Head-to-head · Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Crucial T500 1TB vs WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.8). The gap is mostly about PS5 owners who want zero installation hassle — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Crucial T500 1TB

4.6

$90

The T500 is the value pick. Same 7,300 MB/s spec sheet as the WD SN850X at meaningful savings. Trade-off is sourcing a separate heatsink. Best for budget-conscious PS5 upgraders willing to buy parts separately.

Strengths

— $90 (frequently on sale at $60) — cheapest pick in this lineup
— 7,300 MB/s sequential read matches the WD SN850X
— Available with optional heatsink for PS5 compliance

Watch-outs

— Heatsink is an extra ~$20 add-on
— Slightly higher operating temps under sustained load than the SN850X
— 5-year warranty matches SN850X but Crucial RMA process slower

$90 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

4.8

$150

The SN850X with Heatsink is the best-overall PS5 SSD pick. Sony-compliant heatsink pre-installed plus 7,300 MB/s reads makes it the easiest PS5 upgrade. Best for users who want to install once and forget it.

Strengths

— 7,300 MB/s sequential read — exceeds Sony's 5,500 MB/s PS5 requirement comfortably
— Pre-installed heatsink meets Sony's 11.25mm M.2 size requirement
— Plug-and-play install — no separate heatsink purchase needed

Watch-outs

— Slightly more expensive than non-heatsink versions
— 1TB feels limiting for modern AAA games at 100+ GB each
— WD's customer support varies regionally

$150 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Crucial T500 1TB

Cheapest pick. Same read speed as SN850X. Heatsink sold separately. Slightly warmer operation.

WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

Best plug-and-play (heatsink pre-installed). Sony-compliant out of box. More expensive than Crucial T500.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Crucial T500 1TB	WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink
Capacity	1TB	1TB
Read Speed	7,300 MB/s	7,300 MB/s
Heatsink	Optional add-on	Pre-installed
Warranty	5-year	5-year
Form Factor	—	M.2 2280 (Sony-compliant)

← See the full ranking of best ssds for ps5 upgrade