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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

It doesn't matter if you have the 20GB, 60GB, or even the new 80GB PlayStation 3--you can always use more storage space. All that available hard-disk space quickly disappears once you start downloading games, demos, and HD videos. Fortunately, Sony has designed the PS3 to allow console owners to perform their own hard-drive upgrades. You can go out and select your own hard drive instead of being forced to buy an official first-party hard-disk accessory. However, giving console owners that freedom means that aspiring upgraders will need to know how to select the right hard-drive upgrade and the proper installation technique.

The first step to replacing the hard disk is going to the store or visiting an online retailer to pick up a new hard disk. The PS3 is compatible with just about any 2.5-inch SATA notebook hard disk. Both 5400- and 7200-RPM drives should work fine. The physical size of the hard disk is important because it has to fit the PS3's 2.5-inch drive tray. As far as storage capacity goes, it doesn't make sense to go through the trouble of upgrading unless you go big: We're talkin' 120GB, 160GB, or even 250GB.

Once you have your upgrade drive, the next step is to back up the data on your current PS3 hard drive to an external storage unit. You can skip this step if you aren't attached to your music, videos, and game saves, but most of us will probably want to save all that information. The PS3 has a built-in software backup utility that can copy the PS3's hard-drive contents to an external storage device, such as a USB thumb drive or a memory stick. The removable storage device must use the FAT32 file system in order for the PS3 to recognize it. If you have an external hard drive that's formatted in NTFS, you can use the Disk Management utility in Windows to reformat the drive, but you'll need to create partitions on large external hard drives because Windows can only do FAT32 on drives 32GB or smaller.

If your storage device isn't large enough to handle a full system backup, you can selectively copy data over through the various music, photo, and game menus in the XMB. Your PlayStation Network login and system settings will remain safe on the system during the entire process. After you have your data safely backed up, you can move on to the actual hard-drive swap.

You will need a Phillips-head screwdriver to complete this part of the installation process. The PS3 owner's manual also includes step-by-step details on how to replace the hard drive, in case you need more instructions.

At this point you should have a newly upgraded PS3 and the leftover hard drive. You could try selling the old drive, but small-capacity used drives might not fetch enough money to be worth the hassle of finding a buyer. If you still want to make the drive useful, you can buy an external drive enclosure to make it into a portable storage device.

Are you ready to upgrade your PlayStation 3 hard drive, or have you already upgraded it? Share your tips or concerns in the comments below!

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597 Comments

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frederikfrey

Is This Hard or Dangerous in any way?

Posted Jul 3, 2008 4:20 am GMT
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marcillo42

will one ps3 read another hard drive from another ps3 when they switched?

Posted Jun 28, 2008 3:51 am GMT
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Jedi_Gon

This is kindof silly, since this is also in the PS3 Handbook. Only with sketched images.

Posted Jun 25, 2008 8:32 pm GMT
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chewoocheung

Hi thegod66, do you mean how big the hard drive can put into the PS3?

Posted Jun 24, 2008 11:42 am GMT
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thegod66

is there a limit to how big the hard drive can be?

Posted Jun 24, 2008 11:05 am GMT
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chewoocheung

Hi millieisadog, yes , you can save your game save data onto the usb drive.

Posted Jun 17, 2008 2:33 pm GMT
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millieisadog

can you manually copy game save info to a usb?

Posted Jun 12, 2008 11:15 am GMT
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abtin00000

TANKS

Posted Jun 11, 2008 4:56 am GMT
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mike455fb

Thank you Sony and GameSpot.

Posted Jun 10, 2008 9:28 am GMT
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dwightlightning

this is sweet! i'll have to do that next time i get the chance!

Posted Jun 9, 2008 10:17 pm GMT
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xophaser

Bazooka401-
No, the PS3's Blu Ray is just a player, it can't write or burn anything.

Posted Jun 8, 2008 9:55 pm GMT
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bazooka401

Could you use a blank blu ray disk to back up the utility? Because i'm thinking about doing that.

