PlayStation 5 won't use memory cards, supports third-party SSDs

Unlike the Xbox Series X, which uses proprietary CFExpress memory cards to expand SSD storage, the PlayStation 5 will let gamers slot in third-party PCIe 4.0 drives into the console.

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Sony has learned a lot from the PS Vita memory fiasco. The PS5 won't have high-priced restrictive memory cards. Instead, Sony allows gamers to expand memory by slotting in third-party PC-grade M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSDs into the PS5. This is pretty important considering the system only has a 825GB SSD.

"We will be supporting certain M.2 SSDs. These are internal drives you can get on the open market and install in a bay on the PlayStation 5. They connect to the custom I/O unit just like our SSD does so they can take full advantage of the decompression, I/O co-processors, and all the other features," PlayStation 5 architect Mark Cerny today confirmed.

Read Also: PlayStation 5 SSD speeds hit 9GB/sec with custom 12-channel controller

There's a catch though. The expansion SSDs have to be at least as fast as the PlayStation 5's internal 5.5GB/sec solid state drive. Sony has yet to reveal which commercial drives will work with the PS5.

"Games that rely on our SSD need to work flawlessly with any M.2 drive."

"The NVMe scheme is pretty nice, but it only has two true priority levels. Our SSD has six. We can hook up a drive with only two priority levels but our custom I/O unit has to arbitrate the extra priorities rather than the M.2 drive's flash controller. And so the M.2 drive needs a little extra speed to take care of issues arising from the different approach."

There's also other compatibility issues that could arise.

Since Sony is going with existing drives and not proprietary memory cards like Microsoft, they don't control the storage tech. The medley of SSDs on the market, which all vary in speed and overall performance, could lead to inconsistent gaming.

Sony will be doing tests to how specific PS5-optimized titles play on a range of today's PCIe 4.0 SSDs. The company wants gamers to hold off on expanding SSD storage with third-party drives until after launch, where it will have a prepared list of the best M.2 drives for the PlayStation 5.

"Please hold off on getting that M.2 drive until you hear from us."

The console will release in Holiday 2020, and it may cost $499.

Check below for more info on everything we know about the PlayStation 5 so far:

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PlayStation 5 specs and details:

• Custom SoC with second-gen Navi GPU, Zen 2 CPU
• 8-Core, 16-thread Zen 2 CPU at 3.5GHz
• Navi GPU with 36 CUs on RDNA 2, 2.23GHz
• Navi, Zen SoC uses new AMD RDNA 2.0 architecture
• Ultra-fast 825GB SSD with up to 9GB/sec speeds
• Support for 4K 120 Hz TVs
• Ray-tracing enabled
• 8K output support (for gaming)
• Plays PS4 games, BC is on a title-to-title basis
• Separate games that ship on BD-XL Blu-ray discs
• New controller with extensive haptic and tactile feedback

PlayStation 5 Coverage:

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• Sony's first-party PS4 exclusives are coming to PC
• PlayStation 5's new DualShock 5 may be usable on PS4
• Sony skips E3 2020, has two major events planned for February
• Next-gen console exclusives will be few and far between through 2021
• PlayStation 5's biggest features have yet to be announced, Sony says
• PS4 has sold over 1 billion games and 106 million consoles
• PlayStation 5 backward compatibility should support every PS4 game
• Sony reveals the PlayStation 5...logo
• New trapezoidal PS5 render is an expensive accident waiting to happen
• A $399 PlayStation 5 will conquer next-gen
• PlayStation 5 to outsell Xbox Series X in 2020, analyst predicts
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• PlayStation 5 prototype dev kit console gets V-shaped clean
• Sony: The future is coming at CES 2020
• PlayStation 5 GPU: 9.2 TFLOPs with 36 custom Navi compute units
• PlayStation 5 GPU emulates PS4, PS4 Pro with special modes
• PS5, Xbox Series X SSD may use software-defined flash to boost speeds
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• PlayStation 5: Everything We Know So Far
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• PS5 backward compatibility confirmed, will play PS4 games
• Sony's next-gen PlayStation 5 has 4K 120Hz output support
• PS5, Project Scarlett to hit over 10TFLOPs of power, sources say
• PS4 will be supported into 2022, to live alongside PS5
• Sony: ultra-high-speed SSD is 'the key' to next-gen PS5
• PS5 dev kit rumor: 'ultra-fast RAM', Navi GPU with 13 TFLOPs
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• PS5 powered by Navi in 2020, AMD making Navi with Sony input
• Cloud-powered PlayStation controller may let you play free game demos
• Gran Turismo 7 is a PlayStation 5 launch title: launches Nov 20, 2020
• PS5 confirmed to support 8K video, ray tracing, all on Navi
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• Sony restructures workforce to prepare for PS5
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• PlayStation 5 rumored to be unveiled on February 12, 2020
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