One of the most anticipated features by PS5 users is the ability to expand Sony console storage. The internal SSD that accompanies the system seems scarce for many users, so many were happy after knowing the start of the beta that allows this function.
From Digital Foundry they have already been able to add a new card, specifically a Samsung 980 Pro SSD. It is important to remember that the Japanese company points out that it must be Gen4 x4 M.2, the capacity may vary between 250GB and 4TB and a read speed of 5,500 MB / s or more is recommended.
The Samsung 980 Pro fits the bill, boasting a 6500MB / s read speed and 500GB capacity. With the cards on the table, the group has checked the loading time of PS4 and PS5 games.
The truth is that the results are mixed. In general, the card Samsung managed to load PS4 games faster that run in backward compatibility mode, like Final Fantasy XV or Fallout 4. Of course, in the case of Battlefield V, the PS5 system itself continues to win the battle.
On the other hand, if we go to the PS5 titles or with versions for this console, things change. A Plague Tale Innocence or Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order win the game with Samsung, although the difference with the internal SSD is quite small. On the other hand, with Ratchet & Clank: A Dimension Apart, the performance is practically similar, as are the loading times.
It should be noted that all these tests had a third format, in which a heat sink was included for the Samsung 980 Pro. This heatsink is recommended by Sony, although it is not essential. In many cases, the times were shortened, although not really significantly.
Finally, the transfer time of a game, specifically Cyberpunk 2077, was checked. In all cases, Samsung 980 Pro internally won with a big difference for five or more minutes compared to other options such as a Samsung 870 QVO SATA SSD with a USB connection and a Seagate external hard drive, also with a USB connection. In the case of the Seagate, the wait time was over a quarter of an hour.