Does a PS5 SSD need a heatsink?
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Yes. A PS5 expansion SSD needs a heatsink, because Sony requires the drive to dissipate heat in the sealed M.2 bay or it will thermally throttle and can shut the console down. You can buy a drive with a heatsink already fitted, which is the simplest route, or add a low-profile M.2 heatsink yourself so the total height stays under 11.25 mm and the bay cover still closes.
PS5 requirements as published in Sony's M.2 SSD support page. Prices from Amazon.co.uk.
Why Sony requires a heatsink
The PS5's M.2 slot sits in an enclosed bay with little airflow. A fast Gen4 drive run hard without cooling reaches temperatures that force it to throttle, and Sony's own guidance is explicit that an expansion SSD must have a heat-dissipation mechanism such as a heatsink. Without one the console may warn you, drop performance, or refuse the drive.
This is not optional in the way it is on a desktop PC, where airflow often suffices. In the PS5 bay the heatsink is part of meeting the spec, alongside the Gen4 interface and the 5,500 MB/s read speed.
Buy one fitted, or add your own?
Buy a drive with a heatsink fitted if
- You want a guaranteed fit with no measuring or guesswork.
- You would rather have one warranty covering the whole unit.
- You value simplicity over saving a few pounds.
Add your own low-profile heatsink if
- A bare drive plus a cooler clearly costs less than a bundled model.
- You already own a flat M.2 2280 heatsink sized for the PS5.
- You are comfortable keeping total height under 11.25 mm yourself.
The height rule that catches people out
Whatever heatsink you use, the drive plus the heatsink must be no taller than 11.25 mm or the bay cover will not close, an issue that bites hardest on the slimmer PS5 Slim bay. Tall desktop tower coolers do not fit.
The simplest safe choice is a drive sold with a low-profile PS5 heatsink already attached. The table below lists drives that ship with a heatsink, ranked by live price per terabyte on Amazon.co.uk.
Compatible drives, live prices
See all PS5 SSDs with a heatsink, ranked by price per TB
Related comparisons and guides
See also PS5 SSD heatsinks, Heatsink for PS5 Slim?, SSD overheating, Thermal throttling.
Other places to go from here: PS5 SSD requirements, Which SSD is compatible?, The 11.25mm height rule, With heatsink, 2TB.
Frequently asked questions
Does a PS5 SSD really need a heatsink?
Yes. Sony requires the expansion SSD to dissipate heat. Without a heatsink the drive can overheat, throttle and trigger console warnings, so fit a drive with one attached or add a low-profile M.2 heatsink.
What happens if I use a PS5 SSD without a heatsink?
It may thermally throttle under load, perform poorly, or cause the PS5 to warn you and stop using the drive. Heat dissipation is part of the requirement, not an optional extra.
Can I add a heatsink to a bare PS5 SSD?
Yes. Fit a flat, low-profile M.2 2280 heatsink designed for the PS5 so the total height stays under 11.25 mm and the bay cover closes. Avoid tall tower coolers.
Does the heatsink make the SSD faster?
No. The heatsink only prevents thermal throttling; it does not add speed. A properly cooled bare drive performs the same as a bundled-heatsink model of the same drive.
Do PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro need a heatsink too?
Yes, all current PS5 models use the same M.2 bay and the same heat-dissipation requirement. Sony's 11.25mm thickness and 25mm width limits are the same on all three.
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