,887.68MB/s write, and transferred about 10GB in under four seconds. Those are that publication’s test results, not a PS5 guarantee.
Buy the factory heatsink version when possible. If you choose a bare version, the separately installed cooler must keep the complete assembly within Sony’s size envelope. The 990 Pro is a sensible premium pick when its current price is close to other high-performance 2TB or 4TB alternatives; paying substantially more does not ensure proportionally faster game launches.
Rank #2
- Officially licensed M.2 SSD for PlayStation 5 consoles[4] so you can easily install and play with no concern of compatibility. [4]For PlayStation 5 system software compatibility, please visit the official WD_BLACK site.
- With capacities ranging from 1TB to 4TB[1], your PS5 console has the additional space to store up to 200 games[3] (8TB model) [1]1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment. [3] Number of games based on a 36GB average per game. The number of games will vary based on file size, formatting, other programs, and factors.
- Experience uninterrupted gameplay with a brand-new, optimized heatsink designed especially for the PS5 console for an easy, worry-free installation into the M.2 slot.
- Play directly from the drive and eliminate the need to transfer or delete games from your console with tested and approved storage for your PS5 console[4].
- Push the envelope of PCIe Gen 4 technology with read speeds up to 7,300MB/s[2], giving you seamless gameplay and incredibly short load times. [2]1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.
WD_BLACK SN850P: licensed capacity choice
The WD_BLACK SN850P is officially licensed for PS5 and includes a heatsink. TechRadar lists 1TB, 2TB, 4TB and 8TB models with quoted sequential read/write speeds of 7,300/6,300MB/s. The 8TB model is the clearest reason to choose this range: it reaches the maximum capacity in Sony’s specification and can hold a very large installed library.
Check the live price before choosing the smaller capacities. At full price, the 1TB and 2TB versions may deliver weak value compared with a similarly compatible drive. Licensing simplifies the buying decision, but it does not remove the need to confirm the product’s dimensions and the exact capacity you are ordering.
Bare SSD plus a separate heatsink
A bare M.2 drive can cost less, but the cooling component becomes your responsibility. TechRadar identifies three PS5-oriented options: the Sabrent M.2 NVMe PS5 heatsink (SB-PSHS), the ElecGear PS5 NVMe SSD Heatsink and the icepc M.2 Heatsink for PS5.
- The Sabrent SB-PSHS is a dedicated PS5 heatsink option for a compatible bare drive.
- The ElecGear design replaces the expansion-slot shield, but the guide specifically warns that it is too large for PS5 Slim.
- The icepc cooler mounts directly to the SSD, so you still need to check the final height and width after installation.
These are examples, not universal approvals. Confirm the SSD’s controller-side clearance, the cooler’s dimensions, and your console revision before ordering. Never place a second heatsink on a drive that already has one.
How much capacity do you need?
| Added capacity | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| 1TB | Moderate libraries, players who regularly finish and delete games, or a lower initial outlay | Fills quickly when several large games and updates are kept installed |
| 2TB | A general-purpose choice for many players | Higher purchase cost than 1TB, but usually more room before library management becomes routine |
| 4TB | Large libraries and players who keep many current games installed | Higher total cost; compare price per usable terabyte carefully |
| 8TB | Very large libraries and owners who want to avoid another upgrade | Highest purchase cost and available only in selected models such as the SN850P range |
Use the advertised capacity as a planning figure rather than assuming every gigabyte will be available for game files: formatting and system overhead reduce free space. If you routinely rotate games, 1TB can be adequate. If you want to install several major releases without shuffling them, 2TB is the practical starting point. Choose 4TB or 8TB when deleting and redownloading games would be more frustrating than the extra purchase cost.
Rank #3
- [Lightning-fast Top Performance]: Fikwot FX991 M.2 SSD 2TB adopts NVMe protocol and PCIe Gen 4x4 specifications, and the maximum read and write speed can easily reach 7100MB/s and 5300MB/s. With lightning-fast speeds, the FX991 NVMe SSD can make your computer's systems and applications respond quickly, improving work efficiency.
- [Excellent Thermal Management]: FX991 NVMe SSD 2TB is equipped with Auto-adaptive temperature adjustment and power efficiency management. It can intelligently adjust the NVMe SSD heating temperature and power consumption control, which can reduces the burden on the device and extends the battery life of laptops and other devices. We have equipped M2 SSD 2TB with high-conductivity graphite heatsink. Under high load conditions, the internal ssd reading speed can still be close to the peak.
