PS3 Drive Swap Question - Blu-ray Forum

zxvfrr41 · 05-17-2008, 03:33 PM

Okay, I swapped out my 60Gb drive for a WD 320Gb drive last night. I had about 8Gb of space left on the 60Gb. When I performed a backup prior to the drive swap, it said it backed up 32Gb of data. So that's my first question.

60Gb total space - 8Gb remaining = 52Gb of data on the drive. The backup was 32Gb. What's the other 20Gb? The OS can't take up 20Gb because weren't the early PS3's 20Gb?

Onto my second question. I installed the 320Gb WD drive, formatted the drive, and then restored my backup. When I check the System Settings, it shows 225Gb / 298Gb, meaning there's 225Gb of free space out of 298Gb. Why doesn't it show 320Gb or something close instead of 298Gb? And how could there only be 225Gb of free space? That would mean there's 73Gb of data (298-225) on my PS3. How is that possible considering I had a 60Gb PS3 to begin with and it's the same data?

dpomp · 05-17-2008, 03:36 PM

call the cops cause somebody stole your gigabytes!

WickyWoo · 05-17-2008, 03:39 PM

a byte is 1024bits

If you look at the fine print on your package, they define a gigbyte as 1000 bits

zxvfrr41 · 05-17-2008, 05:47 PM

Okay, forget about the 298Gb when it's a 320Gb drive. If I only have 225Gb free, that means there's 73Gb of data being used up (298 - 225 = 73). This is a restore of my backup from the 60Gb drive I just swapped out. How is that possible?

mugen302005 · 05-17-2008, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxvfrr41

Okay, forget about the 298Gb when it's a 320Gb drive. If I only have 225Gb free, that means there's 73Gb of data being used up (298 - 225 = 73). This is a restore of my backup from the 60Gb drive I just swapped out. How is that possible?

ow! ow! ow! I was planing to do the same just now!! I had the HD right here but it is only 250 Gb since some member said here in another forum that the ps3 can handle only that much space or HD that have that much space without going "funny". But if the Gbs just disappear like that I'm concerned. Does anyone know about this?.

BorrowedTime · 05-17-2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

a byte is 1024bits

If you look at the fine print on your package, they define a gigbyte as 1000 bits

I thought a byte = 8 bits...

Boss Hogg · 05-17-2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BorrowedTime

I thought a byte = 8 bits...

It is. 1024 is a Kilobyte.

Boss Hogg · 05-17-2008, 08:51 PM

My guess is the sector size changed when you went from 60GB to 320GB.....meaning if you put a 4MB file on your 60GB it may only take up exactly 4MB but if you put a 4MB file on your 320GB it may actually take up 6MB or 8MB.

ps3andlovinit · 05-17-2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxvfrr41

Okay, I swapped out my 60Gb drive for a WD 320Gb drive last night. I had about 8Gb of space left on the 60Gb. When I performed a backup prior to the drive swap, it said it backed up 32Gb of data. So that's my first question.

60Gb total space - 8Gb remaining = 52Gb of data on the drive. The backup was 32Gb. What's the other 20Gb? The OS can't take up 20Gb because weren't the early PS3's 20Gb?

There is swap files/cache files for games etc that probably don't get backed up since the game will recreate them next time around. I think the system uses a few gigabytes as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zxvfrr41

Onto my second question. I installed the 320Gb WD drive, formatted the drive, and then restored my backup. When I check the System Settings, it shows 225Gb / 298Gb, meaning there's 225Gb of free space out of 298Gb. Why doesn't it show 320Gb or something close instead of 298Gb? And how could there only be 225Gb of free space? That would mean there's 73Gb of data (298-225) on my PS3. How is that possible considering I had a 60Gb PS3 to begin with and it's the same data?

Probably the sector/block size is larger (double?) combined with the 1024 vs 1000 byte.

DeathByAsh'aman · 05-17-2008, 09:59 PM

the 320 GB is just a marketing scheme by the manufacturers. No matter where you put that drive ( laptop, ps3, spaceship) it will always read 298 GB.

Your PS3 will not go "funny" if you have a drive larger then 250 GB. I have the WD 320 in mine and it is perfect. Ive had it for a few months as well.

brett_day · 05-17-2008, 10:27 PM

There are a few reason why this happens. Whether it is a hard drive in a ps3 or a pc! I have a 160gb in my ps and only 130gb shows up..here are a few reasons why

Hidden and System Files

Directories - directories, or the lists and indexes of the files on your machine, are not files themselves, but they do take up space

The File Allocation Table or Master File Table -
The FAT itself, of FAT file system fame, is actually pretty small. The MFT however, used in NTFS file systems, is also stored on disk but not visible as a file. It defines where the used and free space on a disk actually is. Depending on the size of your disk, your files, and the size of the allocation unit, the MFT can be quite large.

the other reason is that your 320gb hard drive is in fact not 320gb.....thats just for marketing purposes, drive manufacturers use K to mean 1,000 instead of 1,024.

