Is your PlayStation 4 feeling a bit sluggish lately? Long loading screens, slow game installations, and general system lag can really put a damper on your gaming sessions. If you’re looking for a serious performance boost without buying a whole new console, upgrading to a Solid State Drive (SSD) is one of the crucial best 500GB SSD for PS4 enhancements you can make. It’s like giving your console a much-needed shot of adrenaline!
While the PS4 originally came with a traditional Hard Disk Drive (HDD), SSDs offer vastly superior speeds, quieter operation, and better durability. A 500GB SSD is often the sweet spot for many gamers, providing ample space for several AAA titles while keeping costs reasonable. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the top 10 SSD options that can revitalize your PS4, focusing on popular choices from Crucial and other reputable brands. We’ll cover both internal and external solutions, ensuring you find the perfect match to accelerate your gaming. Let’s get your PS4 running smoother than ever!
Understanding SSDs for PS4: Internal vs. External
Before we jump into the reviews, it’s important to understand your options. The PS4’s internal drive bay uses a standard 2.5-inch SATA connection. For the best performance boost in loading game files and system responsiveness, an internal SATA SSD upgrade is generally recommended.
However, some of the drives listed below are NVMe M.2 SSDs. While incredibly fast, these cannot be installed directly inside your PS4. They can still be used as external storage if paired with a compatible external NVMe enclosure, connecting to your PS4 via USB. While convenient for expanding storage, the speed benefits of NVMe are often limited by the PS4’s USB 3.0 interface when used externally. Keep this in mind as we review the products!
The Top 10 SSDs for Your PS4
Here are our picks for the crucial best 500GB SSD for PS4 (and some close alternatives) to give your console a significant upgrade.
1. Crucial P310 500GB SSD, PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 2280
The Crucial P310 is a speed demon, boasting PCIe Gen4 NVMe performance that’s fantastic for modern PCs and specific gaming handhelds. While it won’t fit internally in your PS4 due to its M.2 form factor, it can be a powerhouse external drive if combined with a suitable USB 3.0/3.1 enclosure. This setup allows you to offload games and free up internal space, though its full speed potential will be bottlenecked by the PS4’s USB port.
- Key Features:
- PCIe 4.0 Performance: Up to 6,600 MB/s read and 5,000 MB/s write speeds.
- Spacious 500GB SSD: Ideal for games, apps, and media.
- Broad Compatibility: Designed for laptops, desktops, and select gaming consoles (like ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, AYANEO Kun).
- Better Productivity: Up to 2x faster than previous Gen3 for various tasks.
- Trusted Micron Quality: Built with advanced G8 NAND and thermal control.
- Pros:
- Extremely fast for compatible devices.
- Micron’s renowned quality and reliability.
- Excellent for future-proofing your PC build.
- Cons:
- Requires an external enclosure for PS4 use.
- PS4’s USB port limits its true speed.
- Not an internal upgrade option for PS4.
- User Impressions: PC users rave about its performance and value, especially for gaming and heavy workloads. PS4 users considering it for external storage appreciate the build quality but acknowledge the speed limitations.
- See it on Amazon here
2. Crucial BX500 500GB SATA LLL 2.5″ SSD
The Crucial BX500 is a fantastic entry-level internal SSD option for your PS4. It’s a straightforward 2.5-inch SATA drive, meaning it slots right into your PS4’s internal drive bay. You’ll immediately notice faster boot times, quicker game loading, and an overall snappier system. Its 3D NAND technology also helps with energy efficiency and durability, making it a reliable and cost-effective upgrade.
- Key Features:
- SATA III Interface: Delivers up to 540MB/s read and 500MB/s write speeds.
- 3D NAND Memory Technology: Enhances energy efficiency and device durability.
- Compact Size: Standard 2.5-inch form factor for easy installation.
- Broad Application: Suitable for laptops, desktops, and gaming consoles like PS4.
- Pros:
- Excellent value for money.
- Significant speed upgrade over traditional HDDs for PS4.
- Simple internal installation.
- Improved battery life for laptops (if used there).
- Cons:
- Not the fastest SATA SSD on the market, but still a huge improvement for PS4.
- No DRAM cache, which can slightly impact performance under heavy, sustained loads.
- User Impressions: Users frequently praise the BX500 for its ease of installation and the immediate, noticeable performance boost it provides for their PS4s and older PCs, highlighting its excellent bang for the buck.
