Replacing the hard drive in your PlayStation 4 (PS4) can significantly improve your gaming experience. With more than 100,000,000 Playstation 4 users worldwide, these instructions can help everyone get a faster and better gaming experience. Here’s a tutorial on how to change the hard drive in a PS4.
General Information about the hard drive in the original PS4 system
The original PS4 has a 500GB or 1TB internal hard drive. The hard drive in the PS4 is a standard 2.5-inch laptop-style hard drive, and it’s very easy to replace. It’s worth noting that the PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim also have replaceable hard drives.
What hard drives are recommended as a replacement
When choosing a replacement hard drive for your PS4, consider a few things. First, you’ll want to ensure that the hard drive is a 2.5-inch laptop-style hard drive with a thickness of 9.5mm or less. Second, you’ll want to choose a hard drive with a high RPM (revolutions per minute) speed to ensure faster loading times.
Some of the recommended hard drives for the PS4 include:
- Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSHD (1TB or 2TB)
- Western Digital Black Performance HDD (1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or 6TB)
- Samsung 860 EVO (500GB, 1TB, or 2TB)
Advantages and Disadvantages of replacing the hard drive
There are several advantages to replacing the hard drive in your PS4:
- More storage space: If you’re running out of storage space on your PS4, replacing the hard drive with a larger one can give you more space for games, apps, and other content.
- Faster loading times: A faster hard drive can significantly reduce loading times in games and apps, improving your overall gaming experience.
- Better performance: A high-performance hard drive can improve the overall performance of your PS4, reducing lag and improving frame rates.
However, there are also a few disadvantages to consider:
- Cost: Replacing the hard drive in your PS4 can be expensive, especially if you opt for a high-performance drive with a lot of storage space.
- Data loss: If you don’t back up your data before replacing the hard drive, you may lose your saved games, screenshots, and other data.
- Warranty void: Replacing the hard drive in your PS4 can void your warranty, so be sure to check with the manufacturer before making any changes.
How to change the hard drive in a PS4
Here are the steps to follow to change the hard drive in your PS4:
- Back up your data: Before replacing the hard drive, back up all of your saved games, screenshots, and other data to an external hard drive or cloud storage service.
- Turn off your PS4: Make sure your PS4 is turned off and unplugged from the power source.
- Remove the top cover: Using a head screwdriver, remove the screw on the back of your PS4 and slide the top cover off. You don’t need a screwdriver to remove the “cover” from the side of a PS4 slim version, but you later need the screwdriver to remove the hard drive from within the machine.
- Remove the hard drive: Locate the hard drive and remove the four screws holding it in place. Gently slide the hard drive out of its slot. The PS4 slim version has a band you can grab to remove the hard drive from within the machine gently.
- Install the new hard drive: Insert the new hard drive into the slot and secure it with the screws.
- Reassemble the PS4: Put the top cover back on and replace the screw.
- Reinstall the PS4 system software: Download the latest version of the PS4 system software from the PlayStation website and follow the instructions to install it on your new hard drive.
- Restore your data: Restore your saved games, screenshots, and other data from your backup.
That’s it! With your new hard drive installed and your data restored, you can enjoy your improved PS4 gaming experience.
- Did you see an error message in the process? You can read more about getting rid of the CE-34788-0 error message here.
In summary, replacing the hard drive in your PS4 can significantly improve your gaming experience with more storage space, faster loading times, and better performance. Before making any changes, be aware of the potential cost, data loss, and warranty issues. And remember to back up your data before replacing the hard drive and follow the steps carefully to avoid any damage to your PS4.
