SSD for a Playstation 3?

[razel]

I tried several different SSDs over the years in my PS3. That Kingston V100+ is the choice primarily for it's price per GIG when new. One interesting thing, the PS3 is the only time that I can easily tell a very minor difference between SSDs. With a G1 or G2 Intel SSD, at times bringing up the XMB in game or during theme selection, the icons show up noticably faster.

However when playing games (disk based, disk installed onto PS3, downloaded PSN games), at least the ones I played, I couldn't tell a difference. I also had no issues with TRIM. I occassionally do HDTach's read only benches off the Intel G1 and G2 and performance is fine.

Another interesting thing is used I found that Intel SSDs cost the same as Kingston V100+ off ebay.

 

[InterClaw]

I tried several different SSDs over the years in my PS3. That Kingston V100+ is the choice primarily for it's price per GIG when new. One interesting thing, the PS3 is the only time that I can easily tell a very minor difference between SSDs. With a G1 or G2 Intel SSD, at times bringing up the XMB in game or during theme selection, the icons show up noticably faster.

However when playing games (disk based, disk installed onto PS3, downloaded PSN games), at least the ones I played, I couldn't tell a difference. I also had no issues with TRIM. I occassionally do HDTach's read only benches off the Intel G1 and G2 and performance is fine.

Another interesting thing is used I found that Intel SSDs cost the same as Kingston V100+ off ebay.

I'm not sure I quite understand you, but I interpret you that the V+100 is an as good a choice as most SSDs and that I shouldn't worry too much about the lack of TRIM?

The game performance where you said you can't tell a difference, I trust you mean between different SSDs right? Not between an SSD and a HDD.

About the price, well I can get a 320 (which is basically an upgraded G2) for less than a V+100, but Anand didn't recommend using those without TRIM.

So... the Kingston then or?

 

[LokutusofBorg]

As long as it is specifically a V+100 with the plus in there, then I think that's a pretty good choice.

 

[nenforcer]

I'd like to revisit this topic.

I _am_ getting an SSD for my PS3 - end of discussion.

I'd like a recommendation for the best suitable SSD for the job based on some criteria:

120-160GB
Resilient
Suitable for [installed] games
Doesn't break the bank

It is _very_resilient without the TRIM support and it's got very good sequential performance, both which are factors very well suited for gaming in a 3Gbit/s, non-TRIM environment. ?

Last I heard the PS3 still has a SATA 1 1.5Gbps interface and the firmware is optimized for and expecting a 5400RPM mechanical drive.

None of which will prevent anyone from installing a SSD drive but I question its cost effectiveness and usefuleness in a game console.

It certainly won't hurt it's resale value, either.

 

[InterClaw]

Last I heard the PS3 still has a SATA 1 1.5Gbps interface and the firmware is optimized for and expecting a 5400RPM mechanical drive.

Oops, you're absolutely right. Mea culpa.

 

[Makaveli]

looking at the reviews, it seems to do nothing for write times, and read times are only slightly improved for only specific things... so it will boot faster and run a few programs a little faster, but it really doesn't seem all that impressive.
I am not sure it is worth the extra money. but an SSD certainly is.

This ^^^

momentus XT is crap.

Its stupid marketing has people believing they will be getting near SSD performance.

 

[BD2003]

This ^^^

momentus XT is crap.

Its stupid marketing has people believing they will be getting near SSD performance.

I have a momentus XT in my PS3 and the boost is noticeable in games that primarily play off the HDD. Especially those with heavy load times. Of course it needs to be cached first. For instance, in borderlands, the first trip to a new area took 12 rings on the load icon. Going back and forth and it's down to 10 rings. GT5 and fallout were also significantly improved.

It's a minor boost, but it's real and enough for me to justify shelling out the few extra bucks for the hybrid. Worst case it's still just a big, fast drive.

 

[Makaveli]

I believe you BD2003 and glad that you found it worth it. My concerns are more about the hype around this drive. It has alot of noobs fooled, you don't know how many people i've had ask me about this drive thinking it was as good as an SSD.

I wouldn't consider you a novice so i'm pretty sure you were well aware of what to expect when you got the drive.

 

[aigomorla]

So...would and SSD be worth it? It would affect the Xbox more if you could do it, since you can install games completely to the drive, but still, if nothing else it would be quieter and cooler (which might help the system be quieter too, possibly).

correct me if im wrong..

But i am pretty sure the PS3 and Xbox360 require a special firmware to be installed on the drive for it to work.

I say this because i remember having to flash the Xbox360 Hard drive, and having to special format the PS2 HDD.

You really think Sony and Microsoft would make it that easy for you to upgrade your storage without having to buy it from them? ()


Also in regards to the momentus XT.
It WORKS AS TIME GOES... its not a straight fast drive out of the box like a typical SSD is.
IT needs to learn what files get accessed, and what needs to be stored on the SSD partition.

I use a couple... and i have an array with them, and after its learned, there about the same if not faster then my raptors.

People look at its raw specs... its a 32meg cache 7200 RPM drive which already sets itself up there compared to the other 2.5 hard drives...

 

[BD2003]

I believe you BD2003 and glad that you found it worth it. My concerns are more about the hype around this drive. It has alot of noobs fooled, you don't know how many people i've had ask me about this drive thinking it was as good as an SSD.

I wouldn't consider you a novice so i'm pretty sure you were well aware of what to expect when you got the drive.

Well, its hyped because its one of a kind. It is a damn fast drive when stuff comes off the cache. It's not quite full blown SSD, but I'd take it over a standard HDD any day. And at 500GB for like $99, the price/performance can't be beat.

 

[Arcanedeath]

I have a bog standard HGST 7k320 2.5" sata drive in my PS3 and it works fine I did format it in the PS3 but it does not require a special hard drive at least with the Fat PS3's. I noticed a huge gain from my original 60 GB 5400 rpm HDD, so even a 7200 rpm drive is enough to make a big difference. I very much doubt an SSD would be that big an improvement over a decent size 7200 rpm laptop drive in the PS3

 

[nenforcer]

correct me if im wrong..
You really think Sony and Microsoft would make it that easy for you to upgrade your storage without having to buy it from them? ()

Sony does, but Microsoft does not, however.

For the PS3 all you have to do is remove a couple of really tiny screws to get access to the hard drive slot and it will accept any size SATA HDD whether it be Mechanical or an SSD.

Microsoft wraps a standard SATA hard drive in some monstrous proprietary hard drive enclosure forcing you to purchase and be limited to the hard drive sizes of their design.

 

[BD2003]

Sony does, but Microsoft does not, however.

For the PS3 all you have to do is remove a couple of really tiny screws to get access to the hard drive slot and it will accept any size SATA HDD whether it be Mechanical or an SSD.

Microsoft wraps a standard SATA hard drive in some monstrous proprietary hard drive enclosure forcing you to purchase and be limited to the hard drive sizes of their design.

Well, it'll work with any capacity. It'll only fit one size...2.5 laptop drives.

Just want to make sure this is clear before someone buys a 3.5 desktop drive.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Not so long ago it seems that PS3s would not take anything other than 5400rpm drives...maybe a couple years ago? Anybody know when that changed? I got an older fat 80GB (stock) PS3 and a scorpio black drive waiting to be useful. Will older PS3s take 7200rpm drives now?

I put a 160GB 7200 RPM disk in my 60GB PS3. I did that like 2 years ago with no problems.