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If you want to launch PS5 games from added storage, choose a compatible internal M.2 SSD. An external USB drive is better for playing compatible PS4 games directly or storing PS5 games until you copy them back to the console or M.2 storage. The key difference is game access, not simply capacity.
What you can play from each type of storage
| Decision | Internal M.2 SSD | External USB drive |
|---|---|---|
| Play PS5 games from the added storage | Yes, once a compatible SSD is installed. | No. Copy the game to console or M.2 storage before playing. |
| Play compatible PS4 games from the added storage | Yes. | Yes, directly from the drive. |
| Capacity specified by Sony | 250 GB to 8 TB. | 250 GB to 8 TB. |
| Best fit | Keep more PS5 and PS4 games ready to launch. | Archive PS5 games for later transfer or play compatible PS4 games. |
Sony describes USB storage as a way to save console space and keep PS5 games installed for later transfer, which can be faster than redownloading or reinstalling from disc. See Sony’s storage solutions guidance and its external-storage requirements.
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When an internal M.2 SSD makes sense
Choose M.2 if you want expanded storage from which PS5 games can launch, rather than using an external drive as an archive. The SSD must meet Sony’s compatibility requirements and fit with its cooling structure; capacity or a high advertised speed alone does not establish compatibility.
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Sony’s M.2 compatibility checklist
- Interface: PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD, Key M. M.2 SATA is not supported.
- Capacity: 250 GB to 8 TB.
- Supported form factors: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, and 22110. Sony specifies maximum width of 25 mm and lengths of 30, 42, 60, 80, or 110 mm.
- Thickness: Maximum 11.25 mm overall, including up to 8.0 mm above the board and 2.45 mm below it.
- Speed: Sony recommends sequential read speed of at least 5,500 MB/s. This is a recommendation, not a promise that every game will perform like it does on the console’s internal SSD.
- Cooling: The drive needs an effective heat-dissipation structure, such as a heatsink or heat-transfer sheet. Check dimensions with the cooling structure attached, not just the bare SSD.
- Other compatibility notes: Sony supports single- and double-sided SSDs, but not devices using Host Memory Buffer.
Sony says it cannot guarantee every SSD that meets these specifications will work. Update PS5 system software before installation, then follow Sony’s M.2 installation and compatibility guidance.
#1 Best Overall
WD_BLACK 1TB SN850P NVMe M.2 SSD Officially Licensed Storage Expansion for PS5 Consoles, up to 7,300MB/s, with heatsink - WDBBYV0010BNC-WRSN
- 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.
When an external USB drive makes sense
Choose USB storage if you mainly need room for games you are not currently playing, want to keep PS5 games installed for transfer back later, or want to play compatible PS4 games directly from the drive. Sony specifies SuperSpeed USB storage with 250 GB to 8 TB capacity; its guidance lists 5, 10, and 20 Gbps USB connections.
To play a PS5 title stored on USB extended storage, copy it back to the console’s internal storage or an installed M.2 SSD first. USB storage does not let you launch PS5 games directly. Before formatting a drive as extended storage, back up anything you need: formatting erases the drive’s existing data. Sony explains this in its PS5 storage support guidance.
Rank #2
WD_BLACK 2TB SN850P NVMe M.2 SSD Officially Licensed Storage Expansion for PS5 Consoles, up to 7,300MB/s, with heatsink - WDBBYV0020BNC-WRSN
- 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 8TB[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.
Does an M.2 SSD perform just like the PS5’s built-in SSD?
Not necessarily. Sony cautions that a game may not perform exactly as it does on the console’s internal Ultra-High Speed SSD, even when the M.2 drive’s sequential read speed exceeds 5,500 MB/s. The speed figure is therefore not a guarantee of identical game performance. Sony’s qualification appears in its M.2 SSD guidance.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose
- Pick M.2 if your priority is launching PS5 games from expanded storage and you are prepared to verify the drive, heatsink, and dimensions against Sony’s requirements.
- Pick USB if your priority is inexpensive-to-manage archive space, keeping PS5 titles installed for later transfer, or playing compatible PS4 games from external storage.
- Consider both if you want a larger ready-to-play PS5 library as well as a separate place to park games you are not currently playing.
