Expand Your Sony PlayStation Storage With The Best PS5 Hard Drives of 2024

If you are a passionate PlayStation 5 As a gamer, you know how easy it is to run out of hard drive space. With game downloads typically requiring over 100GB per install, it’s easy to fill up the 1TB every time. console comes without. Plus, that only translates to about 800GB of usable space. That means you could exhaust your storage capacity after installing just a handful of your favorite games.

There’s a simple solution: PS5 hard drives. Expand your PS5’s storage up to 4TB by adding an M2 SSD (Solid Space Drive), just like you would with a computer. This can quadruple the amount of space you’ll have available. You can also purchase an external hard drive to store PS4 games, though PS5 game storage is relegated to internal drives.

There are many of them PS5 Hard drives, so which one is best? Whether you need robust storage or a cheap option to add a few more games to your repertoire, we’ve rounded up the five best PS5 hard drives of 2024. It’s time to get the most out of your favorite hard drive Sony video game console.

The best PS5 hard drives for 2024

Seagate FireCuda 350

It’s not the newest hard drive in the PS5, but the Seagate FireCuda 530 is still one of the best, and certainly our pick for the best overall hard drive you can get. It’s a top-notch storage option for PS5 gamers looking for speed and space.

With a transfer rate of up to 7,300MB/s, it’s lightning-fast and quick enough to satisfy any impatient PS5 owner who just wants to dive in and play.

It’s also competitively priced, with several models to choose from, ranging from 500GB to 4TB. Thanks to the driver’s exceptional write endurance, no matter which model you choose, it’ll last a long time.

Additionally, it comes with a fantastic heatsink included that ensures it stays cool while delivering those impressive speeds. This custom build only adds to the value of the drive and helps make it one of the fastest NVMe drives you can find for the PS5 right now. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to expanding your PS5’s storage space, start here.

WD Black SN850 SSD

This Sony-certified WD SSD has received the seal of approval from Mark Cerny, PS5 Lead System Architect, as a licensed PlayStation product. It can also produce blazing-fast speeds of over 5,500MB/s, for lightning-fast load times and smooth gaming performance.

It features a built-in heat sink that helps manage the heat generated by the drive during intense gaming sessions by avoiding thermal throttling. So even when your console gets hot, the SN850 won’t slow down.

Beyond its excellent performance, this hard drive also offers fantastic value for money. It costs less than $150 for 1TB of storage space, which means you won’t have to worry about breaking your budget for extra space for downloaded games.

You can save a bit more with the standard SN850, which doesn’t come with a heat sink, for around $130. But then you’ll need to buy a compatible heat sink add-on for use on the PS5, and for the $120 sale price with a built-in heat sink, it’s best to bundle it.

For PS5 owners looking for exceptional speed, value, and cooling, the WD Black SN850 is a great option that you won’t want to pass up, especially given its licensed status.

Samsung 990 Pro

When it comes to super-fast PS5 storage, Samsung’s 990 Pro SSD is one of the best the brand has to offer. It offers read/write speeds of up to 7,450/6,900MB/s, which is 40-55% faster than its predecessor, the 980 Pro. It’s currently Samsung’s best SSD for PS5 upgrades.

This means much faster loading of games and applications and near-instantaneous file transfers. You can move around 20GB on this drive in less than 30 seconds, which means fast game installations and smooth gameplay, both huge benefits when you’re trying to expand your video game storage.

Some models are a bit more expensive, but you’re paying for NVMe speeds on another level.

If you’re looking for the fastest, fastest PS5 SSD experience, Samsung’s 990 Pro offers future-proof performance that you won’t mind shelling out a little extra cash for.

WD Black P40

If you’re not interested in using an internal hard drive for more space, consider an external SSD – the WD Black P40. With its blazing fast speeds of 2000MB/s, it can handle lightning fast game loading and transfers, just like its internal counterparts.

Keep in mind that with PS5 external hard drives, you can only run PS4 games directly from the drive. You have to copy PS5 games back and forth from the drive. This isn’t really a downside considering how fast the WD Black P40 works, but it’s something to consider.

Since this is an external hard drive, you get a few extras with your purchase, including WD Dashboard software, a USB-C to USB-A cable, and a 5-year warranty from WD.

It’s housed in a forged aluminum enclosure for an attractive exterior, but that also means it’s durable and stylish, with RGB lighting accents. If you need more space to store and quickly access tons of games, this drive will get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Kingston Fury Renegade SSD

Kingston’s Fury Renegade SSD brings blazing performance to your PS5 for less. With read speeds of up to 6,500MB/s, it’s even faster than most of its competitors, all without asking you to spend extra money.

Its built-in heatsink ensures smooth operation, with seamless PS5 compatibility right out of the box. No additional cooling accessories are needed, unless you want to save a little more and get the standard option without a heatsink.

While it may save you a bit of money, we recommend purchasing the Renegade with the built-in cooling for the best experience. Plus, no one wants to spend extra time installing an internal SSD when they could be gaming.

If you’re looking for blazing-fast PS5 storage at a solid price, the Kingston Fury Renegade is easily one of the best contenders on the market.

How to install a PS5 hard drive?

Installing a new hard drive into a PS5 is a fairly complex process. All you’ll need is a screwdriver, but if that seems too complicated, you may need to get someone handy to help you.

You need to open the expansion port on your PS5, insert your new SSD (solid state drive) into the port, and then reassemble the console. It’s important to make sure the new SSD is compatible with the PS5. In some cases, you may need to attach a heat sink.

A heat sink for a PS5 hard drive, especially an NVMe SSD, can reduce the heat generated by the drive. The hotter the drive, the less it will perform and, over time, its lifespan will be affected. For the PS5, using an SSD with a heat sink is important given the increased number of tasks it will have to handle.

Once you have all your bases covered, the SSD installation process is pretty straightforward. Once installed, the PS5 will walk you through formatting the SSD to make it ready for use. Now all you have to do is start enjoying your new games.

How to use an external hard drive with a PS5?

To use an external hard drive with a PS5, simply connect the drive to one of the console’s USB ports. The PS5 will recognize the drive and prompt you to format it.

Once the drive is formatted, you can store and play PS4 games directly from the external drive, and use it to store PS5 games that can be transferred to the console’s internal storage when you want to play them.

It can be a bit cumbersome to carry around another hard drive, but it’s another way to add space for games if you don’t want to deal with the longer installation process of an internal hard drive.