700°

A Sneak Peak of How to Swap in an HDD on the PS4

Angie Santiago of SpawnFirst reports: "German tech site Computer Bild has gotten their hands on a PlayStation 4 console and show us all how to open it up to swap out the HDD via a few pictures. It seems like a simple enough process and there is also a fancy, customized PlayStation screw that has the Square, X, Circle, and Triangle symbols we all know and love. The HDD is under the piano black plastic and it seemingly pops right off to allow users access to the internal workings of the PS4."

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MultiConsoleGamer3840d ago

This is one of the best features of the PS4.

minimur123840d ago

I've got a 1tb hdd on standby right next to me to switch out. I plan on installing every game on the HDD, plus whatever digital games I buy - along with later in the ps4's lifecycle when PS Plus picks up even more.

But I must say, that is the most ingenious way of 'hiding' the HDD, and that screw is awesome xD

It does look like it would void the warranty however, it seems like it gives you access to alot more that what you'd want if you were to just swap it out. What do you think?

Stsonic3840d ago

Do you manually install games to the hard drive on PS4?

Steven213840d ago

It would not void the warranty. Sony allows it on ps3 and they have said it would not as well. I believe I saw a tweet about it a few months back.

PeaSFor3840d ago

getting a sshd(hybrid) into my ps4.

KwietStorm_BLM3840d ago

It doesn't void anything since that's the only way to access the drive, which Sony even suggests you do. Changing anything else, well that's at your own discretion.

Narutone663840d ago

Have you guys seen the screws used? Nice design touch.

LOL_WUT3840d ago

Good to see Sony offering an internal HDD with ENOUGH space. ;)

harrisk9543840d ago

Swapping out the HDD DOES NOT void the warranty. Where do people come up with this stuff?

0ut1awed3840d ago (Edited 3840d ago )

@minmur 12
@PeaSFor

This will more than likely NOT fit 3.5" desktop HDDs (which seems to be what you are talking about).

Now I'm not trolling, so please read ahead before you go into fanboy mode and immediately disagree with me. It actually has some serious pros because of this.

If it's like the PS3 then it will only take a laptop sized 2.5" hdd. This makes total sense too because if they allowed a standard 3.5" drive it would take up considerably more physical space in the console, therefore making the console much bigger.

One of the images looks to confirm my theory too. Check out how tall the drive is in comparison to his thumb. It's defiantly not a full size 3.5" desktop drive.

http://img.new.livestream.c...

The good thing here is all SSDs are 2.5" sized therefore you can pop a SSD in there and have blazing fast performance.

@ harrisk954

Because it doesn't void the warranty? What else do you want to hear?

You're not hacking open the PS4 (or the PS3 for that matter) and installing aftermarket modded parts.

The console is designed around allowing the user swap out a HDD. You pull off a cover, remove a screw, slide the drive bay out and install the new drive and slide the bay back in.

Why it might not be as straight forward as the 360 drive swap, it's still a function designed for the user to do at ease.

solid_snake36563840d ago

Now we just need to know what kind of an HDD it uses. Hopefully its the kind used for the ps3, Cuz I have a 1tb sitting around.

0ut1awed3840d ago (Edited 3840d ago )

^^^

Really? I don't want to be rude but the answer to that is in full detail directly above your comment.

abzdine3839d ago

HDD voids the warranty? :) nice one!

XB1_PS43839d ago

Wooow, I reeeaaallly like this.

solid_snake36563839d ago

I have a question, the site mentions that it requires a 2.5" "HGST" 5400 rpm. I have my 1tb from my ps3, will that work as well?

minimur123839d ago

What i meant by my commentwas, on the super slim/pphat when switching the hdd all you can see is the HDD space. However on this it shows circuitboardry and it seems you could actually access more of the consple if you unscrew some stuff.

I may be wrong but hey, also regarding the size of the hard drive size, im positivethat it is 2.5 being as 3.5 is bigger and thicker than you think, and judgong by the size of the console, its definitely 2.5.

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 3839d ago
Mystogan3840d ago

That is pretty handy. I'm gonna have to buy a 2TB external one for my X1

black0o3840d ago

brick! and ex-hard_drive! ..

the fact that xbone is bigger in size it amaze me, man those engineers took the easy way in designing the box

nunley333840d ago

You may be able to movies from that on x1, too you can't change the hdd in it like ps4.

