PS5 SSDs UK: Choose Compatible Drives, Heatsinks and Capacity

The drive to buy

Our pick is Lexar NM790 with heatsink 2 TB. Our 2 TB internal PS5 expansion choice, including a heatsink.

The alternative is Samsung 990 PRO with heatsink 1 TB. Smaller-budget 1 TB PS5 expansion, also with a heatsink.

Buy the first option for the main use described here. The alternative has a different job: it can reduce the starting cost, hold a larger collection or provide a complete drive without assembly. Keep the exact capacity and contents named on the card when opening the store listing. A product family name can cover several purchases with different capacities and supplied accessories.

Our choice: 2 TB with the heatsink included

For a straightforward PS5 expansion, our starting choice is the named 2 TB NVMe drive with its appropriate heatsink. It adds useful game space and avoids separately sourcing the cooling part. A 1 TB Samsung 990 PRO with heatsink is the smaller-budget alternative for buyers who keep fewer games installed.

Choose the complete capacity and cooling variant. A cheap bare SSD plus missing cooling is a different purchase from a complete fitting unit. For a very large installed library, a compatible 4 TB version can be useful. The purpose of the larger drive is to hold more games, rather than to increase the console's graphics capability.

Buy the right kind of PS5 storage

Sony specifies compatible PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe storage and effective cooling, with dimensional limits for the drive and heatsink. A 2280 module is 80 mm long and is the form used by the named choices. Sony recommends a sequential read capability of at least 5,500 MB/s. The advertised peak number alone is not the entire compatibility decision.

An M.2 SATA SSD is a different product and is not the expansion purchase recommended here. Do not assume every part with an M.2 label or a heatsink fits the console. The chosen factory-heatsink variants are a simpler buying route than assembling an unspecified cooling combination. Use the capacity and exact model on the product card rather than another family variant.

Internal M.2 and USB storage do different jobs

The internal compatible M.2 expansion lets supported PS5 games be played directly from that added storage. An external USB drive can hold PS5 games, but they must be transferred back to playable console storage before use. It is therefore not an equivalent cheaper plug-in replacement for the internal expansion role.

A USB drive can still be useful for moving or holding a collection, and compatible PS4 games have a different USB playing arrangement. For a buyer whose goal is more PS5 games installed and immediately playable, choose the internal M.2 SSD. That direct distinction is more useful than comparing two storage prices without explaining what the buyer can actually do with each.

Choose capacity and a sensible installation

Choose 2 TB for a useful new expansion, 1 TB for a smaller collection and 4 TB for a substantially larger library. Larger capacity does not automatically make a game draw more frames per second. A premium faster-labelled drive should not crowd out the amount of space the collection actually needs.

Follow Sony's installation guidance for the console model, including the required cooling and mounting arrangement. The added M.2 SSD is formatted for the console when installed, so preserve existing data on that SSD elsewhere first. A storage upgrade should add useful game room; it is not a reason to assume that every family member or accessory bundle is the same fitting product.

Buy enough useful space

Our usual upgrade choice is 2 TB when a game or working library has outgrown the original drive. Choose 1 TB for a smaller collection or a tighter budget. Choose 4 TB only when the collection needs it and the device supports that exact drive. A lower price for half the capacity is not a discount on the larger purchase. The two cards above state the actual capacity so the smaller alternative has a clear purpose.

Storage capacity does not increase RAM or graphics memory. More room lets you keep more files or games installed; it does not by itself make demanding games run at a higher frame rate. Leave room for updates, temporary files and the next project. A drive bought already close to full usually leads to another round of moving or deleting files sooner than expected.

Keep the complete purchase simple

Buy the exact variant named in our recommendation. Capacity, physical size, cooling and whether a drive is included are part of that choice. A bare enclosure needs an SSD; a complete portable drive does not. A console upgrade may need a correctly fitting heatsink, while a handheld needs the right compact internal drive. An accessory that belongs to a different installation should not be added automatically.

Use the appropriate supplied data cable for an external drive. A charging-only cable cannot carry your files, and a slower cable or dock can limit a faster SSD. Connect directly to the intended device first. If a dock is essential to the setup, use a port that supports the required data mode rather than assuming every USB-C socket provides the same connection.

Move the files without losing the original

Keep important files in another place before replacing or formatting a drive. Copying files to a new portable SSD can create a second copy; moving the only copy onto it does not. For an internal system replacement, prepare the device's appropriate recovery method or a suitable cloning route before removing the original. Keep the old drive intact until the new installation starts and your important files are present.

Formatting erases the selected volume. Confirm the destination by its capacity and name before accepting an erase screen. After a transfer, open the important files and confirm the expected folders are present before cleaning up the old location. Game downloads can usually be replaced more easily than local saves, personal projects or photographs. Back up those irreplaceable items first.

When keeping your existing drive is the better choice

Keep a reliable drive that already has enough room and works well with your device. Buy a replacement when you need more space, a different physical fit or a connection your current drive cannot provide. A larger maximum transfer figure alone is a weak reason to replace storage used mostly for ordinary documents or installed games.

For a new purchase, choose the recommended model and capacity above. Use the alternative for its stated reason, such as a smaller budget, a larger collection or a complete kit without assembly. This keeps the decision tied to what you will actually use instead of paying for the largest number on a product box.