PS3 101: New user's guide to the PS3 (ask questions here -- TMK is on duty)

[quote name='Supreme']What size should a wallpaper be? My TV is 30" and widescreen.[/quote]

1280x720 for 720p
1920x1080 for 1080p
 
the HDD in the PS3's can anyone give me specs?

40gb what speed? 7200rpm?

replacing the HDD, recommend the same speed? any recommendations would be great.. 120gb is what I'm thinking to replace a 40gb I'm probably gonna buy. I've built comps before.. so I know Seagate and Maxtor and Western Digital are good. .or used to be. Opinions would be great!
 
[quote name='Ryukahn']So saves can be transferred freely between a PC and PS3? Do I need anything special for it besides I'm assuming a USB cable?[/QUOTE]If you have a 40GB or 20GB, saves can be transfered using a USB flash drive or possibly PSP. If you have a 60 or 80GB, saves can be transferred via SD Card, Compact Flash, and Memory Stick Pro along with the two other methods. Just move the saves in the PS3 -> EXPORT folder to somewhere on a PC HDD (you can share saves too).

I just tell people this in case they want to back up or share datasaves, outside their PS3.
 
Ok I have one question now.

With remote Play you still have to be connected to a router, even if that router is not online?

I used remote play, but it appears even in the private network setting you must have both the PS3 and PSP connected to the server. Is that correct?
 
[quote name='The Mana Knight']If you have a 40GB or 20GB, saves can be transfered using a USB flash drive or possibly PSP. If you have a 60 or 80GB, saves can be transferred via SD Card, Compact Flash, and Memory Stick Pro along with the two other methods. Just move the saves in the PS3 -> EXPORT folder to somewhere on a PC HDD (you can share saves too).

I just tell people this in case they want to back up or share datasaves, outside their PS3.[/quote]

Awesome. This was something I was wondering about since I'd love to backup my saves in case the system dies. Glad to know I can backup 3 systems worth of saves without much hassle. :bouncy:
 
[quote name='aznguyen316']the HDD in the PS3's can anyone give me specs?

40gb what speed? 7200rpm?

replacing the HDD, recommend the same speed? any recommendations would be great.. 120gb is what I'm thinking to replace a 40gb I'm probably gonna buy. I've built comps before.. so I know Seagate and Maxtor and Western Digital are good. .or used to be. Opinions would be great![/QUOTE]

Probably a 5400 RPM.

I replaced the HDD in my 20GB PS3 with a larger 7200 RPM one.

For laptop HDDs -- which fit in the PS3 -- I like Hitachi the best with Seagate in second place.
 
I'm about ready to upgrade my HDD on my PS3 (I'm going with a 250GB). I'll probably go with Toshiba, since I'm a big fan of Toshiba products (outside of HD-DVD) and it's priced right. I'm going with 5400 rpm since I hear there is no speed difference on the PS3 and 7200 rpm just uses more heat.
 
I have a video question.

I am planning on hooking up a ps3 to my LCD monitor and using 720p output (I know it supports it because I have my 360 at 720p on my monitor).

I would use this HDMI to DVI cable
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10231&cs_id=1023104&p_id=2404&seq=1&format=2

from the ps3 to this DVI switch
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...d=1010203&p_id=4074&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

to connect both my pc and my ps3 to my monitor.

My question is quite simply, would this work?
 
For audio I'm gonna run it into my pc sound card like I do with my 360. I was just curious if that would work for video. I know hypothetically it would, I just wanted to make sure.
 
I was Costco and saw the face of GOD in a 52" Sony HDTV. My God, the images in playing from Pirates of the Caribbean, I SWEAR you were standing on location as it was filmed. It was mind boggling! I asked one of the guys on the floor why this set had such jaw dropping visuals and the other Sony set was not so. He explained that this particular Sony had some type of enhancer. He grabbed a remote and turned off the enhancer and it was just back to a great picture. Then he turned the enhancer back on and WOW!

