If it is a NOR console, it will prompt you for a firmware update, at which point you will follow these instructions to re-install your firmware, using the same firmware you were previously on (i.e. Turn off your console, remove your old internal hard drive from the PS3, and insert your new hard drive.
PS3 4.81 BACKUP UTILITY ISO
PS3 4.81 BACKUP UTILITY UPGRADE
This process is the cleanest and quickest method to upgrade your internal hard drive. 1.75TB support was not added until later firmwares, and therefore requires you to be on a higher firmware. If your PS3 hangs at 100% at the formatting stage, try updating to a newer OFW/CFW on your old hard drive before trying again. On top of this, the firmware will take up approximately 240MB more if it's a NOR console.
Your PS3 will reserve about 10% of the hard drive space as backup sectors and will be unusable for normal operation, even with CFW. There's been a very small amount reports of 2TB hard drives working, and a higher rate of success for formatting 1.5TB+ hard drives on 4.55 firmwares. You may need to try it formatted both as MBR and GPT (both as FAT32) in order to be recognized and formatted. The maximum size supported for an internal hard drive is 1.75TB. Keep in mind that a new internal hard drive must be a 2.5" (9.5mm thick) drive that runs at 5400rpm, 7200rpm, or is solid state.
PS3 4.81 BACKUP UTILITY INSTALL
If it is a NOR console, your PS3 will prompt you to reinstall the firmware from USB at which point you will follow the normal CFW installation instructions to complete it, ensuring that you install the same CFW that you were on before swapping the hard drives. Turn off your console, remove the hard drive, and insert your new one. Installing a new hard drive on CFW is the same as installing a new hard drive on OFW. Internal Hard Drive Installing a Blank Hard Drive For upgrading your internal hard drive, read over the options below to determine which option best suits you. This guide will walk you through upgrading the internal hard drive of your PS3 or setting up an external hard drive. Cloning your Hard Drive to a Same-Size Hard Drive.