PS3 HDD Upgrade. 5400 vs 7200

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Okay, I am going to get my PS3 and new hard drive, and from the research I have done, especially this article, I am thinking I can just go ahead and get the 5400 RPM drive as it definitely is a but cheaper to go that route.

So does anyone have any strong feelings one way or the other about the pros and cons of getting a 5400 or 7200 RPM drive?

Just some potential drives I have found...

One is a 5400 320 GB Western Digital for 109.99...

The other is a 5400 320 GB Samsung...

A Western Digital 250 GB 7200 RPM for 139.99

And perhaps the best deal as for as spending the least amount of money...

A Toshiba drive 250 GB 5400 RPM Drive for $94.50 (I already included tax and shipping)

And actually I just thought about it all, I may not go with NewEgg since they charge tax (but the shipping time is fantastic), so if anyone finds any better deals along their travels, by all means share. (Y)

Also the more I think about it all, I can probably even get away with a 200GB drive if truly need be, as I stream all of my media from my computers mainly over my 360, so this is almost primarily going to be game and movie download related.

[Martog]

Eh reports say that the performance increase on the PS3 isn't really worth the extra cash you shell out for the 7200RPM drives. I was just looking at this myself and ended up buying the WD 320GB 5400RPM drive for it. Just more worth it to get the slower, bigger capacity for the console.

[DPyro]

Get the first one, I have two - one for laptop, one for PS3.

[giga Veteran]

Seagate Momentus 5400.4 if you can. The drive rivals 7200 drives in speed: http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=1219

[Piggy]

Seagate Momentus 5400.4 if you can. The drive rivals 7200 drives in speed: http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=1219

Yep this will do nicely. Forget the 7200 rpm ones since there's not much difference on a PS3 in terms of speed.

[Sethos]

You won't feel any major difference plus, the drive might run hotter.

[AbandonedTrolley]

I've got the top drive, works perfect, does 'click' sometimes but nothing distracting :)

[jerzdawg]

DL any particular reason for wanting to upgrade?... as I am pretty much in the same boat as you.. most of stuff is done via streaming and while I have not looked at how much of my 40 gigs I have used... I cant imagine its that much... you have the 60 so besides the game installs and some of the PSN games... what would you use the other 200+ gigs for?

[Coldgunner]

what would you use the other 200+ gigs for?

pr0n?

Seriously, I'm considering upgrading my 60GB machine. I have a penchant for wanting excessive free space. with installs its gonna be worthwhile to upgrade now. With the likes of PlayTV coming along, and that sometimes I don't want my PC on at the same time I like to store stuff locally on the machine.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

DL any particular reason for wanting to upgrade?... as I am pretty much in the same boat as you.. most of stuff is done via streaming and while I have not looked at how much of my 40 gigs I have used... I cant imagine its that much... you have the 60 so besides the game installs and some of the PSN games... what would you use the other 200+ gigs for?

Well, with Siren being 9 GB and I plan on getting it, plus with all the game installs, I just do not want to get in the same boat I am in with my 360 now, and that is constantly deleting things just to download movies that I rent. So it really is just for the long term never have to worry factor more than anything else. I can get by without it for awhile, but I figure it just makes sense to do it while I do not have a full 60GB to back up.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

that 5400.4 looks slick. i'll have to consider one if i upgrade my 40GB drive. it's filling up quickly when i download a lot of game demos.

[morficus]

personally, i would go with the 1st 320gb WD that you linked since it's large and cheap.

... 3 of the 4 HDD's in my current PC are Western Digital, and all of my old machines have always had WD's or Maxtor... never had an issue (only 1 Maxtor died at some point).

another reason I would recommend that one... is 'cuase I'm getting it in a few days, next week at the latest - lol

edit:

also, if you look at the combo-deals for that drive you can get an 18" SATA II Cable for free. Technically not free... but the cables costs $2.49.. and they give you a $2.49 discount for the combo deal... so yea.. free (not that you'll need it...but still nice to have :p)

Edited July 25, 2008 by morficus

[x-scratch]

the 320gb is far the best for storage

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

By the way, 320GB drive for $99!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822152111

Good deal if you haven't updated yet DL :yes:

Deal ends tomorrow, be quick!

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

By the way, 320GB drive for $99!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822152111

Good deal if you haven't updated yet DL :yes:

Deal ends tomorrow, be quick!