I began to weep. Angels in the heavens sang out and the clouds parted and a light shone upon this technical marvel that I fell down upon my knees and thanked God for such a joy.

I can only image what MGS: Guns of the Patriots would look like on this set!
 
^^ that's funny b/c I was sold on Blu-Ray from seeing Pirates on it at a Best Buy. Shit looked amazing and I was seriously shocked seeing the PQ..
 
[quote name='Snake2715']Ok I have one question now.

With remote Play you still have to be connected to a router, even if that router is not online?

I used remote play, but it appears even in the private network setting you must have both the PS3 and PSP connected to the server. Is that correct?[/QUOTE]


To clarify this. I was under the impression that the PS3 could communicate with the PSP WITHOUT being online or connected to a router.

My router is on a PC I do not leave on constantly so I would love to use remote play without that router.. Am I missing the way how to do that, or is it not possible?
 
[quote name='Snake2715']To clarify this. I was under the impression that the PS3 could communicate with the PSP WITHOUT being online or connected to a router.

My router is on a PC I do not leave on constantly so I would love to use remote play without that router.. Am I missing the way how to do that, or is it not possible?[/quote]
Unless you have a 20GB, you should be able to connect to the PS3's wifi directly through the private network. Did you check all of your connections? A PS3-specific connection should be on there.
 
[quote name='dragonsho']For audio I'm gonna run it into my pc sound card like I do with my 360. I was just curious if that would work for video. I know hypothetically it would, I just wanted to make sure.[/QUOTE]Using the red/white from the A/V cable should work (just choose to carry sound through that).
 
[quote name='The Mana Knight']Using the red/white from the A/V cable should work (just choose to carry sound through that).[/quote]
I just realized a giant flaw. There's no audio outputs on the dvi/hdmi cable.

2 possible solutions, would these work?

1. Are there any that have audio output on them?
2. Could I use the hdmi/dvi cable and just plug in the composite cable into the back of the ps3 and use the audio cables from that?
 
[quote name='dragonsho']I just realized a giant flaw. There's no audio outputs on the dvi/hdmi cable.

2 possible solutions, would these work?

1. Are there any that have audio output on them?
2. Could I use the hdmi/dvi cable and just plug in the composite cable into the back of the ps3 and use the audio cables from that?[/QUOTE]You can use the audio from the composite cables separately. One time, I had issues with my HDMI cable sound, so I used my HDMI cable for video, and I put the sound from the composite cable into my speakers. Worked just fine, but you gotta make sure you set it in audio settings.
 
[quote name='FriskyTanuki']Unless you have a 20GB, you should be able to connect to the PS3's wifi directly through the private network. Did you check all of your connections? A PS3-specific connection should be on there.[/QUOTE]

I did choose the PS3 and Private Network on the PSP. When I turned my pc off (which is hooked to the wireless access point) the PSP closed the Remote Play and said the connection had been lost.

Any help here would be really appreciated. It is a 40GB model if that helps.
 
[quote name='dragonsho']I just realized a giant flaw. There's no audio outputs on the dvi/hdmi cable.[/quote]
I DID try to point that out to you.... :)

[quote name='dragonsho']1. Are there any that have audio output on them?[/quote]No. HDMI does not (CAN not, actually) carry analog audio.

[quote name='dragonsho']2. Could I use the hdmi/dvi cable and just plug in the composite cable into the back of the ps3 and use the audio cables from that?[/quote]
Yes. Or you could use the optical output. Either will work, you just have to select which audio output you want to use from the XMB.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']I did choose the PS3 and Private Network on the PSP. When I turned my pc off (which is hooked to the wireless access point) the PSP closed the Remote Play and said the connection had been lost.

Any help here would be really appreciated. It is a 40GB model if that helps.[/quote]
Are you sure? If you're connected by the PS3's wifi, your wireless AP shouldn't have any effect on remote play.

How about trying the PS3 manual on Sony's site?
 
Frisky,

Thanks that is what I did, I will try it again tonight when i get home, I had the two God Sons over last night and was a bit distracted.
 
