Head-to-head · Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink vs Seagate FireCuda 530R 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.

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The short answer

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.8 vs 3.3). Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink is best for: PS5 owners who want the fastest, most power-efficient drive and don't mind paying a premium or slightly higher temperatures. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink

4.8

1 source$275as of Oct 11

The Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink is the fastest drive here on paper, with 7,450 MB/s reads and excellent power efficiency, and it has matured into an excellent all-around pick after early firmware issues were fixed. Tom's Hardware praises its low power draw and consistency. It runs hotter in the PS5 than the WD SN850X and costs a premium for similar real-world console results, but it is a superb, refined PS5 upgrade.

Strengths

— Class-leading 7,450 MB/s sequential reads (per Android Central), the fastest here on paper
— Mature, refined drive after firmware fixes and newer flash
— PS5-compliant heatsink option available out of the box

Watch-outs

— Early 990 Pro units had firmware issues (since resolved), Tom's Hardware notes
— Heatsink is arguably unnecessary given the drive's efficiency

$275 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Seagate FireCuda 530R with Heatsink

3.3

2 sources$239.99as of Jun 7

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.

Strengths

— High endurance rating, up to 5,050 TBW on larger capacities
— Up to 7,400 MB/s reads and strong sustained performance
— Cool-running enough to suit the PS5 well

Watch-outs

— Recently affected by the ongoing memory shortage pricing
— Double-sided design needs a heatsink that clears both sides
— Less obvious value than the cheaper drives here

$239.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink

The 990 Pro is the fastest drive here on paper and the most power-efficient, but it runs hotter in the PS5 than the cooler WD SN850X, which is its main trade-off. It commands a premium over the value-focused Crucial T500 and budget Lexar NM790, and competes with the Seagate FireCuda 530R at the high end.

Seagate FireCuda 530R with Heatsink

The FireCuda 530R is a premium, high-endurance rival to the WD SN850X and Samsung 990 Pro, with a low-profile heatsink that suits the PS5. It costs more than the value-oriented Crucial T500 and budget Lexar NM790 for similar real-world PS5 results, which is why it ranks below them despite strong specs.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink	Seagate FireCuda 530R with Heatsink
Interface	PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe	PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Form Factor	M.2 2280	M.2 2280
Sequential Read	Up to 7,450 MB/s	Up to 7,400 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 6,900 MB/s	Up to 6,800 MB/s
Heatsink	Yes (PS5-compliant)	Low-profile (EKWB co-engineered)
Power Draw	Under 6W full load	—
Capacities	1TB / 2TB / 4TB	—
Warranty	5 years	5 years
Endurance	—	Up to 5,050 TBW
Extras	—	Seagate Rescue data recovery

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