Got a PS3 at last!!

[twodaparty]

Finally decided to jump on the PS3 bandwagon. Got in on the $399 40gb deal with the $100 gift card. I also signed up for the Sony Card so will be getting an instant $100 statement credit, so converting my gift card to cash means I scored one for just $200. That's a steal imo.

Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone upgraded their hard drive. I hear this is fairly easy to do. I'm trying to decide on either a 320gb 2.5" 5400rpm internal notebook hd or a 200gb 2.5" 7200rpm hd. The price would be about the same. I'm wondering if boot up time and playback would be significantly faster with the higher rpm hd or if it would just be better to have more space. I'm 99% sure the hd that comes with the PS3 is only 5400rpm. Any advice on doing this and potential issues to avoid? I would rather do this hd swap now while the PS3 is still new and I don't have to worry about transferring and/or saving content. Thanks!

[GatorBASS]

Damn two, nice pick up.

I don't know about the PS3, but my computer nerd buddy convenced me to get the 7200 rpm hd in my laptop, as opposed to the 5400 rpm.

I doubt this helps at all, but congrats on the new purchase. One day, I will join you.

[Termig8r]

Yes, upgrading the hard drive in a PS3 is a snap, any 2.5 inch sata drive form factor will work.

In fact in the setup instructions, Sony show you exactly how to change out the hard drive. a couple of screws, pop the old one out, push the new one in and reboot, takes about 5 mintues tops...

[nihilan_the_gator]

Go with the extra space. And buy Drake's Fortune.

[3DFX Gator]

Finally decided to jump on the PS3 bandwagon. Got in on the $399 40gb deal with the $100 gift card. I also signed up for the Sony Card so will be getting an instant $100 statement credit, so converting my gift card to cash means I scored one for just $200. That's a steal imo.

Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone upgraded their hard drive. I hear this is fairly easy to do. I'm trying to decide on either a 320gb 2.5" 5400rpm internal notebook hd or a 200gb 2.5" 7200rpm hd. The price would be about the same. I'm wondering if boot up time and playback would be significantly faster with the higher rpm hd or if it would just be better to have more space. I'm 99% sure the hd that comes with the PS3 is only 5400rpm. Any advice on doing this and potential issues to avoid? I would rather do this hd swap now while the PS3 is still new and I don't have to worry about transferring and/or saving content. Thanks!

How exactly did you score one for $200? Did you sign up for the Sony CC at Wal-Mart? Are you able to use the gift card on your PS3 purchase? I'm debating a PS3 vs 360 and this could tilt it into PS3's favor. Thanks.

[helix139]

Finally decided to jump on the PS3 bandwagon. Got in on the $399 40gb deal with the $100 gift card. I also signed up for the Sony Card so will be getting an instant $100 statement credit, so converting my gift card to cash means I scored one for just $200. That's a steal imo.

Anyway, I wanted to see if anyone upgraded their hard drive. I hear this is fairly easy to do. I'm trying to decide on either a 320gb 2.5" 5400rpm internal notebook hd or a 200gb 2.5" 7200rpm hd. The price would be about the same. I'm wondering if boot up time and playback would be significantly faster with the higher rpm hd or if it would just be better to have more space. I'm 99% sure the hd that comes with the PS3 is only 5400rpm. Any advice on doing this and potential issues to avoid? I would rather do this hd swap now while the PS3 is still new and I don't have to worry about transferring and/or saving content. Thanks!

Everything I've read has been to stick with 5400rpm drives. Performance wasn't significantly increased in tests using 7200rpm drives but the 7200rpm drives run significantly hotter.

[helix139]

How exactly did you score one for $200? Did you sign up for the Sony CC at Wal-Mart? Are you able to use the gift card on your PS3 purchase? I'm debating a PS3 vs 360 and this could tilt it into PS3's favor. Thanks.

If you purchase a PS3 with a sony credit card anywhere, they will send you a $100 gift card. Additionally, Walmart is running a promotion right now where they are giving a $100 gift card with any Blu Ray player purchase, which includes the PS3. If I were you I would wait until later this week. There is a Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle coming out with an 80GB PS3, Metal Gear Solid 4, and a DualShock 3. Cost before discounts should be $499 but you get a game and one of the newer controllers with rumble with that also. Using the discounts could bring it down to $299. I believe the 80GB in the bundle does have backwards compatibility, but don't quote me on that.

[FrankGator627]

Do you want a used GTA:4 ? :nervous smile:

[DarthGator]

If you purchase a PS3 with a sony credit card anywhere, they will send you a $100 gift card. Additionally, Walmart is running a promotion right now where they are giving a $100 gift card with any Blu Ray player purchase, which includes the PS3. If I were you I would wait until later this week. There is a Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle coming out with an 80GB PS3, Metal Gear Solid 4, and a DualShock 3. Cost before discounts should be $499 but you get a game and one of the newer controllers with rumble with that also. Using the discounts could bring it down to $299. I believe the 80GB in the bundle does have backwards compatibility, but don't quote me on that.

