The Battle Against Storage: PS5 Gamers Face a Costly Dilemma
We’ve all been there: you’re ready to download the latest massive RPG or a seasonal update for your favorite multiplayer game, and then it happens—the dreaded “Not Enough Space” notification. For PS5 owners, managing storage has always been a balancing act, but the latest offering from SanDisk is turning that balance into a financial nightmare.
Enter the Optimus GX Pro 850P NVMe SSD. While it promises the speed and reliability needed for next-gen gaming, it comes with a price tag that will make even the most dedicated gamers blink twice.
A Price Tag That Defies Logic
The Optimus GX Pro 850P is available in several capacities, ranging from 1TB to a massive 8TB. However, the top-end model is where things get truly absurd. The 8TB variant is currently listed at a staggering $2,960—and believe it or not, SanDisk claims this is a discounted price from its original $3,700 MSRP.
To put this into perspective, let’s look at the math:
- PS5 Pro: Comes with a 2TB SSD built-in and costs significantly less than a third of the price of the 8TB SanDisk drive.
- The 2TB Model: Even the mid-tier 2TB version costs around $760, which is more than the price of a standard PS5 disc edition console in some markets.
Old Wine in a New Bottle?
Tech enthusiasts will notice something familiar about the specs. With PCIe 4.0 architecture and Read/Write speeds of 7,300/6,300MB/s, the Optimus GX Pro 850P looks suspiciously like the WD_Black SN850X. In fact, it appears to be a rebranded version of the same drive. The irony? Last year, the 8TB version of its predecessor was often found on sale for under $600.
The “RAMpocalypse”: Why is Everything Getting More Expensive?
This pricing surge isn’t happening in a vacuum. We are currently witnessing what some call a global memory crisis, or the “RAMpocalypse.” A combination of volatile economic landscapes and the insatiable demand for components to power AI is driving hardware prices through the roof.
The PS5 isn’t the only victim of this trend. We’ve seen a domino effect across the entire gaming industry:
- Sony: Recently hiked prices for the PS5, PS5 Pro, and PS Portal.
- Microsoft: Implemented multiple price increases for Xbox consoles in 2025.
- Nintendo: Adjusted the price of the upcoming Switch 2.
- Valve: Increased the cost of the Steam Deck OLED by as much as $300.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Unless you have a bottomless bank account and an urgent need for 8TB of officially licensed storage, the SanDisk Optimus GX Pro 850P is a hard pass for most users. As Digital Foundry has pointed out, the gap between current prices and previous values is almost comical.
Our Advice: Keep an eye on third-party PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs that meet Sony’s requirements. You’ll get the same performance without having to take out a second mortgage on your home just to install a few more games on your PS5.
