Does the Crucial P3 work in a PS5?
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Does not work. The plain Crucial P3 is a PCIe Gen3 drive, and the PS5 only accepts Gen4 or newer. Lowest price as of 21 October 2026: £152.73.
PS5 requirements as published in Sony's M.2 SSD support page. Prices from Amazon.co.uk.
Crucial P3: the figures that decide it
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| PS5 compatible | No |
| Interface | PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe, M.2 2280 |
| Sequential read (up to) | 3,500 MB/s |
| Sequential write (up to) | 3,000 MB/s |
| Sony's recommended read speed | 5,500 MB/s or faster |
| DRAM cache | No (host memory buffer) |
| Endurance | About 220 TBW per TB (440 TBW at 2TB) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Capacities | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
| Heatsink version | No, sold bare |
| Officially PlayStation-licensed | No |
| Launched | 2022 |
Figures are the maker's published "up to" ratings, checked October 2026 against the maker's spec sheet.
Why the Crucial P3 does not work
The PS5's M.2 slot needs a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive (see Sony's M.2 SSD requirements). The Crucial P3 is a PCIe Gen3 drive, so the console refuses it: it will not be formatted and cannot store or run games. No setting changes this.
Crucial lists the P3 as NVMe over PCIe Gen 3 x4 at up to 3,500 MB/s read and 3,000 MB/s write. The P3 Plus is the Gen4 sibling, which the PS5 accepts but which is below the recommended speed.
A close alternative that passes
Still shopping? The Crucial P310 reads at 7,100 MB/s and passes. If the brand does not matter, the cheapest PS5 SSDs and the best value PS5 SSDs rank everything that does.
Already own the P3? Put it to work in a PC, or in a USB enclosure as external storage. The console's slot is closed to it.
More on compatibility
To check a different drive, use the PS5 SSD model index or the Crucial page. The criteria themselves are in PS5 SSD requirements and which SSD is compatible with the PS5, and installation faults are covered in PS5 SSD not detected.
Live listings of this model
| Product | Capacity | Price | Price per TB | Tech | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crucial P3 500GB M.2 PCIe Gen3 NVMe Internal SSD - Up to 3500MB/s - CT500P3SSD8 | 500 GB | £152.73 | £305.46 | NVMe | - | Buy on Amazon |
Related comparisons and guides
More to read: PS5 SSD requirements, Which SSD is compatible?, Cheapest PS5 SSD, Read speed too slow warning, All models, 2TB.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Crucial P3 work in a PS5?
No. Does not work. The plain Crucial P3 is a PCIe Gen3 drive, and the PS5 only accepts Gen4 or newer.
Does the P3 trigger the PS5's slow read speed notice?
The console stops earlier than that, with a message that this M.2 SSD is not usable.
Which similar drive meets Sony's spec?
The Crucial P310, rated at 7,100 MB/s, is the nearest option that meets Sony's recommendation. Compare live prices on the cheapest PS5 SSD page.
What about the P3 in a PS5 Pro or Slim?
Identical. Sony publishes one set of M.2 requirements for the PS5, the Slim and the Pro.
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Last updated: 2026-10-20 06:04:41 UTC. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date indicated on Amazon.co.uk and are subject to change. Any price displayed at the time of purchase will apply. CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED AS IS AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.