Hey there, gaming enthusiasts! Welcome back to the HowFixit channel. Today,
I have an exciting topic for all PS5 Slim owners – we're diving into the complete guide on how to
upgrade the M2 SSD in the PlayStation 5 Slim. To successfully update your PS5 Slim, all you
need is a Phillips 1 screwdriver and a compatible M2 SSD. But before we dive into the installation
process, let's look at the M2 SSD requirements. Not all M2 SSDs are the same; they come in
different form factors, generations, and sequential read and write speeds.
First, let's talk about the M2 form factor. There are five
subtypes: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, and 22110. The first two digits indicate the width,
and the second two indicate the length. Each of the five subtypes is compatible,
but the most common form factor for PS5 is 2280. Second, there are two types of M2 SSDs:
SATA and NVMe, with corresponding socket type 'M' + 'B' keys or a single 'M' key. It's crucial to
note that the PlayStation 5 Slim supports only M2 PCI-Express NVMe 4th Generation with the 'M' key.
The M2 SATA drive is technically not compatible with the PS5 console.
Third, speed matters! Your M2 SSD should have a sequential read speed of 5500MB/s
or faster. This ensures lightning-fast loading times and smooth gaming sessions.
Additionally, the PS5 Slim supports storage capacities ranging from 250GB to a whopping 8TB.
And last but very important is the heatsink. Cooling is crucial for optimal performance. The
PS5 requires an SSD M2 to be paired with a cooling heatsink.
You have two options: attach a heatsink yourself, in a single-sided or double-sided format, or
purchase an M2 SSD with a pre-installed heatsink. If your M2 drive meets PS5 Slim requirements but
lacks additional cooling, you can install a heatsink yourself. Just make sure it
fits into the shallow slot that Sony has provided for internal expansion.
The width of the overall structure (including the additional heatsink) cannot exceed 25 mm. The
total height of an M2 drive with a heatsink should not exceed 11.25 mm. The size under the board must
be less than 2.45 mm. The overall dimension above the board must be less than 8 mm. Otherwise, the
structure will not fit into the console housing. Given these complex size requirements that need
to be met, I recommend purchasing an M2 SSD with a pre-installed heatsink. Therefore,
I chose the Corsair M2 SSD; it meets the technical requirements and has a low-profile
aluminum heatsink designed for the PS5 console housing. I've included a link to this M2 drive
in the video description below. Now, let's move on to the
step-by-step installation process! The first step is crucial – power off
your PS5 Slim completely and unplug all cables. Safety is key when working with electronics.
Now, lay your game console on its side with the right side covers facing up.
The upper cover is secured with clips. Grasp with your fingers and
pull up the front edge to release the clips. Grab your Phillips screwdriver and remove the
screw securing the expansion slot cover. This opens up the pathway for our M2 SSD upgrade.
Now, remove the screw securing the spacer. This is the last step
before we get hands-on with the M2 SSD. The expansion slot has multiple indents
for compatibility with different-sized SSDs. Set the spacer to the proper indent based
on the size of your M2 SSD. Gently install SSD into its M2
socket. It should fit snugly but don't force it. Align the cutout on top of the spacer,
and tighten the screw. Remember, don't overtighten – we want a snug fit without risking any damage.
Now that your M2 SSD is securely in place, attach the expansion slot cover and fasten the screw.
Close your PS5 Slim, plug it back in, and power it on. You're almost there!
After powering on, the formatting guide appears. Using the PS5 controller, select "Format M2 SSD"
and press the X button. Don’t turn off the power while your SSD is being formatted.
The system will also check your disk speed. If the read speed exceeds 5500
megabytes per second, you're good to go. Now that the M2 SSD is formatted, the system
prompts you to change the installation location of your games; to do this, go to Settings > Storage >
Installation location and select M2 SSD drive. Navigate to the settings menu on your PS5 and
check if the system recognizes the new M2 SSD. And there you have it, folks – you've successfully
upgraded your M2 SSD in the PS5 Slim! You were on HowFixit, thanks for watching, and happy gaming!