[quote name='geko29']I DID try to point that out to you.... :)
[/quote]
lol ya, sorry. It was late last night and I wasn't really thinking. I have it all sorted out now. Thanks.
 
[quote name='geko29']...
They can't change the type of memory the processor accesses or how it accesses it without running a huge risk of breaking existing software that depends on things being done the "old" way. In a full software emulation setup, they obviously can. Whether they'll do that or not is debatable.[/quote]

They can do it, they're choosing not to for whatever reason. Like I said, it's a software and hardware engineering issue. There are examples of much funkier things getting pulled off than this. They know how the original memory responds, and can fake that, either in hardware or software.

Don't tell me what I said or what I meant.
Click to expand...

You're saying I misquoted you or whatever, and then proceeding to make the same claim again...(?)

Sony already officially announced that the production run of the 80GB models is over. Just because they recalled stock from the channel to resell at a later date doesn't mean they're re-introducing backwards compatibility.
Click to expand...

Huh? You're claiming they bought back systems, tore apart the packaging, and are going to repackage and resell it? Possible, but I think it's far more likely they're continuing to make models with backwards compatibility. Maybe they did, but I can't recall that they ever claimed they had quit.

I would guess that they're probably working on emulation. How determined they are to make it work is anybody's guess. But they've very publically stated that they're trying to move the market away from playing old games and on to selling new PS3 titles.
Click to expand...

Which is a pretty stupid position for a company in their position. They not only the biggest installed base ever for their previous gen system, but actually their previous gen system still is a current gen system. While they need PS3 development, there's no reason to undermine the PS2.

But I'll wager hard cash that there will never be a 120/160GB PS3 (ie NEW PRODUCTION, not new old stock that was built last year) with a EE+GS under the hood. That cut is permanent, I guarantee.
Click to expand...

Well they're continuing to produce BC units now, and I hope you're wrong about this in the future, unless they've introduced full software backwards compatibility by then.

The ones coming out in June were built last year.
Click to expand...

Why do you say that?

[quote name='Ryukahn']At some point this year, I'm buying a PS3. Maybe sooner rather than later since funds are ok at the moment. The PS3 I buy MUST have BC. I don't want to buy a PS2 and a 40 GB PS3 to clutter up my entertainment unit, and I especially don't want to deal with corded PS2 controllers or memory cards, so please don't tell me to just get a PS2 to play PS2 games.

With that out of the way, what are the differences between the 60 GB and the 80 GB? I know 60 GB is practically full BC (a few games don't work) while the 80 GB version is mostly BC (less games work than the 60 GB model). I'm still compiling a list of all the PS2 games I plan to play, but so far I don't recall any issues in BC on either of the systems.

I also know about the MSG4 bundle scheduled to hit in June. However, I have basically no interest in MGS4 and it would most likely just be sold upon purchase of the bundle. I also don't really care about the rumble feature in the DS3 controllers (never really used rumble on PS2/GC/N64/PSX), so if that's the only benefit, then I can do without that if need be.[/quote]

I'm in a similar position. I loved the original Metal Gear and MGS1, liked MGS2, and hated MGS3 and Portable Ops, so almost certainly I'll hate MGS4. I'm expecting I'll play it for a few hours and sell it.

I've also never been impressed by rumble (although I've always thought Sony's implementation was the best-ironic since they gave it up on the PS3 originally).

All that said, I think the new MGS bundle is going to be the way to go. It should have the advantages of the 40GB model but with decent backwards compatibility. This bundle's probably going to be popular, but even still I figure the game will get me a decent amount at Gamestop, which will effectively lower the price of the bundle.

[quote name='dragonsho']I have a few questions regarding the 80gb model and 40gb model. The questions are for both.

Do they both get equally hot?
As hot as the 360?
If so, hot enough that it would cause a system failure down the line?
Is the 40gb really quieter? Please compare noise levels of an 80gb and a 40gb to a 360.[/QUOTE]

This has been addressed by Mana Knight too, but for the heck of it...