Posted Jun 8, 2008 4:41 pm GMT
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hrf2k5

thanx a bunch

Posted Jun 8, 2008 9:26 am GMT
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felipenet7

the thing is that you don't need more space even if you download lots of things as you always end up deleting some old stuff. I think this is gonna be useful when Sony provides in the PSN Full game downloads, I mean games like MGS4 Killzone 2 that will take up some 30 gig each. If Sony does this the 500 HDD market will go huge!!

Posted Jun 8, 2008 2:11 am GMT
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haskell420

Can I transfer my PS3 data to a external Hard drive, rather than a puny USB storage device since they are only 4mb's and such?

Posted Jun 7, 2008 4:39 pm GMT
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ztron370 Posted Jun 7, 2008 11:41 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)
spikeamen

Thank You!

Posted Jun 7, 2008 2:20 am GMT
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killahc

this is very very useful thanks gamespot. =]

Posted Jun 6, 2008 7:38 pm GMT
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itwiz90

Thanks for the info. I've just prepurchased an 80G PS3 and now I will look into 7200rpm drives. I think 200G is enough for me. I have a PC with HD (500G) that will hold my personal data.

Posted Jun 6, 2008 7:26 pm GMT
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supernintendo

thanks

Posted Jun 5, 2008 12:23 pm GMT
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mark_unix

7500rpm doesn't exist, 7200rpm does but there are no 5400RPM 500GB let alone 500GB 7200rpm.
and there is a almost zero difference between 5400 and 7200 on the PS3.

don't forget it's 2.5" not 3.5", only 2.5" laptop s-aata drives work..

Posted Jun 3, 2008 6:29 pm GMT
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xophaser

Also you can not connect a 3.5" external HD to the PS3, only an 2.5" external HD. I have no luck with the 3.5" yet.

Posted Jun 1, 2008 6:25 pm GMT
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xophaser

Adam636,
I think I know what you are say now, you won't/don't have an extra external HD to back up to in the first place. No your PS3 will not do a backup onto itself, I don't think, why don't you try that. Then you can take it an put in a case before your 320gb is installed, if that can be done. I had 13gb of backup off my 20gb HD. I think you need to ask a friend to borrow an external hard drive or slowly copying all your save game on a 4GB usb HD and burned onto a PC some how. .
Also, if you want to back up onto the 320gb then place it in the PS3 and take out the old HD. Will the PS3 read the restore file on the mainhard drive is a question, but if you back up onto your 320 as an external then save it onto a PC, yes. One you make the old 20 or 60-80gb HD as an external copy, then copy it back off the PC and then plug it into the PS3 usb external.
When you buy a hard drive you never get the full value. As a rule of thumb hard drive sizes are about 5-10% less then what is stated on the box. This has been around for years. My computer listed 500GB HD only has 465 GB again the 5-10% rule. So the 320 GB is around 288 to 304GB. I think it is closer to 7% off. Then after that, the OS will install itself and that will take up more HD space.

Posted Jun 1, 2008 6:08 pm GMT
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chewoocheung

Hi adam636, please say more clear that what is your questions are? Thanks.

Posted Jun 1, 2008 9:43 am GMT
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adam636

also... is there a way (if i bought the 320Gb) to get the full 320Gb as storage space, i have read below about the 250Gb hard drive being only 232 when it is formatted?
i dont fully understand but if someone could help it would be great

Posted Jun 1, 2008 3:44 am GMT
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adam636

i understand what your saying, but i mean if i use the same hard drive to back up whats on my ps3 atm as what i put into the ps3.
so i would buy a 320GB HDD, back up my ps3 onto it, then plug it into my ps3 as an internal HDD would it work as normal?

Posted Jun 1, 2008 3:41 am GMT
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xophaser

adam636 what a weird question.