MasterCornholio3840d ago

What if your internal hardrive breaks after the warranty expires?

Nexus 7 2013

nunley333840d ago

@master its like sending in an out of warranty ps3 now,they'll fix it but it'll cost you a flat $150

MasterCornholio3840d ago

@nunley

150$......

And I only paid 60$ for my 1TB in my PS3........ And its a bloody good drive since it barely makes any noise.

P.S If the HDD breaks in my PS4 I'll just replace it with my 1TB HDD that's in my PS3.

Nexus 7 2013

humbleopinion3840d ago

But they cost around the same, when you buy the external 2TB drive on the X1 it means you don't have to throw away the 500GB internal hard drive.

harrisk9543840d ago

The One Box is the 3, minimum box: External HDD, Power Brick, Cable box.

harrisk9543840d ago

@nunley33

"its like sending in an out of warranty ps3 now,they'll fix it but it'll cost you a flat $150"

Ummm.... has MS announced that? Who knows what MS's customer service plans are if that issue arises. The $150 fix for Sony is for pretty much anything that breaks -- it has nothing to do with the PS3 HDD. For MS to charge $150 (if that is what it ends up being) to replace broken HDD would be almost gouging.

Mystogan3839d ago

@black0o

At least we're not hearing X1 having overheating issues and freezing.

boneso823839d ago

It won't work, external drives are not supported on X1, and you can't change the internal. Sorry I have to lol

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3839d ago
Muerte24943840d ago

Now if only this site will give us an actual walkthrough of the PS4's UI.

Tsar4ever013840d ago

This is one of the best features of the PS3 also. DUH!

warczar3840d ago

Man, I was hoping I could buy an oversized, overpriced piece of proprietary shit.

Oh wait, I must of been having a flashback to when I tried to upgrade my 360's hard drive.

warczar3840d ago

I saw an opportunity and I took it. I didn't mean to offend anyone, except maybe Microsoft executives.

Animal Mutha 763840d ago

Yeah I like that they give you the option and the method of entry looks quite funky as well.

I guess over time owners will be able to stick in massive drives.

Do we know the file system support for this console yet? PS3 was fat32 I think and had limitations for file size and external drive partitions. I liked putting video onto my PS3 but didn't like the 4.3gb restriction.

One feature that I wish xbox had kept. Not sure why they would want to remove a handy feature like that. Now I know that an external USB 3 drive could in some cases be faster than an internal but I prefer to have the choice. 500gb just won't cut it for very long ms and cloud isn't a realistic large storage medium.

SpitFireAce853839d ago

Whats a good 2TB HDD to swap i would like to get
one but just unsure which one.54000rpm 7200Rpm ?

Jazz41083839d ago (Edited 3839d ago )

they both will be fine. XBOX Is requiring all games are installed so I am sure they have a very easy alternative for more storage and I expect the cloud to also alleviate storage on the internal drive. I sure do like that sony has left it up to the user. I do however think that its not fat32 so the old drives most likley will not work anymore.

FamilyGuy3839d ago

you format the drive the second you put a new one in so it wouldn't matter whether it's Fat32 or any other format.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3839d ago
karamsoul3840d ago

I agree. 3TB drive HERE I COME!

coolasj3840d ago

It won't fit. The platters stack it's too thick. 2.5" only too. Laptop HDDs.

karamsoul3840d ago

watch what happens in one more year. 3TB-2.5-inch-laptop-HDD-that-f its-in-a-PS4 HERE WE COME!!!

nunley333840d ago

There are some 2.5 hdds that won't fit either so gotta check the dimensions and if online,look at the comments.

iamnsuperman3840d ago

It looks a lot easier and more convenient than it was on the PS3 (which was still easy anyway). I really do like this feature. Also that screw head. Weirdly cute.

rainslacker3840d ago

Don't damage that screw. One day when Sony wants to cut costs they'll go to a generic screw and this screw will become a collectors item.:)

I agree though, it's a nice touch, kinda like Sony saying, "hi, yes you can do what you want with me".

prodg523840d ago

Yeah the "blue screw of death". It was easy to strip in the PS3. If anyone is attempting it, I suggest using needle nose pliers from the start.

Cyb3r3840d ago

I hope that they aren't using them screws that they used in the PS3 the heads of those were too easily damaged.

Deagle3840d ago

Yeah, that damn blue screw was a pain in the ass too take out too.

