What are the best M.2 SSDs for the PS5 Pro?

Question

Hey everyone! I finally managed to secure a PS5 Pro and I am super hyped to get it set up. While the 2TB internal storage is definitely an upgrade over the base model, I know myself and I know my library. With games like Call of Duty taking up massive chunks of space and highly anticipated titles on the horizon, I really want to expand the storage right out of the gate so I do not have to worry about deleting things later.

I have been doing some research, but I am getting a bit overwhelmed with all the Gen4 and Gen5 options out there. I know Sony recommends a minimum read speed of 5,500 MB/s, but I am wondering if the PS5 Pro can actually take advantage of the faster 7,000+ MB/s drives or even the newer Gen5 stuff. I also want to make sure I do not buy something that runs too hot or has a heatsink that is too bulky to fit in the expansion slot.

I have been looking at a few specific models:

WD Black SN850X

Samsung 990 Pro

Crucial T500

Has anyone here already upgraded their Pro or done the testing? I really want something reliable that will not throttle during long gaming sessions. What are the best M.2 SSDs for the PS5 Pro right now in terms of both value and performance?

U_DDD · Accepted Answer

Congrats on snagging the Pro! I have been tinkering with SSDs since the base PS5 launched and tbh, you really dont need to overspend to get top tier performance. First thing you should know is that Gen5 drives are totally overkill and basically a waste of money for the PS5 Pro. The console still uses PCIe Gen4, so while a Gen5 drive might work, itll just downshift to Gen4 speeds anyway. You wont see any benefit for the extra cash. From my experience, the WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink is usually the sweet spot when it catches a sale. It hits over 7,000 MB/s and runs super cool. If you are really looking to save some dough though, keep an eye on the Crucial T500 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD. It is often twenty or thirty bucks cheaper than the Samsung 990 Pro but you honestly wont notice the difference in loading times. Another pro tip if you are on a budget: sometimes buying a drive without a heatsink like the Lexar NM790 2TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD and adding a cheap third-party heatsink yourself can save you a decent chunk of change. Just make sure the heatsink isnt too tall. I have used that Lexar drive in a few builds and it is surprisingly fast for the price point. Stick to Gen4 and put that extra money toward a new game instead.

lkmsrxolno · Answer

I'd actually disagree slightly with the focus on just the big name brands. You can get identical real-world performance for way less. Check out the Lexar NM790 2TB NVMe SSD or the Teamgroup T-Force Cardea A440 Pro 2TB SSD. They handle heat much better than the Samsung imo. Quick tip: stick to Gen4 drives with pre-installed heatsinks to avoid any weird fitment issues or thermal throttling during long sessions.

ftaletuncw · Answer

Honestly seeing everyone talk about these high speed drives reminds me so much of when my cousin tried to upgrade his launch edition PS5 back in the day. He was so nervous about static electricity that he bought this full anti-static kit with the wrist strap and even a special mat to lay the console on. He spent forever reading the manual and watching YouTube tutorials while I just sat there waiting for us to actually play something. Then, right when he finally got the cover off, his cat jumped onto the table and knocked the tiny screw for the SSD mount right into the heat sink fins. We had to shake the whole console upside down for like twenty minutes just to get it back out. It was a total nightmare and we ended up not even playing that night because he was so stressed out. Just a total mess for something that should have taken five minutes lol.