Head-to-head · Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink vs WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink and WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink score essentially the same (4.6 vs 4.6). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #2 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink

4.6

$299.27as of Jun 7

The Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink is the fastest drive here on paper, with 7,450 MB/s reads and excellent power efficiency, and it has matured into an excellent all-around pick after early firmware issues were fixed. Tom's Hardware praises its low power draw and consistency. It runs hotter in the PS5 than the WD SN850X and costs a premium for similar real-world console results, which is why it lands second, but it is a superb, refined PS5 upgrade.

Strengths

— Class-leading 7,450 MB/s sequential reads, the fastest here on paper
— Excellent power efficiency, drawing under 6 watts under full load
— Mature, refined drive after firmware fixes and newer flash

Watch-outs

— Runs hotter in the PS5 than the WD SN850X (65-70C)
— Commands a 10-15 percent price premium for similar real PS5 results
— Early 990 Pro units had firmware issues (since resolved)

$299.27 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #1 in Best SSDs for PS5 Upgrade

WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

4.6

$249.01as of May 29

The WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink is the best all-around PS5 SSD. Tom's Hardware ranks it at the top of its PS5 list with an Editor's Choice award, citing 7,300 MB/s reads that clear Sony's requirement and a heatsink that drops into the expansion slot with room to spare. It runs cooler than the Samsung 990 Pro and offers strong value, especially when the 2TB model is discounted. Peak speeds trail the Samsung slightly, but for the PS5 it is the safest, best-balanced choice.

Strengths

— Top pick on Tom's Hardware's Best PS5 SSDs list with an Editor's Choice award
— 7,300 MB/s reads exceed Sony's PS5 requirement with margin
— Runs cooler in PS5 testing than the Samsung 990 Pro

Watch-outs

— Slightly pricier than budget drives like the Lexar NM790
— Heatsink/RGB option not available on the 4TB capacity
— Peak speeds trail the Samsung 990 Pro on paper

$249.01 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink

The 990 Pro is the fastest drive here on paper and the most power-efficient, but it runs hotter in the PS5 than the cooler WD SN850X, which is the main reason it ranks second. It commands a premium over the value-focused Crucial T500 and budget Lexar NM790, and competes with the Seagate FireCuda 530R at the high end.

WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink

The SN850X is the all-around PS5 pick, running cooler than the hotter-running Samsung 990 Pro while nearly matching it on speed. It is pricier than the budget Lexar NM790 and the value-oriented Crucial T500, and competes closely with the Seagate FireCuda 530R, but its combination of thermals, speed, and PS5-fit heatsink puts it first.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Samsung 990 Pro with Heatsink	WD_BLACK SN850X with Heatsink
Interface	PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe	PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe
Form Factor	M.2 2280	M.2 2280
Sequential Read	Up to 7,450 MB/s	Up to 7,300 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 6,900 MB/s	Up to 6,600 MB/s
Heatsink	Yes (PS5-compliant)	Yes (PS5-compatible)
Power Draw	Under 6W full load	—
Capacities	1TB / 2TB / 4TB	1TB / 2TB / 4TB
Warranty	5 years	5 years
Controller	—	WD in-house

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