If you can't find any Motorstorm bundles, I'm personally waiting for the new 80GB bundle, which should hopefully be the best unit out there.

The "old" PS3 models are louder than the new model, but from tests on a hardware site I think it was like 36db versus 30-still a LONG way from the 60db the 360 produces. (The site Mana Knight is quoting from got higher results for whatever reason, but they're still lower than the 360 results they got.) The old models drew as much power as the 360, but that doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how reliable they'll be. (The 360 has a poor cooling system, and took shortcuts that led to it's high failure rate. That doesn't mean another system with a similar power draw will have a similar failure rate.)
 
I just got my PS3 and started downloading huge demos. Since the download speeds are ridiculously slow, is there an auto-shutdown feature like the 360 after downloads are done?
 
What demos? What size? What connection speed do you have? How long were they taking?

You have a good question, and I want to guage your speed to what I was getting.

I am curious as to the answer, but I could not find an auto shutdown, it will go into sleep mode though I do believe.
 
Just got MLB The Show 2008 and it says it supports 1080i. My TV supports 720p & 1080i but the game is displaying in 720p. Any reason for this?
 
[quote name='FriskyTanuki']Are you sure? If you're connected by the PS3's wifi, your wireless AP shouldn't have any effect on remote play.

How about trying the PS3 manual on Sony's site?[/QUOTE]


So either I misunderstood you or the info is wrong. After some research the PS3 does have to be connected to the net to use remote play.

I was thinking that the PS3 would communicate with the PSP directly without any net connection on at all.

Oh well.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']What demos? What size? What connection speed do you have? How long were they taking?

You have a good question, and I want to guage your speed to what I was getting.

I am curious as to the answer, but I could not find an auto shutdown, it will go into sleep mode though I do believe.[/QUOTE]

Gran Turismo HD Concept, Resistance Fall of Man, MLB The Show '08 etc...I'm currently trying to download Uncharted....my connection speed is slow DSL 1500/384. It takes hours literally, to download each one. Even when my connection was 784/256 with XBOX Live the big demos didn't take as long. It's painful! I leave on my PS3 overnight to download, and for some reason only 2 of the demos are done (6 to 8 hours to download). XBOX Live would be a equivalent to F430, PSN equivalent to an M3 or so in a race. Just SLOWER!!!
 
[quote name='jdawgg76']I've heard there is some adapter to get a Harmony remote to communicate with a PS3. Anybody got a recommendation?[/quote]
It's not out yet, but this looks like the ultimate solution:

http://www.ir2bt.com/
 
So, this is a dumb question, but you can save me some google footwork and deep thinking by answering it for me. What PS3 SKU offers the best backwards compatibility. I am thinking of getting one in a few months and would like to know what is the best version out there. Thanks!
 
[quote name='whoknows']20gb and 60gb offer the best BC. 80gb is ok with BC and most games work and the 40gb only plays PS1 games[/QUOTE]
Looking online it seems that the 40gb and 80gb the only ones available. Is Sony pretty much axing BC?
 
[quote name='doctorfaustus']Looking online it seems that the 40gb and 80gb the only ones available. Is Sony pretty much axing BC?[/QUOTE]Yes, because people complained over and over again about the price of the PS3, and one of the only things they could do was axe the BC to get the price down (because the 20GB and 60GB consoles were sold at a $240-$300 loss, and if they were still around, would probably cost around $550-$600 to produce), without sacrificing very important PS3 features (like the HDD, bluetooth, Cell/RSX, etc.). The BC on the 80GB is partially software, but still plays a pretty high number of PS2 games regardless (it's around 85% I hear). There hasn't been a firmware update for a while to add more games, but part of the reason is because people complained about too many firmware updates, so they spaced them out more.

There are some flaws with the PS2 BC I want to be sure everyone knows, some accessories which are not USB based on PS2, it's a pain to get them to work on PS3 (some won't work at all like Taiko Drum Master, Guitar Hero, etc.).