My 80GB PS3 has software based backwards compatibilty.

[helix139]

My 80GB PS3 has software based backwards compatibilty.

Previous 80GBs do, but I don't know for sure that this particular one will.

[NothingRemains10]

so when u swap the hard drives, it keeps all the ps3 operating system in tack?

[twodaparty]

If you purchase a PS3 with a sony credit card anywhere, they will send you a $100 gift card. Additionally, Walmart is running a promotion right now where they are giving a $100 gift card with any Blu Ray player purchase, which includes the PS3. If I were you I would wait until later this week. There is a Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle coming out with an 80GB PS3, Metal Gear Solid 4, and a DualShock 3. Cost before discounts should be $499 but you get a game and one of the newer controllers with rumble with that also. Using the discounts could bring it down to $299. I believe the 80GB in the bundle does have backwards compatibility, but don't quote me on that.

Almost right. They don't send you a $100 gift card for using the Sony Card. They just issue a $100 statement credit which shows up within about 4 days from purchase. That's even better than a gift card because you don't have to spend it or worry about converting it to cash.

Here is the link to sign up for the Sony Card for anyone who is interested in this promotion.

http://sonycard.sony.com/sonygateway/gateway.asp?offerlink=sonycardps3c100&PID=none&SPID=B7RY&CELL=6064&MSC=&AFFID=&CLICK=&CID=&PROMO=DF01

Plus I get 12 months no interest according to the ad so in I can just set up payments for around $27 per month if I want and pay it off like that.

The $100 gift card came from the purchase at the store. You can actually do this at Wal-Mart like Helix mentioned or if you would prefer a Best Buy gift card you can do it there as they are matching Wal-Mart's offer. Then you can either spend the $100 gift card or you can pop it on ebay where for some weird reason they tend to sell for more than the face value. I guess people are that lazy in America that they can't take their rear to the store to purchase gift cards.

I purposely opted for the 40gb as opposed to doing the deal with the 80gb because as mentioned in my first post, I plan on upgrading the hard drive to way past 80gb anyway. Furthermore, I don't have any PS2 games, so that backwards compatibility issue with the 40gb wasn't a concern for me. And lastly, I'm not interested in MGS4.

By the way, I have actually heard a rumor that Sony will be releasing a firmware upgrade patch that will make the 40gb's PS3's backwards compatible.

[LeafUF]

Go with the extra space. And buy Drake's Fortune.

Second this. Drakes was a lot of fun.

[helix139]

so when u swap the hard drives, it keeps all the ps3 operating system in tack?

Not quite. My understanding is you have to format the new drive when you power up the system. The PS3 OS itself is contained in the firmware.

[NothingRemains10]

Oh ok thats easy then

[helix139]

Oh ok thats easy then

The other thing you may want to do is back up to an external drive first so you don't lose all your data. There is a utility in the settings to do this.

[GatorBASS]

10 and helix139, I do not have a HD TV yet, but I really want to take advantage of the current deal.

Would it be worth it to get the PS3 now and get the HD TV later? I currently have a PS2, with a fair amount of games. Should I also get the 80G HD to be able to play both?

Thanks guys.

GatorBASS

[FrankGator627]

10 and helix139, I do not have a HD TV yet, but I really want to take advantage of the current deal.

Would it be worth it to get the PS3 now and get the HD TV later? I currently have a PS2, with a fair amount of games. Should I also get the 80G HD to be able to play both?

Thanks guys.

GatorBASS

that's what I am doing. The PS3 is a significant upgrade over the PS2. I would definitely take advantage of the deal.

[GatorBASS]

Thanks Frank.

What extactly does the software based backwards capability allow one to do, in regards to the PS2?

Appreciate the help fellas.

GatorBASS

[helix139]

Thanks Frank.

What extactly does the software based backwards capability allow one to do, in regards to the PS2?

Appreciate the help fellas.

GatorBASS

All PS3's can play PS1 games. 20GB and 60GB PS3's can play all PS2 games. The first 80GB PS3's can play almost all PS2 games. I'm not actually sure if the new 80GBs can play PS2 games, as it is a different SKU and probably a different model number

[twodaparty]

All PS3's can play PS1 games. 20GB and 60GB PS3's can play all PS2 games. The first 80GB PS3's can play almost all PS2 games. I'm not actually sure if the new 80GBs can play PS2 games, as it is a different SKU and probably a different model number

It is my understanding that the 80gb has about an 80% success rate of playing PS2 games. I also hear that Sony is working on a patch to make the 40gb backwards compatible, but I'll believe that when I see it. I don't see why this new 80gb bundle wouldn't be backwards compatible as that would be a disaster move on Sony that would upset customers if they changed it. I also believe this new 80gb has the new chip set that runs cooler like the 40gb has but that's not confirmed yet to my knowledge.