- See it on Amazon here
3. Crucial MX500 500GB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD
Often considered one of the crucial best 500GB SSD for PS4 available, the Crucial MX500 is a step up from the BX500. It offers fantastic all-around performance and reliability thanks to its DRAM cache and advanced features like dynamic write acceleration. This 2.5-inch SATA drive is perfect for an internal PS4 upgrade, ensuring your games load faster, your system boots quicker, and your gaming experience is smoother than ever before.
- Key Features:
- 2.5-inch Solid State Drive: Standard form factor for PS4 internal bay.
- 500GB Capacity: Good balance for storing multiple games.
- 3D NAND Technology: Enhances performance and endurance.
- SATA III Interface: Maxes out the SATA connection for consistent speeds.
- Pros:
- Excellent sustained performance with a DRAM cache.
- Reliable and durable.
- Easy internal installation for PS4.
- Great value for its performance tier.
- Cons:
- Slightly more expensive than budget SATA options.
- User Impressions: Gamers and general users alike love the MX500 for its consistent performance and rock-solid reliability. Many report it transforms their PS4, making it feel like a new console.
- See it on Amazon here
4. Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD
While our main focus is on 500GB drives, this 1TB Crucial BX500 offers the same great value and performance as its 500GB sibling, just with double the storage. If you find 500GB a bit cramped for your growing game library, this 1TB option provides ample space for even more titles without breaking the bank. It’s still a 2.5-inch SATA drive, making it a perfect internal upgrade for your PS4.
- Key Features:
- 1TB Capacity: Double the space for more games and media.
- 300% faster than a typical hard drive for boot-up and file loading.
- Improves battery life (if used in laptops) due to energy efficiency.
- Micron 3D NAND technology for reliability.
- Crucial 3-year limited warranty.
- Pros:
- Fantastic storage capacity for avid gamers.
- Significant speed boost over HDDs.
- Energy-efficient and durable.
- Easy internal installation.
- Cons:
- Higher price point than 500GB options.
- Same performance as 500GB BX500, not an upgrade in speed, only capacity.
- User Impressions: Buyers appreciate the generous space for their game libraries and the noticeable speed improvements across the board, finding it a worthwhile investment for heavier users.
- See it on Amazon here
5. Crucial T500 500GB Gen4 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD
Here’s another incredibly fast NVMe M.2 drive, the Crucial T500. Designed for ultimate gaming and content creation on compatible PCs, its lightning-fast Gen4 speeds are truly impressive. Similar to the P310, this NVMe drive won’t fit internally in your PS4. However, if you’re looking for an external storage solution for your PS4 and prioritize speed (even with USB limitations), or you also have a PC that could benefit, this is a top-tier choice that can be adapted with an enclosure.
- Key Features:
- Lightning Speeds: Sequential reads/writes up to 7,200/5,700MB/s.
- Compatible: Ready for laptops, desktops, or workstations with an M.2 slot.
- Ultimate Gaming: Loads games up to 16% faster and improves texture rendering on PC.
- Content Creation: Up to 42% faster performance in demanding apps.
- Adobe Creative Cloud Offer: One month of Adobe Creative Cloud All-Apps plan included.
- Pros:
- Blazing fast performance for PC gaming and creative tasks.
- High-endurance and reliability.
- Excellent value for a Gen4 NVMe drive.
- Cons:
- Not an internal PS4 upgrade; requires an external enclosure.
- Speed heavily bottlenecked by PS4’s USB 3.0 when used externally.
- Potentially overkill if only for PS4 external storage.
- User Impressions: PC gamers are thrilled with the T500’s performance, noting significantly faster load times in their games. Those using it externally with consoles find it reliable, though acknowledging the inherent USB speed limits.
- See it on Amazon here
6. BUFFALO External SSD 500GB – Compatible with PS4 / PS5
Unlike the internal drives, this BUFFALO External SSD is specifically designed for plug-and-play convenience with your PS4 (and PS5!). It’s a compact, reliable solution if you prefer not to open up your console or if you need portable storage for your game library. Its robust design is shock-resistant, making it perfect for gamers on the go who want to easily transport their games or backups.
- Key Features:
- Best Value SSD: Compact and reliable for on-the-go demand.
- Compatibility: Explicitly compatible with PS4, PS5, Macs, and PCs.