Sony’s guidance establishes compatibility requirements and intended uses, but it does not establish current prices or model-by-model benchmark results. Compare specific products only after checking their full specifications and, for M.2, the complete drive-plus-cooling dimensions.
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MOVE SPEED HB7450 2TB SSD for PS5 with Heatsink TLC NAND, PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive - Up to 7450MB/s, 3D Storage Expansion Compatible with PS5, Desktops and Laptops
- 【NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 High Speed Interface】MOVE SPEED 2tb SSD is supported by cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 technology, with a read and write speed of up to 7450MB/s and 6500MB/s, which reduce the delays of the games and operating system. The PCIe 4.0 interface is 2 times faster than the PCIe 3.0 and 13.5 times faster than the SATA SSD, ensuring lightning fast game loading and file transfer times. Nvme pcie 4.0 ssd use less power and get more performance, making it the best choice for upgrading.
- 【Compatible with PS5 & Large Capacity】MOVE SPEED M.2 2tb SSD perfectly compatible with PS5, laptop, PC. Featuring an M.2 2280 (80mm) form factor, it's compact and easy to install. M.2 ps5 ssd offers large storage capacity of 1TB/2TB, providing ample storage space for work, study or games. Unrivaled performance and large storage capacity make it easily upgradeable and be ready at all the time. With up to 2TB storage, your PS5 has extra room to store up to 50 games. Always ready for next games.
- 【Premium Quality】Our m.2 ssd for PS5 utilizes high-quality 3D Nand flash memory chips and cutting-edge Maxio MAP1602 controller technology. After 6 rounds of extreme tests(16 hours of high and low temperature aging test, 8 hours of 2000 times of dormancy test, 48 hours of continuous transmission test), almost 80-hour rigorous test prove its stability and long service life.
- 【Plug and Play & Strongly Cooling】The NVMe m.2 SSD has a built-in 1mm graphene composite heat sink, which can strongly cool down the chip by 10 degrees during works or games, avoiding high-temperature slowdown and jamming, and our package comes with an heat sink(not installed), screws and screwdriver. Easy installation, plug and play. Cools and maintains exceptional performance during overloaded. Notes:The heatsink install tutorial can be found on our details page, or ask our after-service team.
- 【What's in the Box】Package includes a 2TB solid state drive SSD, heatsink(not installed), screws, screwdriver, user manual. 7 x 24 friendly and efficient customer service, 30 days 100% return and refund if there're any problems with the ssd. With the strong R&D and production support of our own MOVE SPEED factories, we can provide consumers with the ultimate product experience and after-sales service.
Rank #4
fanxiang 2TB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD for PS5 with Heatsink, Up to 7100MB/s M.2 SSD PCIe Gen 4 SSD Storage Expansion Compatible with PS5, Internal Solid State Drive for Gamers, Professionals, Creators
- 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
Rank #3
SIX NVME M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0-1TB m.2 2280 ssd, Read UP to 7350MB/s 1TB for Gaming PS5 Memory Storage Expansion with Heatsink, Internal Solid State Hard Drive PCIe gen 4x4 Nvme for Laptop Desktop pc
- Unleash Upgraded power - Employing PCIe Gen4x4 High Speed Interface, SIX X7400 nvme m.2 ssd confer it UP to 7350MB/s read speeds. With faster transfer speeds and high-performance bandwidth and throughput.
- Work and Play - Whether you pursue science or culture, X7400 m.2 ssd 1TB accentuates ferocious performance for heavy computing and immersive gameplay. Get up to 40% fast performance for heavy-duty applications in data analytics, content creation, gaming and more.
- Match ur Next-level M.2 SSD - Compatibility ready for laptop, desktop or PS5 storage expansion, X7400 internal 1TB ssd is easy to install to extend lifecycle and storage. Speed up your bootups, file transfers, and game loads for tech-savvy users or hardcore gamer.
- Purpose Built - SIX X7400 m.2 nvme ssd ps5 is built for achieving immersive gameplay, experiencing uninterrupted gameplay and incredibly short load times. Breathe in. Focus. Breathe out, X7400 lightning-fast loading are ready for your final boss.
- 5 Years Limited Warranty & What u Get - Your X7400 nvme m.2 ssd is safeguarded for 5 years by SIX Limited Warranty Service. To improve your installation experience, X7400 provide all you need for installation(such as screw, screwdrivers, heatsink and so on).
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