PS3, HDMI, and HDTV compatibilty - Page 38

Hi Winko

Did you get this fixed at all? I have the same problem with a brand new Sony 46" w4500 TV ( KDL46W4500 ) (random white flashes/flickering in 1080p - picture perfect in 1080i and below).

Ouchies

Hi.

Solved! Anyone that has a problem with random white flashes/flickering only in 1080p with devices connected by HDMI, try changing the cable. My PS3 cable was brand new and same type as the brand new cable connecting my HD/DVD player. When I swapped cables after two days of trying everything else, the problem migrated to the HD/DVD player and finally had full 1080p working properly between PS3 and TV. Stayed the same when I swapped HDMI inputs on the TV. The cable seems to be the problem. I hope this saves someone else some hassle.

Ouchies

Feronte, this could also be due to the TV incorrectly sending 5 volts back to the PS3. I see a lot of displays that do not adhere to the HDMI spec in that they don't diode block the +5v from pin 18 of the connector.
The HDMI spec allows for the source player to send 5v to the display's EEPROM. This will allow the player to power and receive the data required during handshaking from the display, even if the display is off.
When this 5v is not blocked from returning to the player the usual result is no picture but audio is present. Sadly, much like USB, HDMI specs are nothing more than guidelines for manufacturers. Not everyone follows these to the letter.
On a unrelated note: I've sent 1080p video and 5.1 audio over DVI cables.
Unfortunately no HDTV's I've seen will decode audio via the DVI input.
I have no idea why they neglected this minor detail. Seeing as it cost a $15K licensing fee just to use the HDMI name it would have been a cost effective way to provide digital video & audio without incurring the burden of lic fees.
For you techies here's a more in depth write up from a related product:
http://www.calmicro.com/applications...OM-Options.pdf

Ward216: I'm not a very technical person so it means that I am screwed?

My friends tv is LG 32LC51. I think that it upscale the picture to 1080p and it looked much better then on my tv. About vertical conversion it is something that I cant change. The store is online so it might be little annoying to send them and then they try on their tv and it works there. It seems to be my only option.

the 480p downgrade was an older issue solved by firmware updates. 720p will be consistent across games and movies.

For movies, you can switch to 1080i output and switch back to 720p for games as your best coverage. If your going for a 1080p 120hz tv, this will be a decent workaround.

Good luck!

-Splints

Yes, get a HDMI or ps3 component cables from monoprice. You can only do 480p with the standard RCA cables that come with the ps3.

-Splints

Ok, so I think we should start from the beginning. How have you configured your ps3 for output? Did you go to the video settings menu and select all the usable options?

If you bought from an online store, bring the ps3 to another buddies house and see if it works out. If it does, then I would say that your tv isn't working as well.

Your other option is to buy a ps3 from a local store and try it out. If it also doesn't work then you know it's the tv. Return the ps3 for a full refund in 30 days or less. If the new ps3 works, then return your old and ask for a replacement.

-Splints

I have tried my Ps3 on my friends tv and it worked there. The last thing I will try before sending my ps3 is to try his Ps3 on my tv and see if it works. Then I can be for sure. Thanks

I would like to say that the Westinghouse W3213 from Black Friday at Best Buy a couple years ago works just fine via HDMI. Only up to 1080i since that is what the TV supports. I find switching resolutions to give annoying static (in both video and audio) while it switches, but no problems otherwise.

Whoa, thank you Splints for the reply. I actually ended up getting an HDMI cable and it solved the problem for the BR movies. It was Dynex though.

However, and man, what a coincidence, Ouchies and Winks have bascially brought up my new problem.

I'm just a little confused on what to do exactly. When I play MGS4, the white flicker goes crazy at times and others not so crazy. Also, the screen fades into nothing but black for a few seconds but comes back on shortly afterwards.

From there I decided to try another game (Since I thought MGS4 was the issue), and it was GTA4, which I had no problems with at all.

The 3rd game I tried was Street Fighter HD remix. That game has the white flicker AND it fades into black for a few seconds but comes back on shortly afterwards.

The PS3 main menu also has the flicker. I was going to return the PS3 but after reading some posts that had the same issue as me, I figured I'd hold off for a moment. The only difference between Ouch and Wink is how my screen fades to black. Could it really be the TV or should I try another cable?

Check with your TV manufacturer to make sure you have the latest firmware. Lots of tv claim 1080p compatability well before there was anything to verify with.

-Splints

What is Firmware? Sorry, I'm still trying to learn all the things that involve HD, PS3, and anything else electronics.

F/W is the OS that runs the PS3.

Firmware is software stored in your component (TV, PS3..) memory chip that is eraseable. Updating firmware is erasing the chip and loading new software. The reasons to update firmware is correct problems like bugs and to add new features.

Ah, I see. Thank you for that. I ended up updating the PS3 but that did not work. You said I can do that to my TV as well?

Most likely I'm sorry to say. At least it is still usable with component video cables.

Any chance you may have disabled all resolutions in the PS3 except 1080p? Thereby forcing the PS3 to output 1080p video only regardless of the source material.

