Ok so PS5 storage is basically a joke. I waited too long and it was such a headache dealing with crashes on a cheap drive I tried first... so disappointing. Heat is the real killer here, so dont skip cooling. * Top pick: WD_BLACK 2TB SN850X NVMe SSD with Heatsink
* Alternative: Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink Honestly just pay for the pre-installed heatsink. Its way less stress than DIY. gl

Quick question - do u have a #1 Phillips? I almost stripped the screw once... Crucial T500 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD CT2000T500SSD8 hits the 7,000MB/s spec and works well!

Yeah I totally agree with the advice about thermal contact. Tbh, a lot of people focus way too much on the sequential read speeds listed on the box, but real-world performance in a PS5 is usually limited by the console internal architecture anyway. I have run benchmarks on a few different setups and once you pass that 7,000 MB/s threshold, you are basically looking at DIMINISHING returns for actual load times. If ur looking for top-tier performance that actually holds up during long sessions, here are two I have tested that havent been mentioned yet:

• Kingston FURY Renegade 2TB PCIe Gen4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
• This uses the Phison E18 controller and has some of the highest IOPS ratings out there, which is what actually helps with heavy asset streaming in games like Ratchet and Clank.
• Lexar NM790 2TB NVMe SSD
• This is a total sleeper hit. It is DRAM-less but uses a newer controller that runs incredibly cool, so you dont have to worry about thermal throttling as much as the older high-power drives. Honestly, just check that the random read speeds are high. Most people wont notice a 0.2 second difference in a loading screen, but you will definitely notice if the drive starts stuttering because it got too hot during a long session.

I went through this last year when my library finally outpaced my patience lol. Honestly, I thought I'd be clever and save twenty bucks by buying a "bare" drive and slapping on a cheap third-party heatsink I found online. While it was technically easy to install, I ran into some weird stuttering during long sessions because the cooling was trash... WARNING: Be super careful about thermal contact if you go the DIY route!
- Cheap third-party heatsinks often have terrible thermal pads that dont actually touch the controller chip properly.
- If the drive overheats, the PS5 *will* throttle your speeds, leading to annoying performance hitches.
- Double check the height clearance; some thick heatsinks wont even let the metal bay cover close!! I've been testing storage for years and realized that for Seagate or Western Digital options, the factory heatsink is way more reliable. Totally worth the extra cash for the peace of mind imo! 👍

Hey, jumping in on this - I just recently got around to expanding my PS5 storage too so I totally get the struggle with deleting games all the time. It's such a relief when you don't have to anymore, honestly. For the 'breaking the bank' part, I'm kinda curious what that looks like for you. Like, are we talking strictly budget-friendly-but-still-good, or more like getting the absolute best bang for your buck even if it's not the cheapest option out there? Sometimes paying a little extra up front really does save you headaches down the line with tech, you know? Just thinking about that long-term peace of mind.

> Should I pay the premium for a drive that comes with a pre-installed heatsink, or is it easy enough to buy a bare drive and attach a third-party one myself? Totally agree with the DIY crowd here! I remember when I first started modding my consoles years ago and was so nervous about messing up, but doing it yourself is actually amazing for performance. I went the separate heatsink route for my 2TB setup last month and the cooling is fantastic compared to the slim ones that come pre-attached. It really makes a difference when youre in the middle of a five-hour session and want to keep those read speeds maxed out without any throttling issues. It is honestly super easy and way more satisfying than just plugging in a pre-built one!

Honestly, I spent way too much time looking at spreadsheets before I bought mine. The market is basically split between the big "lifestyle" brands everyone knows and the slightly smaller companies that are actually using the same internal hardware. Tbh, I noticed a lot of the value-oriented brands use the exact same Phison controller as the super premium ones but for like $30 less because you aren't paying for the fancy marketing. I ended up going with a drive from a company more known for PC RAM than gaming-specific gear. I was a bit nervous about the read speeds being slightly lower than the absolute top-tier ones, but in real-world loading times? You basically can't tell the difference. Well, actually, maybe a second here or there, but it's negligible. I think it's easy to get caught up in the 7,000+ MB/s hype when the console barely hits those peaks anyway. My current setup has been solid for months and saved me enough to actually buy a new game to put on the thing. If the specs meet the minimum and the brand has a decent warranty, the rest is just fluff in my experience.

I totally agree with the warnings about thermal contact - that stuff is super important if you don't want your drive to start lagging when things get intense. But honestly, as someone who likes to tinker with my gear, I'd still say go the DIY route if you're up for it. It’s pretty rewarding and you usually get a better cooling solution than the basic ones they glue on at the factory. Just a few thoughts on the brands/DIY direction:
- Just go with **Seagate**. They’ve been doing storage forever and you basically can’t go wrong with their tech in a console.
- **Kingston** is another great shout for value - they’re pretty much the kings of "it just works" without the crazy markup you see on "gaming" specific brands.
- **Corsair** usually has some of the beefiest cooling options if you decide to buy a separate heatsink, which is nice for peace of mind. Tbh, it's not nearly as scary as people make it out to be. Just take your time with the thermal pads and make sure everything is snug. If you’ve ever built a PC - or even just swapped a battery in something - you’ll be fine. Idk, I just prefer knowing exactly what's inside my machine.

Like someone mentioned, thermal management is everything. I actually had a really bad experience trying to save money with a bare drive and a separate heatsink last summer. I thought I was being smart but the thermal pad was just a tiny bit too thin, which I didnt realize until my console started sounding like a jet engine during long sessions. Unfortunately it was not as good as expected and I ended up having to tear the whole thing apart because the drive was throttling and dropping frames. I really think the DIY route is overrated for most people because the margin for error is so slim. If the heatsink isnt perfectly flush, youre just baking your storage. I eventually swapped over to the Seagate FireCuda 530 2TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink and havent looked back. Another solid one is the Corsair MP600 Pro LPX 2TB PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe SSD. They specifically designed the low-profile heatsink to fit the PS5 expansion slot perfectly, so you dont have to guess if the cover will close. Firmware stability is a huge deal too... I had issues with some budget drives just not playing nice with the PS5 sleep mode, but these premium options handle it better. Dealing with glitches just isnt worth the few bucks you save on a bare drive.