- Ideal On-the-Go Accessory: Quick data copying for large files.
- Fast Speeds and Multi-Tasking: Faster than HDDs, enabling simultaneous tasks.
- Compact, Durable, & Reliable: Shock-resistant, rugged design, pocket-sized.
- USB 3.2 Connectivity & 3-Year Warranty: Supports USB-C/USB-A for versatile connection.
- Pros:
- Easy plug-and-play setup; no installation required.
- Portable and durable for travel.
- Frees up internal PS4 storage for critical system files.
- Explicitly PS4/PS5 compatible.
- Cons:
- Speeds limited by PS4’s USB port (though still faster than external HDDs).
- Cannot store PS4 system software on it.
- User Impressions: Users love the BUFFALO SSD for its simplicity and robustness. PS4 owners find it incredibly convenient for expanding their game library without needing to dismantle their console, appreciating its quick load times for external games.
- See it on Amazon here
7. Crucial BX500 480GB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD
Very similar to the 500GB BX500, this 480GB version is another solid choice for an internal PS4 upgrade. The slight difference in capacity won’t impact your gaming experience, and you’ll still get all the benefits of an SSD: faster boot times, quicker loading screens, and improved overall system responsiveness compared to the stock hard drive. It’s an affordable way to breathe new life into your console.
- Key Features:
- Boot up faster, load files quicker, improve overall system responsiveness.
- 300% faster than a typical hard drive.
- Improves battery life (if used in laptops) due to energy efficiency.
- Micron 3D NAND technology.
- Crucial 3-year limited warranty.
- Pros:
- Cost-effective internal PS4 upgrade.
- Noticeable performance improvement.
- Reliable and energy-efficient.
- Easy to install.
- Cons:
- Not the absolute fastest SATA SSD.
- Slightly less capacity than 500GB models, though negligible for most users.
- User Impressions: Customers frequently recommend this drive as a budget-friendly yet highly effective upgrade for older laptops and PS4s, praising its straightforward installation and immediate impact on speed.
- See it on Amazon here
8. Crucial P3 500GB PCIe Gen3 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD
The Crucial P3 500GB is a Gen3 NVMe drive, offering excellent speeds for its class. While not as blistering as Gen4, it’s still incredibly fast for PCs and would serve well as a high-performance external PS4 drive if placed in an appropriate enclosure. It leverages NVMe technology to deliver speeds far beyond SATA, making it a great option for PC enthusiasts who also want a versatile storage solution that can occasionally serve their console needs.
- Key Features:
- NVMe (PCIe Gen3 x4) technology: Up to 3500MB/s sequential reads.
- Random read/write 350K/460K IOPS.
- Spacious storage up to 4TB (this model is 500GB).
- Performs up to 33% better than the previous generation.
- Solid Gen3 performance, rated at MTTF greater than 1.5 million hours.
- Pros:
- Very fast for Gen3 NVMe.
- Reliable and durable with high MTTF rating.
- Good value for NVMe performance.
- Cons:
- Requires an external enclosure for PS4 use.
- Speed bottlenecked by PS4’s USB.
- Not an internal upgrade for PS4.
- User Impressions: Users find the P3 to be a dependable and speedy drive for gaming PCs and everyday tasks, appreciating its solid performance-to-price ratio. As an external PS4 drive, it’s seen as a robust option, though the NVMe speeds are underutilized.
- See it on Amazon here
9. PNY CS900 500GB 3D NAND 2.5″ SATA III Internal Solid
The PNY CS900 is another fantastic 2.5-inch SATA III SSD that’s perfectly suited for an internal PS4 upgrade. It delivers solid performance, significantly reducing boot times and game load times compared to a traditional HDD. PNY is a well-respected brand in the storage world, and this drive is known for its reliability and ultra-low power consumption, making it an efficient choice for your console.
- Key Features:
- Upgrade your laptop or desktop computer with super-fast OS boot times and application loads.
- Exceptional performance: Up to 550MB/s sequential read and 500MB/s sequential write speeds.
- Superior performance compared to traditional hard drives (HDD).
- Ultra-low power consumption.
- Backwards compatible with SATA II 3GB/sec.
- Pros:
- Cost-effective and reliable.
- Noticeable performance boost for PS4.
- Energy-efficient.
- Standard 2.5-inch form factor for easy internal installation.
