Sony offers several different PS3 SKUs with varying prices and varying storage capacities. Of the current generation, the PS3 with the largest amount of built-in storage is 320GB. If this just isn’t enough for you, you’ll be happy to hear that GameStop has recently listed a a PS3 SuperCharged SKU on their website. Of course, this isn’t an official SKU but instead a refurbished PS3 with a built-in 500GB Western Digital hard drive. Also included in the pack is a special Supercharged console skin, 1 year warranty, a media hub with remote, a charging station for 2 PS3 controllers and an HDMI port.
Sounds pretty awesome and, at $399.99, it isn’t a deal you’ll want to miss. Check out the listing here.
The PlayStation 3 is definitely one of the most popular consoles on the market, frequently applauded for its high definition graphics and beefy hardware. However, one of the biggest gripes consumers have with the PS3 are the painstakingly long load times that are associated with some titles. Luckily, there is hope, as some members in the community have discovered that swapping out the PS3′s stock SATA hard drive for a snappier solid state drive (SSD) cuts the load times considerably.
As you can see from the above chart, loading times for some of Gran Turismo 5‘s tracks are cut in half in addition to actually loading the game.
Sounds great to me but unfrotunately owners of the newer PS3 Slim need not apply as this mod is incompatible with this hardware.
Head here for more instructions.
via crunchgear
The Splinter Cell: Conviction and Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 Elite bundles are pretty highly sought after considering they feature a 250GB hard drive and all the other bells and whistles of an Elite SKU. However, their price tag, $499.99, may keep the consoles out of the hands of some, if not most, gamers.
Luckily, Amazon.com is holding a deal that will drop $40 off that asking price, bringing the final price down to $359.99
Check the FFXIII Bundle here and the Splinter Cell Bundle, here.
via joystiq
Not too long ago we let you know that some leaked documents stated that the Xbox 360 would be getting support for USB mass storage at some point this year. At that point it was just a rumor but now it has been confirmed by Microsoft themselves that the console will be getting USB mass storage capabilities come April.
While both flash and normal external hard drive solution swill work, Major Nelson suggests that you use flash drives as it will give “a MUCH better experience”.
via cvg
There was once a time with the 120GB hard drive was the biggest available storage solution for the Xbox 360. Now, with the recent launch of the 250GB hard drive, Microsoft is doing away with both the 120GB hard drive and the memory cards that no one uses anymore (did they ever?). News comes to us from Major Nelson who has told Joystiq that excess stock of the memory cards and 120GB hard drives are being sold to make way for the 250GB hard drive.
Let’s hope they come down with the price of the 250GB hard drive sooner rather than later.
Microsoft has said in the past that they have no plans to sell a standalone 250GB Xbox 360 hard drive. However, earlier this month we let you know that GameStop had a standalone 250GB Xbox 360 hard drive up for sale.
Well, despite these two constrating points, Microsoft has come forth today to say that the hard drive is now available and will retail for $129.99.
via joystiq
Not too long ago we told you about how Microsoft was planning not to sell any 250 GB Xbox 360 hard drives outside of console bundles. However, GameStop has just put up a listing for a standalone 250GB drive for the Xbox 360 priced at $129.99. What gives?
GameStop has been known to make some errors with their inventory in the past but how could they play such a cruel joke? Perhaps the guys over at Microsoft figured they could make a few extra bucks selling the hard drives or maybe Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg, who told us that only bundles would have the drives, was misinformed.
Who knows, we’ll have to wait a few days to see if GameStop pulls the listing.
Read (GameStop)
Now that there is a ridiculous amount of content to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace, even the 120GB hard drive for the Xbox 360 is looking quite small. You probably know that there is a 250GB hard drive out there but it currently only comes in limited edition bundles. This brought about the question over whether or not we would be seeing a stand alone 250GB hard drive to fill the needs of those with storage issues.
Well, according to Xbox Live Product Manager Aaron Greenberg, we probably won’t be seeing stand alone 250GB hard drives any time soon. The reason for this? To keep them exclusive to the limited edition bundles. He comments:
“We did it with the Modern Warfare bundle, which, as people know, was a huge success, completely sold out. We’re excited to bring it back with the limited edition Final Fantasy bundle… We’re always evaluating, but for now we feel like the 120 is serving us very well as the standard offering, and then having the 250 as a limited edition is a good balance.”
Currently, I’m stuck picking and choosing a select amount of content I want because I only have the 20GB hard drive. I thought about upgrading to the 120GB but its high price kept me from doing so. This leads me to believe that even if Microsoft were to come out with a 250GB hard drive it would be damn over priced.
via destructoid
With the release of 250GB hard drive touting Xbox 360 consoles, one would only believe that Microsoft would release a standalone version of the 250GB hard drive for users who aren’t looking to purchase a new console. Well, if you thought this, you’d be wrong as it was recently made known today that Microsoft has no intentions to release the hard ware.
Of course, with the 120GB hard drive priced at $150, you could only assume a 250GB hard drive would be $300 or more. And who would want that, right?
via kotaku
Well that didn’t take very long — Just hours after an Amazon.de listing showcased the unannounced 250GB hard drive touting Xbox 360 a South African advertisement has appeared showing the same hardware.
This time it’s up for R4,199, or about $542 as opposed to Amazon’s €280/$379 and from the looks of the ad, it doesn’t even include Forza Motorsport 3. Looks like South African gamers are getting screwed.
via engadget
