Suggestions for making CT bearable on PS3?

So I tried to do CT for the first time. I'm not greatly geared but I figured the MT would be and it wouldn't be too bad (as I've heard it's easy). It was a disaster. First off, the PS3 blatantly can't handle these 24 man raids, I have to watch my tank slide around in mid Fast Blade animation for 30 seconds before I can actually realize what's going on. Not to mention, while this is happening, NO ONE is explaining the fights to me, but they made sure to say some pretty nasty things, making me leave (taking on the penalty, and calling it a night.) I learned to turn "Floating Text" off, and that alleviated some of it, but what else is there to do?

I know I could upgrade my HDD, but I'm going to upgrade to PS4 the moment this game comes out for it. I guess I could use the SSHD for my PS4, but I'd rather avoid that altogether.

P.S. Please no hate for saying bad things about PS3. Everything else runs fine, but don't kid yourself and think that it runs optimally in CT.

Mhm have you disabled the animations from other people? I'm on ps3 and I don't have another HDD connected and I've ran CT about 20 times with no problems... In terms of what to do during the raid you could watch a vid to see the mechanics of the fights? Just to make it a little easier :)

The PS3 doesn't run optimally for anything, but there are things you can do to help. As Vondoomervil said, turn off animations from other characters. Also filter your chat log of everything except what you really need to see. Reduce and relocate UI objects. CT can be chaotic and challenging for the PS3, but it is tolerable.