" 7200rpm HDDs do provide a small, but significant speed increase to HDD access on the console. Whether this speed increase is worth your extra cash is entirely up to you. The article most quoted is a forum post on the US offical forums GÇô take a read. It's quite interesting.
What about an SSD? Wouldn't that be kickass?
Yeah, it would be. Unfortunately there wouldn't be a significant speed increase from using SSDs. PS3 consoles don't have interface software optimised for SSDs. Definitely not worth the extra cash."
This has been proved. TBH I feel that on the PS3 SSD runs like a 7200RMP HDD Tested and it was virtually the same speed in loading times, so rly only get an SSD if U intend to use it in the future for something else, personally i'd say get a 750GB HDD 7200 RPM which the actual PS3 can handle yes from what I noticed the loading times are faster basically the same as an SSD on the PS3.
"Exchanging the internal drive to a 7200RPM model doesnGÇÖt do much for your loading times (shaves off a second or 2) and upgrading to SSD/Flash Drives is almost insane considering the prices you pay per GB. Any modern larger drive is always faster than the older default smaller drive. Some people are argueing that SSD/Flash Drives produce "much less heat" but consider this: a very good/efficient one uses 5V 0.35A 1.75 Watt while a harddrive uses 5V 0.85A 4.25 Watt. A difference of 2.5W less on a total of 225Watt is not something you would see prominently back on your electric bill or thermometer.
Note
There is even report of SDD's sometimes having a negative impact on performance, compared to the original PS3 harddrive. Example: Corsair CSSD F240GBGT BK - which seem to have 4KB sectors (cause?)
Because of the low price/ high storage capacity I personally always go for SATAII/300 7200rpm drives (if internal, maximum height is 9.5mm, 12 or 12.5mm doesnGÇÖt fit) and if modified to external via eSATA you can even use cheaper/faster 3.5GǦ drives (but youGÇÖll need them to have their own powersupply because the internal PS3 powersupply canGÇÖt power that safely). "
Summary
The SSD shines when used in PCs , hardware made to really use them, whereas the PS3 can use them but not really optimise them past a 7200 rpm HDD speed wise DUE to the SATA 2 in the PS3. In otherwords SATA 2 transfer rates will not be higher than u get from a SATA 2 drive be it SDD or HDD 7200RPM BUT it will be better than the original PS3 drive which is 5400 RPM.
I just wanted to share this with U
NB IF for Future use, U intend to dump a SDD drive on the PS4 or a PC then U will notice the true difference but rly on the PS3 it's bottle necked due to the SATA 2. But i'd say wait a while but for now just go with a good Western Digital 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 2 (even if u find SATA 3 just make sure U set the Jumper to run @ SATA 2 speed or u might screw over your drive due to the fact that the PS3 will not accept SATA 3 transfer speed - MAX TRANSFER SPEED is SATA 2. Western Digital 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 2 willl Speed up LOADING times, Texture loading etc and I find that it's as noticable as an SDD drive on the PS3. On the PS4 however , this is where U will notice a BIG difference in loading, installation times etc.
BTW a Western Digital 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 2 can be found for less than $70 do U really want to pay $400 for a SDD which provides the same results on the PS3? I can understand doing this if U intend to place it on your PS4 or PC in the future where it will be used to it's full potential .
Think about this.
Peac3