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140°

PlayStation Doesn't Need a Dedicated PC Store Launcher

With all the PlayStation games that are now coming to PC, is it time for Sony to release a dedicated PC launcher?

thorstein2d ago

No, and they already solved any need with the overlay that's coming.

Vits2d ago

Unless they are trying to kill their recently created PC business, I would advise against opening a dedicated PC store. It's an extremely hard endeavor, and people, in general, are very comfortable with Steam. Even Epic, with their billions of dollars invested, is still struggling to find a foothold, and they have Fortnite.

just_looken1d 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

Money is one thing security is another but again millions have 0 knowledge past 2020.

Epic store for years struggled with a shopping cart/account theft/credit card theft

Rockstar launcher/store to this day over 5 years later still has horrific user interface security flaws lost account's and stolen CC

Then you got that activision need phone number oh we lost it launcher

The crown jewel is the ea launcher/store ea app 3 yrs old still has hundreds of threads were people lost games/accounts/game access or just straight up crashes.

Edit" Oh ubi launcher were you buy a game that may or may not be there again or work and the launcher 5yrs old still has no 4K support if you launch it on a 4k screen there is a high chance it will just crash.

ocelot071d 20h ago

Can tell who ever put this together is not all that clued up on pc gaming.

It's just a known fact. The PC gaming community prefer Steam and Steam alone. They don't like different launchers. I personally don't mind them. But majority just stick with steam. Hence why EA and Ubisoft went back to on releasing on steam and why Microsoft release games on steam as people hated buying from the windows store.

The only other launchers that I imagine are doing ok is GOG due to being drm free and epic games due to the free games every week. Sony shouldn't release any sort of pc launcher n

Nitrowolf21d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

It literally says in the OP that PC gamers don't like multiple launchers lol. It even mentions Steam being the go to for gamers

Tacoboto1d 15h ago

Title: "PlayStation Doesn't Need a Dedicated PC Store Launcher"

N4G: "Can tell who ever put this together is not all that clued up on pc gaming"

When you don't even read the headline...

ocelot071d 12h ago

I read it and had a brain fart. As read the title then this "With all the PlayStation games that are now coming to PC, is it time for Sony to release a dedicated PC launcher?"

So I hold my hands up on that mistake. Rest of my comment still stands.

Giblet_Head1d 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

Steam and GOG are highly preferred because of the rich feature set. Ubisoft, Rockstar, EA, Epic etc have all set a precedent over the years for customers to instinctively expect individual publisher launchers to be so extremely half-assed that the majority simply don't want to bother dealing with what is almost an inevitable disappointment by comparison to Steam or GOG. Those publishers and their inaction or general disinterest to improve have effectively ruined any future adoption to be taken seriously.

Einhander19721d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

This is just another ridiculous double standard article.

It's like how Microsoft can spend 20 years of making nothing but gaas and live service style games to sell microtransactions, dlc and subscriptions and get praise for doing it, but if Sony wants to make a single game like that every website under the sun is writing articles saying how Sony is anti-consumer or whatever.

derek1d 11h ago

Yep, huge double standard look at the tortured reaction to the ps5pro, websites hyperventilating like Sony is forcing people to buy it.

just_looken1d 4h ago

Wait my xbox from 2004 has avengers gaas on it? wow your so smart

m$ Gaas started with the other companies like sony

Gamepass yes they are deep into that but its still a huge money saver sense you do not own your games then get a service like that.

Now there pc xbox launcher that is trash for years now

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240°

Is Driver (PS1) Still Worth Playing in 2024?

"Driver was a technical achievement for PS1, a pioneer in cinematic gaming, and an often brutal challenge - TechStomper asks if its brand of 70s car chase antics still holds up."

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PrimeVinister9d ago

The driving holds up, most of everything else does not.

PrimeVinister9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

@Shane Kim

Well, I mean the driving physics hold up. The draw distance, police AI, visuals in general etc do not

Cacabunga9d ago

One of my all time favorites on PS1. I spent a summer vacation playing this was so good

isarai9d ago

Sadly youd be hard pressed to find any driving game with better physics these days. But the draw distance really kills it for me

PrimeVinister9d ago

The physics hold up ridiculously well. And the draw distance is a real hurdle at first.

__y2jb9d ago (Edited 9d ago )

Nonsense. The physics in any modern game or any 360 game is light years beyond Driver.

