Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

The Lexar NM790 with Heatsink is the value pick. It is often the cheapest high-end Gen4 drive, reads up to 7,400 MB/s (enough to fully saturate the PS5), and ships with a heatsink so it drops straight into a console. Tom's Hardware was pleasantly surprised that it rivals high-end PCIe 4.0 drives, and TechRadar calls it the best value PS5 SSD. The DRAM-less design trails DRAM drives under heavy sustained load. For the lowest price that still gives you full PS5 speed, this is the one.

The Crucial T500 with Heatsink is the value champion of the high-end PS5 SSDs. Tom's Hardware calls it a solid all-around drive that tops Gen4 drives in PCMark 10, and reviewers note it delivers roughly 90 percent of Samsung 990 Pro performance for about 30 percent less. Its clip-on PS5 heatsink is well engineered. Peak speeds trail the very top drives slightly and the 4TB dips a little in PS5 use, but for performance per dollar it is the smart pick.

The WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink is the best all-around PS5 SSD. Tom's Hardware ranks it at the top of its PS5 list with an Editor's Choice award, citing 7,300 MB/s reads that clear Sony's requirement and a heatsink that drops into the expansion slot with room to spare. It runs cooler than the Samsung 990 Pro and offers strong value, especially when the 2TB model is discounted. Peak speeds trail the Samsung slightly, but for the PS5 it is the safest, best-balanced choice.

The Seagate FireCuda 530R with Heatsink is a premium, high-endurance PS5 drive whose low-profile heatsink was co-engineered with EKWB, and it reads up to 7,400 MB/s. Tom's Hardware calls it a surprisingly capable, consistent drive with few downsides, and notes it runs cool and is great for the PS5. Its high endurance and the bundled Rescue data-recovery service are the draw. It costs more than the Crucial T500 and Lexar NM790 for similar console results, which lands it fourth on value.