- [HMB and SLC Cache]: With HMB and smart SLC cache, FX991 M.2 NVMe SSD can deliver outstanding performance. Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology enables NVMe SSD to use the DRAM of the host system for read and write caching and buffering, significantly improving the speed of computer startup, multitasking, and game resource transfer and reading. At the same time, FX991 M.2 SSD also supports TRIM, S.M.A.R.T, AES-256 encryption and other technologies.
- [Excellent Compatibility]: Whether it is a laptop, desktop computer or game console such as PS5, FX991 2TB SSD M.2 is perfectly compatible to meet your storage needs on various devices. FX991 2TB NVMe SSD can be used as a PS5 storage expansion, and you can easily upgrade your gaming experience with it.
- [5-Year Service]: We are confident in the quality of our products, so we provide a limited service of up to 5 years or 1200TBW for the FX991 M.2 2TB SSD, so that you can enjoy excellent performance and reliability with confidence. Choose the top-performance FX991 M.2 2280 internal solid state drives to make your computing experience smoother and more efficient!
Heatsinks, dimensions and console revisions
The heatsink is not an optional cosmetic accessory. Sony requires an effective heat-dissipation structure, and the dimensions apply to the complete assembly. Product pages often quote the SSD and cooler separately, so add the heights rather than checking only the drive specification.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- Verify width, length and thickness with every thermal pad, cover and fin installed.
- Check whether the cooler has a raised controller-side section that changes the maximum height.
- Do not stack a replacement heatsink on a drive that already includes one.
- Confirm compatibility with your exact console revision. An oversized shield can fit the original PS5 and fail to clear a PS5 Slim bay.
- Keep the packaging and purchase details until the drive has been installed and formatted successfully.
The supported M.2 lengths are 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110. The common 2280 size is not the only supported length, but a longer or shorter drive still has to be secured with the console’s spacer in the matching position.
How to install an M.2 SSD in a PS5
Set aside the game data you need before starting. Formatting the new drive erases data already on it. You need a #1 Phillips or cross-head screwdriver, the SSD and its compatible cooling structure, and a fully updated PS5.
- Update system software. Install the latest available PS5 system software before opening the console. This reduces the chance that the expansion will be rejected because the system is out of date.
- Shut down completely. Turn the PS5 off, wait for the power indicator to stop flashing, unplug the power cable and disconnect other cables. Do not work on a console in Rest Mode.
- Remove the correct cover. Place the console on a stable, protected surface and remove the outer cover for your model, following Sony’s model-specific cover direction. Then remove the expansion-slot cover.
- Set the spacer. Unscrew the expansion-slot screw and move the spacer to the hole that matches the SSD length: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110.
- Insert the drive. Hold the M.2 SSD by its edges, align the notch, and insert it at an angle into the connector. Do not force it flat or press on the chips.
- Secure the SSD. Lower the free end onto the spacer and reinstall the screw. It should be snug, not overtightened. Make sure the heatsink and any cover sit level without pressure.
- Reinstall the covers. Replace the expansion-slot cover and the console’s outer cover before reconnecting cables.
- Format on first startup. Reconnect the console, power it on and follow the on-screen prompt to format the M.2 SSD. Formatting erases the drive, so confirm that nothing important remains on it.
After formatting, open the PS5 storage settings to confirm the new capacity and choose it as the default installation location if you want new games to go there automatically. A drive that is not detected should be powered down and reseated rather than repeatedly forced into the connector.
M.2 storage versus USB extended storage
M.2 storage is the expansion type for playing PS5 games directly. You can download, copy, update and launch those games from it. USB extended storage is primarily an archive: PS5 games can be stored there, but they must be copied back to the console’s internal storage or an installed M.2 SSD before they can run.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #4
- Efficient Performance: M.2 SSD 2TB adopts PCIe Gen4 x4 technology and is compatible with NVMe1.4 protocol, With speeds reaching 5000MB/s, the PCIE 4.0 2TB NVMe SSD is perfectly compatible with the PS5, ensuring swift game launches for an immersive gaming experience
- Ample Storage Expansion: The S690Q M.2 SSD offers storage capacities ranging from 500GB to 4TB, eliminating concerns about game storage. Effortlessly expand your gaming storage and indulge in a plethora of gaming delights
- Fast Heat Dissipation: The graphite heat dissipation sticker ensures NVMe 2TB SSD operates at low temperatures during prolonged and intensive usage, providing a reliable memory expansion for your PS5
- Wide Compatibility: The Internal SSD 2TB not only provides optimal storage expansion for PS5, but also can be used on various platforms including desktops and laptops. Excellent compatibility provides a versatile solution, providing strong support for various scenarios, ensuring work efficiency and gaming experience
- 5-Year Service: Our 2TB NVMe SSD come with a 5 years after-sales service and lifetime technical support. If you have any questions, please contact us and we will sincerely and professionally solve the problem for you
That distinction changes the best capacity decision. A smaller M.2 drive paired with a USB archive can work for players who rotate a few active games. If you want a large selection immediately playable without transfers, put that budget into a larger M.2 capacity instead.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare value at the price you see
Prices, stock, region and whether a heatsink is included change frequently, so use the complete, ready-to-install price rather than the bare-drive price. Calculate:
price per usable terabyte = total purchase price ÷ usable capacity in terabytes.
