How to format ASUS ROG Strix Arion and ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite on PS5

The ASUS ROG Strix Arion and ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite external portable enclosure case adapters are compatible with the PlayStation 5 (as well as the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition).

You can check out this step-by-step tutorial at Seeking Tech to see how you can properly format the ROG Strix Arion and ROG Strix Arion Lite for the PS5.

1. The first step, if you haven’t done so already, is to install the NVMe solid state drive into your ASUS ROG Strix Arion or ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite.

These adapters are compatible with the following form factors with a M key and B-M key:

  • M.2 PCI Express 2230
  • M.2 PCI Express 2242
  • M.2 PCI Express 2260
  • M.2 PCI Express 2280

2. If you have data already stored on the SSD you installed on your ASUS ROG Strix Arion or ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite, then you might want to backup any important files.

This is because formatting your external drive on the PlayStation 5 will delete all of the current data that were stored on the SSD.

3. The next step is to connect your ASUS ROG Strix Arion or ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite to the PlayStation 5.

With the PS5, as well as the PS5 Digital Edition, you can connect an external storage drive to the USB Type-C port at the front of the system or either of the two USB Type-A ports at the back.

The front USB Type-C port, as well as the two rear USB Type-A ports, are Superspeed USB, which means that you can get up to 10 Gbps in transfer speed.

While the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition also come with a front USB Type-A port, that one can’t be used for external storage due to the slower transfer speed.

The ROG Strix Arion includes USB Type-C to USB Type-A and USB Type-C to USB Type-C cables. This mean that you can use either the front USB Type-C port or the rear USB Type-A ports to connect to the PS5.

The ROG Strix Arion Lite only includes an USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable. Therefore, you can only use the front USB Type-C port of the PlayStation 5 unless you have an extra USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable laying around.

4. With your ROG Strix Arion or ROG Strix Arion Lite connected to your PlayStation 5, turn on your console.

5. In the “Welcome back to PlayStation” screen, select your user profile to get to the Home Screen.

6. In the Home Screen, select the gear cog icon located on the upper right corner (it should be in between the search icon and your use profile picture) to head into Settings.

7. In the Settings screen, select Storage from the list of available options.

8. In the Storage screen, select USB Extended Storage from the list of options on the left side.

9. On the right side of the same Storage screen, select the “Format as USB Extended Storage” option.

What games can you store on ROG Strix Arion and ROG Strix Arion Lite?

Once your ROG Strix Arion or ROG Strix Arion Lite has been formatted for use with the PlayStation 5 system, you will be able to store native PS5 games in addition to backwards compatible PS4 games.

What games can you play on ROG Strix Arion and ROG Strix Arion Lite?

You will be able to play backwards compatible PS4 games on the PlayStation 5 system directly off of the solid state drive stored in your ROG Strix Arion or ROG Strix Arion Lite.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to play native PS5 games directly from an external drive. In order to play a PS5 game stored on the SSD of your ROG Strix Arion or ROG Strix Arion Lite, you need to move the game files from the USB Extended Storage to the console storage. You should then be able to play the PS5 game from the internal SSD of your PlayStation 5 system.

What’s the difference between the ASUS ROG Strix Arion and Arion Lite?

ASUS has two similar M.2 NVMe SSD external portable enclosure case adapters. So, what are the main differences between the ROG Strix Arion and ROG Strix Arion Lite?

You can find out in this comparison between the two external solid state drive enclosure case adapters.

Quick Summary

When compared to the ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite, the ASUS ROG Strix Arion comes with a hanging protective holder. The regular version also includes cables to connect to USB Type-A ports and USB Type-C ports.

With the ROG Strix Arion Lite, you can only connect to USB Type-C ports right out of the box unless you already have an USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable.

These two SSD external portable enclosure case adapters are identical when it comes to interface speed, compatible SSD formats, system requirements, heat dissipation features, temperature ranges, humidity ranges and power usage.

So, if you need a hanging protective holder and/or USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable, then we recommend getting the ASUS ROG Strix Arion. Otherwise, the ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite is the more affordable option.

ROG Strix Arion vs. ROG Strix Arion Lite Comparison Guide

You can take a look at Seeking Tech’s comparison table for the Strix Arion and Strix Arion Lite below.

