eSATA HDD Extender may / may not expand PS3 storage
We're not saying the mildly brilliant eSATA HDD Extender wouldn't work in theory, but we're a bit skeptical about the, um, realness of this here product. Unlike Team Xecuter's Hard Drive Xtender, which is definitely shipping to buyers, this device supposedly gives Sony's PlayStation 3 the ability to recognize an external eSATA drive. Furthermore, the device also adds four USB ports for even more connectivity, and given just how sweet this looks beneath the console, we'd say some serious thought went into the design. Sadly, there's no real indication of where the PS3 HD Plus PHE-01 will be sold, and even if you are able to locate one, the installation is a few notches above "drop dead simple."
[Via Joystiq PlayStation]
[Via Joystiq PlayStation]























Looks pretty good though. Most people wouldn't know it's not a part of the console.
As I was browsing through Engadget I saw this picture knowing the article had something to do with the PS3 hard drive replacement. I was thinking "this better NOT be a better, cooler, smarter, cheaper, and way more awesome way of adding hard drive space to my PS3!". All of this happened in a split second in my head and I am glad this eSata drive thing didn't work out because I just put a 320 gig drive in my launch PS3 today!
haha yeah i just swapped mine out from the launch 60 GB about a month ago. the screws were a serious pain in the ass to get out, so it's a relief that this thing isn't simple either. then again, i'm not too sure about how i'd feel having an external hard drive standing next to my PS3. floor space is valuable.
Someone should use this to add HD-DVD to their PS3.
Why would want to do such thing? HD-DVD? the PS3 rocks a nice solid BD. Go take a nap
redspdr, that was a joke. a pretty funny one.
This is not so far fetched an idea. The PS3 has USB, and uses USB extensively. The Guitar Hero USB controllers have USB hubs in them, so you don't max out at 4 controllers. You're able to plug in USB hard disks to play your media..
Why wouldn't a device that fits neatly around the base of the PS3 be able to supply a 4 port USB hub and a USB to SATA bridge?
I don't think there's a real call for the scepticism in the write up.
That's not an USB to SATA Bridge.
It works similar to the HDXT by extending the internal SATA-Connector.
Id love this on my ps3 tbh... I was thinking about exchanging the hdd but this would be an awesome possibility, just get a WD 1tb harddisc that would rock :)
PS3 cant play X264 rips so what the use for a big HD?
Yes It Can. Clearly You Haven't Gone To Doom9 In Awhile..
@Aka
.mkv != x264.. mkv (matroska) is a container format and has nothing to do with the x/h264 codec other than the fact it's used commonly to hold it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matroska
The PS3 doesn't have the functionality because Sony can't get support for a container like that.
Oh well, never heard of mkv2vob ? Try it out.. I got several 1080p movies on my ps3. Only sound quality is not the same
eSATA: An idiot's interconnect. Why? It doesn't provide power.
Good job, whoever designed this garbage.
I call bullshit. It's optional, and many vendors suck at implementing it, but there are power over eSATA specs.
All external 3.5" drives need a separate power supply anyway, and powering a 2.5" drive over usb can be a bit hit and miss.
More importantly, eSATA is sooooooooooooo much faster than usb, and eSATA enclosures all come with a usb connector as well.
So, to conclude, eSATA: An idiots interconnect? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
First of all, if it's optional, it might as well not exist. That gives leeway for assholes like Sony to leave it out, as they left power out of their bastardization of FireWire.
Second, you can call bullshit all you want, but it doesn't mean anything until you show us shipping products that are powered by an eSATA port. eSATA interconnects are already out there, and they don't have power. That's moronic, especially for a standard introduced so recently.
(Someone got out of bed and missed the floor this morning.)
"All external 3.5" drives need a separate power supply anyway"
Yes, because eSATA omitted power from the port.
Er, No.
Show me a 3.5" USB hard drive that doesn't also use external power.
"Show me a 3.5" USB hard drive that doesn't also use external power."
There aren't any, because USB doesn't provide enough power for a full-sized hard drive. Thus the need for a standard that does, which is what eSATA should have provided. For example, there could have been 12- and 5-volt pins integrated into the port.
Why wouldn't that be real? Inside ps3 HDD bay there is a normal SATA port,so you can plug even 2TB WD SATA desktop drive using cable going out of the console if you want to......this is simply an extender for that.
When looking at the pictures, there is one angle with an esata port. Another with 4 usb ports. Then this other picture with a fan. Anyone have an explanation?
I don't see the usefulness or the price advantage of this device. I mean it's easy to swap out a hard drive and real cheap. This needs to be worked on the 360 or something where a hard drive is outragous. I just upgrade my ps3 to 250gig for 80 bucks...I bet this thing alone cost that much.
Can anyone confirm that the ps3 will recognize anything larger than a 750gb 3.5" HDD? I would hate to purchase a 2TB HDD just to find that it only recognized 750gb?
the ps3 supports 2.5 inch hard drives as big as available i have a 500gb in mine
they don't have 2 terrabyte 2.5 inch drives to my knowledge
Too bad your PS3 would look like it had a tumor on it if you didn't store it vertically.
$5 or less for a SATA Extension cable that has power as well.....
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13067
Can someone come out with something like this for the 360? One that I can use for my Live content as well? Because the price Microsoft is asking for a replacement drive is fucking obscene.