10/05/2026 3:37 am
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Look my PS4 Pro is basically a brick right now because I have like 2GB of space left and I really need to expand it before this weekend starts. I have been doing some reading and honestly I'm more confused than when I started. Everyone says the Samsung T7 is the way to go but then I keep seeing these horror stories about the SanDisk Extreme drives just totally failing and losing all data after a few months... that is literally my nightmare. I also read some tech blog saying that the PS4 Pro usb ports actually bottleneck the super fast drives anyway so is it even worth getting a NVMe based one or should I just get a cheaper SATA one in an enclosure?
I need to make a move on this like today because I have a huge download waiting and I'm tired of deleting games every time I want to play something new. I'm mainly playing stuff like Warzone and Elden Ring so the load times are killing me on the stock internal drive.
Requirements:
- Budget: I've got about $100 to spend maybe a little more if it's actually worth it
- Capacity: 1TB is the goal
- Durability: Needs to be able to stay plugged in 24/7 without overheating or dying
- Availability: I'm in Chicago so I need something I can get at a major retailer or quick shipping like Amazon
I've seen some people mention the Crucial X8 too but then some guy on Reddit said his got way too hot during long gaming sessions. Is that a real thing I need to worry about? I just want something that won't brick itself while I'm in the middle of a session. Does anyone have an external SSD they've used for like a year plus on a Pro without it acting up? I'm really trying to avoid buying junk and losing my saves...
3 Answers
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10/05/2026 3:37 am
Just grab a Samsung T7 Shield 1TB Portable SSD. It handles heat better than the base model and maxes out the Pro's USB bandwidth without being overkill. Really solid choice.
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10/05/2026 4:22 am
Honestly I'm super paranoid about losing my Elden Ring saves too! Found these amazing options while looking.
- Crucial X9 1TB Portable SSD is fantastic because it stays really cool and is super affordable!
- Western Digital WD Black P40 1TB NVMe SSD is amazing since it is built for consoles and feels indestructible! Both are at Best Buy for quick pickup! Just use the back port so they dont get bumped!
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10/05/2026 3:47 am
Saw your post and honestly, I have been through the same cycle of trial and error with my own Pro over the years. In my experience, you are totally right about the bottleneck. These consoles use a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, so anything faster than about 500MB/s is essentially wasted potential. I have tried many different setups since 2016 and the biggest issue I have seen is thermal throttling during those long Elden Ring sessions.
- External SATA drives usually stay way cooler than the newer NVMe sticks.
- Reliability often boils down to the bridge chip in the enclosure, not just the flash memory. Quick question tho... are you planning to eventually use this on a PS5, or is this strictly for the Pro? Also, does your console have enough breathing room where it sits or is it tucked in a cabinet? Chicago summers can be tough on hardware if there isnt good airflow.
