Key takeaways
- Enormous 4TB capacity that ends the constant delete-and-reinstall cycle.
- Included heatsinks meet Sony’s cooling requirement out of the box.
- Wide price range from flagship SN850X speed to budget-friendly Fikwot drives.
The PlayStation 5’s 825GB of built-in storage disappears fast, and modern installs routinely swallow 100GB or more. A 4TB NVMe drive with a heatsink is the endgame upgrade: it roughly quadruples your capacity, keeps every game installed, and stays cool enough to survive marathon sessions inside the console’s cramped expansion slot. The heatsink is not optional here, because Sony requires adequate cooling and a bare drive can throttle or trip thermal warnings.
Not every 4TB drive is created equal, though. Sony’s guidance calls for PCIe Gen4 speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s, and the drives that clear that bar range from the premium WD_Black SN850X to value-focused options like the Lexar NM790 and Fikwot models. Below we break down what actually matters and how the leading contenders compare.
Our top picks
WD_Black SN850X 4TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink- This product has been replaced by our latest…
- Insane speeds up to 7,300MB/s (1TB - 4TB…
- Capacities up to 8TB built with SANDISK TLC…
Lexar 4TB NM790 NVMe SSD w/Heatsink- [4TB] Exceptional performance up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s…
- 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs
- Designed with a heatsink to keep your rig…
Fikwot FX910 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD for- 【EXPAND YOUR PS5 GAME LIBRARY】Add 4TB of internal…
- 【PREINSTALLED ALUMINUM HEATSINK】The included aluminum heatsink helps dissipate…
- 【GEN4 NVME PERFORMANCE】PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe technology delivers…
| Product | Key specs | |
|---|---|---|
| WD_Black SN850X 4TB NVMe SSD with Heatsink | This product has been replaced by our latest… Insane speeds up to 7,300MB/s (1TB - 4TB… Capacities up to 8TB built with SANDISK TLC… | Check price |
| Lexar 4TB NM790 NVMe SSD w/Heatsink | [4TB] Exceptional performance up to 7400MB/s read, 6500MB/s… 2x faster than PCIe Gen 3 SSDs Designed with a heatsink to keep your rig… | Check price |
| Fikwot FX910 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD for | 【EXPAND YOUR PS5 GAME LIBRARY】Add 4TB of internal… 【PREINSTALLED ALUMINUM HEATSINK】The included aluminum heatsink helps dissipate… 【GEN4 NVME PERFORMANCE】PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe technology delivers… | Check price |
 Fikwot FN960 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe | Fikwot FN960 M.2 SSD 4TB adopts M.2 PCIe… Use FN960 with Heatsink PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD… Stability is one of the core values of… | Check price |
 Bestoss 4TB M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe4.0 PS5 | Cheetah-like explosive speed: The 4tb ps5 storage expansion… Stable and outstanding performance: The ps5 storage expansion… Multi-layer heat dissipation structure design: The 4tb NVMe… | Check price |
 fanxiang S660 PCIe 4.0 4TB NVMe M.2 | Efficient Performance: With speeds reaching 5000MB/s, the PCIE… Ample Storage Expansion: The S660 M.2 SSD offers… Efficient Cooling Design: The unique heatsink design ensures… | Check price |
 LinkMore XE600 4TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD | 【PlayStation 5 Compatible】LinkMore XE600 Series internal SSD with… 【Level up your Gaming Experience】With PCIe 4.0 NVME… 【Perfect Storage Solution for Gamer】offer up to massive… | Check price |
 Samsung SSD 990 PRO with Heatsink 4TB | BLAZING SPEED Gen4 steps up with faster transfer speeds and… THE FASTEST SSD FROM THE WORLD'S #1 FLASH… | Check price |
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Watch: ps5 Ssd With Heatsink 4tb: Review & Buyer’s Guide — Video Review
Design & Build
Fit is everything in the PS5’s slot, so single-sided M.2 2280 drives with low-profile heatsinks are ideal. The WD_Black SN850X 4TB ships with a purpose-built heatsink sized to clear the console lid, and the Lexar NM790 uses a slim single-sided design that slides in without clearance drama. The Fikwot FX910 and Bestoss 4TB include chunkier aluminum heatsinks that still fit, while the Fikwot FN960 and fanxiang S660 pair thinner spreaders with DRAM-less designs. All are 2280 length, which is the only size the PS5 accepts.
Performance
Sequential speed is where these drives separate. The WD_Black SN850X leads with up to 7,300 MB/s reads, comfortably above Sony’s minimum and among the fastest you can buy. The Lexar NM790 is close behind at 7,400/6,500 MB/s and often costs noticeably less. The Fikwot FX910 and Bestoss both advertise around 7,000-7,350 MB/s, making them strong value picks. The Fikwot FN960 and fanxiang S660 top out near 5,000 MB/s, which still clears the PS5 requirement but leaves less headroom. In practice, once you exceed 5,500 MB/s, load-time differences between drives shrink to fractions of a second.
Pros & Cons
- Enormous 4TB capacity that ends the constant delete-and-reinstall cycle.
- Included heatsinks meet Sony’s cooling requirement out of the box.
- Wide price range from flagship SN850X speed to budget-friendly Fikwot drives.
- DRAM-less models like the FN960 trail on sustained write performance.
- 4TB tiers cost a premium over 1TB and 2TB equivalents.
Alternatives to Consider
If raw speed and brand pedigree matter most, the WD_Black SN850X 4TB is the safe flagship choice. Value hunters should look hard at the Lexar NM790, which nearly matches it for less, or the Fikwot FX910 for a heatsink-included bargain. Those prioritizing cool, quiet operation over peak numbers can happily run the fanxiang S660 or Fikwot FN960, both of which stay well within PS5 spec.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PS5 really need a heatsink?
Yes. Sony explicitly requires effective cooling on expansion SSDs, and a heatsink prevents thermal throttling during extended play.
Is 7,000 MB/s noticeably faster than 5,500 MB/s on PS5?
Barely. The console caps effective throughput, so any drive above the minimum loads games within a hair of the fastest models.
Will a 4TB drive work in every PS5 model?
All current PS5 and PS5 Slim consoles support Gen4 M.2 2280 drives up to 8TB, so 4TB is fully compatible.
Do I need to format the drive?
The PS5 formats it automatically on first insertion, so you can install and go without a PC.
Verdict
For the best mix of headroom and reliability, the WD_Black SN850X 4TB is the drive to buy, with the Lexar NM790 as the smart value runner-up. Budget-minded gamers who just want capacity that fits and stays cool will be perfectly happy with the Fikwot FX910 or fanxiang S660.