With my hard-drive (HD) experience, the PS3 would need to have a HD like a computer to boot up. You can always use any HD as external with the right case. The PC will read the PS3 files, but probably can't do anything about it but copy it. When the PS3 archive onto an external HD it save an archive.dat file which only the PS3 OS can excute it. All the save games and movies are compress as an image in the dat file which window will not be able to open. It is like making an window image backup to your PC on a HD, only system restore can uncompress the files and excute it. Like vice versa the PS3's OS wouldn't know what to do with the Window restore files. I been using an external HD to move files between my PC and PS3 for a while: backup, mp3, divx, mpg4. I can share Window files, but haven't been able to share PS3 files over the network. I wouldn't open the PS3's HD all the time, which would create wear and tear.

Posted May 31, 2008 2:25 pm GMT
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adam636

could somebody tell me?
if i bought a 320GB hard drive (internal) to upgrade my ps3 with
then put this into a external case (temporarily), could i back up my utility onto this as an external drive then simply take it out of its case and use it as an internal hard drive?
if i havnt made myself clear just let me know
thanks

Posted May 31, 2008 1:54 pm GMT
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Stain

PuppetMaster786 : The links you gave a couple of posts ago for newegg are for 3.5" hard drives. You need to put a 2.5" hard drive in the PS3, so you cannont use the 750GB and 1000GB (1TB) drives. Best bang for the buck right now are the 250 GB 2.5" SATA drives, I just got one for $100 and it works like a charm.

Cheers,
Stain

Posted May 29, 2008 11:40 am GMT
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MAXPAINE_1989

@ zer0ne yes then thts right i dont need to ask wt i wanted to thx for detailss man i love ya coz i hv bought a 250 GB sata 2.5" toshiba modle:z____f353 something and the back up took backup time approx:1hr :58 min and restore the same n when i saw its space before restore its 205/233 n i said damn if it was a vista a system itself cannont take 17 gb alone hey did u quick format or full format i did quick but now at this moment i am formatting it full technique time format 16 hrs n 50 min LMAO look zer0ne lets speak this up n amybe we'll find something to help the society

Posted May 18, 2008 3:51 am GMT
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PuppetMaster786

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=14&name=Internal-Hard-Drives

follow this link and look on the leftr side and pick your size hard drive they give you great deals like a western digital 500 gig for 95 bucks and not too mention that they have a 1 tb hard drive from $200-$305, the 200$ one is Western Digital Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB 5400 to 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Posted May 15, 2008 5:51 pm GMT
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ZenTsu

Thanks for the info guys haven't got my ps3 yet (waiting for a restock in gta4 packs) but hdd swap is def first move 40gb just wont be enough

Posted May 13, 2008 5:40 am GMT
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lord-of-gamers

GogetaSSJ7
1)No i do not think so - Sony always prided themselves on letting any 2.5" drive into the PS3
2)No not yet - the latest is 500GB which is just starting to come out now
3)i do not think so - although someone somewhere has probable found a way

Posted May 10, 2008 6:36 am GMT
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football_legend

Nice

Posted May 7, 2008 10:54 am GMT
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GogetaSSJ7

Nice!!! Just three Questions
1) Is there a special SATA HDD trademark that only the PS3 recognize or you can use all Trademarks?
2) Is there any 1TB SATA 2.5" HDD?
3) Is there anyway to use more than 10GB to install Linux without leaving just petty 10GB to the PS3?

Posted May 5, 2008 5:20 pm GMT
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gungrave_heat

what external drive enclosure will be the best for my ps3 8o gb internal hard drive from this web page www.FrontierPC.com

Posted May 5, 2008 9:01 am GMT
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xophaser

Zen Tsu- The PS3 will read the full 250 or more like 232GB. The answer is yes, but do not format with the PS3 for 250GB, it took like 14 hours, I dumped a bunch of music on. When you install a new drive you really don't have to reformat or do anything.

Fat32 is like for window 98, NTS is the perfer format these days. I like newegg for hardrive selections, and frys if you want it at a store.

