The PS4 uploads the saves to the cloud like once a week. Before changing HDDs, I recommend you to upload the save data manually to be sure that it's the current one.

Of course, you can backup the PS4 to an external HDD and it will contain the save data, downloaded games, profiles and options, avoiding the need to redownload everything. That's the best option.

Of course, you can delete the game install for games you aren't playing. When you try to play them again, they will just reinstall the data and it only takes a minute or two.

Thanks for the tip. That was very informative :).  If thats the case, i buy a 4tb hard drive and use it as my storage for games to save time reinstalling everything.  

New question for the group. my tv died and need to buy a new one. whats your guys recommendations? max budget is 2000 nz dollars

I am pro external myself.  Main reason I haven't grabbed a new HD for the PS4 is because I am too damn lazy to install it.

I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but what I've seen some people do is buy the HDD size of their choice and simple plug the SATA cable directly into the sata connector inside of the PS4. I'm not sure how the whole backing up process works with PS4, but if there's a simple method to back up you could just back the data right onto your new drive and then plug it in once you're done.

I don't mean to call you out, but that is false regarding the backup to external HDD information. External HDD Backup was supposed to be one of the features in the big firmware 2.00 update, but Sony delayed that feature. It is now due to be released in the next big "feature" update in Q1 2015.

I know becuase that is a feature VERY important to me. Right now, as you said, game saves will backup to the cloud, so you are covered there (they actually backup immediately the next time PS4 is placed in its Rest Mode, not once a week). But you would have to re-download/install of your games again, apps (YouTube, Hulu Plus, Netflix, etc.) plus any stored videos & music would be lost. So it is definitely a huge hassle to change out the internal drive for another if you have been using your PS4 for a while.

Getting support for full backup to external drives matters to me since I will probably buy a 2TB SSD next year to replace my current one. And there is no way I want to redownload everything again lol. I just want it to be a simple 2-step process: one click backups EVERYTHING (including log-in info for those apps, etc.), and then another click will restore EVERYTHING from an external drive. We will see how Sony implements it, but hopefully they get it right!

Thanks for the info, I saw the data management session in the configurations and really tough it was always there... Indeed, it's a completely necessary functionality (way more than the cries about MP3 and DLNA). I hope they add it soon, because there is no way I will download everything again :D

Edit: There is one more storage setting they are missing: Vita backup. On PS3 I can backup my entire Vita's memory card, copy a game to the console or download Vita games and them pass it to the portable when it's done. PS4 is supposed to be THE Vita integrated console, so why PS3 does beat it on it?

@dane007, actually xbox one can support up to 16 tb for external hdd

ah thanks for that. i knew it was some really high number :D.  wouldn't mind having 16tb full of games hehe