"Best PS3 deals?" thread in "Technology, Computing & Gadgetry"
Anyone know of the best deals out there at the moment for an 80GB or 160GB PS3 bundles or consoles? Review: 80GB PlayStation 3 a ...

Anyone know of the best deals out there at the moment for an 80GB or 160GB PS3 bundles or consoles?

Review: 80GB PlayStation 3 a superb gaming console - CNN.com

After reading this review, I'm a bit concerned that they don't have the capacity for the backward compatability with PS2 games. eh? Surely not.

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Brevity is Bliss

PS2 backwards compatibility was originallyy via a chip and then it went to software (no where near as good) and now it seems they've dropped it.

I'd buy one now if it was.

UK never got full BC. When the PS3 launched in the US (and presumably Japan), it had the physical GPU and CPU hardware from the PS2 in the box. In our 60GB model they ditched the CPU and emulated it in software, but kept the GPU. Then in our 40GB and 80GB models they ditched the GPU which they did not, and may never (be able to) emulate in software. Consequently, new PS3s can't play PS2 games and I'm amongst those who consider our model gimped - I'd probably have one now too if it had BC.

[Sony fanboys will tell you it was to save Sony a few important dollars per console, but I think it was because the PS3 was tanking when it launched and they wanted to push people into the next gen proper. This was back when PS3 owners were buying PS2 games like God Of War 2 to run in emulation, in favour of massive budget games such as Lair or whatever.]

Dunno of any deals outside of the likes of Currys or Dixons, Sony can't afford an official price cut. There are rumours of plans for a March price cut, which Sony have denied.

That clears up my confusion. I had thought that the first models were full BC.

Amazon are offering an 80GB for £289 at the moment. It's for myself, so I was quite happy to wait until after Xmas for any price reductions but I'm not so sure now. I should also probably note that I don't have an HD ready LCD yet to play Blu-ray either.

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Brevity is Bliss

Keep an eye on this site for good deals

HotUKDeals - Deals - All

This is the best i can see atm but it gets updated quite quickly if there is a deal.

Playstation 3 Blue Ray Pack + Any 2 Games Under £40 Each + Blue Ray Remote Control. £299 @ Hmv - HotUKDeals Forum

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There was an advert on TV this evening for an Xbox 360 60GB with 4 games and an extra controller for about £160. MS have Sony beat in the price war, at least for those who only want to play games and aren't planning on dedicating themselves to Blu-ray or feeding processing power to their fridge.

Buy PS3 if you want Blu-ray or one of their exclusive games. If you're not bothered about either then you can get an arguably better experience with the Xbox 360 for less.

I already have an xbox 360. Wanted the PS3 for playing a particular game, but it seems a bit extravagant to buy it just for the purpose of playing an exclusive game.

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Brevity is Bliss

Saw an ad for the 40gb with three (old) but good games this morning, Motorstorm, Resistence and Drake fortune from Argos. £299.

Why do you need back compatability? Did you still play PS1 games after you bought a PS2? Doubt it.

So this disparity in price has nothing to do with the size then?

40GB - £300 @ Argos (ok so including 3 games, but 3 old games!)

New 80GB - £289 @ Amazon

Is it because the 40GB would have some BC compared to the new 80GB?


edit - Never purchased a PS1, just the PS2 and for the amount of money of the PS3 I would want the option to play my PS2 games on the PS3.

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Brevity is Bliss

The 40 gig was never back compatible, it was released with less feaures and smaller drive to lower the price as the original 80gb's were deemed to expensive. The 80gb were then deleted and for a while only the 40 gb existed.

Ive just had a quick look at the major stores and it looks like the 80gb has been re introuduced, probably replacing the 40gb but keeping the 40gb price.
It may be that they have dropped back compatability on all models now, ill have have a read up.

You're confused, the original UK PS3 was 60GB and featured partial BC through emulation of the PS2's CPU. It was replaced by the 40GB (£299 launch price) which had no PS2 GPU, so offered no BC whatsoever. The new 80GB is exactly the same as the 40GB, only with a bigger hard drive because bigger hard drives now cost Sony less than smaller ones.

That's right it was a 60gb, had card reader slots to.

And twice as many USB slots. And Super Audio CD, Sony's own format which they've dropped from subsequent PS3 models. Gimped, I tells ya.

Any idea if we're getting the new 160GB model? Interesting on how they give you more space and then fill it up with crap you'd never have bought, charging a premium for it. I wish they'd stop giving us additional 'value' and start giving us price cuts and features like BC, as originally promised.

Sony PlayStation 3 Console 160GB Limited Edition with PlayTV: Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games

£650 for that bundle.

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Brevity is Bliss

I don't know why they have to keep changing models, all they do it stick a bigger HD in and tell us its new. Do they still sell them with without HDMI cables?