TechRadar's Guide to the Best PS5 SSDs: Top Picks Across Value, Performance, and Capacity
TechRadar evaluated compatible PCIe Gen 4.0 NVMe drives to identify the best internal storage upgrades for the PlayStation 5. The publication names the Samsung 980 Pro as the best overall choice due to its proven endurance and post-successor price reductions, while the Lexar NM790 is recommended as the top budget option, especially at 4TB, despite slight hitches from its DRAM-less design. For maximum speed, the Samsung 990 Pro leads performance benchmarks, and the WD Black SN850P serves high-capacity buyers with up to 8TB. Sony mandates read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s and an effective heatsink.
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AI brief
From the source report
This TechRadar Gaming guide compares several PS5-compatible SSDs for different needs, including the Samsung 980 Pro as its overall pick and the Lexar NM790 with heatsink as a budget option. It may help shoppers weigh capacity, heatsink requirements, performance, and stated drawbacks, but the listed prices are broad reported ranges rather than a specific retailer offer.
Best suited for PS5 owners comparing internal SSD upgrades and looking for guidance on capacity, compatibility, and heatsink requirements.
Highlights
The guide says the listed drives meet or exceed Sony's recommended requirements and are PS5-compatible.
It explains that an internal PS5 SSD needs a heatsink and summarizes compatible capacity, speed, size, and form-factor requirements.
It includes installation instructions and discusses trade-offs such as the Lexar NM790's occasional performance hitches.
Before you buy
The source says SSD stock is scarce and prices have surged in many regions, but provides no specific retailer availability.
The guide notes occasional performance hitches with the Lexar NM790, which it attributes to the drive's lack of DRAM.
The Samsung 990 Pro is described as pricey and as running hot under heavy use; the source advises using a PS5-compatible heatsink.
The source's price figures are reported ranges, not a specified checkout offer.
Product facts & conditions
Written by AI from the source report, not a hands-on test. Read source ↗
TechRadar Gaming recommends the Samsung 980 Pro as its overall PS5 SSD pick, while presenting other drives for budget, high-end, and high-capacity needs. Its assessments draw on the author's testing and research, with trade-offs noted for individual models.
Who it may suit PS5 owners comparing SSD options by price, capacity, performance, and heatsink availability.
What the source liked
The author reports testing multiple drives, including benchmarking and PS5 file-transfer and loading-time tests.
The guide compares options across several capacity and budget needs.
It discusses practical compatibility requirements and SSD installation.
Trade-offs & limitations
The guide says current SSD scarcity and price increases make budget-friendly options difficult to find.
The Lexar NM790 may have occasional performance hitches, according to the author's testing.
The guide describes the Samsung 990 Pro as expensive and notes it can run hot under load.
Source testing context The author says the selections are based on first-hand benchmarking and research. The guide describes recording file-transfer and game-loading times, using the PS5 benchmark tool, and comparing drives with the console's internal storage.
Questions this review helps answer
Does an internal SSD for PS5 need a heatsink?
The guide says a heatsink is required for an internal PS5 SSD.
What does the guide recommend as its overall PS5 SSD?
It names the Samsung 980 Pro as its best overall pick.
What compatibility requirements does the guide list?
It lists PCIe Gen 4.0 (x4), M.2 NVMe, at least 5,500 MB/s read speed, and supported form factors from 2230 through 22110.
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