Ectoplasm · 05-18-2008, 12:49 AM

Hard drives always have less than what's listed. Someone explained it above, but a certain percentage has always been rounded-up due to bits/bytes or something, and when hard drives were like 4 gig, there was little loss. The problem grows more and more pronounced as the drives get larger.

zxvfrr41 · 05-18-2008, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boss Hogg

My guess is the sector size changed when you went from 60GB to 320GB.....meaning if you put a 4MB file on your 60GB it may only take up exactly 4MB but if you put a 4MB file on your 320GB it may actually take up 6MB or 8MB.

I've never heard of this but I certainly don't doubt it since the math doesn't add up.

Thanks for the responses. At least I know I'm not crazy.

05-17-2008, 03:33 PM	#1
zxvfrr41 Active Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:New Jersey	PS3 Drive Swap Question Okay, I swapped out my 60Gb drive for a WD 320Gb drive last night. I had about 8Gb of space left on the 60Gb. When I performed a backup prior to the drive swap, it said it backed up 32Gb of data. So that's my first question. 60Gb total space - 8Gb remaining = 52Gb of data on the drive. The backup was 32Gb. What's the other 20Gb? The OS can't take up 20Gb because weren't the early PS3's 20Gb? Onto my second question. I installed the 320Gb WD drive, formatted the drive, and then restored my backup. When I check the System Settings, it shows 225Gb / 298Gb, meaning there's 225Gb of free space out of 298Gb. Why doesn't it show 320Gb or something close instead of 298Gb? And how could there only be 225Gb of free space? That would mean there's 73Gb of data (298-225) on my PS3. How is that possible considering I had a 60Gb PS3 to begin with and it's the same data?

05-17-2008, 10:27 PM	#11
brett_day Blu-ray Guru Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Moore, Oklahoma Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray collection:45 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	There are a few reason why this happens. Whether it is a hard drive in a ps3 or a pc! I have a 160gb in my ps and only 130gb shows up..here are a few reasons why Hidden and System Files Directories - directories, or the lists and indexes of the files on your machine, are not files themselves, but they do take up space The File Allocation Table or Master File Table - The FAT itself, of FAT file system fame, is actually pretty small. The MFT however, used in NTFS file systems, is also stored on disk but not visible as a file. It defines where the used and free space on a disk actually is. Depending on the size of your disk, your files, and the size of the allocation unit, the MFT can be quite large. the other reason is that your 320gb hard drive is in fact not 320gb.....thats just for marketing purposes, drive manufacturers use K to mean 1,000 instead of 1,024. Last edited by brett_day; 05-18-2008 at 12:09 AM.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
PS3 hard drive Question	PS3	Fang Dangerchili	19	02-23-2009 12:39 PM
Would this work for a PS3 drive swap?	PS3	Prometheus59650	3	04-29-2008 02:43 AM
PS3 Hard drive question, please help	PS3	GMan0392	2	01-23-2008 06:16 PM
PS3 Hard Drive question...HELP!!!	PS3	jbuttler007	7	10-07-2007 05:19 PM
How to Swap Out and Upgrade a PS3 Hard Drive	PS3	halon	18	08-18-2007 11:40 PM

05-17-2008, 03:36 PM	#2
dpomp ₯ Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Texas PSN: dpomp131 Blu-ray collection:231 Trading Score:19	call the cops cause somebody stole your gigabytes!

05-17-2008, 03:39 PM	#3
WickyWoo Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2007 Trading Score:2	a byte is 1024bits If you look at the fine print on your package, they define a gigbyte as 1000 bits

05-17-2008, 05:47 PM	#4
zxvfrr41 Active Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:New Jersey	Okay, forget about the 298Gb when it's a 320Gb drive. If I only have 225Gb free, that means there's 73Gb of data being used up (298 - 225 = 73). This is a restore of my backup from the 60Gb drive I just swapped out. How is that possible?

05-17-2008, 08:51 PM	#8
Boss Hogg Active Member Member since:Dec 2006	My guess is the sector size changed when you went from 60GB to 320GB.....meaning if you put a 4MB file on your 60GB it may only take up exactly 4MB but if you put a 4MB file on your 320GB it may actually take up 6MB or 8MB.

05-17-2008, 09:59 PM	#10
DeathByAsh'aman Expert Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Out West PSNetwork: DanceTheSpears	the 320 GB is just a marketing scheme by the manufacturers. No matter where you put that drive ( laptop, ps3, spaceship) it will always read 298 GB. Your PS3 will not go "funny" if you have a drive larger then 250 GB. I have the WD 320 in mine and it is perfect. Ive had it for a few months as well.

05-18-2008, 12:49 AM	#12
Ectoplasm Active Member Member since:Mar 2008 Blu-ray reviews:9 Trading Score:12	Hard drives always have less than what's listed. Someone explained it above, but a certain percentage has always been rounded-up due to bits/bytes or something, and when hard drives were like 4 gig, there was little loss. The problem grows more and more pronounced as the drives get larger.

Best PS3 Game Deals