Head-to-head · Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Crucial T500 with Heatsink 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 (4.5 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about PS5 owners who want the best-balanced, most reliable storage upgrade with a drop-in heatsink and cool operation. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Crucial T500 with Heatsink

4.5

$235.99as of Jun 7

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.

Strengths

— Delivers around 90 percent of Samsung 990 Pro performance for far less
— Excellent power efficiency and consistent all-around results
— PS5-friendly integrated heatsink with a strong clip-on mechanism

Watch-outs

— Peak speeds trail the very top drives slightly
— 4TB model underperforms a touch in PS5 testing
— Heatsink version only offered in 1TB and 2TB capacities

$235.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

4.6

$249.01as of May 29

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.

Strengths

— Top pick on Tom's Hardware's Best PS5 SSDs list with an Editor's Choice award
— 7,300 MB/s reads exceed Sony's PS5 requirement with margin
— Runs cooler in PS5 testing than the Samsung 990 Pro

Watch-outs

— Slightly pricier than budget drives like the Lexar NM790
— Heatsink/RGB option not available on the 4TB capacity
— Peak speeds trail the Samsung 990 Pro on paper

$249.01 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Crucial T500 with Heatsink

The Crucial T500 is the value-versus-performance leader, delivering roughly 90 percent of the Samsung 990 Pro's speed for far less, and undercutting the WD SN850X on price. It is a step up in performance and DRAM-backed design from the budget Lexar NM790, while costing less than the premium Seagate FireCuda 530R.

WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

The SN850X is the all-around PS5 pick, running cooler than the hotter-running Samsung 990 Pro while nearly matching it on speed. It is pricier than the budget Lexar NM790 and the value-oriented Crucial T500, and competes closely with the Seagate FireCuda 530R, but its combination of thermals, speed, and PS5-fit heatsink puts it first.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Crucial T500 with Heatsink	WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink
Interface	PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe	PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Form Factor	M.2 2280	M.2 2280
Sequential Read	Up to 7,400 MB/s	Up to 7,300 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 7,000 MB/s	Up to 6,600 MB/s
DRAM	Yes (DRAM cache)	—
Heatsink	Clip-on, PS5-friendly	Yes (PS5-compatible)
Capacities	1TB / 2TB	1TB / 2TB / 4TB
Warranty	5 years	5 years
Controller	—	WD in-house

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