The PS5 M.2 SSD expansion port will support all four sizes of the high-speed storage spec. The 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSDs can comfortably fit into the PS5 expansion port, although Sony has yet to detail which SSDs will work with its new console.
Expandable storage is going to be available for both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X when both consoles launch in early November 2020. While the Xbox Series X is going with a proprietary solution, Sony will allow gamers to plug in any compatible PCI Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD on the market. The PS5 teardown video that was mocked by Microsoft earlier today has shown a subtle detail about expandable storage — all four sizes of M.2 SSDs can fit into the PS5 as noted on Reddit.
Sony has yet to announce compatible PS5 M.2 SSD models
This is so sik! #PS5 supports all PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe SSD sizes.
Amazing to see.
We will wait for Sony to confirm which one's now. #PlayHasNoLimits #PlayStation5 pic.twitter.com/lJZoJPXGiL
— @Zuby_Tech (@Zuby_Tech) October 7, 2020
What do these PS5 M.2 SSD sizes mean? The numbers for each size of SSD refer to the width and length of an individual drive. For example, the 2280 M.2 SSD is 22mm (2.2cm) wide and 80mm (8 cm) long. The M.2 specification is one of the newest styles of SSD drive on the market and that shows that Sony plans for longevity; unfortunately, it has yet to confirm how much usable storage space players will have on the PS5.
The PS5 M.2 SSD support means that players will be able to buy any compatible drive on the market and use it to expand their PS5 storage as long as it meets the required specs:
- PCIe Gen 4
- M.2 specification
- 2230, 2242, 2260, or 2280 size
- 5.5 GB/s speed minimum
Unfortunately, there aren’t many compatible SSDs available for purchase just yet. Current drives on the market meet most of the specs, but most do not yet attain the required 5.5 GB/s speed — a firm requirement according to Mark Cerny in ‘The Road to PS5’ live stream from earlier this year. That said, Mark Cerny has said that we can expect compatible PS5 M.2 SSDs before 2020 is over.
“M.2 drives with PCIe 4.0 are now out on the market,” PS5 lead system architect Mark Cerny said in ‘The Road to PS5’ live stream earlier this year. “We’re getting our samples and seeing 4 or 5 GB/s from them. By year’s end, I expect there will be drives that saturate [PCIe 4.0] and support 7 GB/s.”
