What Is The Best SSD Capacity for PS5?
Determining the best SSD capacity for your PlayStation 5 is a crucial decision for any gamer looking to expand their storage and streamline their gaming experience. The answer, while not entirely universal, leans towards a 2TB SSD as the sweet spot for most users. This capacity provides a significant boost in storage without the premium price tag of larger options, and it strikes a great balance between cost and the number of games you can keep installed. However, the optimal capacity ultimately depends on your gaming habits, budget, and long-term needs. Let’s delve deeper into the considerations.
Understanding PS5 Storage Limitations
The PlayStation 5 comes with an 825GB internal SSD, though only around 667GB is usable due to the operating system and pre-installed software. This quickly fills up as modern games often range between 50GB and 100GB, or even more, leaving many players juggling which games to install and uninstall. Therefore, an upgrade is almost essential for avid gamers.
The PS5 offers an internal M.2 SSD expansion slot, allowing you to add more storage. There are also external options via USB, but those have speed limitations that make them less ideal for running games directly. For the best performance, you should prioritize upgrading using the internal M.2 slot.
Why 2TB is Often the Sweet Spot
A 2TB SSD provides a significant leap in storage space compared to the base console’s capacity. This generally allows for the storage of approximately 50 games, based on an average game size of 36GB. While some games are much larger, you’ll have ample room for a diverse collection without frequently needing to delete and re-download titles.
The 2TB option strikes an excellent balance:
- Cost-Effectiveness: While not the cheapest, a 2TB SSD offers more storage per dollar than the smaller 1TB or the larger 4TB option. It sits in a mid-range price point, making it more accessible to a wide range of players.
- Practicality: It provides enough storage for the majority of users, allowing most to have a library of games ready to play without needing to carefully manage space.
- Performance: Like other compatible M.2 NVMe drives, 2TB SSDs will provide excellent speeds, taking full advantage of the PS5’s fast loading and quick resume capabilities.
Considering Other Options: 1TB and 4TB
While 2TB is often the best overall choice, let’s examine the cases for 1TB and 4TB drives:
1TB SSD: Budget-Friendly Choice
A 1TB SSD is the most budget-friendly option that offers a meaningful storage upgrade over the base console storage. It’s a solid choice for players who:
- Have a smaller library and rarely buy many games simultaneously
- Are on a tight budget and want a decent boost in storage space.
- Are happy to uninstall completed games to make way for new titles.
The 1TB drive provides approximately 25 games, which might be sufficient for a casual player but could become limiting for a heavy user.
4TB SSD: The Ultimate Storage Solution
A 4TB SSD is the king of storage, offering the largest capacity you can currently install in your PS5. It’s best suited for players who:
- Want to keep their entire game library readily available
- Don’t want to deal with storage management or uninstallations.
- Are willing to pay a premium for the extra capacity.
With a 4TB drive, you can generally store over 100 games and have a vast gaming library readily accessible. However, this massive storage comes at a higher price point, making it a less practical choice for gamers on a limited budget.
8TB and External Options
It’s also worth noting that the PS5 system software can now support internal SSDs up to 8TB. However, these drives are often incredibly expensive, making them impractical for most users. External SSDs can also be used with PS5, with the same 8TB maximum, but they don’t provide the performance of internal drives and are not ideal for running games directly. External storage is best used for storing PS4 games and media rather than PS5 games.
Choosing the Right SSD for You
Ultimately, the “best” SSD capacity for your PS5 depends on your individual needs and gaming preferences. Consider:
- Your budget: How much are you willing to spend on storage expansion?
- Your gaming habits: How many games do you typically play at the same time?
- Your download speed: Do you have quick and reliable internet to quickly reinstall games if needed?
- Future needs: Do you anticipate your game library growing significantly over the coming years?
A 2TB SSD is the best option for most players who want ample storage at a reasonable cost. However, if you have budget constraints and a smaller library, a 1TB SSD might be adequate. If you want the most storage available without the hassle of ever deleting games, then a 4TB SSD is the best, though most expensive, option.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many games can a 1TB SSD hold on PS5?
A 1TB SSD can generally hold around 25 PS5 games based on an average size of 36GB per game.
2. Is a 2TB SSD enough for gaming on PS5?
Yes, a 2TB SSD is generally enough for gaming and can hold approximately 50 PS5 games, making it a great option for most players.
3. What’s the largest capacity SSD I can install in my PS5?
The maximum capacity SSD you can install internally into your PS5 is 4TB. While the software supports up to 8TB, these drives are often prohibitively expensive.
4. Can I use an external SSD with my PS5?
Yes, you can use an external SSD for PS5 games. However, they can’t match the speed of internal SSDs. External drives are best used for storing PS4 games and media. External SSDs and HDDs also have a maximum capacity of 8TB.
5. Does an extra SSD make my PS5 faster?
An extra internal SSD will not make your PS5 itself run faster, but it will speed up game loading times and improve overall performance when games are running from it.
6. What type of SSD does the PS5 use?
The PS5 uses a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD. Any SSD that meets these specifications will work, provided it also has a heatsink.
7. Is 4TB overkill for a PS5?
Not necessarily. A 4TB SSD is suitable for gamers who have very large libraries and want to store well over 100 games without uninstalling. However, it’s pricier than other options.
8. How do I install an internal SSD in my PS5?
Installing an internal SSD requires removing one of the console’s side panels, locating the M.2 slot, and screwing the drive into place. Follow Sony’s official instructions and guidance for best results.
9. Can I use any heatsink with my PS5 SSD?
No. Your PS5 SSD needs a heatsink that is thin enough to fit inside the PS5 enclosure. Some SSDs already include a PS5 specific heatsink.
10. Does the PS5 support the new PCIe Gen5 SSDs?
Currently, the PS5 only supports PCIe Gen4 SSDs. Gen 5 SSDs are not compatible for internal use.
11. Is an 8TB SSD a good option for PS5?
While an 8TB SSD is supported by the PS5 system, they’re very expensive and are overkill for the majority of gamers. Most people will be fine with a 2 or 4TB model.
12. How does an external SSD affect game performance on PS5?
External SSDs offer better transfer speeds than external HDDs, but they are still slower than the internal SSD. PS5 games cannot be played directly from an external drive, and must be transferred to the internal SSD in order to play.
13. Can I move PS5 games between internal and external storage?
Yes, you can move PS5 games between the internal and external storage, but PS5 games cannot be played directly from external storage, they must be moved to the internal storage in order to play.
14. How much free space is needed to move PS5 games on an SSD?
You will need sufficient space to accommodate the complete size of the game when moving it to the internal SSD.
15. Are there specific SSD brands that are better for PS5?
Several brands like WD Black, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Sabrent are known for producing high-performance SSDs compatible with the PS5. Choosing an SSD with high read and write speeds is recommended.