Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 2TB
PCIe Gen4 NVMe with a factory heatsink. 2 TB holds GTA VI several times over.
Check today's price on AmazonGuide Launch Desk · Updated Nov 11, 2026
PS5 SSD for GTA 6: what works
GTA VI's pre-load needs up to 212 GB OFFICIAL. If your PS5 is full, an M.2 SSD fixes it, but only if the drive meets Sony's spec. Here are the rules, the install in plain words, two drives that qualify, and what to avoid.
First
Do you need an SSD for GTA 6?
Not necessarily. GTA VI installs on the PS5's built-in SSD like any other game. The launch PS5 was reported to have about 667 GB of usable space REPORTED · NOT OFFICIAL, and GTA VI takes roughly a third of that. Delete what you don't play first; our GTA 6 file size guide shows how much room to clear. Still short? Here is what Sony allows.
Official
Sony's official M.2 requirements
From PlayStation Support OFFICIAL. If a drive misses one of these, skip it.
- Interface: M.2 NVMe SSD with PCIe Gen4 x4 (M key). M.2 SATA drives are not supported.
- Capacity: 250 GB to 8 TB.
- Speed: 5,500 MB/s sequential read or faster is recommended.
- Cooling: a heat-dissipation mechanism, like a heatsink or heat transfer sheet, is required. A built-in heatsink is fine; Sony says adding another one may make it less effective.
- Lengths: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110.
- Size with cooling: up to 25 mm wide and 11.25 mm thick in total (up to 8 mm above the board, 2.45 mm below).
- Software: update the PS5 to the latest system software before you install the drive.
Source: PlayStation Support: How to add M.2 SSD storage to PS5 consoles (checked Nov 11, 2026). Sony also says it can't guarantee that every drive meeting these specs will work.
How it works
The install, in plain words
Sony's support page has the full illustrated steps. The short version: you need a #1 Phillips screwdriver and a well-lit table.
- Update the system software. Then turn the PS5 fully off, unplug every cable and let it cool.
- Touch a grounded metal object to discharge static.
- Take off the cover. It depends on the model number: CFI-2000 and CFI-7000 consoles have a small triangle cover; on the launch CFI-1000 model you remove the base and slide off the side cover.
- Unscrew the expansion slot cover, move the spacer to match your drive's length, slide the drive in at an angle, press it down and screw it in.
- Put the covers back, reconnect, power on and follow the prompt to format the drive. Formatting erases everything on it.
Then pick the M.2 drive in Settings > Storage > Installation Location, or move installed games from the Game Library (Options, then Move Games and Apps). Sony says damage from improper installation isn't covered by the warranty, so follow its guide.
PS5 picks
Two drives that meet the spec
Samsung 990 PRO with a factory heatsink: PCIe Gen4 NVMe, rated by Samsung above Sony's recommended 5,500 MB/s. Don't add another heatsink. Check the listed dimensions against Sony's size limits.
Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 1TB
Same drive, half the space. Enough for GTA VI plus a few more big games.
Check today's price on AmazonSellers change during the SSD shortage. Look at “Ships from / Sold by” on Amazon before you buy. More options on our launch gear page.
Don't waste money
What not to buy
- M.2 SATA drives. Sony says they are not supported.
- PCIe Gen3 NVMe drives. Sony's spec is Gen4 x4, so a Gen3 drive doesn't meet it.
- A bare drive with no cooling, unless you add a heatsink that fits the size limits.
- A second heatsink on a drive that already has one.
- Coolers that are too big. On the CFI-1000 model, Sony says that if the slot cover won't close, the cooler likely exceeds the size limits.
- Unknown sellers. SSD prices have climbed over the past year REPORTED · NOT OFFICIAL (Notebookcheck, Oct 25, 2026). Check who ships and sells the drive.
On Xbox instead? The rules are different: see Xbox Series X|S storage for GTA 6.
FAQ
Does GTA 6 need an M.2 SSD on PS5?
No. It installs on the PS5's built-in SSD. You only need an M.2 SSD if you can't free up to 212 GB, the size Rockstar gives for the pre-load.
Will a PCIe Gen3 SSD work in the PS5?
Sony's requirement is a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD, and it says M.2 SATA drives aren't supported. A Gen3 drive doesn't meet the spec, so skip it.
Does a PS5 SSD need a heatsink?
Yes. Sony says not to use an M.2 SSD without a heat-dissipation mechanism. A built-in heatsink counts, and Sony advises against adding a second one.
Does the PS5 Pro use the same SSD rules?
Sony's M.2 guide covers CFI-7000 model numbers (PS5 Pro) alongside the other PS5 models, with the same drive requirements.
Keep reading
More launch guides
- GTA 6 file sizeInstall size on PS5 and Xbox, and how much to keep free.
- Xbox storage for GTA 6Why a USB drive can store GTA VI but not play it.
- Physical edition explainedCode in box, no disc: what arrives and when.
- Launch night checklistPre-load, patches, charging and audio.
- All launch gearGame, consoles, storage, controllers, headsets.
Guide
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Storage breakdown, unlock times and a launch-night checklist.