Can You Use 2 Hard Drives on PS5? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is yes, but with a caveat. The PlayStation 5 is designed with storage expansion in mind, but it handles multiple hard drives in a specific way. You can utilize both an internal SSD and an external hard drive to increase your storage capacity, but there are rules about how they can be used simultaneously. This article will delve into the specifics of PS5 storage, explaining how it works and answering all your related questions.
Understanding PS5 Storage Options
The PS5 comes with a built-in internal SSD that provides blazing-fast speeds crucial for running next-gen games. However, this initial storage fills up quickly with today’s game sizes. To address this, Sony allows two primary methods for expanding storage:
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Internal M.2 SSD Expansion: You can install a compatible NVMe SSD into the designated M.2 slot inside your PS5. This significantly boosts your internal storage, allowing you to download, store, and play more PS5 games.
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External USB Hard Drive: You can connect an external hard drive via USB to store and play PS4 games, as well as store PS5 games. However, while you can store PS5 games on external storage, they cannot be played directly from the external drive, they need to be transferred back to the internal SSD.
Simultaneous Use: The Nuances of Two Hard Drives
While it is possible to have both an internal M.2 SSD and an external USB drive connected to your PS5, it’s critical to understand their specific roles:
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Internal SSD (including expanded M.2 SSD): This is where you install and play PS5 games. It provides the high speeds required for the next-gen experience.
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External Hard Drive (USB): You can store PS5 games on an external hard drive, but you cannot play them directly from it. You must transfer them back to the internal SSD before they can be launched. PS4 games, however, can be played directly from an external drive.
Essentially, your internal storage (both the original SSD and any added M.2 SSD) acts as the active “playing” space, while the external hard drive serves as a “storage” space for PS5 games and a “playing” space for PS4 games.
Can you Use 2 External Hard Drives?
Although you can connect two or more external hard drives to your PS5, the system only recognizes one for storage and playback at a time. You can switch between the external drives in the PS5’s settings menu, but you can’t use them simultaneously for active game storage and playback.
The Importance of Speed and Compatibility
It’s crucial to select the correct type of storage for your PS5. The internal expansion requires a PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD. For external storage, you’ll want a USB 3.0 or higher drive. Although SSDs are faster and offer better performance than traditional mechanical hard drives, remember they cannot play PS5 games directly from the external storage.
Why Not Play PS5 Games from an External Drive?
The PS5’s internal SSD is significantly faster than even high-end external SSDs connected via USB. The PS5’s games are designed around this speed. The speed is a crucial aspect for both the game loading times as well as the smooth performance during game-play. The speed of an external drive, although much faster for PS4 games, it’s not fast enough to provide a smooth next generation game-play experience for PS5 games. Therefore, this is why they can only be stored and not played directly from external storage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you have 2 SSDs in a PS5?
Yes, you can have two SSDs in a PS5, one internal and one added into the available M.2 expansion slot. However, only one can be used for extended external storage via a USB connection.
2. How many SSDs can you have in a PS5?
Technically, you can have two SSDs inside the PS5: the built-in internal SSD and one additional SSD installed in the M.2 expansion slot.
3. How many hard drives can PS5 hold?
The PS5 can functionally hold one internal drive (either the built-in one or an additional one via the M.2 slot) and one external USB drive that can be used at a time for storage and game play. You can connect more than one external drive but only one can be actively used for storage and playback at any time, and you will have to switch between them in the settings menu.
4. Can you use 2 external hard drives at the same time on PS5?
No, you cannot use two external hard drives simultaneously on the PS5. The console can detect multiple drives, but only one will be active for storage at a time.
5. Can PS4 and PS5 games be stored on the same external hard drive?
Yes, you can store both PS4 and PS5 games on the same external hard drive. PS4 games can be played directly from it, while PS5 games need to be copied back to the internal SSD to be played.
6. Why can’t you play PS5 games from an external hard drive?
You can’t play PS5 games directly from an external hard drive because the speed is too slow. PS5 games are optimized to run from the console’s internal SSD, which offers much faster read and write speeds than a USB-connected external drive.
7. What happens if you have 2 hard drives in PS5?
If you have two hard drives (one internal and one external) in your PS5, the internal SSD will be used for running PS5 games and storing/running PS4 games while the external will act as an archive of games and additional space for PS4 games.
8. Is it good to have 2 hard drives on PS5?
Yes, having two hard drives (one internal SSD and one external USB drive) on your PS5 is highly recommended. It provides more storage space and the ability to store and easily access more games.
9. Can you play PS5 games on an external SSD?
You cannot play PS5 games directly from an external SSD, even if it’s a high-speed model. You can only store PS5 games on an external drive and must move them back to the internal SSD to play them.
10. Can I put an 8TB SSD in PS5?
The PS5 supports an M.2 SSD with a maximum capacity of 8TB, if it is physically compatible.
11. Why is PS5 storage so low?
The usable storage on the PS5 is less than the advertised storage due to the operating system, firmware, and system files that require space.
12. How many PS5 games can 2TB hold?
A 2TB SSD can hold approximately 50 games, depending on the size of each game.
13. Can you use 2 SSDs at once on a PC?
Yes, you can use 2 SSDs at once on a PC, and there’s no similar restriction. This allows you to have separate drives for different purposes such as the operating system or to store specific programs.
14. Does extra SSD make PS5 faster?
An extra internal SSD doesn’t make the PS5 faster, it just increases the storage available for you to download and install more games. However, external SSDs for storing games, although not playable, will be faster when it comes to game data transfer.
15. Are external hard drives worth it for PS5?
Yes, external hard drives are worth it for PS5 users. Although PS5 games cannot be played directly from them, they offer a convenient and much quicker way to store games than redownloading them from scratch.
Conclusion
The PS5 offers a flexible approach to storage expansion with its dual storage options: an internal SSD and an external USB drive. While you cannot play PS5 games directly from an external drive, it remains a valuable tool for managing your game library. Understanding the limitations and capabilities of each type of storage ensures you get the best possible gaming experience. By utilizing the internal M.2 slot and external USB drive, you can effectively manage your ever-growing library of games, making the most of your PlayStation 5.