PlayStation 3 SSD Upgrade Makes it Load Faster

We all know that an SSD is one of the most effective upgrades for a computer system, but what about for a console? It turns out that putting an SSD inside a PlayStation 3 has similar performance benefits too!

Phil, a member of the Beyond3D forum, installed a Corsair F120 SSD into his PlayStation 3 to see if it would do anything to improve the loading times of Gran Turismo 5 – and did it ever.

Wait times due to loading were in some cases cut down to half. Here is the chart that Phil made showing an old PS3 "fat" model with an SSD as compared to a PS3 Slim with the stock HDD. Given that the new PS3 Slim units tend to load faster than the old PS3 "fat" units, the effect of the SSD is quite significant.

Another test by forum poster civicgsir on GTPlanet saw his Gran Turismo 5 install (plus update) finish in 25 minutes – which normally takes 42 minutes – thanks to an OCZ Vertex 60GB.

Even with the hefty install from Blu-ray Disc to hard disk drive, which is supposed to aid in load times, Gran Turismo 5's excruciatingly lengthy loading of files from the disk is enough to have enthusiasts reaching for SSDs. We don't blame them – after all, we want SSDs in everything.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • nevertell
    FYI, faster drives are faster !
    Reply
  • RADIO_ACTIVE
    The load times in GT are very long, but I can't see my self purchasing a SSD to throw in my PS3. BTW I like what they did with Shawn White snowboarding their loading screens are an endless half pipe that you can ride on while the mountain is loading.
    Reply
  • Isn't the point of consoles to plug and play, not to install, wait, and then play?
    Reply
  • Trialsking
    nevertellFYI, faster drives are faster !
    In other news, the sky is blue and water is wet....
    Reply
  • chunkymonster
    I just assume retire my RAID0 velociraptors for an SSD before I get an SSD for my PS3...besides the long load times allows me to drink some beer or hit the bong, whichever is closest :-o
    Reply
  • JasonAkkerman
    WHAT??? SSD's are faster then HDD's? When did this happen?
    Reply
  • kashifme21
    Well how would you trim the drive on the PS3?
    Reply
  • microterf
    meh, so you can quickly get to your crappy console graphics. I'll stick with a ssd in a PC, and graphics the way they're meant to be seen.
    Reply
  • If there's any disk caching going on in the PS3, consider the need to replace the SSD frequently.
    Reply
  • chickenhoagie
    PS3's use mechanical harddrives? i had no idea..
    Reply