Resolution in PS1 games through PS2

[Matias]

I searched through all 54 pages of forum without answer and junkerhq is down at least for me so:
I have a modded fat ps2 with rgb-scart cable. I can play ps2 and psx games without a problem in 480i passthorugh and linex2 (bob) mode and even in linex4 mode. However, I am aware of that 480i is not the best choice and most psx games run natively in 256p (or similar) resolution.

My question is: Is it possible to get 256p through my setup for psx games and use that resolution as a source instead of 480i that OSSC now uses?

When I boot up japanese psx games, before the psx logo, there is a short moment when OSSC shows 313p but then it is back to 480i.

Another, but not so critical question. For whatever reason, I have a component cable (probably ps3 type) but it shows no visible image even when ps2 menu setting is in YPbPr. I have tested with both tv and ossc as output and there is no picture. I guess cable is a problem but I had understood that ps3 component cables should work with PS2?

[TrashRatQueen]

The output resolution is determined by the game, most PSX games will always run at ~240p aside from the occasional high resolution menu. However, the PSX is capable of 480i output and some games use this for gameplay(mostly later racing titles). The OSSC just takes what it is given, so there’s nothing you can really do about it other than optimizing your settings and timings for PSX 480i, using the vertical mask to cover the flickering top and bottom lines. If it’s still bothersome, your only option is to use a display with good deinterlacing and set the OSSC to passthru for 480i. I use a mid 2000’s Sharp Aquos for this as it has an excellent deinterlacer that shows no flickering, with a latency cost of just 12ms.

I use a well made PS3 component cable for my PS2 and the picture is razor sharp when tuned. I’ve heard some of the cheaper made PS3 cables don’t support PS2, you may consider buying a better cable. Don’t be afraid to spend $50+ on an OEM cable, as cheaper cables are unshielded, resulting in colors blurring together into a darkened mess(dark levels often become unplayable). The RGB SCART cables don’t support 480p+ on PS2, but I’ve never used them so I don’t know if that’s a problem here.

I wish JunkerHQ would come back up because I need the timing sheet to properly set up one of the many PSX resolutions I don’t have a profile for.

EDIT: I just remembered Castlemania Games sells Retrovision HD cables for PS2/3 at $30, so those would be an excellent non-OEM choice.

[Matias]

Thanks for the answer. I have been trying out Soukuygurentai and Toaplan shooting battle. However, I don’t have any further reference which resolution these games run in original psx. I will try tonight with other psx games to see if any of them show other than 480i.

Wrt. the component cable, cable is high quality component cable made by Sony so it should be compatible, I guess. The thing is, I own several consoles by sony so I cannot 100% remember to which devide I bought this cable, I think it was for ps3 and it looks like it should fit ps2 too. But since neither tv nor OSSC show a signal, I guess cable is not compatible.

[TrashRatQueen]

Oh, I have had this exact problem before. The cable is fine, however you have to manually change the PS2’s “Component Video Out” setting in System Configuration from RGB(for SCART) to Y Cb/Pb Cr/Pr(for component), and if it’s on the wrong one you just get no picture. One time I accidentally set it to RGB and had to switch over to composite video in order to change the setting back to something I can see. Your cable should be the best you can get.

[Matias]

I am aware of that menu issue and have indeed chosen component output. That is the reason I am hesitant ordering a new cable, since this should work and be the best. I will try once more tonight when I am back at OSSC.

[TrashRatQueen]

Sorry, I just now noticed you already said that. I impulsively thought that had to be it since our setups are virtually the same aside from my console being stock. I’ve been playing PSX games at 4x 240p all night just fine, so I’m out of ideas on that.

[nmalinoski]

@Matias

Another, but not so critical question. For whatever reason, I have a component cable (probably ps3 type) but it shows no visible image even when ps2 menu setting is in YPbPr. I have tested with both tv and ossc as output and there is no picture. I guess cable is a problem but I had understood that ps3 component cables should work with PS2?

When you have the component cable connected to the OSSC and the input set to AV2-YPbPr, does the OSSC’s LED turn green, and does the LCD report something like 525i/625i? If so, that means the OSSC is correctly receiving the signal, and your display simply doesn’t like something about the OSSC’s output (but that shouldn’t be too different from what it does with the PS2’s RGB output); if not, then it might be a problem with your component cable or the OSSC’s component input (AV2).

One thing you should check is connecting the PS2 directly to the OSSC with the SCART cable, setting component output to YPbPr, and then changing the input on the OSSC to AV1-YPbPr to see if you get an image then.

Something else you may want to check is starting with the PS2 in RGB mode with the SCART cable connected to AV1, then loading a 480p-compatible game in 480p mode. Set the OSSC’s input to AV1-RGsB, make sure you get an image, then swap the SCART cable for the component cable, and switch the OSSC’s input to AV2-RGsB; do you get an image then?

You can, of course, always try the component cable with a PS3 or another PS2.

As for identifying the cable itself, if it has full-color, hexagonal, plastic RCA connectors, then it was made/released in the PS2 era; otherwise, if the RCA connectors are silver cylinders with small colored rings towards the cable, then it was made/released in the PS3 era. Both should be interchangeable between the consoles.

@RatTrashQueen

I use a well made PS3 component cable for my PS2 and the picture is razor sharp when tuned. I’ve heard some of the cheaper made PS3 cables don’t support PS2, you may consider buying a better cable. Don’t be afraid to spend $50+ on an OEM cable, as cheaper cables are unshielded, resulting in colors blurring together into a darkened mess(dark levels often become unplayable). The RGB SCART cables don’t support 480p+ on PS2, but I’ve never used them so I don’t know if that’s a problem here.

Component cables should be component cables, in that there shouldn’t be anything preventing them from working (ignoring shielding/quality issues). There shouldn’t be any differences with the component cables for the PS2 and PS3; so whichever cable Matias has should work fine for both, or it should be broken for both (assuming the cable is bad).

Also, it’s not that the SCART cables do not support 480p, it’s that the PS2 switches from RGBS to RGsB (sync-on-green) output for 480p+; the cable can carry the signal just fine (run it directly into your OSSC, switch input mode to RGsB), but most SCART equipment requires/expects an RGBS signal and will not understand sync being muxed with Green.

[Matias]

I tried same rgb-scart with same game both in ps2 and psx (soukyu gurentai).
With psx, before actual game started, ossc switched to 263p.
With ps2, ossc showed 525i all the time in menus and in actual game.
Same rgb-cable, same game. Both psx and ps2 are modded PAL machines.

SOLVED! It seems Alundra original runs fine in 314p through rgb-scart when I disabled the modchip. It runs 625i when modchip is on. So it is my modchip that causes the problem not putting ps2 to psx progressive mode.

@nmalinoski

With component cable, OSSC says no sync, and so does my TV. Since wii component cable works fine with both I suspect the cable even though it feels strange that good cable does not work. It has silver cylinders so it is ps3 era as I remembered.

I found following from the internet: “Some of the modchip installations fixed the so called “Greenscreen” problem. This is done to avoid the green tint during DVD playback (when connected via RGB). What the “fix” actually does is to disable component signal completely!”

So it is highly likely that this the main reason why component does not work. I can further test this with other PS2/PS3 console.

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