Want to add to your PS3 storage capacity?
It can be super easy!
And FREE!If you are like me and want to add movies and other larger files then you're going to soon run out of space on your PS3 HDD and so you may be thinking about adding to your capacity. Now, if you've done any reading up at the PS3 forums you've seen lots of ways to add hard drive capacity to your PS3, here's some of them and what's involved.
1/ Replace your internal PS3 HDD with a laptop HDD:
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, including a thickness limitation of 9.5mm.
But... with this approach you'll have file type and file size issues to deal with, namely the Sony system can only read the FAT32 file type and FAT32 has an issue reading an HDD larger than 32GB. All of these file type issues can be overcome of course, it just takes some know-how and some work.
HDD prices are not that high currently, so this is a good option if you have the know-how and are willing to deal with the file and formatting issues.
2/ Add and external USB HDD:
This is a great option and I considered using this approach for my PS3, but you've got to deal with simular file and formatting issues with this setup as you do with an eternal HDD and you have the added expense of the external enclosure for the drive. I have a nice one that only cost me $22 a couple of years ago, but that's another cost that must be considered.
So this way would end up costing you about $125, plus jumping through all those hoops as you try to get your PS3 to see the drive.
3/ The best way... Network your PC to your PS3:
IMHO... this is the best way to add extra storage to your PS3 because it's so easy to do and best of all it's FREE!
The only question is, just how much space do you have available on your PC's HDD? That's how much you can add to your PS3 and the best part is that you don't have to deal with any file type or formatting issue... and, did I mention that it's FREE? :bigteeth:
Here what you need and how to set it up:
... with networking setup, can be wired or wireless. (more on that later)
PS3 Media Server is a free server utility that you install to your networked PC. There are several other programs like this out there, but for me this one was almost effortless in the install, setup and use. Once installed it will see your PS3 through your network and the PS3 can then read and play files that are on the PC... like movies and music.
I've tried this on PC's running Windows7, Vista and XP Pro and it works just fine on all of them.
Possible wireless issues:Streaming video from your PC to your PS3 works great using this system, but there are some issues to consider with the networking part.
On my wireless network the signal strength in the living room was rather weak, only 60%, because it has to travel about 50' and go through two walls so... with the PS3 linked into the wireless network and if I tried to snag a feed from my laptop that is also linked in wireless, a movie would stream, but would be glitchy and jerky. If the feed was pulled for my desktop PC that is tied into the network by cat5 cable the stream was much more smooth and the presentation quality was better. And with the PS3 moved into the same room as the wireless router and hooked to the TV in that room the stream quality was perfect. There was no way to compare the video quality because the difference in the two TV's is just to great, one is a newer flat panel and the other a years old CRT but I think the video quality was much better as well.
So my solution?
Next time I go the Home Depot I'm gonna pick up a 50' cable and link the PS3 into the wired side of my router. :2thumbs:
Enjoy.