IMO, I'd go with 80GB over 20GB any day. 20GB kind of sucks in ways because you cannot upgrade to having WiFi easily (which all other SKUs have) and a HDD upgrade is pretty much a requirement (20GB won't last unless you buy maybe 2-3 PS3 games).
 
[quote name='jdawgg76']I've heard there is some adapter to get a Harmony remote to communicate with a PS3. Anybody got a recommendation?[/quote]

http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3..._1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1204728244&sr=8-1

I use the USB dongle from this to be able to use my Harmony 720 remote. I just unplug it when I'm not watching a movie. Works flawlessly. I've also seen these in EB/GS for about $15 I think.

AVS forum has some more info about this topic and how to set it up (which is very easy), I'd poke around over there and look for some info on it.
 
Well I think I've fixed my slow connection speeds. I just hooked up my ps3 through a network cable to a router that Ive set up as a wireless client. I just think that my old wi-fi modem (2Wire DSL modem) doesn't connect that well with the ps3's internal wifi card. This would force my PSN account to keep dropping out and keep my ps3 from staying connected online.
 
Yeah i was going to say I have cell phone internet up to 2.4Mbps (really only ever hits 1Mps) speeds and it does not take nearly that long. Maybe 45 minutes for the DMC4 demo.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']What demos? What size? What connection speed do you have? How long were they taking?

You have a good question, and I want to guage your speed to what I was getting.

I am curious as to the answer, but I could not find an auto shutdown, it will go into sleep mode though I do believe.[/QUOTE]

Ya know, it wouldn't be as bad if you could at least run Folding @ Home on the menu screens, or something.

[quote name='DomLando']Just got MLB The Show 2008 and it says it supports 1080i. My TV supports 720p & 1080i but the game is displaying in 720p. Any reason for this?[/QUOTE]

What kind of TV is this? Unless it's a CRT, 720p would be the correct resolution, as 1080i is having to be scaled by your TV's scaler.

[quote name='Snake2715']Yeah i was going to say I have cell phone internet up to 2.4Mbps (really only ever hits 1Mps) speeds and it does not take nearly that long. Maybe 45 minutes for the DMC4 demo.[/QUOTE]

Whoa...what kind of service do you have? How much do you pay? Is it really unlimited?

I've been interested in the development of cell phone broadband for a while now (I figure I could use it...at places besides home :D )
My impression though was that it was more expensive than like DSL or a cable modem, slower (though that's not that big of a deal to me), and most importantly, that it's "unlimited" service was really very, very limited, and they'd drop you if you tried downloading huge files like that.

Between Gametap, game demos, streaming Netflix video, and stuff my Tivo downloads, I'm sure I do multiple gigabytes every month (I'd guess more than 10-maybe a lot more than 10, I don't know).
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']Ya know, it wouldn't be as bad if you could at least run Folding @ Home on the menu screens, or something.



What kind of TV is this? Unless it's a CRT, 720p would be the correct resolution, as 1080i is having to be scaled by your TV's scaler.



Whoa...what kind of service do you have? How much do you pay? Is it really unlimited?

I've been interested in the development of cell phone broadband for a while now (I figure I could use it...at places besides home :D )
My impression though was that it was more expensive than like DSL or a cable modem, slower (though that's not that big of a deal to me), and most importantly, that it's "unlimited" service was really very, very limited, and they'd drop you if you tried downloading huge files like that.

Between Gametap, game demos, streaming Netflix video, and stuff my Tivo downloads, I'm sure I do multiple gigabytes every month (I'd guess more than 10-maybe a lot more than 10, I don't know).[/QUOTE]


well I use Alltel, So I don't know how Verizon would handle this. So far Alltel has been great. We have awesome coverage here in Michigan. The interent is like $44 a month and we had to either add it to an existing line (which would mean our phone was busy when in use) or just add a line for $9.99 a month. We opted to add a line so in the end its near $54 or so.

I was also going to use a satellite based carrier, the downside is I could not take it with me. Of course if you have Wifi available everywhere you travel thats of no concern. Now I just grab the laptop and can surf on the highway as well as pretty much anywhere I get cell service.