Include a separate heatsink, tax or delivery charges when they apply, and compare the same capacity tier. A lower price per advertised terabyte is not a bargain if the cooler pushes the assembly beyond the console’s limits or if the listing ships a bare drive when you expected a heatsink version.
For the Samsung 990 Pro, compare the premium against a compatible 2TB or 4TB drive at the time of purchase; the benchmark advantage does not guarantee a matching in-game benefit. For the SN850P, the 8TB model’s value comes from capacity and the licensed design, while the smaller models deserve especially careful price checking.
Best Value
- BLAZING SPEED. COOL VICTORY: Consider this a cheat code; Our Samsung 990 PRO Gen 4 with Heatsink SSD helps you reach near max performance* with lightning-fast speeds and Heatsink for improved temperature control
- REACH THE NEXT LEVEL: Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth; With a more than 55% improvement in random performance compared to 980 PRO, it’s here for heavy computing and faster loading
- THE FASTEST SSD FROM THE WORLD'S #1 FLASH MEMORY BRAND**: The speed you need for any occasion; With read and write speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s* you’ll reach near max performance of PCIe 4.0*** powering through for any use
- PLAY WITHOUT LIMITS: Give yourself some space with storage capacities from 1TB to 4TB; Sync all your saves and reign supreme in gaming, video editing, data analysis and more
- MADE w/ PS5 IN MIND: Ultra-slim Integrated Heatsink is designed to dissipate heat from your device to stabilize its temperature and prevent performance issues; It’s compatible with PlayStation 5 and PCI-SIG D8 standard desktops and laptops****
Troubleshooting and common mistakes
The PS5 does not detect the SSD
- Power the console down fully and unplug it before reopening the slot.
- Check that the drive is PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe, not M.2 SATA.
- Reseat the SSD at the insertion angle and confirm the notch is aligned.
- Make sure the spacer is in the hole matching the drive length and the retaining screw is installed.
- Inspect for a heatsink or pad that prevents the drive from sitting flat.
- Confirm that system software is up to date, then test again.
The expansion-slot cover will not close
Stop rather than tightening the cover against the cooler. Measure the complete assembly and compare it with the 25mm width and 11.25mm thickness limits. Remove an incorrect second heatsink, or replace an oversized cooler. A replacement-shield design that works on one console revision may not clear a PS5 Slim.
The console asks to format the drive
This is expected when a new M.2 SSD is first installed. Formatting erases all data on that SSD. If it contains files you need, cancel, back them up elsewhere and restart the format only when the drive is safe to erase.
Games do not load exactly like they do from internal storage
Read-speed ratings above 5,500MB/s establish a sensible compatibility target, not identical performance. Sony explicitly cautions that some games may not match the internal Ultra-High Speed SSD. Verify the installation, leave the heatsink in place and judge the drive by reliable operation rather than a specification number alone.
Recommended Free Tools
A game is on USB storage but cannot start
Copy the PS5 game from USB extended storage to the console’s internal storage or the installed M.2 SSD. USB storage can archive the game, but it is not the location from which that PS5 game launches.
Quick Recap
Final buying checklist
- PCIe Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe interface.
- 250GB–8TB capacity within Sony’s range.
- Sequential read rating of at least 5,500MB/s.
- Supported 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 length.
- Complete width no greater than 25mm and thickness no greater than 11.25mm.
- Effective heatsink included or purchased separately, with no stacked coolers.
- Capacity matched to your library: 1TB moderate, 2TB general-purpose, 4TB or 8TB very large.
- Live regional price, stock, warranty and exact heatsink inclusion checked before ordering.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
