PS3 compatibility

stiggygonzalez

stiggygonzalez

734
England
Manchester
stiggygonzalez
Hi,I've got a EU/PAL region PS3.
I want to know,could I use my PS3 in america?Is it compatible with american discs and peripherals?Such as:american TV's,CD's,DVD'.HDMI cables and Blu Ray's.
Also could I use my existing PSN account and still play online in america?
In short can I use my european PS3 in america without compatibility issues?
 
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Not being funny but 'European PS3 in USA' in a google search yields plenty of answers. But I'm feeling nice so I did it for you and here is an answer.

I just spent 3 years in the USA, so I can tell you exactly what you need.



1st off, you'll need a step up converter. you can buy these from radioshack and they are about $80. Non of the EU PS3's have the auto-switching power transformer that was in the 1st batch of PS3's (Japanese and USA ones)



2nd, choose your TV carefully, you need a one that will work with both 50 & 60hz as EU ps3 are 50hz and USA tv's are 60hz (and before anyone say's i'm talking cra.p - beleive me, it makes a difference. My PS3 NEVER worked on any of my friends TV's out there, even on HDMI, as their TV's only displayed in 60hz)

3rd ALL PS3 games are region free, its only the downloadable content that's region locked. Make sure you know what game you bought from where so if you want extras you go to the right store.

4th and Finally, Blu Ray. A LOT are region free, just search the internet before buying as most are non returnable once you've opened them.
Click to expand...
 
SimonK
Not being funny but 'European PS3 in USA' in a google search yields plenty of answers. But I'm feeling nice so I did it for you and here is an answer.
Click to expand...

Thanks,so PS3 games are region free.
What about CD's DVD's?
Will search up about Blu Ray's.
 
Yes CDs are CDs, there is nothing different about them anywhere in the world, no region locks.

What do you mean by software though?
 
SimonK
Yes CDs are CDs, there is nothing different about them anywhere in the world, no region locks.

What do you mean by software though?
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Well say I had software on my european PC and tryed to burn it onto an american CD,DVD or Blu ray,is it compatible with my PC,the american discs I mean?
 
Oh, you asked if it would work on your PS3 above, that's why I was confused as PS3 doesn't play software from burned discs obviously. But yes blank discs are all the same, there is no such thing as an 'American' CDR or DVDR. Most of the worlds blank discs are made in places like Indonesia and India.

The only thing that stops media or anything being played from discs is region locks and they only exist on commercial Blu-Ray and DVDs but it's software based, not the disc.
 
SimonK
Oh, you asked if it would work on your PS3 above, that's why I was confused as PS3 doesn't play software from burned discs obviously. But yes blank discs are all the same, there is no such thing as an 'American' CDR or DVDR. Most of the worlds blank discs are made in places like Indonesia and India.

The only thing that stops media or anything being played from discs is region locks and they only exist on commercial Blu-Ray and DVDs but it's software based, not the disc.
Click to expand...

So,to recap:all CD's are compatible with any type of CD player,Blu ray's are mostly region free any PS3 game is compatible with any PS3 system apart from DLC and DVD's have region locks?
 
99% of PS3 games are region free but recently they stated doing some which are region locked so just check any before buying.
 
Hardware wise I think you'd need an adapter to plug it into the wall.
 
The DLC you buy needs to match the region the physical game is from.

As the US is 120V you will need a transformer for your 230V EU PS3. Some PS3's (older ones) apparently are dual voltage and just don't say it on the casing but I wouldn't take any chances.
 
Robin.
The DLC you buy needs to match the region the physical game is from.

As the US is 120V you will need a transformer for your 230V EU PS3. Some PS3's (older ones) apparently are dual voltage and just don't say it on the casing but I wouldn't take any chances.
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Is this transformer the same as a step up converter?
I have a 320GB slim if that makes a difference.

EDIT:What about external hardware?If I bought american controllers etc would they be compatible?
 
Yes it's the same thing. Step Up/Down transformer. You would be best getting clear advice from an electrical store once you get over to the states so you get exactly what you need.

Controllers will all be compatible.
 
GTPorsche
I had ordered an official controller from Amazon. It ended up being a Hong Kong model and it didn't work on my PS3.

Maybe it's a US thing, but controllers here are region locked.
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Are you sure the controller is genuine? I've never heard of such a lock.

Sony does lock out counterfeit controllers via firmware updates.
 
drivatar
Are you sure the controller is genuine? I've never heard of such a lock.

Sony does lock out counterfeit controllers via firmware updates.
Click to expand...

Yes, one of those firmware updates locked out controllers from other regions in the US.

Anyways, I sent back that controller I had ordered and ended up getting one from Best Buy. This was about a year ago.
 
1 other thing why won't music from my phone play on my PS3?
I copied it from my phone to my laptop and then to USB etc.
The music was recorded in WAV format.
 

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