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Is PS5 Expandable Storage Worth It? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, absolutely! PS5 expandable storage is undeniably worth it for most gamers. The PlayStation 5’s internal storage, while fast, is limited, especially with today’s massive game sizes. Adding an M.2 internal SSD or an external USB drive significantly enhances your gaming experience by providing more storage space and flexibility. The specific type of storage you choose will depend on your needs and budget, but without a doubt, expanding your storage is one of the best upgrades you can make for your PS5. Let’s dive deeper into the specifics to understand why it’s such a worthwhile investment.

Understanding PS5 Storage Options

The PS5 offers two main avenues for expanding storage: internal expansion using an M.2 NVMe SSD and external expansion with a USB hard drive or SSD. Both options have their pros and cons, so understanding the differences is crucial for making the right decision.

Internal M.2 SSD Expansion

The PS5’s primary method of expansion involves installing an internal M.2 NVMe SSD that meets specific requirements set by Sony. This type of expansion offers the best performance for PS5 games.

Performance Boost: Using an internal SSD ensures you maintain the fastest read/write speeds, essential for the smooth, optimized performance that PS5 games are designed to deliver.
Playable Storage: Crucially, an internal SSD allows you to not only store but also directly play PS5 games from the expanded storage, something that external drives cannot do.
Seamless Experience: The additional storage acts just like the internal storage, making the management of downloads, copies, and game launches as seamless as possible.

However, choosing the right SSD is important:

Speed Requirements: It must be a PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD with a read speed of at least 5500 MB/s to match the speed of the console’s built-in storage.
Physical Size and Cooling: The SSD needs to be of the correct size (2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, or 22110 form factor) and have a cooling solution (heatsink) to manage the heat generated during operation.
Cost Factor: Internal SSDs tend to be more expensive than external hard drives or external SSDs, especially for higher storage capacities.

External USB Drive Storage

The secondary option for expansion is to connect an external USB hard drive or SSD. This is a more affordable way to add storage, but comes with limitations.

PS4 Game Storage and Play: External drives can both store and play PS4 games directly. This is extremely beneficial for those with large PS4 game libraries.
PS5 Game Storage Only: While you can store PS5 games on an external drive, you cannot directly play them from there. You must transfer them back to the internal SSD or the internal M.2 SSD storage first to play them.
Convenience and Transfer Speeds: They provide an excellent and quick method for moving PS5 games to and from the internal storage, much faster than redownloading them. This is a big advantage.
Cost-Effective: External drives are generally more affordable than internal SSDs, especially for larger storage capacities.

However, there are a few drawbacks:

Performance Limitations: External drives, even external SSDs connected via USB 3.1 or 3.2, are slower than the internal SSD. This is why they cannot directly run PS5 games.
Transfer Required: It is essential to transfer PS5 games to the console’s internal storage to play them, which can still take time depending on the game’s size.

The Verdict: Why You Need More Storage

The PS5 comes with a relatively small amount of usable internal storage, typically around 667GB. This can be filled quickly with just a few modern, large games. Here’s why expanding your storage is not just beneficial but nearly essential:

Modern Game Sizes: Games have grown dramatically in size, often exceeding 50GB, 100GB, or even more, quickly filling up that default storage.
Multiple Games: Many gamers like to have multiple games installed at once to quickly jump between titles without having to uninstall and reinstall.
Future Proofing: Expanding storage now saves you the hassle of file management and deleting games in the future as your game library grows.

Ultimately, whether you opt for an internal M.2 SSD or an external drive, having more space frees you from these constraints, allowing you to fully enjoy your PS5.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the speed requirements for an internal PS5 SSD?

The internal SSD must be a PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD with a read speed of at least 5500 MB/s. It also needs to be the correct physical form factor (2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110) and equipped with a heatsink for cooling.

2. Can I play PS5 games from an external hard drive?

No, you cannot directly play PS5 games from an external hard drive. They must be transferred to the internal SSD or the internal M.2 SSD storage before they can be played. However, you can store PS5 games on external drives to save download times when you want to play again.

3. Can I play PS4 games from an external hard drive?

Yes, PS4 games can be both stored and directly played from an external USB drive connected to your PS5.

4. What is the maximum storage capacity the PS5 can handle?

The PS5 can handle internal SSDs of 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB and 8TB.

5. Is an 8TB SSD overkill for the PS5?

For most casual users, 8TB might be overkill. However, for avid gamers who want their entire library available at any time, or for creators who use their console for media capture, an 8TB SSD can be useful, if quite expensive.

6. Will adding an external hard drive slow down my PS5?

While external hard drives are slower than the internal SSD, they won’t significantly slow down your console when used for storing games and transferring them to play. Performance is mainly affected during transfer and not while playing games on the internal drive.

7. Is it worth getting a 2TB or 4TB SSD for the PS5?

Many experts recommend getting a 2TB or 4TB SSD as they offer significantly more storage for large game libraries at prices that are quite competitive. A 1TB might fill quickly, while an 8TB might be excessively expensive for many people.

8. How many games can a 2TB SSD hold on the PS5?

A 2TB SSD can generally store around 50+ PS5 games based on the average game sizes.

9. Can an external SSD be used for storing PS5 games?

Yes, you can store PS5 games on an external SSD, which will offer faster transfer speeds compared to a standard HDD. However, you still can’t play PS5 games directly from an external drive.

10. Does adding an SSD make the PS5 faster?

Adding an internal M.2 SSD with the correct speed can improve loading times. However, it will not increase your frame rate (FPS).

11. Is an internal SSD better than an external SSD for my PS5?

Internal SSDs are better for performance because they allow you to play PS5 games directly and deliver the fastest speeds. External SSDs are still good for storage and transferring games but cannot match internal speeds.

12. Why are internal SSDs so expensive?

Internal SSDs for the PS5 are expensive due to the high quality NAND flash chips and the performance specifications required to match or exceed the console’s built-in storage.

13. Do I need a heatsink on an internal PS5 SSD?

Yes, a heatsink is necessary for internal PS5 SSDs to manage the heat generated during operation and ensure stable performance.

14. What are the benefits of using an SSD for gaming?

Using an SSD for gaming results in faster load times, smoother gameplay, and a faster transfer of game files, improving the overall gaming experience.

15. What size of SSD should I get for my PS5?

Most users should aim for a 2TB SSD. If you have a very large game library a 4TB SSD could be considered, while a 1TB SSD might be a good starting point for those with smaller budgets.

Is the PS5 expandable storage worth it?