HDTV periodically “smoothes” image from PS1

[Kaffeebohnson]

Preface: I know CRTs are the superior choice, but I still want to use my HDTV.

I use a modded german PS1 hooked up via a “PS1 RGB SCART PACKAPUNCH cable sync on luma cable” by Retrogamingcables.co.uk to a 2012 Samsung HDTV (UE40ES5700), which has a built-in Scart port.

Unfortunately, the TV periodically “smoothes” the image whenever it is in motion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjmDVNBw-rE
(Note that about 10 seconds in, the effect cuts out, and the HDTV displays crisp, sharp pixels again)
I may be crazy but I only recently noticed this, and could swear it didn’t use to do this.

There is no smoothing or filtering of any kind enabled on the HDTV.

The effect is more or less prevalent depending on the game:

Problems:
Vagrant Story - America (NTSC, near constant smoothing)
Alien Resurrection - America (NTSC, long periods of smoothing)
Alien Resurrection - America (PAL, shorter periods of smoothing, black bars)
Star Wars Episode 1 - America (NTSC, periodic smoothing)

Mostly Fine:
Wipeout 3 Special Edition - Europe (PAL, smoothing only on Gare D’Europe finish line, tiny black bars)
Vagrant Story - Europe (PAL German) (tiny glitches during transitions, black bars)
Star Wars Episode 1 - Europe (PAL, short periods of smoothing, full screen)

Fine:
Crash Bandicoot 3 - Europe (PAL German, tiny black bars)
Spyro - Europe (PAL)

As you can see, I tested Vagrant Story, Alien Resurrection and Star Wars Episode 1 both in their NTSC and PAL versions.
While NTSC seems to generally fare worse, results are far from conclusive.

My current questions are:
– The TV maybe has trouble specifically with NTSC signal, while PAL tends to work better, if not consistently?
– Is there a difference between an american PS1 and a german modded PS1 playing NTSC games?
– Do PAL and NTSC both output as “240p”?
– I figure the TV tries to display the 240p signal as a 480i image (or something like that), but gets confused by some sync issue, since sometimes it gets it right?
– Don’t Crash and Spyro run on some crazy uncommon resolution?

I have trouble finding information about this topic, since most of it is US centric and doesn’t really apply to my problem, since I don’t want to convert my RGB Scart signal to HDMI or Component or anything – I want to use the analog Scart port right there on my Samsung HDTV (UE40ES5700), because all other ports are full.

I mostly want to find out what the problem is. Sync issue? Resolution issue? PAL/NTSC issue?
Any insight is greatly appreciated!

[nmalinoski]

– Is there a difference between an american PS1 and a german modded PS1 playing NTSC games?

Yes. NTSC and PAL PS1s have different clock crystals and cannot play the other regions’ games at 100% correct speed without being fitted with a dual-frequency oscillator mod.

– Do PAL and NTSC both output as “240p”?

NTSC PS1 software will output at 240p; and I think PAL PS1 software will output at 288p.

[BuckoA51]

Your TVs deinterlacer is what’s doing that, your HDTV thinks your PS1 is sending a 480i image and applies deinterlacing. Almost all HDTVs do this sort of thing, it’s why we sell so many OSSCs.

[Author]

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