Sony has enabled the PlayStation 5’s expanded storage slot, allowing you to dramatically increase the amount of software you can have installed at once. Rather than creating a proprietary solution, the manufacturer has instead opted for standard NVMe M.2 SSDs, which should help drive prices down as they become more common in PCs. It’s a smart choice from a manufacturer famously burned by expensive PS Vita memory cards, but it does come with a few installation caveats.
While there’s unquestionably a cross-section of gamers who are comfortable building PCs and swapping out components, many others play on console for the plug-and-play convenience. While adding an extra SSD into the PS5 isn’t difficult – you can find instructions on How to Install a Compatible M.2 NVMe SSD and Expand Your Storage through the link – you will need to use a screwdriver and fiddle with heatsinks.
For some this can be worrying, especially when you’re dealing with extremely expensive hardware that can cost upwards of $200 depending upon the size of the SSD you select. You’ll also need to spend time looking into the specifications of the hardware you intend to purchase; when it comes to heatsinks, for example, you’ll need to check whether it actually fits inside the PS5’s expanded storage slot, otherwise you’re not going to be able to reassemble your console correctly.
This is where the Sabrent PS5 Heatsink is so interesting: it’s been designed specifically for the PS5 to replace the traditional metallic tray that covers the expanded storage slot. Installation is extremely straightforward – you even get a screwdriver designed specifically for the task – as you just unscrew the traditional tray, insert your SSD, and replace it with the Sabrent PS5 Heatsink. It fits snug inside the console, and promises exceptional cooling performance.
Sabrent, obviously, also sells its own line of SSDs – the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus – which work perfectly on a PS5, but you could technically use its heatsink with any other drive that meets Sony’s specifications and it would be fine. Having spent a few weeks with the Sabrent PS5 Heatsink installed, we’ve had no overheating issues and everything’s worked a treat. It’s that straightforward installation, though, that’s key to the appeal of this product.
Obviously there are cheaper heatsinks out there, and if you’re comfortable playing with thermal tape for a few minutes, then you can happily save a few pennies here. This particularly heatsink does feel premium and robust, though, and we like how it’s designed specifically for the expanded storage slot in the PS5, making installation clean and comfortable. It’s a good option if you’re a bit paranoid when playing with expensive hardware, and all of the included documentation is clear and easy to follow.
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Have you added an SSD to your PS5 yet, or are you still thinking about it? Does the ease of installation make Sabrent’s PS5 Heatsink an enticing option? Cool your components in the comments section below, and check out our guides for Best PS5 SSD and How to Install a Compatible M.2 NVMe SSD and Expand Your Storage.
Comments 31
Still way too expensive for me. I will wait til the prices come down quite a lot.
I paid 144 quid for a 1 Tb SSD with free heatsink included about 3 months ago.
Cheaper than similar offers on here.
I had the Amazon gods smiling on me a fortnight ago.. Got told my Firecuda 1Tb with heatsink was out of stock, then after being refunded, i got it sent still...
I'd feel guilty but its Bezos and Co.
@dellyrascal Nice.
@hypnotoad Just checked the site I bought mine from (scan.co.uk) and it's now £139.99 inc heatsink.
Love Sabrent. Only NVMEs I get now for my PCs. They are rock solid.
The Rocket Plus 1TB is on sale for $149 right now on Amazon.
Why nonproprietary formats in electronics is always the best way to go.
@BoldAndBrash - I happily would transfer the cash, if they asked for the payment, as I did set it aside, but once I had confirmation that i had it refunded, the last thing i expected was it to turn up.
The weird thing was the money was held in limbo for four days before it came back in to my account.. so even then, i assumed they would rectify the error... but clearly they didn't for what ever reason
@lolwhatno I'll have you know I'm schizophrenic.
@hypnotoad And so am I.
Dunno about anyone else but I've found it a bit of a pain in the ars....wallet that we need to spunk dough on extra storage.
£780 for 4TB extra storage?!! That's nearly twice as much as the PS5 itself! Knock about 75% off that price at least, and I'll think about it!
@tomassi Absolute f*****g madness !
I just use a 5tb external usb £90 and only keep the games im playing on internal
The sabrent heatsink is fine but it wasn’t available in Germany all the time so I ended up with a Western Digital 850 1TB and the be quiet Mc1 heatsink. Works flawlessly.
The sabrent one has a bit more capability to cool down the ssd after heavy load but for regular usage it’s all fine. Gaming does not put the ssd under such heavy load. The heaviest thing you can do with our ssd is to install several large games after directly after each other - but who one does this from day to day?
@get2sammyb I am definitely in for the plug-and-play experience (definitely not technically inclined), so thank you — your review makes me a lot more comfortable with this option. For now, however, I will stick with my external hard drive and wait for the SSD prices to come down. Like, a lot.
Just bought my console yesterday so not ready to spend even more money on storage just yet, certainly not anything at this range. For these prices I feel like I'd be better served paying for an internet upgrade from 300 to 1000 and just download and delete anything I want to play. 🤑
Cheapest 1TB has been is £115.49 for the WD Black SN850 (it's currently £127.98 on Amazon)
But things have stalled a bit and prices haven't tumbled yet. Was hoping for £100 before jumping in. Not essential quite yet for me.
@hypnotoad good price… I paid a tenner more and was happy…
Took about 5 mins to install including watching a video on how to do it…. It’s super easy… No one should be scared off from doing it IMHO.
@Stocksy ive just checked and I paid same As Toadie from same place!
@Stocksy Make your mind up, Stocksy.
1tb isn't enough of an upgrade imo and 2tb+ is way too expensive at the moment. Maybe next year we'll have some deeper black Friday discounts along with some slightly lower base prices.
@hypnotoad yeh just wait til the 19th then as some crazy prices coming
@zupertramp 2TB is also on sale on the 19th very nice discount
I bought 1TB (suggestion from this very site) like on august or so. It's already full LOL
The bigger prices are so damn expensive when the 1TB was already bad enough...
I wish I could have a cheap 4TB like on my old PS4
@dellyrascal In the US when a company sends you something for free, by mistake, or any other reason regardless of taking any form of payment you're not obligated under federal law to send it back even if they ask for it, and they are forbidden from charging any money for it at that point.
Microsoft repaired my Xbone and then sent me two back. I kept both, and they even asked for it back in exchange for $20 Microsoft credit. Nope. At that point it was legally my property.
The reason this law is in place is to protect consumers against companies that would send you "free" goods, but then charge for them later.
If you're in the UK, I have no clue, but I wouldn't pay Amazon a cent for their mistake if I were in their position.
@Constable_What. It is pretty much the same over here to be fair.. But nice result on the two Xbox units 👍
@dellyrascal nah its yours , amazon doesn't really care so they wouldn't ask for it back. i'm sure they have insurance or something that can cover that. a friend of mine got a 3080ti , for free because he thought it was stolen because it said it arrived and he never got it. was refunded his money a few days later it showed up. somtimes it works in your favor.
@dellyrascal Be careful. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bezos flying over the horizon on a delivery drone, Ride of the Valkyries blaring out, as he demands his money.
@Mergatro1d If I see a giant phallic object in the sky, I'll know who it is.. 😂 😂
I bought sabrent heatsink for ps5, and in less than 5 minutes my ssd was an ice cube.
I've just managed to grab a 2TB one for £225 (£200 for the SSD, £25 for the heatsink.
I've got a Seagate 4TB USB 3.0 drive for my PS4 collection and backup and now 2TB of internal SSD, plus the 667GB you get as well.
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