ASUS ROG Strix Arion M.2 NVMe SSD External Portable Enclosure Case AdapterASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite M.2 NVMe SSD External Portable Enclosure Case Adapter
ColorBlackBlack
Dimension124.5 mm x 47.7 mm x 10.9 mm124.5 mm x 47.7 mm x 10.9 mm
Weight98 grams98 grams
Hanging Protective HolderIncludedNot included
InterfaceUSB 3.2 Gen 2x1USB 3.2 Gen 2x1
Interface SpeedUp to 10 GbpsUp to 10 Gbps
Operating System CompatibilityWindows 7

Windows 8

Windows 8.1

Windows 10

Mac OS X 10.6 or later

Android devices with USB On-The-Go
Windows 7

Windows 8

Windows 8.1

Windows 10

Mac OS X 10.6 or later

Android devices with USB On-The-Go
ASUS Aura Sync System RequirementsWindows 8 (64 bit)

Windows 8.1 (64 bit)

Windows 10 (64 bit)
Windows 8 (64 bit)

Windows 8.1 (64 bit)

Windows 10 (64 bit)
Solid State Drive CompatibilityM.2 PCI Express 2230

M.2 PCI Express 2242

M.2 PCI Express 2260

M.2 PCI Express 2280
M.2 PCI Express 2230

M.2 PCI Express 2242

M.2 PCI Express 2260

M.2 PCI Express 2280
Included USB CablesUSB Type-C to USB Type-A

USB Type-C to USB Type-C
USB Type-C to USB Type-C
Heat DissipationAluminum alloy case

Thermal pads
Aluminum alloy case

Thermal pads
Screwdriver-Free Installation?YesYes
Operating Temperature Range0 ℃ (or 32 ℉) to 40 ℃ (or 104 ℉)0 ℃ (or 32 ℉) to 40 ℃ (or 104 ℉)
Storage Temperature Range-20 ℃ (or -4 ℉) to 60 ℃ (or 140 ℉)-20 ℃ (or -4 ℉) to 60 ℃ (or 140 ℉)
Operating Humidity Range15% to 80%15% to 80%
Storage Humidity Range10% to 90%10% to 90%
Voltage5V5V
PricingCheck price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned)Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned)

Color

The ROG Strix Arion and ROG Strix Arion Lite are both only available in black.

Dimension

The two enclosures are identical in size.

You can find the measurements, which is displayed as Length x Width x Height, below:

  • 124.5 mm x 47.7 mm x 10.9 mm

Weight

The products also weigh the same at 98 grams.

Hanging Protective Holder

The ASUS ROG Strix Arion is the only one of the two solid state drive enclosures to come with a hanging protective holder.

Interface

The ROG Strix Arion and ROG Strix Arion Lite both use USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 as the interface.

Interface Speed

The two storage drive enclosures in this versus showdown have an interface speed of up to 10 Gbps.

Operating System Compatibility

The two products are compatible with the following operating systems:

  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows 10
  • Mac OS X 10.6 or later
  • Android devices with USB On-The-Go

ASUS Aura Sync System Requirements

Both of these enclosures also feature RGB lighting as you can use ASUS Aura Sync if you have the following operating systems:

  • Windows 8 (64 bit)
  • Windows 8.1 (64 bit)
  • Windows 10 (64 bit)

Solid State Drive Compatibility

The ASUS ROG Strix Arion and ASUS ROG Strix Arion Lite M.2 NVMe SSD External Portable Enclosure Case Adapters can be used with the following solid state drive types:

  • M.2 PCI Express 2230
  • M.2 PCI Express 2242
  • M.2 PCI Express 2260
  • M.2 PCI Express 2280

Included USB Cables

The ROG Strix Arion comes with USB Type-C to USB Type-A and USB Type-C to USB Type-C cables. As a result, you will be able to connect the enclosure with USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports.

The ROG Strix Arion Lite only comes with an USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable. So, you can only connect this enclosure to a USB Type-C port unless to have your own USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable.

Heat Dissipation

When it comes to heat dissipation, both of the enclosures use an aluminum alloy case and thermal pads.

Screwdriver-Free Installation

These two products also feature a screwdriver-free installation as these enclosures use pins and thumbscrews instead.

Operating Temperature Range

The ROG Strix Arion and ROG Strix Arion Lite have the same operating temperature range, which is from 0 ℃ (or 32 ℉) to 40 ℃ (or 104 ℉).

Storage Temperature Range

These enclosures also have the same non-operating temperature as you can store these products within a range of -20 ℃ (or -4 ℉) to 60 ℃ (or 140 ℉).

Operating Humidity Range

The regular and lite versions of the ROG Strix Arion have the same operating humidity range of 15% to 80%.

Storage Humidity Range

The two enclosures also have the same non-operating humidity range as both can be stored from 10% to 90%.

Voltage

When it comes to voltage, both ASUS products use 5V.

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