Sony PlayStation-3 appeared on the market in 2006. Over the eight years of its existence, it is significantly behind modern versions. The differences affected not only the appearance of the console, but also its internal structure. The main element that has advanced significantly is the PS3 hard drive. So, the first models were equipped with a hard drive, the volume of which was 120 GB. But today, PS3 is used not only as a game console, but also as a universal multimedia player. In addition, the console is capable of supporting Blu-ray technology. As a result, even a PS3 hard drive with a memory capacity of 500 GB is already considered insufficient to store various multimedia information. "What to do?" - the user of the console with a 120 GB hard drive may ask. There is a way out of this situation - replacing the hard drive. On PS3, it is recommended to install a larger hard. This article will discuss PlayStation game consoles, as well as how to install or replace a hard drive on your device.
Features of PS3 game consoles
For example, consider the Sony PlayStation-3 Slim. In the basic configuration, the hard drive for the PS3 Slim has a capacity of 250 GB. This version differs from previous models by the lack of an integrated card reader, which is no longer installed in order to reduce the cost of the product. In addition, these consoles have completely redesigned the processor architecture, which is a variant of the 64-bit IBM Gell at 3.2 GHz. It was designed for decoding video information and rendering graphics. This processor consists of eight SPE cores and one PPE. Previous models contained only six cores. Processing of graphic data is carried out by the Nvidia RSX550 video card, assembled on the basis of NV47. This version of the console has an elegant design and low weight, in addition, it is significantly more economical in terms of energy consumption. This is due to the fact that the Slim version spends only 100 watts, which is about half as much as the previous versions. Also PS3 Slim is characterized by low noise.
How to choose a new hard drive for PS3?
This procedure is not something supernatural. Sony has not created any barriers to its implementation. This means that all PS3 consoles work with standard 2.5-inch hard drives with a type of SATA interface. The only limitation is that we need a PS3 hard drive with a thickness not exceeding 9.5 mm. Most often, hard drive models with a volume of 750 GB and 1 TB have a large thickness. Therefore, when buying such a device, you need to pay special attention to this parameter. It is recommended that you purchase a 1 TB hard drive for replacement. Maybe you don’t need that size at the moment, but your appetites may increase over time. In order for you to not have to change it again after six months, it is better to install it immediately with a margin.
Update New PS3 Slim
If you purchased a set-top box and immediately decided that you need to replace the hard drive with a PS3 in order to install a larger one, then your task is quite simple. Since you do not have to back up information. This process takes the most time. You only need to go to the Sony official website and download the new version of software (firmware) from there. Transfer this file to the flash drive in the PS3 / UPDATE pack.
Update Used Consoles
The minimum required to download this product is software. However, if the settings, games or other media files that you would like to save and transfer to a new hard drive are stored in the console’s memory, then you need to carry out the data backup procedure. To do this, you need to write the contents of the hard drive to an external media via USB. If your hard drive with PS3 games is jammed to capacity (250 GB), then this process may take several hours. As an external medium, it is better to use an external hard drive. You can, of course, use a flash drive, but its maximum amount is only 64 GB.
First step: Backing up information
If you decide to save useful information and settings from your previous hard drive, then follow these steps. First of all, check which version of software (firmware) is installed on your device. After that, evaluate the amount of data you need to save. This can be done on the system information page. In the Settings section, select the System Settings menu. Next, open the Backup Utility option. To start the backup process , select Backup Utility in the Settings item. The system will ask about the transfer of information to an external medium. We agree with this proposal. Insert the external media into the USB port and start the copying process.
Second step: Replacing the hard drive
First, you need to unscrew the screw (blue) from the hard drive compartment cover. To get to it, you need to remove the small rectangular cover on the device. After the screw is disconnected, remove the sunroof. This is a narrow plastic strip with the inscriptions on it. Next, take out the hard drive with a metal mounting frame. To do this, turn the special handle and pull it towards you. Remove the old hard drive from the mount frame and insert the new one in the same way. We insert the bracket back into the console body, close the lid. We fix it with a screw. This completes the installation of the hard drive in the PS3.
Stage Three: Software Installation
After installing the hard drive, turn on the console. The system announces that it is not able to continue the correct operation, since the PS3 does not see the hard drive. A suggestion will be displayed on the screen: restart the console, format the hard drive and replace the firmware. We reload the game console and install the software, taken from the official site or copied earlier from the previous hard drive. To do this, we connect the flash drive with the firmware recorded on it to the device. The system informs that all data during formatting will be lost. Since the hard drive is empty, we safely agree. To confirm the operation, press the Select and Start keys simultaneously, hold them for several seconds. The system will automatically format and install the software. We are waiting for the end of this procedure, which will take about two minutes. After that, the game console is ready to go, but its hard drive is completely empty. To complete the process, you need to transfer the backup files to it.
Fourth step: Restoring reserved data
We go to the Settings section and open the Backup Utility menu. From the proposed list, select the Restore function. A warning will be displayed on the monitor that all contents of the hard disk will be destroyed. We agree, because the hard drive does not yet have useful information for us. We select the removable media on which we backed up during the first stage. We are waiting for the end of the recording process. Everything, the device is ready to work.
A bit about game consoles
At the moment, the Play Station-3 console is the market leader among gaming devices. The only major competitors are the Xbox-360 and Nintendo Wii. The decision which is best to buy the console is determined by quite reasonable factors, the main one of which is that many games may not be available for a particular console. Therefore, first it’s better to decide which games you want to play, and then find out which console supports them. If the set of toys is not critical for you, then you need to focus on the technical characteristics of the device. Nintendo Wii in this context is significantly inferior to its competitors. She focuses solely on games as well as interactive entertainment. These devices do not have digital sound and Blu-ray support. If you compare the two remaining options, then the PS3 allows you to view video files from disks, and for other indicators, it deserves special attention. But with all this, the Xbox-360 console is like an intermediate link between a personal computer and a game console. Nevertheless, the PS3 surpasses it in its characteristics.
Conclusion
As you can see, connecting an HDD to a PS3 is not difficult even for an inexperienced user. Everything is elementary, the main thing is to adhere to the instructions. Installing a 1TB hard drive will provide free space for recording your favorite games and media files. As a result, you do not have to make a choice which game to record and which to erase. A hard drive of this size will allow storing video files in HD quality on the console. What could not be done with a basic hard drive.