[Hooblue]

I'm thinking of buying an external HDD to use with my PS3. I was tempted to just upgrade the internal HDD but on second thoughts have decided to go for an external drive as then I'll be able to swap it between my PS3 and laptop/PC if needed, so I'll be able to either stream from it using the PC or plug it in directly for when I want to use the remote play feature of my PSP (as I don't really want to have to leave my PC on all the time if I'm out of the country or away from home).

So my question is, in terms of HDD's which is best to go for? Is it best to go for a small portable USB powered one or a slightly bigger mains one? WIll the speed make any difference as I notice that most portable ones are 5400rpm while the mains ones are usually 7200rpm?

Any recommendations as to exactly which one to get? I'm not looking at anything massive, 250-500GB would do. I've seen a few Seagate ones which look quite nice and seem to get decent enough reviews.

Cheers!

[Kaden101]

Seagate or Western Digital are fine, but most reputable make external drives will be fine. 3.5" drives are generally a bit cheaper than the 2.5" laptop ones. I didn't even know you could get USB powered hard drives (I thought they all had to be connected to the mains, shows how outta date I became since I got my PS3).

As for access speeds, there really isn't that much between 5400rpm & 7200rpm, fractions of seconds here & there.

You'll get a 250GB USB powered Freecom hard drive for around 40GBP (my pound sign on this work PC has gone kaplooey again). For that kind of money you could get up to a 500GB 3.5" mains powered HDD.You can pick up 1TB 3.5" mains powered HDD's for around the 65GBP mark.

I'd check out my favourite PC shop.

cclonline.com

They have shed loads of external hard drives from really cheap to ridiculously expensive.

Just remember you'll have to format it on the PC as FAT32 using a 3rd party program, otherwise the PS3 won't see it.

Yay, my 100th post, now I'm speshal

[ellisbailey]

I recently got a 1Tb external from currys for £65 notes which I though was reasonable.

In the process of makng all my movies PS3 friendly so I can eiher plug it in direct, or simply stream.

[Axum]

As already mentioned, don't bother with a more expensive 2.5inch drive, get a 1TB external that are always selling around the £60 mark these days, just get the most storage you can afford, you'll need it at some point.

[Hooblue]

Cheers folks, just got myself a 500GB Seagate 3.5" external drive for £45. That should keep me going for a while!

Currently in the process of formatting it to FAT32.

[Axum]

Use Ridgecrop Consultants Ltd

[Jason56d]

Originally Posted by Axum

Use Ridgecrop Consultants Ltd

+1 quick and easy.

[Hooblue]

Originally Posted by Axum

Use Ridgecrop Consultants Ltd

Thanks guys!

I used that in the end and it literally took about 5 seconds! That's just saved me a whole night or waiting for it to reformat!

[hankmarvin]

Anyone using a external hdd with a sata dock on the PS3?

My external 2.5" 80GB drive failed yesterday, so thought I may as well upgrade.
Can get a 1.5TB drive for £75, and a sata dock for £20.(Might be a pain trying to format in Fat32)

[johny1980]

I want a 2"5 inch disk that does not require mains power (will power of USB) and will plug straight into my ps3 (fat32 ready ?) and will also plug into my pc with no annoying software/unwanted pop ups

not essential but black and gloss finish would be nice

Ideas chaps ?

[Axum]

Something like : 500GB Buffalo HD-PE500U2/BK, MiniStation Lite, 2.5", 1 x USB 2.0/1.1, 5400 rpm, 8MB Cache, Black - Scan.co.uk

Although i'm sure you'll be able to get cheaper...but why do you want a more expensive 2.5 disk if you want an external one ? Purely so you don't have to power it separately ?

Any 2.5inch drive will do, as long as it's FAT32 formatted.

[Uridium]

Originally Posted by johny1980

I want a 2"5 inch disk that does not require mains power (will power of USB) and will plug straight into my ps3 (fat32 ready ?) and will also plug into my pc with no annoying software/unwanted pop ups

not essential but black and gloss finish would be nice

Ideas chaps ?

Just buy a WD passport then. Pretty reliable (I've been throwing mine around for years) and a good 3yr warranty if it goes TU.

Western Digital My Passport Essential 500GB USB 2.0: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

[johny1980]

Originally Posted by Uridium

Just buy a WD passport then. Pretty reliable (I've been throwing mine around for years) and a good 3yr warranty if it goes TU.

Western Digital My Passport Essential 500GB USB 2.0: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

the newer ones are crap apparently, youve probably got one of the older ones which were good

[johny1980]

Originally Posted by Axum

Something like : 500GB Buffalo HD-PE500U2/BK, MiniStation Lite, 2.5", 1 x USB 2.0/1.1, 5400 rpm, 8MB Cache, Black - Scan.co.uk

Although i'm sure you'll be able to get cheaper...but why do you want a more expensive 2.5 disk if you want an external one ? Purely so you don't have to power it separately ?

Any 2.5inch drive will do, as long as it's FAT32 formatted.

2.5" because there smaller and no mains required, yes

[Axum]

So, like i said, pretty much any 2.5inch external HDD then, depending on what you want to spend etc, i'd always go for a WD one personally as i've never had any problems.

What about... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002COI612/