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For a PS5 storage upgrade, choose a supported PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD and verify the dimensions of the complete drive with its heatsink. Between the Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink and WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink, the capacity you need and the complete offer often matter more than a small difference in peak read speed. Do not buy a bare drive assuming the PS5 provides a heatsink for the expansion slot.
This guide compares Sony’s US installation requirements with Samsung’s US 990 PRO with Heatsink page and SanDisk’s WD_BLACK SN850X specification. It is a documentary comparison; we have not tested the drives in a console. The original BR cover reused here depicts manufacturer product images of the heatsink variants, not current US offers.
What does a PS5 SSD need?
Sony accepts M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4, Key M, from 250 GB to 8 TB. It recommends sequential read speed of 5,500 MB/s or faster. M.2 SATA is not supported. Sony lists lengths 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110, so the common 2280 size is not the only allowed one. With the cooling structure installed, the entire assembly must fit a width up to 25 mm and total thickness up to 11.25 mm, while observing Sony’s separate clearance limits above and below the circuit board.
| Before ordering | Verify | Mistake avoided |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4, Key M | Buying an M.2 SATA drive that cannot work |
| Capacity | 250 GB to 8 TB | Ordering outside Sony’s supported range |
| Read speed | Sony recommends 5,500 MB/s or faster | Choosing by the vague “Gen4” label alone |
| Cooling | Heatsink integrated or fitted separately, within limits | Using an SSD without adequate heat dissipation |
| Length | 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 | Wrong mounting spacer or needless rejection of a size |
The sequential read figure is a compatibility filter, not a predicted load time for a particular game. Sony notes that not every title will necessarily perform identically to the console’s internal SSD even when the added drive exceeds the recommended rate. Without measuring both drives in the same console and games, it would be misleading to promise a seconds-long advantage for either model.
Built-in heatsink or a separate one?
Both paths can work. A factory-heatsink drive removes one installation step if the actual variant fits Sony’s space limits. A bare SSD can be paired with a compatible cooling structure, but add the heatsink’s cost and height to the decision. Sony does not require a branded PlayStation accessory; it requires effective heat dissipation that fits the compartment.
Do not mistake the expansion-bay cover for an SSD heatsink. Do not automatically remove a factory heatsink to make a drive fit. Samsung’s 990 PRO with Heatsink datasheet warns about damage or warranty consequences from removal. If fit is unclear, match the complete model code and dimensions before ordering rather than modifying the drive after it arrives.
Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink
Samsung explicitly markets the 990 PRO with Heatsink for PCs and PS5. The 1 TB US listing identifies a PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2280 drive with up to 7,450 MB/s sequential read and an 80 × 24.3 × 8.2 mm listed product size. A revised manufacturer datasheet gives maximum dimensions of about 80.15 × 25 × 8.88 mm for the heatsink assembly. Use the current exact SKU’s documentation when checking clearance. These read speeds are manufacturer PC test figures, not PS5 game measurements.
The distinction between “990 PRO” and “990 PRO with Heatsink” is material. The same capacity may be sold in different physical versions. Check a clear SKU and a real heatsink photo, not just the first generic image on a marketplace page. A factory heatsink can simplify installation, but the total size still has to comply with Sony’s above-and-below-board clearance.
WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink
SN850X is also an NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 drive. The current manufacturer page identifies the heatsink model as PS5-compatible, lists distinct model numbers for with-heatsink and without-heatsink versions, and advertises up to 7,300 MB/s for 1–4 TB capacities. The 8 TB specification differs, so do not generalize one capacity’s peak rate to another. The PC-only Dashboard software is not by itself a reason to pay more when the drive will live only in a console.
Compare equal capacities and thermal variants. Comparing a 1 TB price with a 2 TB endurance or speed number produces a false winner. A retailer can also put a no-heatsink SKU under a photo of the heatsink drive. Use the manufacturer code and physical dimensions, then check condition, seller and warranty.
Which one wins in actual use?
Without a controlled game-loading comparison, neither manufacturer peak number proves a meaningful difference on PS5. The stronger decision factors are usable capacity, complete price, clear heatsink SKU, seller legitimacy and warranty. A 2 TB model may serve a large game library better than a nominally faster 1 TB drive. If two same-capacity heatsink variants meet Sony’s requirements, a substantial price difference can reasonably decide the purchase.
If you still have enough internal space for the games you actually keep installed, waiting can be sensible. If you regularly delete and re-download games because of storage pressure, capacity may matter more than squeezing a slightly higher benchmark number from a drive. Do not confuse a PC software feature or maximum sequential read rating with an observed PS5 benefit.
What owner reports help with—and what they do not prove
In a public PS5 SSD discussion, one participant describes using a 4 TB 990 PRO with heatsink without reporting trouble over their usage period. Another says they used a 2 TB 990 PRO in a PS5 Pro and a 980 PRO in an original PS5 but could not report internal temperature. These are owner anecdotes, not thermal measurements or a controlled Samsung-versus-WD test. The discussion links to a thread rather than separately confirmed comment permalinks, so do not turn those comments into a failure-rate or endurance claim.
A negative delivery review would also say more about a particular seller than about the SSD design. For a console upgrade, the useful evidence is Sony’s fit and installation specification, each manufacturer’s exact SKU data, and the condition of the item you receive. Review threads can suggest questions, but cannot replace those checks.
Buying and installation checklist
- Confirm capacity and full model code. “990 PRO” and “SN850X” alone do not tell you whether a heatsink is included.
- Compare width and total height with the heatsink against Sony’s published compartment limits.
- If buying a bare version, include a compatible heatsink in the total cost and verify final dimensions.
- Check new condition, seller, receipt, warranty and return period; do not use another variant’s photo as proof.
- Update PS5 system software and follow Sony’s procedure for your console model.
- Set the mounting spacer to the SSD length. Do not force the board or close the cover against an oversized heatsink.
- On startup, verify which device the console is about to format. Formatting erases data on that drive.
Who should buy which configuration?
Small installed library: delay the upgrade if storage pressure is not real. Many games installed: prioritize capacity and cost per usable GB while satisfying compatibility and cooling. Simple installation: choose a factory-heatsink SKU with documented dimensions. Tight budget: a bare drive may save money only after adding a proper heatsink and verifying fit. Between Samsung and WD, decide from the exact offers rather than claiming a generic winner.
Frequently asked questions
Will every M.2 SSD work in a PS5?
No. M.2 describes a physical format. Sony requires compatible NVMe PCIe Gen4 x4 Key M, capacity and dimensions; M.2 SATA is excluded.
Can I use a bare SSD?
You may buy a bare version, but must fit an appropriate cooling structure before using it in the PS5. Sony requires effective heat dissipation.
Does PS5 accept 22110?
Yes, Sony lists 22110. The complete assembly still needs to meet the compartment’s width and thickness limits.
Should I pay more for 7,450 rather than 7,300 MB/s?
Those are maximum manufacturer figures under specific conditions, not measured loading times on your console. If practical benefit is not demonstrated, compare capacity, variant, warranty and final price.
