Sony delivers the Playstation 5 with 695 GByte NAND flash memory, of which 695 Use GByte for games and files such as screenshots. Since many current console titles 100 occupy GByte and more, the manufacturer is promoting the expandability via an additional SSD: A slot for a standard M.2 card is located under the right panel.

For delivery start on 19. November 2020 this M.2 slot has no function yet. If you install an SSD there, the Playstation 5 boots, but then refuses to work and shuts down with the message that the additional SSD must be removed. We tested this with one of the fastest M.2 cards currently available: Samsung’s SSD 980 Pro.

When installing an additional SSD, the Playstation 5 refuses to work regardless of the speed .

(Image: Alexander Spier / heise online)

Function update follows Compared to the website The Verge , Sony confirmed at the beginning of November that the M .2 connection is activated by a later update. When Sony’s chief engineer Mark Cerny unveiled the Playstation 5 hardware in March, he already stated that testing compatible SSDs would take time. Physically all M.2 cards up to 100 mm long M.2 cards fit into the expansion slot, however Sony transfer speeds of more than 5.5 GByte / s ahead.

5.5 GByte / s is achieved by the internal NAND flash memory via four PCI Express 4.0 lanes with a self-designed controller that works with a more complex prioritization than the variants on end customer SSDs. To compensate for the disadvantage, the additional memory has to work faster. Sony wants to submit a compatibility list of certified models.

New PCIe 4.0 generation on the way Most models are already clear that they are too slow for the PS5: The first PCIe 4.0 generation uses Phisons E 16 – Controller that transmits a maximum of 5 GByte / s. The second generation with Phisons E 18 and proprietary controllers from other manufacturers – all with up to 7 GB / s – is only just emerging. Besides Samsung’s SSD 980 Pro is Western Digital’s WD Black SN 850 available.

buyer a PS5 has no choice but to manage with the console memory. After all: PS4 games can be started from an external USB storage device and users can also store screenshots or videos on one.

Microsoft initially has one advantage with its own solution: the Xbox Series X not only has the larger internal SSD with 1 TByte, the Seagate memory expansion is also available today (from 229, 90 €). However, since it is a proprietary connector based on CF Express, there is no account-friendly competition.

(mma)