All right, so I think it’s time for me to enter 2006 and get a PS3. Now when I was looking to get an XBox 360, there were a bunch of things to consider when choosing a model. Things like:
[ul]
[li]Older models didn’t have an HDMI output[/li][li]Models earler than the “Jasper” one were more prone to RROD[/li][li]Various hard drive sizes, Elite vs. Pro. vs Arcade vs. Core[/li][/ul]
…and so on. Rather than go through that process again, I thought I’d ask if someone can let me know about any similar considerations for the PS3. What I know is:
[ul]
[li]Only older PS3s have backwards compatibility. That doesn’t matter to me because I already have a PS1 and a PS2.[/li][li]There are many different HD sizes available: 60GB, 80GB, 120HB, 160GB (I think those are all right), and some are discontinued.[/li][/ul]
All I particularly care about is that it has an HDMI output (are there any models that don’t?) and that it can play imported games (I believe almost all PS3 games are region-free. Is this right?). Also that it doesn’t break–are PS3s prone to massive hardware failure like the 360? I haven’t heard of anything like that.
And finally, what exactly is the benefit of having a larger hard drive? Does having, say, the 60GB model in any way limit your ability to play any particular game?
All I particularly care about is that it has an HDMI output (are there any models that don’t?)
They all do, since they’re all bluray players.
and that it can play imported games (I believe almost all PS3 games are region-free. Is this right?).
Dunno, actually. I believe so - I know of people who import early Japanese releases here in the states.
And finally, what exactly is the benefit of having a larger hard drive?
Other than storing more stuff? Nothing.
I don’t recommend getting a used model from someplace that doesn’t offer a warranty of some kind. So that leaves you two options - the 120gb Slim ($299) or the 250gb Slim ($349). For $50 you could get a game, or extra controller. And if you ever fill up that 120GB, you’ll be able to get a sizeable upgrade drive for cheaper when the time comes.
If you have no interest in backwards compatibility, there’s really no reason not to buy anything but a slim - as far as you should be concerned, older PS3s are really large, ugly, expensive paperweights.
As for HD size, I’d save your money and go for the 120gb version. That’s a lot of space, and more than you’re really likely to need in the foreseeable future so long as you practice some vague sort of cleanup habits (like, say, uninstalling games you haven’t played in 2 years.
Another reason to go slim rather than phat is the slim PS3’s are more power efficient and run cooler. I don’t know if the $ savings on power is enough, but I do know that playing Uncharted 2 on my poor old 60GB PS3 makes the fans on it sound like a hovercraft taking off. I’m seriously afraid it’s going to cause it to die of heatstroke.
Yup… The slim uses half the power of the original PS3. According to cnet, this will save you about $13 a year, but the main thing is the heat won’t bake the innards like they used to.
Of course I don’t have a slim to make a comparison with, but I do know that graphic intensive games like Uncharted 2 really to make the fans of my 60 GB go into overdrive. On the PS3 forums it seems to be a common complaint, and the slims don’t seem to have the issue so I’m just drawing a conclusion here.
I am aware that you can swap the hard drive on the fat one with any other compatible hard drive of any size.
I think you can do the same with the slim. I’m going to assume it’s a standard notebook hard drive. So you could buy a 640 gig drive and just drop it in later.
Just a heads-up on the backwards compatibility - only very, very old models of PS3 do this. As in, “pay boatloads of money for one on eBay” level of old and hard to find, so that won’t be a consideration.
I got the 160 GB standard model (came as a bundle with Uncharted) a year ago and haven’t seen any heat issues.