Posted May 1, 2008 11:36 pm GMT
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chewoocheung

Hi ZenTsu, my 250Gb harddrive can only format in 32Gb on my Window XP, but I have use another software (PartitionMagic) , then I can format in full 250Gb partition.
I think it helps.bye.

Posted May 1, 2008 8:39 am GMT
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ZenTsu

Instead of using the ps3 hdd for video and audio you could setup a media server from a desktop using Twonky Media a DLNA3 compatible server, share folders right from the desktop over wireless or hardwired network.

@Wilburbud: Maybe the 32Gb limit is on the ps3 bios, as you are correct fat32 can support large partitions, but no physicial file larger than 4Gb (generally) Fat16 however can only support a partition size of 32Gb.

Can anyone confirm / deny the ps3 with new hdd can run a full 250Gb partition?

Posted May 1, 2008 4:50 am GMT
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Wilburbud

I am confused about the FAT32 32 GB limitation that the article's author mentions. It seems, from reading a support article on Microsoft.com, that that limitation is only in effect during the Windows XP installation process. I have a 250 GB FAT32 drive that works with no issues so that I can access it on Macs as well. FAT32 can support up to 2 TB. Microsoft FAT32 Reference: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310525/EN-US/

Posted Apr 26, 2008 9:06 am GMT
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chewoocheung

Hi Dreamachine536, you can purchase the harddrives from most of the computer stores or websites (tigerdirect, amazon, futureshop, bestbuy etc), and follow the instructions step by step as above and you will be fine. Hope this helps.

Posted Apr 24, 2008 10:03 am GMT
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Dreamachine536

Hey i have the 40 GB PS3 and wanna upgrade cause i got 2 other brothers who play as well and it sucks the memory when you have 3 different saves of Assassins Creed. My question is where can i buy another hard disk for my PS3 and whats the going price for the higher end hard disk (ex: 120, 160, or 250)

Posted Apr 22, 2008 4:37 pm GMT
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zeke2040

well i just got 250 GB and i don't think its enough actually... i download the new beta testing for the play tv, its kinda like a tivo for the ps3... so i download movies from the net with my ps3 and save them on there... well not also that, i got tons of game to format them to my ps3, like old ps2 games etc...

Posted Apr 22, 2008 11:43 am GMT
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superb_01

250GB!!!!!!!!!!!what are you goin to do with that much of memory?????????!!!!!!

Posted Apr 19, 2008 7:59 pm GMT
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xophaser

I just did this today and got to say it is pretty easy. I got the seagate monumentus 250gb, which is the same as the one the PS3 used. Those games install really add like 4GB to your hard drive per pop. The only warning I got to say is don't unscrew your hard drive when it is hot. My screw driver pretty much worn out the screw head when the metal got warm and softer.

This was a good step by step review by gamespot.

Posted Apr 16, 2008 10:28 pm GMT
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zer0ne

I've upgraded my 60GB 1st Edition U/C PS3 with a Samsung 320GB/5400rpm/8M HDD model HM320JI. Backup time approx. = 1hr 07min. Restore time approx. = 1hr 02min. Total HDD space detected by system before restore backup = 263GB/298GB. Backup data approx. = 29GB. Left over free space = 234GB/298GB.

Posted Apr 15, 2008 10:31 am GMT
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mrhuntin

ohh

Posted Apr 5, 2008 5:11 am GMT
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parvyb Posted Apr 4, 2008 4:14 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)
JohnLuke132

i say if im sure by expierenced people it will work i'll do it.,

Posted Mar 29, 2008 4:39 pm GMT
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Crappyboy

Great guide... But I am feeling a little weird
Prior to my upgrade, I only used about 15GB. I backed the whole thing up and did what the guide stated

However, right after the format, I already used 17GB and after restoring, i had double up my usage leaving me 193GB only... (250GB Western Digital)

Was I suppose to do a Full Format?
That will kill the OS right?

Posted Mar 11, 2008 7:36 am GMT
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