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Cheaper (Non-proprietary) Xbox Series X/S SSDs Could Be On The Horizon

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Since the arrival of Microsoft’s Xbox Series S and X, gamers have been handcuffed into using proprietary SSD’s for their expansion needs. However, thanks to a discovery made by a modder, that may no longer be the case. 

The discovery was made by a  member of the Chinese website BiliBili, stating that you may be able to utilize any SSD for Xbox Series X and S if used in tandem with a unique adapter. Whilst this may not be big news to some, it may see future SSDs for Xbox reduce in price – alongside a wider variety of options become available.

Xbox SSD

Modder Uses Adapter To Add Non-proprietary SSD To Next-Gen Xbox

The BiliBili member writes an in-depth blog over on the site explaining his findings alongside speculation regarding potential other SSDs to come. In the post, he discusses how he discovered in a teardown video that the console used two PCIe 4.0 X2 slots – one for the internal SSD and one for the Seagate expansion.

Furthermore, they established that a CFExpress card was used, equipped with the NVMe protocol – all he needed to do was find the correct PCIe 4.0 SSD and he should be able to utilize an adapter at the rear.

In the end, the modder made use of a 1TB Western Digital SN530 M.2 2230 – speculated to be the same SSD used by Xbox themselves for the internal device. He goes on to connect the 1TB SSD to the CFe to NVMe adapter, plugging it into the expansion slot on the console itself. After doing so, it didn’t take long to realise that the experiment was a success – with the menu clearly recognizing the device and adding 867GB to the console’s storage capactiy.

Whilst this is good news for third-party SSDs and their compatibility with Xbox consoles, the user does stress that they have only tested the process with one SSD. At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest that any other SSD would work.

Xbox SSD Compatibility

He goes on to say :“If there are experts out there who can try other NVMe PCIe 4.0 solid state drives, especially the 2280 length, which can be expanded to 4T or more, then the value of this discovery will be great,” they said (VGC’s translation). “I hope someone can give feedback if they test it.”

If any SSD is compatible with the next-gen consoles, it could see a tonne of business go to budget-oriented SSD manufacturers.

Monitor & PC Product Specialist AT WEPC

Charlie Noon

Summary Charlie has been with WePC for nearly 5 years now, becoming a senior tech writer in 2021. He started off writing monitor and TV reviews, but quickly moved into a more affiliate-based role. After finishing College, Charlie pursued his joy of PC gaming by building several PCs for his favourite game, Counter-Strike. To this day, Charlie continues to enjoy gaming and PC building inside and outside of the office. Experience Charlie started his career with BGFG after a long 5-year stint traveling Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. While he could have pursued a further career in the building trade, he decided to delve into the world of PC gaming and journalism. Being a keen gamer and PC builder, it was easy to transition between the two industries. After showcasing a real joy for both writing and PC building, he was moved into a more senior position, which he continues to hold to this day. Education Charlie completed his A levels at Culcheth College. After, he took a 5-year break to travel and work overseas. Interests Aside from building PCs and getting beat by Russian teens on CS:GO, Charlie's other interests include travelling, socializing with friends, and cooking. He also spends too much time buying and selling products - his latest project is Pokemon cards. Gaming Setup CPU - AMD 7800X3D Motherboard - X670 Gaming Plus RAM - Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB 5200MHz GPU - ASUS ROG Strix RX 7700XT PSU - Thermaltake 750W 80+ Gold Case - Corsair Carbide (275R) A decent upgrade over previous machines, and one that is, let's be honest, wasted on me as the majority of my time is spent editing content and playing CS2 Favorite Games CS2 PUBG Rising Storm Beyond The Wire