I see now they have a USB dongle that claims up to 3.4 Mbps speeds using that newer tech. My USB dongle runs of EVDO right now, but I had heard that a faster method was coming.

The one downside is the upload speeds are probably slower than a satellite or cable by a decent amount. I have never really tested it yet, but I am sure I will with say Smash bros etc.

We cant get cable it stops about 2 miles south of where we live.
 
[quote name='Wolfpup']Ya know, it wouldn't be as bad if you could at least run Folding @ Home on the menu screens, or something.
[/quote]

Prompted by this I'll ask... When does the PS3 download stuff in the queue? I ask because I queued up a bunch of demos, played a PS2 game for a while, and started folding as soon as I was done. The next time I went to play a game all the demos were done downloading.
 
[quote name='mguiddy']Prompted by this I'll ask... When does the PS3 download stuff in the queue? I ask because I queued up a bunch of demos, played a PS2 game for a while, and started folding as soon as I was done. The next time I went to play a game all the demos were done downloading.[/quote]

Good question, I was wondering this as well. I think that you can download while folding, but I am unsure about during game play. Someone with better knowledge of the subject will hopefully answer this.
 
Well I have a 60gb and it's pretty buggy on PS2 games. It freezes on a lot of them and has magically erased data. Then one day the power went out and all the PS2 data was erased but the PS3 game data was still there.
 
I got an iPod from a friend today. I know nothing about the iPod itself. When I connect it to my PS3, nothing is showing up. What do I need to do to be able to browse what is on the iPod on the PS3?
 
Well I went to download the Echochrome demo just now, and my PS3 died. Just shut off instantly, stand-by light and everything. Unplugged from the wall, replugged, tried holding down the power button. Tried flipping the hard switch a few times. Nothing. Looks like the power supply shit the bed.

Anyone have any other things I can try to fix it?
 
Why do some games focus on the HDD access light as a warning instead of an on-screen prompt? I would think most have their consoles out of view so you can see when not to turn the console off.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']well I use Alltel, So I don't know how Verizon would handle this. So far Alltel has been great. We have awesome coverage here in Michigan. The interent is like $44 a month and we had to either add it to an existing line (which would mean our phone was busy when in use) or just add a line for $9.99 a month. We opted to add a line so in the end its near $54 or so.
[/QUOTE]

So you could add real unlimited cellular internet for $44? That's a really good deal. I think the big carriers charge more like $60, and it's not REALLY unlimited. (I mean I'm sure Alltell would eventually get upset too, but it sounds like you're using it the same way I use my cable modem).

That's basically the same price I pay for cable. I don't really care about speed, but it would be handy to have access I could use at work :lol:

[quote name='withered']Well I have a 60gb and it's pretty buggy on PS2 games. It freezes on a lot of them and has magically erased data. Then one day the power went out and all the PS2 data was erased but the PS3 game data was still there.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='aznguyen316']^^ hmm that sucks. Is this common? I've heard of the virtual data thing deleting a lot =/[/QUOTE]

Was this with new firmware? I'd heard about stuff like that early on, but I was hoping it was fixed with newer firmware. Maybe it needs to "close" some files on disc when it's done, and if it doesn't, it just erases them the next time it turns on (like when the power went off, it doesn't have a way to recover the "open" PS2 save files?)

[quote name='SteveMcQ']Why do some games focus on the HDD access light as a warning instead of an on-screen prompt? I would think most have their consoles out of view so you can see when not to turn the console off.[/QUOTE]

You mean like when it's saving games or something? That's incredibly dumb.
 
Someone might be able to answer this... I was trying to copy music from my computer to my PS3... I can access the songs fine, and I have over 9,000 on my computer... eventually, I get down to songs that start with H for example... the list stops... and I wait for it to bring up more and nothing...

This also happens with albums and artists...

Is there a number cap they will let you access on the PS3 dash?... thanks in advance.
 
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