- Cons:
- No DRAM cache, which can affect performance under very heavy, sustained loads.
- User Impressions: PNY CS900 users frequently praise its affordability and the dramatic speed difference it makes when replacing an old HDD in a PS4 or PC, calling it a no-brainer upgrade.
- See it on Amazon here
10. SAMSUNG 870 EVO SATA SSD 500GB 2.5” Internal Solid State
The Samsung 870 EVO is widely regarded as one of the very best SATA SSDs on the market, period. Its indisputable performance, reliability, and compatibility make it an outstanding choice for your PS4. If you want top-tier SATA performance for your internal upgrade, ensuring the fastest possible game loading and system responsiveness, the 870 EVO is definitely worth the investment. Samsung’s pioneering technology and robust Magician software make it a standout.
- Key Features:
- The SSD All-Star: Indisputable performance, reliability, and compatibility.
- Excellence in Performance: Maximizes SATA interface limits to 560/530 MB/s sequential speeds.
- Industry-Defining Reliability: Up to 600 TBW under a 5-year limited warranty.
- More Compatible Than Ever: Tested for major host systems and applications.
- Upgrade with Ease: Simple 2.5-inch SATA form factor for desktop PC or laptop.
- Samsung Magician Software: Helps manage the drive, monitor health, and enhance performance.
- World’s #1 Flash Memory Brand: Experience performance and reliability from Samsung.
- Pros:
- Class-leading SATA performance and reliability.
- Excellent endurance and a long 5-year warranty.
- Highly compatible and easy to install internally.
- Backed by Samsung’s reputation and technology.
- Cons:
- Higher price point than many other SATA SSDs.
- Some advanced features (like Magician software) are less relevant for PS4.
- User Impressions: The 870 EVO consistently receives rave reviews for its consistent, top-notch performance, particularly its speed and durability. PS4 users who’ve installed it report a noticeable and satisfying boost across all console functions.
- See it on Amazon here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Why should I upgrade my PS4 with an SSD?
A1: Upgrading your PS4 with an SSD significantly improves game loading times, reduces system boot-up time, makes navigating the PS4 menu snappier, and generally enhances overall system responsiveness. It makes your console feel faster and more modern.
Q2: What type of SSD does the PS4 support internally?
A2: The PS4 natively supports 2.5-inch SATA III (6Gb/s) SSDs. This means you can’t install an NVMe M.2 SSD directly into the console’s internal drive bay.
Q3: Can I use an NVMe SSD with my PS4?
A3: Yes, but only as an external drive. You would need to purchase an NVMe M.2 SSD along with a compatible external NVMe enclosure that connects to your PS4 via a USB 3.0 port. While this expands storage, the drive’s true NVMe speeds will be limited by the PS4’s USB 3.0 interface.
Q4: Is 500GB SSD enough for my PS4?
A4: For many gamers, 500GB is a good balance. It provides enough space for several large AAA titles and a good selection of smaller games. If you have a massive game library or frequently play many different large games, you might consider a 1TB SSD for more headroom.
Q5: How do I install an SSD in my PS4?
A5: The process involves backing up your PS4 data, replacing the existing HDD with the new 2.5-inch SATA SSD in the console’s drive bay, and then reinstalling the PS4 system software via a USB drive. Sony provides official guides, and many online tutorials walk you through the steps. It’s a relatively straightforward process.
Q6: Will upgrading to an SSD void my PS4 warranty?
A6: No, replacing the hard drive in your PS4 will not void its warranty. Sony designed the PS4 with an easily accessible hard drive bay for user upgrades. Just make sure to follow the official instructions.
Q7: Do I need to re-download all my games after installing a new internal SSD?
A7: Yes, after installing a new internal SSD, your PS4 will be completely wiped. You’ll need to reinstall the system software, and then re-download or reinstall all your games and applications. Backing up your save data before starting is crucial!
Conclusion
There you have it – a comprehensive look at the crucial best 500GB SSD for PS4 options, including top picks from Crucial, Samsung, PNY, and Buffalo. Whether you opt for an internal SATA SSD for the most impactful performance upgrade or an external drive for convenient storage expansion, giving your PS4 an SSD boost is one of the best ways to enhance your gaming experience. Say goodbye to slow loading screens and hello to snappier, more enjoyable gameplay! Pick the drive that best fits your needs and budget, and get ready to level up your PS4.