Sony’s PlayStation 4 is more than just a gaming powerhouse. You can use it as the core of a full multimedia entertainment system! Taking full advantage of the machine’s capabilities may require some extra storage space, though. That’s why picking up a 1 TB external hard drive for PS4 use makes sense. Here’s everything you need to know.
The PS4’s External Storage Capabilities — And Limitations
Unlike competing game consoles like Microsoft’s XBOX One, the PlayStation 4 is very flexible about using third-party hard drives. No special formatting is required, and you can use any drive that can link to the PS4 using standard USB 3.0 cables. Not that the PS4 does not support eSATA hard drive connections, but USB 3.0 provides very similar transfer speeds.
Now, there’s one big caveat you have to accept when you’re adding an external drive to your PS4. The console doesn’t support playing games stored on an external hard drive. That means external drives are great for storing audio, video, and data files, but you can’t use it for your games. That doesn’t mean an external hard drive isn’t worth buying, though!
Options For A 1 TB External Hard Drive For PS4
Since the PS4 doesn’t require any special formatting or connectors, you can use virtually any 1 TB drive to expand its space considerably. You should strike a good balance between reliability and economy when buying an external drive. Stick with drives produced by major manufacturers with a reputation for supplying quality equipment, like Western Digital, Seagate, or DIGISTOR. Seagate offers particularly good prices on its 1 TB drives, and they often come with handy extras like integrated cloud storage.
Other Alternatives
If you want to look at the full range of possibilities, keep in mind that you can effectively build your own external drive by enclosing a conventional hard drive in a third-party USB 3.0 case and connecting that to your PS4. This lets you use a cheap 3.5″ (desktop) or 2.5″ (laptop) drive. There are even a few options — like the Data Bank by Nyko — that attach a hard drive to your PS4 permanently!
If you use your PlayStation 4 for movies, audio playback, or other home entertainment functions besides games, it makes sense to invest in an external hard drive. A 1 TB external hard drive for PS4 will expand your options considerably, and it doesn’t cost much at all.