We summarize the test results of additional SSDs for PS5 -apkrig

The most significant new feature of the upcoming firmware update for PlayStation 5 is the addition of the option to install a second internal drive. But there is logically a fundamental question – will the second installed disc stand up to the original and is it not an unwanted step back in terms of speed, which was the main attraction of the advertising campaign before the arrival of the new generation of PlayStation? Journalists abroad have already taken care of the first tests thanks to the released beta version of the firmware, and we will now look at what their experience is and what the real speeds are. We are also preparing our own test, but after communication with the Czech representation of Sony, we will have to wait until the beta firmware or the final version is available in the Czech Republic.

Basically, the console disk offers storage with a capacity of 825 GB, which is also partially occupied by the console’s operating system. For this reason, players have only less than 700 GB available. This value can already be expanded with an external drive connected via USB, however, only titles designed for PlayStation 4 can be played from external devices. Native games for PS5 and those retrofitted for the new generation can only be played from internal storage. Thus, the lack of capacity for many players could occur very soon. For the Xbox Series X, Microsoft is addressing this with a unified solution sold under license from Seagate. External and easy-to-install 1 TB drive it will cost less than 6 thousand crowns, which on the one hand is not enough and many players were surprised by the introduction of this functionality, however, the price tag will endure a direct comparison with the selection of currently compatible discs for PlayStation 5. And precisely because of the higher price solutions for connoisseurs, however, storage prices are expected to fall over time. However, thanks to competition from other potential manufacturers, that decline will be more likely and faster on the PlayStation 5 than on the PS5, which may be an advantage in the future. But there are already plenty of those among you who like to invest more resources in their console and are already looking forward to the new update, so it is not necessary to take a closer look at the existing analyzes.

A number of foreign media have already taken care of the tests, from which we choose Tom’s Guide, The Verge, resp. specialized portal Digital Foundry. All tests to date have shown that Sony’s minimum requirements are justified, and even though incompatible discs (with lower speeds but not more capacity) can pass through their filter, they must still meet the exacting standards of the new generation of gaming. Virtually all of the tested disks were not only able to balance the performance of the console’s internal solution, but in many respects even surpassed native storage at least slightly.

We can be the first to look at the technically focused Digital Foundry magazine. The published test shows that the Samsung 980 Pro SSD used by them, which has a maximum read speed of 6500 Mb / s, surpasses the internal storage not only on paper, but also in practice. It’s not a dizzying and situation-changing value (in the best case, for example, it’s less than half a second saved on the adventure A Plague Tale Innocence), but the speed is simply there. Remarkably, the installation of a heatsink probably affects the performance of the disc, and Sony’s recommended request is definitely justified. And if not for speed, then the installation of passive cooling certainly makes sense in terms of durability. For the sake of completeness, we will add that this disk can be purchased with a capacity of 1 TB for a little over five thousand crowns.

Another selected website is Tom’s Guide, which tested the Western Digital SN850 SSD with a capacity of 1TB. Although it is about a thousand more expensive than the above-mentioned Samsung, it offers a natively installed cooler and was recently even recommended by the architect of the new PlayStation – Mark Cerny. Tests of the loading speed of games intended for the PS5 again showed a comparable result, but what attracts attention in the table below is the data transfer speed. Saving the game to the supplied M.2 storage is significantly faster than to the internal disk. Often even several times. However, due to the speed of data transfer, a significant increase in time can be said only in the case of moving hundreds of gigabytes of data. For example, the second volume of The Last of Us can be moved to an installed disc in less than a minute, to internal storage in more than five minutes, and is a title of almost one hundred GB.

On behalf of moving game data, The Verge magazine speculates that it almost looks as if Sony has deliberately limited the speed of the internal drive in this regard in an unknown way. But this is pure speculation. More importantly, The Verge went to the disk test the other way around, and two slower disks came to the forefront of the web’s attention. The ADATA XPG Gammix S50 Lite with a price tag of less than three thousand crowns offers a reading value of 3900 Mb / s, and the non-imported Sabrent Rocket 500 GB achieves a reading value of 5000 Mb / s. Surprisingly, however, both disks pass the speed test, and they also withstand comparisons with the console’s internal storage.

However, it may have a catch, which is pointed out on Twitter by the technical director of Insomniac Games, Mike Fitzgerald. The team’s latest title, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, relies heavily on console storage speed, and it can be said that developers have literally built gameplay on this functionality through transitions between worlds. This title is therefore sensitive to any fluctuations in speed, which is why Fitzgerald calls for caution when buying a disc. This is the most important recommendation for players so far – it is necessary to choose with caution, because it is Ratchet and the native disk of the console that sometimes shows a small twist caused by rapid loading. Using a different and potentially slower disc, something like this could be even more apparent and playfully become an annoying addition to the game.

We tried some below-spec Gen4 M.2 drives as well and saw up to 15% slower loading in the most SSD-stressing areas of the game. Not too shabby, but keep a close eye on technical specs if you’re making an SSD purchase, as our game does rely on high-quality storage. 🙏

— Mike Fitzgerald (@fitzymj) July 29, 2021

So the conclusion is clear after the first wave of tests – expanding the storage costs some money, but if you want more space, it will definitely pay off. And if you follow the manufacturer’s requirements when choosing, there is no need to worry about compromises. In addition to all this, the authors of all the cited articles praised the simplicity of the exchange. Although it does not match the plug and play solution of the competing Xbox, from my own experience and curiosity I can confirm for myself that getting to the M.2 slot is very easy on the PS5. The physical installation is automatically followed by an installation wizard, in which you can configure the native game storage (internal SSD, added M.2, or in the case of PS4 games also external storage) and even speed measurement is available. Now, all that remains is to wait for the update to be available in our country as well.