Differences between the 40GB & 80GB PS3s?
 

Sometime in the next 3-6 months I plan to buy a PS3. I don't really care about it for gaming, other than to play FF12 and the eventual FF13 - my 360 satisfies me for gaming.

My question is...what are the differences between the two models? Is it only the hard drive space?

40GB has no PS2 compatibility

80GB has compatibility with 90% of PS2 games. The Playstation website has a directory where you can check compatibility.

Other that that the 40GB has 2 USB ports (80GB has 4) and no media card readers (80GB has this).

80GB comes with Motorstorm and the 40GB comes with a Spider-man 3 Blui-ray.

So basically, if I want to play FF12, I'd have to get the 80GB.

or the 60GB.

or the 20GB, used probably.

The 20GB doesn't have built in wireless, so can't be used for PSP connectivity.

Hold on...I thought the only ones out there were the 40GB and 80GB? Now you're all confusing me. :) What are the differences between each, and are the others even sold anymore?

I referred to the models by their HDD size, since I don't recall there being any specific name.

Full Backwards Compatibility (Emotion Engine and Graphics chipset)
- 20G and 60G models

Partial Backwards Compatibility (Graphics chipset and software)
- 80G model

No Backwards Compatibility
- 40G model

Built in wireless support (required for PSP connectivity)
- 40G, 60G, and 80G models (NOT the 20G model)

Multimedia ports eg. Compact Flash
- 60G and 80G

4 USB ports
- 20G, 60G, and 80G models

2 USB ports only
- 40G model

If playing PS2 games is important (I would say more than just FFXII since that one works fine on the 80GB) I would recommend the 60GB. Target still had them last time I was there so they still exist. It is the same price as the 80GB and has no pack in game, but it does have 99% compatibility with PS2 games. The 80GB version has issues with some games so definitely check this site before buying it.

http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus

The PS3 releases are a cluster fuck, it was mentioned above but basically the 40gb is a gimp model. For you, I'd go with the 80gb model, or if you can find it, the 60gb model which is the current king of the PS3s (Plays and upscales all PS2 games through hardware, has all the ports, memory card reader, wifi). They're a little tough to find but worth it.

Thanks for the info all. I'll possibly get one this holiday season.

The only problem to keep in mind with the 60G model is that you can't rely on having it forever (hopefully you will, but things break). If that does happen, it would be replaced with one of later revision PS3s (emotion engineless or even no BC at all depending on how many years we are talking). Still, the 60G definitely offers the best combination of features of any of the 4 I think.

Why can't you just buy the 40 and pick up a used ps2?

You were able to find 60g PS3s cheaper than a 40gb + Used PS2 for a while there.

PS3 does nice upscaling of PS2 games plus it is nice to not have two consoles hooked up. You also don't need to buy a memory card since you have nearly unlimited space for saves on the PS3 HDD.

So I guess I best track down a 60G PS3. I hope I can find a good deal on a non-used one.

The wikipedia page has a nice chart showing the differences in models.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ps3


<table class="wikitable" style="float:center; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0; font-size:0.9em;">
<tr>
<th>Feature</th>
<th><b>20*GB</b><br />
(NTSC)<sup id="_ref-specs_0" class="reference"><a href="#_note-specs" title="">[28]</a></sup></th>
<th><b>40*GB</b><br />
(PAL, NTSC)<sup id="_ref-SCEE_40GB_0" class="reference"><a href="#_note-SCEE_40GB" title="">[29]</a></sup></th>
<th><b>60*GB</b><br />
(NTSC)<sup id="_ref-specs_1" class="reference"><a href="#_note-specs" title="">[28]</a></sup></th>
<th><b>60*GB</b><br />
(PAL)<sup id="_ref-specs_2" class="reference"><a href="#_note-specs" title="">[28]</a></sup></th>
<th><b>80*GB</b><br />
(NTSC)<sup id="_ref-specs_3" class="reference"><a href="#_note-specs" title="">[28]</a></sup></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Upgradeable 2.5" <a href="/wiki/Hard_disk_drive" title="Hard disk drive">HDD</a></td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">20*GB</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">40*GB</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">60*GB</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">60*GB</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">80*GB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/USB_2.0" title="USB 2.0">USB 2.0</a> ports</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">4</td>
<td style="background: #ffffdd; color: black;" class="table-partial">2</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">4</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">4</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Colors</td>
<td>Black</td>
<td>Black, White (Asia only)</td>
<td>Black</td>
<td>Black</td>
<td>Black</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/IEEE_802.11" title="IEEE 802.11">IEEE 802.11</a><a href="/wiki/IEEE_802.11#802.11b" title="IEEE 802.11">b</a>/<a href="/wiki/IEEE_802.11#802.11g" title="IEEE 802.11">g</a> <a href="/wiki/Wi-Fi" title="Wi-Fi">Wi-Fi</a></td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">No</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/Memory_card" title="Memory card">Flash card</a> readers</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">No</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">No</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chrome trim</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">No</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/Super_Audio_CD" title="Super Audio CD">SACD</a> playback</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">No</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/PlayStation_2" title="PlayStation 2">PS2</a> <a href="/wiki/Backward_compatibility" title="Backward compatibility">compatibility</a></td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Hardware</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">No</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">Hardware</td>
<td style="background: #ffffdd; color: black;" class="table-partial">Software</td>
<td style="background: #ffffdd; color: black;" class="table-partial">Software</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/Price" title="Price">Current Price</a> <a href="/wiki/USD" title="USD">(USD)</a></td>
<td style="background: #ffffdd; color: black;" class="table-partial">$499 (now discontinued)</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">$399</td>
<td style="background: #ffffdd; color: black;" class="table-partial">$499 (now discontinued)</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">N/A</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">$499</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/Price" title="Price">Current Price</a> <a href="/wiki/EUR" title="EUR">(EUR)</a></td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">N/A</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">€399</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">N/A</td>
<td style="background: #ffffdd; color: black;" class="table-partial">€499 until discontinued</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/wiki/Price" title="Price">Current Price</a> <a href="/wiki/GBP" title="GBP">(GBP)</a></td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">N/A</td>
<td style="background:#90ff90; color:black;" class="table-yes">£299</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">N/A</td>
<td style="background: #ffffdd; color: black;" class="table-partial">£349 until discontinued</td>
<td style="background:#ff9090; color:black;" class="table-no">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="6" style="white-space: normal; text-align:center; background:white; font-size:smaller;">All models include: <a href="/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc" title="Blu-ray Disc">Blu-ray</a>/<a href="/wiki/DVD" title="DVD">DVD</a>/<a href="/wiki/CD" title="CD">CD</a> drive, <a href="/wiki/High-Definition_Multimedia_Interface" title="High-Definition Multimedia Interface">HDMI 1.3a</a><sup id="_ref-pr_20.C2.A0GB_HDMI_0" class="reference"><a href="#_note-pr_20.C2.A0GB_HDMI" title="">[30]</a></sup>, <a href="/wiki/Bluetooth_2.0" title="Bluetooth 2.0">Bluetooth 2.0</a>,<br />
<a href="/wiki/1000BASE-T" title="1000BASE-T">Gigabit Ethernet</a>, <a href="/wiki/PlayStation" title="PlayStation">PlayStation</a> backward compatibility<sup id="_ref-40GB_GameSpot_0" class="reference"><a href="#_note-40GB_GameSpot" title="">[31]</a></sup> through software emulation<sup id="_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#_note-14" title="">[32]</a></sup> and has a glossy finish<sup id="_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#_note-15" title="">[33]</a></sup></td>
</tr>
</table>