Curated by Quick picks
- Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
-
Best big-name alternativeCheck price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
2. WD_BLACK SN850X Heatsink 1TB
Best for: Smaller libraries, or if the Samsung sells out
- Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)
A PS5 fills up fast, and the M.2 slot is the only way to add storage you can actually play PS5 games from. Sony is strict about what goes in it: a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive, 5,500MB/s or faster recommended, and a heatsink or other cooling is a must (Sony’s requirements). So every pick here has a heatsink already fitted, and I’ve checked each maker’s published height against Sony’s limit. (Here’s how we choose products.)
Sony also says it “cannot guarantee that all M.2 SSD devices meeting the described specifications will work”, so treat any “fits” claim, ours included, as “meets the published spec”.
- Best overall: Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink (#1)
- Best big-name alternative: WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink 1TB (#2)
- Best value with DRAM: Acer Predator GM7000 Heatsink (#3)
Honest warning: PS5 SSDs were patchy on Amazon UK when we checked. Several well-known drives were down to their last one, sold from abroad, or shipped by Amazon US, so this is a short list of three, and all three come from third-party sellers (labelled on each card).
Compare all 3 picks
| # | Product | Best for | Key spec | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 2TBBest overall | Most PS5 owners | Gen4 x4 NVMe · up to 7,450 MB/s read · 8.2 mm with heatsink (Samsung) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 2 | WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD with Heatsink 1TBBest big-name alternative | Smaller libraries, or if the Samsung sells out | Gen4 NVMe · up to 7,300 MB/s · heatsink max 8.8 mm (WD datasheet) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
| 3 | Acer Predator GM7000 Heatsink 1TBBest value with DRAM | Value buyers who want a DRAM cache | Gen4 x4 NVMe · up to 7,400 MB/s · 1GB DRAM · 9.5 mm (Predator) | Check price (opens in a new tab, affiliate link) |
1. Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 2TB
by Samsung
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants the safe, quick choice: a fast drive from a big brand that names the PS5 on both the listing and Samsung’s own page.
Verdict: Our pick for most people. It’s well above Sony’s recommended speed, it has its own DRAM cache (so Sony’s HMB warning doesn’t apply), and at 8.2 mm with the heatsink it’s one of the slimmest drives here. The RGB lighting is wasted inside a closed console, but it’s harmless.
What we like
- Up to 7,450 MB/s read (listing and Samsung)
- LPDDR4 DRAM cache, per Samsung’s datasheet
- Slim heatsink: 8.2 mm, max 8.88 mm (Samsung)
- Samsung says it’s compatible with PS5
Worth knowing
- RGB lighting you’ll never see in a PS5
- Sold by a third party (DIGITAL-TECH STORE), not Amazon, when we checked, with 8 left
Key specs
- Interface
- PCIe Gen 4.0 x4, NVMe 2.0
- Read speed
- Up to 7,450 MB/s
- Height with heatsink
- 8.2 mm (max 8.88 mm per datasheet)
- DRAM cache
- Yes, 2GB LPDDR4 on 2TB (Samsung)
- Warranty
- 5 years or TBW limit (Samsung)
Source: manufacturer page (checked 12 October 2026).
2. WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD with Heatsink 1TB
by WD_BLACK
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Someone who only needs room for a handful of extra big games.
Verdict: A long-running Gen4 favourite. The Amazon listing doesn’t mention the PS5, but WD’s own datasheet lists PlayStation 5 compatibility for the heatsink model only, and the heatsink is under 9 mm tall. 1TB is plenty if you keep a few big games installed. (The 2TB version had only one left from a third-party seller when we checked, so we haven’t linked it.)
What we like
- Up to 7,300 MB/s read (listing)
- WD lists PS5 support for the heatsink model
Worth knowing
- 1TB fills up fast with big games
- Listing doesn’t name the PS5
- Sold by a third party (Nexa Sales) when we checked
Key specs
- Capacity
- 1TB
- Read speed
- Up to 7,300 MB/s
- Height with heatsink
- Max 8.80 mm (WD)
Source: WD_BLACK SN850X datasheet (checked 12 October 2026).
3. Acer Predator GM7000 Heatsink 1TB
by Acer Predator
Price & availability on Amazon.co.uk
Who it’s for: Someone who wants a cheaper brand but doesn’t want a DRAM-less drive.
Verdict: A lesser-known name, but the spec sheet is strong: a 1GB DRAM cache on the 1TB model, up to 7,400 MB/s reads and a 9.5 mm heatsink. The listing mentions PS5 storage expansion. It’s the one to look at if the big names are out of stock.
What we like
- Independent DRAM cache (Predator spec page)
- Up to 7,400 MB/s read
- 5-year / 750 TBW warranty on the 1TB (Predator)
Worth knowing
- Smaller brand than the rest
- Sold by BIWIN Tech, not Amazon, with 5 left when we checked (BIWIN makes Predator-branded storage)
Key specs
- Interface
- PCIe Gen4 x4, NVMe 1.4
- Read speed
- Up to 7,400 MB/s
- Height with heatsink
- 9.5 mm (Predator)
- DRAM cache
- 1GB (1TB model)
Source: manufacturer page (checked 12 October 2026).
FAQ
Does a PS5 SSD need a heatsink?
Yes. Sony says: “Do not use an M.2 SSD without a heat-dissipation mechanism, such as a heat sink or heat transfer sheet.” Every pick here has one fitted, and Sony advises against adding a second heatsink to a drive that already has one.
Which PS5 models take an M.2 SSD?
All of them, using the same spec. Sony’s install guide covers the launch consoles (CFI-1000 model group) and the CFI-2000/7000 group, which includes the slimmer PS5 and the PS5 Pro (CFI-7000 is the Pro, per Sony’s PS5 Pro quick start guide).
1TB or 2TB?
Sony supports 250GB to 8TB. If you keep a lot of big games installed, 2TB saves juggling; if you play a few at a time, 1TB is enough.
Is a Gen5 SSD worth it for a PS5?
Sony’s spec is PCIe Gen4 x4, and it says games won’t necessarily run faster even when the drive is faster than 5,500MB/s. We haven’t seen evidence that a Gen5 drive helps on PS5, so we’ve stuck to Gen4.
Can I play PS5 games from a USB drive instead?
No. Sony says PS5 games can be stored on USB extended storage but must be copied back to the console or an M.2 SSD to play.
What is HMB and why does it matter?
Some cheaper drives have no DRAM cache and borrow memory from the host instead (Host Memory Buffer). Sony says the PS5 doesn’t support HMB and such drives “may experience slower-than-expected performance”, so we left them out.