I just got a PS3 but I haven't hooked it up yet. I have a 1080i ONLY TV (an early model Panasonic plasma) with one HDMI port. My receiver (a Harmon Kardon) does not have any HDMI ports. I am already learning that I am screwed when it comes to games like LittleBigPlanet and Hot Shots Golf that output in 720p only since the PS3 does not have an internal scaler like the Xbox 360. What is the best way to set up the PS3?

I can either go:

1. component (PS3 to component switcher) + optical to my receiver OR
2. HDMI (PS3 to TV directly) + optical to my receiver

Until I upgrade my TV, I will be using the PS3 to primarily watch Blu-ray movies and play games that are PS3 exclusive and support 1080i (all 5 of them). I have an Xbox 360 that I use to watch standard DVDs but the upscaling feature of the PS3 intrigues me (which I guess requires the HDMI connection). The other issue is that my TV hangs on the wall and the only access to the HDMI port would require a LOT of work to get the cable run properly (out the back of the TV and behind the wall).

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks!

I would recommend going with the HDMI/optical route. You can use the HDMI run in the wall for future expansion when you get a replacement tv and AVR. If you plan on staying where you are for 3+ years then doing the work now would be worth it.

Also the ps3 can scale beyond 720p to 1080i now, this was a limitation of the intial firmware releases but works fine now from what others on the board are posting.

-Splints

Thanks for the advice. I think I want to go HDMI but I'm going to wait at least until I get a receiver that can upscale a video signal to 1080i for my TV. For now I went component and optical. I highly doubt I'll be in my current house more than another 18 months so unless that changes I'm going to leave it as is for now...

I also tried playing Hot Shots Golf and all I can get is 480p. Pathetic. Uncharted and MGS4 look great (there is a lot of screen tearing while playing Uncharted though).

Good thing is that no new release games have that issue anymore it seems.

What's the advantage of running HDMI+optical, instead of just HDMI?

Some receivers don't take audio via HDMI, so for those you need optical. That's about it. Otherwise, 7.1 can only be carried via HDMI, so its much better from that respect.

"Also the ps3 can scale beyond 720p to 1080i now, this was a limitation of the intial firmware releases but works fine now from what others on the board are posting."

When you say this, are you talking about games (movies play fine at 1080i)? I have mine updated to 2.53 (component connection, would make an HDMI connection but then I wouldn't get any sound, tv has DVI) but I still am not able to get it to output at 1080i, only 480P. If I deselect 480P, then it outputs at 480i which is pretty bad (can't get it to deselect 480i).

Will the PS3 output games at 1080i or not, or am I doing something wrong?

Hmm, did a quick search and didn't find anything. I thought there was a release that did the 1080i scaling if you deselected 720p, but can't find it now. Maybe someone else can help.

-Splints

This may have been addressed previously, but I didn't see it...

Assuming you've got your PS3 hooked up to your 1080p TV with an HDMI cable, what resolutions do you enable in the display settings?

I have everything unchecked except for 1080p. It seems like when I have all resolutions selected, I get stuck with 720p and 1080i for games/blurays that don't support 1080p. Am I the only one who does this? And if anyone knows better, is there any benefit of me having all resolutions supported instead of just 1080p?

I've got a Panasonic 46PZ85U. I prefer having everything at 1080p b/c my TV has 2 'Size' options that give me either 95% or 100% of the picture displayed. So basically, when 1080p is running, I pick the 100% option and I utilize every single pixel of the 1080p resolution without any picture loss, if that makes sense to you. If I get a 720 signal I have noise along the edge of my screen and I have to change to the other Size option which causes me to lose 5% of the picture.

Forgive me if this is the wrong area to post this,

but I'm looking at the same TV as you Panny 46PZ85u to use with my PS3
I'll be using this strictly for movies and games.

Have you had any issues with it?

Experienced any Lag?


I've been doing research on comparing the Panasonic Plasmas to the Samsung 650 series LCD and there is a ton of info on LCDs lagging but nothing on the Panasonics.

Thanks a ton!

There is zero lag or motion blur, which is what I assume you're referring to. The 650s are really nice, but you're going to have a little blur with it b/c it's an LCD. It's got the 120hz technology, but I'm not a huge fan of how it looks with TV and movies...works really well for games though.

I'm really happy with the 85U. Amazing picture quality, especially with bluray and PS3. HD DirecTV looks really great. Terrific black levels too..little better than the 650. The only thing you have to be careful with, especially early on, is image retention (burn in). I haven't really had an issue with it though. There's a calibration and an owner's thread specifically for the 85U on this site. There's a lot of good help over there if you decide to buy it or want more info...break in settings, calibration advice, FAQs, etc.

You'd probably be happy with either TV. Just need to decide if you want LCD or Plasma. The Panasonic will glare a little more if you've got windows or bright lights. If you've got a dark room though, I'd go with the plasma. More natural and realistic picture IMO.

Incase you were asking about lag in video games, like rock band or something, I haven't had any lag while playing any games.