27/02/2026 4:27 pm
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I finally pulled the trigger on the Pro after debating it for months. Ive been a Day 1 owner since the PS2 days and I thought I knew exactly what to expect but honestly opening this box was kind of a letdown. For seven hundred bucks youd think Sony would at least throw in the basics but nope. Im sitting here in my living room in Seattle with this massive console that doesnt even have a disc drive or a vertical stand included. Its just sitting there horizontally like a giant slab of plastic and it looks... wrong. It just feels incomplete after spending that much.
I already have the DualSense Edge which is great but now Im looking at my setup and realizing my old SSD might not be fast enough to keep up with the new specs or maybe I should just stick with the internal 2TB for now? I tried to move my old plates over from my slim model but obviously they dont fit because of the middle fin design. Its just frustrating because I feel like Im back at square one with cable management and storage. I mostly play high-fidelity stuff like Horizon and the new Monster Hunter Wilds beta and I want the best experience without getting nickle-and-dimed even more.
Ive got maybe another $200 or $300 left in my budget for this month before my wife starts asking questions lol. I definitely need a disc drive eventually because I have a huge physical library but what else is actually essential for the Pro specifically?
- Disc drive (obviously if you can even find one in stock)
- Vertical stand (rip-off but looks better)
- Better SSD?
- Charging station
Do I really need a new cooling fan or are those still just gimmicks? And what about the headset situation—is the Pulse Elite worth the upgrade over the original 3D Pulse or should I look at third party stuff like SteelSeries? Im just trying to make sure I dont miss out on the actual Pro experience after dropping all this cash. What are you guys actually using to finish the build? Is there something I'm forgetting...
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27/02/2026 5:13 pm
I totally feel your pain with the giant slab look! I was so hyped for my Pro but spent my first hour just trying to find a spot for it where it didnt look like a space heater. Forget those extra cooling fans tho, they're basically a gimmick and just add noise. I love my setup now that it's finally organized! If you want to maximize that $300, definitely focus on the stuff that actually makes your life easier every time you sit down to play.
- Sony PlayStation DualSense Charging Station
- Seriously, dont mess with cables anymore. It looks so clean on the shelf and keeps your Edge ready for those long sessions.
- Samsung 990 PRO 2TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink
- I swapped to this for the crazy fast speeds and it works fantastic for high-fidelity games like Monster Hunter. Ngl, the Pro gets plenty of air on its own, so just save your remaining cash for games! I am having an absolute blast with the Wilds beta right now... the performance is incredible!
11
27/02/2026 4:38 pm
Like someone mentioned, that disc drive hunt is a nightmare. Be careful with those generic cooling fans tho... I saw a buddy fry his port using a cheap one. Tbh, the Western Digital WD_BLACK SN850X 2TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink is a better investment. Dropped one in last week and it handles those massive texture loads way smoother. Just make sure the heatsink fits so you dont have issues.
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27/02/2026 4:27 pm
I totally get the frustration with the box contents. Buying a Pro console and getting less gear than the base model is a tough pill to swallow, especially at that price point. Since you have a physical library, tracking down the Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Drive for PS5 Pro is basically your top priority. But be careful with those scalpers... honestly, check local brick-and-mortar shops because online stock is a mess right now and I wouldnt pay a cent over MSRP for it. Regarding the stand, it is kinda a ripoff but the console feels pretty unstable without it. I would suggest getting the Sony PlayStation Vertical Stand for PS5 Pro just for peace of mind if you have pets or kids. Please, stay away from those third-party cooling fans you see on Amazon. They are basically just gimmicks that can actually mess with the airflow Sony designed. They usually just blow dust deeper into the heatsink or make way too much noise for no actual gain. For the headset, the Sony PlayStation Pulse Elite Wireless Headset has those planar magnetic drivers which are nice for high-fidelity games like Horizon, but the comfort is hit or miss. If you find the Sony ones uncomfortable, I might suggest the SteelSeries+Arctis+Nova+7P+Wireless&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless instead. It feels more premium and the battery life is insane. Since the Pro already has 2TB internal, you might want to hold off on an extra SSD until prices drop again. You have plenty of space for now, even with massive titles like MH Wilds coming up.
