Saving DLC

[Rainer7]

Hey, I was one of the launch buyers of the PS3 and decided to get a 20GB model. I'm planning on buying a 500GB external HDD, and was wondering if DLC can only be read off of the internal HDD, or if the game will read from the external as well.

And then that would lead to the question -- if you can save DLC directly to an external source rather than the internal HDD. If you can only use the internal HDD for DLC playback, I'd rather go out and get a 160GB internal.

[tf5_bassist]

Ooh good question. If anyone knows the answer for this for the 360, I'd love to know that too.

[toefer]

Hey, I was one of the launch buyers of the PS3 and decided to get a 20GB model. I'm planning on buying a 500GB external HDD, and was wondering if DLC can only be read off of the internal HDD, or if the game will read from the external as well.


I'm not 100% positive, but I THINK to use an external HD for game saves and whatnot, it has to be set up as the main boot drive, (otherwise I think it can only be used to store media). Setting it up this way is harder, because you have to use a serial ATA cable (which plugs in inside of the console, in the HD bay area), not a USB port. I'd recommend upgrading the internal HD, as long as you have a way to back up your current save files and whatnot.

Edit: To be clear, this is only about PS3, because thats what the OP was asking. I know nothing about 360s.

[MartyMcFly]

I don't see why it won't work.

The Xbox 360 only has a detachable HDD. So it's only safe to assume that it's okay. It's just a memory unit, technically you choose where you want it to download to right?

If it does defaultly save to the wrong HDD, just copy the files, but I really don't think you'll need to do that.

[toefer]

If it does defaultly save to the wrong HDD, just copy the files, but I really don't think you'll need to do that.

I think the issue is whether the game (or any game, for that matter) will look on the external HD for the DLC files, and I don't think it does. By default, I think it only looks on the main drive, where the operating system is installed, which COULD be the external HD, if you set it up that way. I could be wrong though.

[toefer]

Hooray for another double post. Not sure why it keeps happening.

[MartyMcFly]

You made it sound better Toefer lol

But that's what I was basically saying where "i think you can choose where to download it to", essentially meaning whatever drive you sent as default.

[trilidar]

nm.. ignore

[tbradshaw]

This is not the case with the XBox 360. All version of the XBox 360 have "read-only USB ports". You may read music and photos from the external drives, but you cannot store DLC and save content on those drives.

[AVC808]

i dont know where i read it, but the external drives are mainly for storing media like movies for the ps3. any expansions must be on the internal drive. i remember this because i was looking into it when i had my hopes up about the dvr, which likely wont happen anytime soon in the US.

i figure since i dont have an immediate need for a bigger drive i should hold off to see if they come out with bigger capacity drives that run at 5400rpm, although i dont know if that's likely. if not, at least the 160gb drives should be much cheaper by then.

[AVC808]

this topic made me go to newegg to check prices on laptop drives and i saw that they actually carry rock band preorders. i didnt even know they sold games. theyre selling the bundle for $10 less, so $159. of course they charge $5 shipping (3-day guaranteed UPS, so that might mean you may not get it on launch day). also they charge tax i think in a couple states. but if youre a penny pincher, and dont live in a state that charges tax, i guess you could save a couple bucks :)

[toefer]

i dont know where i read it, but the external drives are mainly for storing media like movies for the ps3.

Just to clear up my earlier post, I found a video of a guy doing what I mentioned (setting up an external HD as your boot drive). By doing it this way, you can use it for your downloaded demos, game saves, DLC, etc. As mentioned earlier, it's not as simple as just buying a new laptop HD and sliding out the old one, sliding in the new one.

WARNING: this guy makes some fanboy comments in the beginning, but I'm posting this so you can see how it's done. This is not me, nor do I endorse anything he says.

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[Chris_Gonzalez]

Hey, I was one of the launch buyers of the PS3 and decided to get a 20GB model. I'm planning on buying a 500GB external HDD, and was wondering if DLC can only be read off of the internal HDD, or if the game will read from the external as well.

And then that would lead to the question -- if you can save DLC directly to an external source rather than the internal HDD. If you can only use the internal HDD for DLC playback, I'd rather go out and get a 160GB internal.

Go for an internal. The PS3 uses a special formatted hard drive, so just get the internal one. That's what I'm going to do.

[Rainer7]

Thanks everyone. Yeah looks like I'll be getting an internal drive.