PS3: 60GB or 160GB

[RadarScope1]

I have a 60GB system and it's fantastic. ALL ps1 and ps2 games play great on it, from my experience. You can store game saves from all three consoles right on the HDD and it's all packed into a single, sexy unit. As others have said, you can always slap a larger HDD in at a later time.

Also, the point about re-sale value is a good one. The 60GB PS3 will undoubtedly be the most collectible and sought-after model in the years to come (unless Sony changes course and makes other models b/c with ps2 games in future SKU's). The 60GB model has true, hardware BC so that isn't something that can be duplicated in the other models with a firmware update.

If you're on this site, then you probably have some kind of collector tendencies or are likely particular about having true playability in your old games, not just emulation (however good). So, I say get the 60GB if you have the chance!


@kingmohd84: All PS3s play PS1 games, but only the 60GB and 20GB models available at launch have true hardware BC for PS2 games. The 80GB model has software BC (like the Xbox 360 for Xbox games). The current 40GB model you'd buy at the store does not play PS2 game at all.

[env963]

Id rather have BC more then more HDD space. You can always upgrade.

[Scooter]

@kingmohd84: All PS3s play PS1 games, but only the 60GB and 20GB models available at launch have true hardware BC for PS2 games. The 80GB model has software BC (like the Xbox 360 for Xbox games). The current 40GB model you'd buy at the store does not play PS2 game at all.

And the newest 80GB units don't have even software backward compatibility anymore. Says so right on the box (I was reading them just the other day at Best Buy). Ultra stupid move on Sony's part if you ask me and is yet another reason I continue to hesitate to move up to a PS3 (along with the ridiculous price).

[Niode]

Just to clarify yet again.

ALL PS3's can play PS1 games.

Only the 60GB version can play PS2 games.

[Scooter]

Just to clarify yet again.

ALL PS3's can play PS1 games.

Only the 60GB version can play PS2 games.

That's not entirely true. Earlier 80GB models could play many, not all, PS2 games through emulation. The latest models of the 80GM unit do not even have the emulation feature built in.

The 20 or 60GB versions are the only ones to look at if you want true PS2 compatibility.

[Spoiler Duck]

What annoys me the most is that the software emulation should theoretically be superior to the built in hardware option of early models. The 360 renders the original XBOX's games at a higher resolution and then applies some AA, making them look drop dead gorgeous. My software-emulating PS3 merely upscales the end result, usually badly. Upscaling aliased edges does not make for pretty results.

[IcKy99]

i would love to get the 60 gig just for convience of having a "Uber System" that plays all my PS1, PS2, PS3 games like the PS3 rightfully should!!! im actually gonna spend half my paycheck and buy a 60 gig next week

[LoneCynic]

I had little to no interest in the Playstation 3, but purchased the last 60gb unit Wal*Mart had roughly one year ago for the then price of $499. I figured if I was ever going to own one, that was the one to have. People complain about the Xbox 360, the Red Ring of death, etc, yet each new wave of skus improves on the problems of the previous wave as the price goes down. No matter how die hard of a Sony fan one might be, their consoles are getting stripped down to a bare bones model with each new wave of skus as the price goes down. No matter how you try to argue it, the Xbox's get better (Larger HDDs, like 60gb instead of 20gb on the Pro, the addition of HDMI ports where there previously was not one on earlier models, and updated chipsets and disc drives to deal with failure rates and noise issues) and the PS3s get worse (USB ports x4 to x2, lack of SD, MS Pro Duo, and Compact flash card readers removed entirely on some models, and lack of backwards compatability) They keep ripping anything but the bare essentials each time they release a new wave, or make a price drop. Logically, what does that say about them?

Oh, and don't even try to defend the PS3's library, it's meager few decent titles don't even hold a candle to the vast sea of options with the 360. If you get an Import console, your choices with it are even broader. I'm hardly a fanboy of either side, I own both a PS3 and two 360's (One Domestic, one Japanese) and have all games available to me, so I am hardly biased on the matter of only owning one or the other. Only PS3 owners with buyers remorse, or disgruntled ex-360 owners with an axe to grind over the Red Rings complain and try to valiantly defend the PS3 on merits it just doesn't have.

[andythebadass]

as long as you dont get ripped of for one i would say get a 60 gig. it has the full backwards compatibility, memory card readers, 4 front usb connections, wifi, and actual nice chrome trim (not brushed aluminum finish).

you can always upgrade the hard drive to some even bigger that 160. ive seen 320 gig drives new for $80 on slickdeals.net and that will only get less expensive with time. the dualshock 3 can be your second controller that you add to your setup.

how does that sound?

[Ramatut4001]

I had little to no interest in the Playstation 3, but purchased the last 60gb unit Wal*Mart had roughly one year ago for the then price of $499. I figured if I was ever going to own one, that was the one to have. People complain about the Xbox 360, the Red Ring of death, etc, yet each new wave of skus improves on the problems of the previous wave as the price goes down. No matter how die hard of a Sony fan one might be, their consoles are getting stripped down to a bare bones model with each new wave of skus as the price goes down. No matter how you try to argue it, the Xbox's get better (Larger HDDs, like 60gb instead of 20gb on the Pro, the addition of HDMI ports where there previously was not one on earlier models, and updated chipsets and disc drives to deal with failure rates and noise issues) and the PS3s get worse (USB ports x4 to x2, lack of SD, MS Pro Duo, and Compact flash card readers removed entirely on some models, and lack of backwards compatability) They keep ripping anything but the bare essentials each time they release a new wave, or make a price drop. Logically, what does that say about them?

Oh, and don't even try to defend the PS3's library, it's meager few decent titles don't even hold a candle to the vast sea of options with the 360. If you get an Import console, your choices with it are even broader. I'm hardly a fanboy of either side, I own both a PS3 and two 360's (One Domestic, one Japanese) and have all games available to me, so I am hardly biased on the matter of only owning one or the other. Only PS3 owners with buyers remorse, or disgruntled ex-360 owners with an axe to grind over the Red Rings complain and try to valiantly defend the PS3 on merits it just doesn't have.

I'd have to agree with pretty much all of this.