Want to expand your storage on PlayStation 5? Before purchasing an old NVMe SSD for Playstation 5, make sure that it is compatible with a Sony console. We will explain how you can determine this.
The PlayStation 5 was launched in November 2020 with several missing features, including the ability to expand storage with an aftermarket SSD. With the September system update released 1However, on September 5, 2021, all users will be able to, so make sure your system is up to date
Make sure your NVMe SSD meets Sony specifications
Sony has a set of requirements that must be met for your drive to meet the specifications of the existing solid state drive that comes with the console. Unlike USB storage solutions, which can only be used for PS4 titles (backward compatibility), native PS5 games have much higher read and write speed requirements.
The drive must be a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD with a capacity between 250 GB and 4 TB. Older Gen3 discs and everything that doesn’t meet Sony’s 5.5GB / s sequential read speed target are down.
These disks must be in M.2 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 format (information must be included in the item description). The type of socket used is socket 3 (M key). The physical dimensions of the disc also play a role, the PS5 only has room for 22 mm wide modules (25 mm modules do not fit). The length must be 30 mm, 42 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm or 110 mm.
In addition to the physical dimensions of the drive module, Sony also recommends a cooling structure, such as a heat sink. Some units come with heatsinks already connected, while others come “naked” and you have to mount one yourself. Without adequate cooling, your drive may lose performance under load.
With the heat sink connected, the total size of the expansion unit should not exceed 110 mm in length, 25 mm in width and 11.25 mm in height. Note that while the maximum width is 25 mm, the NVMe should not exceed 22 mm (25 mm is the specified size with the heatsink connected).
Which NVMe SSDs work with PS5?
If you’ve read these specifications and decided to leave it to someone else and just buy a “well-known” NVMe drive, we don’t mind. Sony’s solution offers more consumer freedom than Microsoft’s access to patented Xbox Series X | S, but it brings many other variables that will upset the average user.
Here are some drives that meet specifications but come without a heatsink or overcooler:
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You need to make sure that any heatsink you purchase does not cause your NVMe SSD to exceed the allowable height of 11.25 mm. Item descriptions and user reviews often confirm or refute, and some heatsinks, such as the MHQJRH M.2 2280, can be customized to match.
Upgrading the PS5 storage is how easier Now ?
Sony’s approach requires console owners to pay attention to the hardware they purchase to ensure compatibility. This means more accessible upgrade paths for users, provided they know what they are doing.
Expect manufacturers to stick a “fit on PS5” sticker on the box and soon join their discs with a suitable size cooler, which should make it much easier to upgrade your PS5’s internal storage.
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