Dandizzle9d ago

This game is hard, you will fail and quit

PrimeVinister9d ago

But you will get there eventually... maybe

jznrpg9d ago

Stop with is it worth it articles. If you want to play a game play the damn game!

anast9d ago

I loved this game awhile back.

Barlos9d ago

Yeah but is it worth reading pointless articles?

__y2jb9d ago

It wasn’t worth playing in the 90’s.

Espangerish9d ago

My thoughts exactly. I bought it at release for full price and got frustrated and bored with it very quickly.

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240°

Is Gran Turismo (PS1) Still Worth Playing in 2024?

Gran Turismo for PlayStation launched a sub-genre and revolutionised console racing - TechStomper asks is it still worth playing in 2024.

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techstomper.com
Terry_B11d ago

Well..you can play it completely offline at least ^^

PrimeVinister11d ago

Something we really miss, just turning on the console and having the game start without signing into stuff

Terry_B11d ago

Fully agreed. That and Splitscreen Modes for Racing games.

PrimeVinister11d ago

@Terry_B I miss having people to splitscreen with, but I can't blame anyone for that :-(

Cacabunga11d ago

Not too late.. we can still change that.

PrimeVinister11d ago

@Cacabunga I will let you in, see ya soon compadre :-P

MrBaskerville10d ago

@Terry_B
GT7 actually has 4 player splitscreen. Which is wild in this day and age.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
TiredGamer11d ago

Good news is that Sony released a final update to Gran Turismo Sport to allow it to function offline. Expecting the same for GT7 at some point in the future.

PrimeVinister11d ago

That is great news, I really liked Sport even if many others did not :-/

Chocoburger11d ago

I'm not big into sim racing, but I got sucked into the hype for this one from magazines back then. I just played arcade mode and that was enough for me to feel like I got my money's worth.

Yeah, it's definitely worth playing today. GT 2 has a few interesting fan made graphical mods when played on an emulator as well.

PrimeVinister11d ago

The arcade mode is underrated, it's a great alternative mode and you can even unlock GT HiFi with it.

Fonsecap11d ago

Cars back then had much more personality then those we see today. Modern cars all about the led lights and the tablet size screens and they all seem alike, back then they could be simpler in design but had tons more personality.

PrimeVinister11d ago

That is something a few people have pointed out - that cars all look the same now. I have to agree that a lot of new vehicles lack personality.

fsfsxii11d ago

You guys are so anti-fun its depressing, like who tf cares about personality of objects like wtf? Just learn to enjoy stuff as is.

PrimeVinister11d ago

It's hardly anti-fun to remark that some objects look nicer than others.

And everyone has their favourite era of cars, I sincerely doubt many will pick the 2020s a few decades from now.

Fonsecap11d ago

Dude, like wft cares about personality of objects? What about art? Paintings are objects and they're considered good or bad if they show or lack personality so I ask, wtf are you talking about? Cars are also considered pieces of art, vintage cars, classic cars, classic bikes and so on. Artists are appreciated by the objects they craft, blacksmiths, painters, engineers, designers, so wtf cares about personality of objects indeed... ( Sorry for my English, it's not my native language)

MrBaskerville10d ago

Talking about cars is fun if you are a car enthusiast. Just saying.

ApocalypseShadow11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That Corvette Stingray to this day is one of the most ferocious whips ever driven. Overpowered against other cars yes. But to drive it and be that close to losing control, but being in command around those curves, just can't be duplicated.

HiFi mode is also something I miss. There should be a mode in today's GT where it's Mano o Mano and the detail and resolution jump full throttle. In today's games, Max Ray Tracing and lighting and textures to make it look even more real..

PrimeVinister11d ago

A modern HiFi mode would be really cool! It would be really interesting to see how real they could go by stripping it all way back.

And Stingray is a solid choice 👌

TiredGamer11d ago

HiFi mode in GT1 was only a stripped down 60 fps mode for one track. Should have been called "Performance Mode" or "High Frame Rate" mode.

PrimeVinister11d ago

@TiredGamer it was only three tracks, but it was still cool

Petebloodyonion11d ago

Not according to Former Playstation president Jim Ryan for he told Time that he doesn't see why anyone would play old games given the advancements in fidelity achieved today.

https://time.com/4804768/pl...

PrimeVinister11d ago

I don't agree with him, but he had a few good points.

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