Can You Use Any Hard Drive for PS5? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of whether you can use any hard drive with your PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a common one among gamers looking to expand their storage capabilities. The simple answer is yes, with a major caveat. While you can connect almost any external hard drive to your PS5, its functionality varies depending on the type of drive and the games you intend to store on it. Let’s delve into the details.
Understanding PS5 Storage Options
The PS5 utilizes a high-speed internal NVMe SSD for its primary storage, designed to deliver the lightning-fast load times that are a hallmark of the console. However, this internal storage is limited, often necessitating the use of external storage solutions. There are two main types of external storage you can connect to your PS5:
- External HDDs (Hard Disk Drives): These are traditional spinning disk drives, typically more affordable and available in larger capacities. They connect via USB.
- External SSDs (Solid State Drives): These are faster, more durable drives with no moving parts. They also connect via USB and offer a noticeable performance boost over HDDs, although they generally come at a higher cost per gigabyte.
The Key Distinction: PS5 vs. PS4 Games
Here’s where the important difference lies. While both HDD and SSDs can be used for external storage, they have different roles when it comes to playing games.
- PS4 Games: You can store and play PS4 games directly from an external hard drive (either an HDD or SSD) connected via USB on your PS5. This is a major advantage as it allows you to save valuable space on your PS5’s internal SSD for PS5 games.
- PS5 Games: You can store PS5 games on an external hard drive (both HDD and SSD), but you cannot play them directly from the external storage. To play a PS5 game, you must first transfer the game from the external drive back to the PS5’s internal SSD. This process is much faster than downloading the game again, making external storage ideal for archiving games you are not currently playing.
Why the Limitation?
The limitation on playing PS5 games from external drives stems from the high bandwidth requirements of these games. PS5 games are designed to leverage the incredible speeds of the console’s internal NVMe SSD to deliver optimal performance and load times. The read and write speeds of external HDDs and even many external SSDs are simply not high enough to support the demands of PS5 games. As such, they are only suitable for storage and transfer, not direct gameplay.
External Drive Formatting
To use an external hard drive on your PS5, it must be formatted to either the exFAT or FAT32 file system. The PS5 will prompt you to format the drive when it is first connected. This process will erase all data on the external drive, so be sure to back up anything important before connecting it to your console.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about using external hard drives with the PS5, addressing the specifics of storage, compatibility and performance.
1. Can I use any external USB 3.0 HDD with my PS5?
Yes, any external USB 3.0 (or higher) HDD should work for storing PS4 and PS5 games, but only PS4 games can be played directly from the external drive. PS5 games must be moved back to the internal SSD to be played.
2. Can I use my old PS4 external hard drive with my PS5?
Yes, you can directly connect your old PS4 external hard drive to your PS5. All your PS4 games will be accessible, and you can play them directly from the drive.
3. Can you play PS5 games directly from an external hard drive?
No, you cannot play PS5 games directly from any external hard drive, be it an HDD or SSD. You need to transfer the games back to the internal SSD to play them.
4. Is it worth getting an external hard drive just to store PS5 games?
Yes, absolutely. While you can’t play PS5 games from the external drive, it is invaluable for archiving games you are not actively playing. Transferring games to the internal SSD is much faster than downloading them again, saving you considerable time and bandwidth.
5. Is an external SSD better than an external HDD for PS5 storage?
Yes, an external SSD is superior to an HDD due to its faster transfer speeds, allowing for quicker movement of games to and from the console’s internal SSD. However, SSDs are more expensive. An HDD is a more budget-friendly option but will be slower at transferring data.
6. Are SSDs more reliable than HDDs for external PS5 storage?
Generally yes, SSDs are considered more reliable than HDDs because they don’t have moving parts, making them less susceptible to damage from drops or impacts.
7. What are the disadvantages of using an external SSD with my PS5?
The main disadvantages are the higher cost compared to HDDs and the potential limited write cycles, which, under very heavy usage, may affect the drive’s longevity over time.
8. Why can’t I play PS5 games directly from my external hard drive?
The main reason is that the data transfer speeds of external drives, particularly HDDs, are not fast enough to support the high bandwidth demands of PS5 games. These games are optimized for the fast read/write speeds of the console’s internal NVMe SSD.
9. Do games run slower when transferred to an external hard drive?
No, transferring a game to an external drive does not make it run slower when played from the internal SSD. However, the transfer speeds for moving game data between the external drive and the console’s SSD will be slower on HDDs compared to SSDs.
10. Can I use an internal SSD in an external enclosure with the PS5?
Yes, you can use certain internal SSDs in an external USB enclosure. However, it’s important to ensure compatibility and performance is optimized when using this setup. It’s also important to note, that they will still have the same limits as a commercial external hard drive.
11. How many games can a 2TB external hard drive store on PS5?
The number of games varies depending on their size, but a 2TB drive can typically hold around 50 PS5 games with sizes that generally range between 30-100 GBs. Also, note that this number will be higher for PS4 games, as their file sizes tend to be smaller.
12. Should I buy an external hard drive or expand the PS5 internal storage?
Adding internal SSD storage to your PS5 is optimal for performance, as it will support the fastest game loading speeds. However, this requires purchasing and installing a compatible M.2 NVMe SSD, which can be more complex. If you’re just looking to store more PS4 games and keep your active PS5 titles, an external drive is a simpler and more cost-effective option, and will not require you to open up your console.
13. Can I use any M.2 SSD internally for PS5?
No, you cannot use just any M.2 SSD internally for PS5. It needs to meet specific requirements, such as being an NVMe SSD, and having supported physical dimensions, and other specifications detailed by Sony. Make sure to check the compatibility list for approved M.2 drives.
14. Is it safe to turn off the PS5 while it’s connected to an external hard drive?
Generally yes, it’s safe to turn off the console with an external drive attached. However, it’s recommended to ensure the PS5 has properly powered down and the drive is not actively being used before shutting off the console to avoid any potential data corruption.
15. Why isn’t my PS5 recognizing my external hard drive?
Possible reasons include: an incompatible file format (the drive must be formatted as exFAT or FAT32), a faulty drive, a loose connection, or an outdated system software. Ensure the drive is properly connected, has a compatible file format, and that your PS5 is updated to the latest software version.
Conclusion
While you can’t play PS5 games directly from an external drive, they serve as a crucial tool for storage management, saving valuable time and bandwidth. The answer to “Can you use any hard drive for PS5 Reddit?” is nuanced, but with an understanding of the limitations and benefits, you can effectively expand your PS5’s storage capabilities. Using external drives, both HDD and SSD, effectively allows you to enjoy a larger library of games, and quickly transfer PS5 games between the external drive and the PS5s super fast internal SSD.