Definitely thanks for the heads up. I got it. (Y)

I was going to go with a Western Digital on Amazon for 89.99, but it was also $8 shipping. It was also only 250 GB.

So for $9 more (I have to pay tax at New Egg), I got an extra 70GB. Sweet deal.

Now to back up all of my files, that should be fun, as I am close to having my 60GB filled already.

[Emil Valsson]

I just installed the 320GB Samsung in my PS3, works perfect. (Y)

[AbandonedTrolley]

Indeed did mine a couple of weeks ago, hardest part was unscrewing the original drive from the caddy :)

[morficus]

I just purchase a 320gb drive for my PS3, so naturally I've started to read up about backing up and restoring my PS3 data.

White reading the official PlayStation manual site, I saw this:

*1 Copy-protected data cannot be restored. Also, saved data that has been restored may not be usable in some games.

*2 Does not include copyright-protected data.

# In some cases, you may not be able to use the Backup Utility feature to back up or restore the system correctly. It is recommended that you always copy or move important data to storage media in order to independently back up your data.

source

has anyone had any issues restoring game saves??

Also.. what about the games, videos and add-on content from the PSN? Will any of that be in the PS3-generated backup... or will I have to download them again??

[ReAnimation]

I just purchase a 320gb drive for my PS3, so naturally I've started to read up about backing up and restoring my PS3 data.

White reading the official PlayStation manual site, I saw this:

source

has anyone had any issues restoring game saves??

Also.. what about the games, videos and add-on content from the PSN? Will any of that be in the PS3-generated backup... or will I have to download them again??

From my experience everything was restored without a hitch. Downloaded games are tied to your console, so if you have carried out the backup, once you've installed the new hard disk, let the PS3 format it and run the restore everything should come back how it was. Save games, music, downloads, installed games etc.

[morficus]

...everything should come back how it was. Save games, music, downloads, installed games etc.

awesome!

I ordered the drive last night, so I should be getting it mid next week

can't wait :D

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

From my experience everything was restored without a hitch. Downloaded games are tied to your console, so if you have carried out the backup, once you've installed the new hard disk, let the PS3 format it and run the restore everything should come back how it was. Save games, music, downloads, installed games etc.

And do internet settings stay as well? I gave my PS3 a Static IP and all of that, and hope they stay.

BTW, I am backing up my drive right now, I ALREADY got the drive from NewEgg, that was the FASTEST shipping I have ever gotten from them.

So once it is done backing up, I will be installing then restoring the new drive.

[morficus]

BTW, I am backing up my drive right now, I ALREADY got the drive from NewEgg, that was the FASTEST shipping I have ever gotten from them.

You're in NJ, right?

They have a depot there, so if it shipped from NJ I could see it being as quick as a day even if you did 3-day shipping

still awesome though :yes:

[ReAnimation]

And do internet settings stay as well? I gave my PS3 a Static IP and all of that, and hope they stay.

BTW, I am backing up my drive right now, I ALREADY got the drive from NewEgg, that was the FASTEST shipping I have ever gotten from them.

So once it is done backing up, I will be installing then restoring the new drive.

Hmm, not sure about internet settings. I don't think they are backed up as I *think* the settings are saved inside the XMB itself. Don't quote me on that one though as I'm probably wrong!

Let us know what happens when your drive arrives :-)

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

You're in NJ, right?

They have a depot there, so if it shipped from NJ I could see it being as quick as a day even if you did 3-day shipping

still awesome though :yes:

Thats the thing, it was actually shipped from CA!!!

And oh noes about the Internet Settings, I guess I need to write them down.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

A WORD TO THE WISE

Okay, swapping out the PS3 drive was incredibly easy, really is cake.

However, do not do it in a rush. I stripped one of the screws, and it was a real nightmare getting it off, what should have took 3 minutes wound up taking 45, as I did not have the proper tools to get the stripped screw off, and had to go to my local PC store (which did it for free).

But it really was because I rushed it, it was literally the first one I tried, and once I actually did not rush the other 3, they came off easily.

I also had a ton of replacement screws somehow from building various PC's over the year, so luckily, disaster averted.

But it is restoring everything as I type this.

And oh yeah, it did keep my Internet Settings for me. I guess that is in the Flash memory as well.

So all in all, a very easy thing to do, just be careful with the screws holding the hard-drive to the casing, as they are easily stripped.