Does the Samsung 980 work in a PS5?
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Does not work. The plain Samsung 980 is a PCIe Gen3 drive, and the PS5 only accepts Gen4 or newer M.2 NVMe SSDs. It currently sells from £197.49.
PS5 requirements as published in Sony's M.2 SSD support page. Prices from Amazon.co.uk.
Samsung 980 against the PS5 requirements
| 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 |
| NAND type | TLC |
| DRAM cache | No (host memory buffer) |
| Controller | Samsung in-house |
| Endurance | About 600 TBW per TB (1,200 TBW at 2TB) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Capacities | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB |
| Heatsink version | No, sold bare |
| Officially PlayStation-licensed | No |
| Launched | 2021 |
Figures are the maker's published "up to" ratings, checked October 2026 against the maker's spec sheet.
Why the Samsung 980 does not work
Sony's M.2 SSD requirements call for PCIe Gen4. The Samsung 980 is one generation older, Gen3, and the console rejects it outright. It cannot be formatted, and there is no workaround.
Samsung's datasheet lists it as PCIe Gen 3.0 x4 with a host memory buffer in place of DRAM, at up to 3,500 MB/s for the 1TB model. Do not confuse it with the 980 Pro, which is Gen4 and does work.
The nearest drive that meets the spec
Still shopping? The Samsung 990 EVO Plus reads at 7,250 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 980? Put it to work in a PC, or in a USB enclosure as external storage. The console's slot is closed to it.
Related checks
To check a different drive, use the PS5 SSD model index or the Samsung 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 980 1 TB PCIe 3.0 (up to 3.500 MB/s) NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (MZ-V8V1T0BW) | 1 TB | £250.00 | £250.00 | NVMe | - | Buy on Amazon |
| Samsung 980 500 GB PCIe 3.0 (up to 3500mbs) NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (MZ-V8V500BW)Used | 500 GB | £169.99 | £339.98 | NVMe | - | Buy on Amazon |
| Samsung 980 500 GB PCIe 3.0 (up to 3500mbs) NVMe M.2 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (MZ-V8V500BW) | 500 GB | £197.49 | £394.98 | NVMe | - | Buy on Amazon |
Related comparisons and guides
Other places to go from here: PS5 SSD requirements, Which SSD is compatible?, Cheapest PS5 SSD, Read speed too slow warning, All models, 2TB.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Samsung 980 work in a PS5?
No. Does not work. The plain Samsung 980 is a PCIe Gen3 drive, and the PS5 only accepts Gen4 or newer M.2 NVMe SSDs.
What does the PS5 say when you fit a 980?
There is no speed test to fail: the console states that the drive cannot be used, since it is Gen3.
Which similar drive meets Sony's spec?
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus, rated at 7,250 MB/s, is the nearest option that meets Sony's recommendation. Compare live prices on the cheapest PS5 SSD page.
Does the Samsung 980 work in the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro?
The answer is the same on every model. The PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro share one M.2 slot specification, so a drive that is refused by one is refused by all.
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Last updated: 2026-10-19 18:05:11 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.