If you happen to thought ready for a PlayStation 5 worth drop would repay, we’ve unhealthy information. After launching at $399, the bottom mannequin console shall be $649 whereas the digital version will set you again $599, efficient April 2. The Professional model, in the meantime, will leap from $700 to $899.
Meaning in case you nonetheless have a PS4 kicking round and might’t spare $600 for a brand new console, you will be caught with agonizingly gradual loading instances on the PS4. Or will you? All is just not misplaced in case you improve the console’s arduous drive to an SSD, which may lower load instances by 10 to twenty seconds on the PS4 and PS4 Professional’s 5400 RPM arduous drive, although each recreation is totally different.
You don’t have to fret an excessive amount of about selecting the quickest attainable SSD, however it’ll should be a 2.5-inch mannequin, not the M.2 SSDs “gumsticks” which have change into in style in PCs. I used a Western Digital Blue mannequin (lately rebranded as Optimus), which presents nice efficiency for the worth.
Swapping the drive itself is straightforward; all I wanted was a screwdriver. You’ll, nonetheless, should again up all of your knowledge first, reinstall the PS4 working system on the brand new drive, after which restore your knowledge. For that, you will want a USB drive or two. If performed proper, the entire course of ought to solely take quarter-hour or so. I will take you thru how I did it.
Step 1: Again Up Your Sport Saves
Because you’ll be beginning contemporary with a clear drive, you must again up all of your knowledge earlier than choosing up the screwdriver. For this, you will want a USB drive. Insert it into the console, open Settings > System > Again Up and Restore, then choose Again Up PS4. You wish to again up saved knowledge, since that features your recreation saves, however you too can again up purposes, like Netflix, if you wish to keep away from re-downloading all of them.
PlayStation Plus subscribers can ditch the USB drive and again as much as the cloud. Head to Settings > Software Saved Knowledge Administration > Saved Knowledge in System Storage and choose Add to On-line Storage. Any trophies you’ve acquired won’t be included. If you happen to care sufficient to protect these, head to the Trophies part of the PS4 menu, press Choices in your controller, and choose Sync Trophies with PSN.
As soon as the backup course of is completed, shut down the PS4 utterly by going to Energy > Energy Choices > Flip Off PS4—you don’t wish to be in Relaxation Mode. Await the sunshine to cease blinking to make sure it’s utterly off, then unplug the facility cable earlier than persevering with.
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(Credit score: PCMag / Sony)
Step 2: Substitute the Drive
Sony made changing the arduous drive tremendous straightforward (far simpler than the method of including a second SSD to the PS5), nonetheless, the precise course of differs relying on which model of the PS4 you personal. Listed below are the directions for every mannequin:
Unique PlayStation 4: Slide the shiny panel on the highest of the unit to the left till it comes off utterly. Unscrew the screw closest to you on the left, then pull the arduous drive cage towards you. Unscrew the 4 screws holding the drive in place and exchange it along with your SSD.
PlayStation 4 Slim: Flip the unit round. To the precise of the ports, there’s a black piece of plastic with textual content on it—apply some strain and slide it to the precise to take away it. Take away the big screw beneath, then slide the drive cage out the aspect of the PS4 utilizing the black ribbon. Unscrew the 4 screws holding the drive in place and exchange it along with your SSD.
PlayStation 4 Professional: Flip the unit round and search for the arduous drive cowl to the precise of the ports. Discover the notch on the aspect and use your finger to swing it open—it’s type of like a bit door. (I needed to apply a good quantity of pressure to get it open.) Take away the screw that lives underneath it and slide out the arduous drive cage. Unscrew the 4 screws holding the drive in place and exchange it along with your SSD.
As soon as you set your SSD into the console, shut all of it up and plug it again in. Earlier than you flip it on, although, you’ll want to move to your laptop.
(Credit score: Whitson Gordon)
Step 3: Reinstall the PS4 Software program
The brand new drive is within the console, however would not have the working system put in. In your laptop, insert a USB drive (not the one you’re utilizing in your PS4 backup). Proper-click the drive in File Explorer/Finder and select Format, with FAT32 as your file system. Create a folder on the drive named PS4, and inside that folder, create one other folder referred to as UPDATE.
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Subsequent, open Sony’s assist web page and scroll right down to The way to reinstall the PS4 console system software program part. Click on PS4 console reinstallation file to obtain the console’s system software program. You too can open the Reinstall PS4 system software program drop-down to view Sony’s directions. Save the file within the UPDATE folder you created earlier. Don’t rename the file—it must be named PS4UPDATE.PUP to work.
Eject the flash drive and head again to your PS4. You’ll must plug in a controller with a USB cable, then press and maintain the facility button till you hear the second beep (about seven seconds). It will convey you into Secure Mode. Choose Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software program), and press X. Insert your USB drive with the replace file and press OK. As soon as it finds the replace, select Subsequent to put in the PS4 software program in your new drive. When the method is completed, your PS4 will reboot and drop you on the preliminary setup display.
(Credit score: PCMag / Sony)
Step 4: Restore Your Knowledge and Reinstall Your Video games
You may must log into your PlayStation account once more, as in case you have been organising a brand new PS4 for the primary time. Earlier than persevering with, although, you must now restore the information you beforehand backed up. If you happen to needed to manually again up the information on a USB drive, insert it into the console, then head to Settings > System > Again Up and Restore > Restore PS4. If you happen to used PS Plus, open Settings > Software Saved Knowledge Administration > Saved Knowledge in On-line Storage > Obtain to System Storage.
You then must re-download and/or re-install your video games, however as soon as that’s performed, you must have the ability to hop again in such as you by no means left—and with shorter loading instances getting you in to play as quick as attainable.
(Credit score: PCMag / Sony)
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Whitson Gordon
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Whitson Gordon is a author, gamer, and tech nerd who has been constructing PCs for 10 years. He eats potato chips with chopsticks so he would not get grease on his mechanical keyboard.
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