Nice experiment you pulled off, i'll definitely opt for a 7200 16 MB cache drive in the future, possibly higher. Thanks Dogs, looks like i'll be doing an upgrade. Before i read your article, i always thought higher RPM and cache would not be compatible with the PS3. Extra kudos for noting install times of games off blu ray, i never knew DMC4 was 22 minutes

Well written and presented Dogs; I appreciate the information!

A few quick questions though:
1 - I am likely looking to upgrade with space over performance; are you able to confirm that the PS3 will recognize an HDD of over 250GB? I have heard elsewhere that the PS3 won't recognize anything larger.
2 - Your sure the 7200rpm didn't cause any noticable heat or noise increases?

Thanx!

Good job.  Can we see some more comparisons of level load times within games?  Or do those come off the optical drive?  The GT improvements were nice; I'm just wondering if standard load times within BluRay games would improve much.  I don't care mind install times at all, but I'd like to bring down between-level load times whenever possible.

Thwip said: Well written and presented Dogs; I appreciate the information! A few quick questions though: 1 - I am likely looking to upgrade with space over performance; are you able to confirm that the PS3 will recognize an HDD of over 250GB? I have heard elsewhere that the PS3 won't recognize anything larger. 2 - Your sure the 7200rpm didn't cause any noticable heat or noise increases? Thanx!

Question 1: Not a great source, but here is a bunch of guys from yesterday discussing their upgrade to 320GB. So the current Firmware does allow that large a drive. http://www.amazon.com/My-60GB-PS3-now-320GB/forum/Fx1SF5I8IQVUR4L/Tx2RFB9GIJDVCRC/1?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B0009VXAM0

2. Yes, I am certain about the noise, it is not noticible. For the heat, I used to constantly monitor my PS3's top fan exhaust when my main unit was the 60GB, but the 40GB's top wholes are intake, not exhaust, so that was not an accurate gauge, so I stopped measuring. I put my hand up against the rear or the former 40GB(now 160GB) while folding and did the same with the 60GB and both seems to be transfering heat equaly to the outershell. I have played numerous hours, in 25C + temperatures and the fan has only been audible one evening while F@H. This is, the 60GB was also F@H that evening and it was in the same fan gear. So I am confident in saying that it is not causing significant heat.

@LHWB

I perceive load times as being shorter, but I am not going to test load times  say for DMC4 because the difference might be 4 seconds for the standard drive and 3.5 for the faster one, but it is too slim a difference for my data to be significant because of my equipment and reflexes. Also, it is reads off the disk at the same time, that skews my readings. If you have a suggestion within my game library, I'd try a test.

I'd be curious to see how well MGS4 performs with an upgraded HDD. One of the most disjointing features of that game were the loads between areas and the installs. If you think about how often this occurs you could potentially save a lot of time in the game. You should run some tests with that game and see how it performs.

Would the first level be a good test? Despite owning the game since launch, I haven't actually played past the first scene. I'm trying to finish other games first.

just got WD Scorpio Black 320gb 7200rpm 16mb cache drive from newegg.com

definately seeing the performance enhancements :)

How much did it set you back, if I may ask?

I think it should be sufficient.  It had the biggest initial install if I can recall and there are still enough areas that need to be loaded. Although, by all rights you should really get working through that game, it's really good! :)

I'll see what I can do, but it won't be today, sorry.

EDIT: I'll post on your wall, when I update the thread with the results.