PS2 SCPH-30001 RGB output problem

[buckchow]

I have two PS2 consoles with model SCPH-30001 that I'm trying to output RGB from. I've tried two different component cables with each console. Component output mode works fine, but RGB mode doesn't seem to work.

My understanding is that the RGB output is RGsB, but maybe it isn't? I've tried a CRT monitor and a projector that both support sync-on-green, and I've also tried running the signal through Extron SS200 and DVS304 units, but I get no picture.

FYI, when trying to get RGB out of the PS2 I have the component cable connected to a 3xRCA to HD15 adapter. The same adapter works for getting RGsB out of multiple original Xbox consoles I have with modified firmware for VGA output.

Anything that might point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[buckchow]

After additional digging around it looks like 15 kHz vs. 31 kHz is at least part of the problem. This isn't something I've run into before, so it's no wonder it didn't occur to me before.

In other threads some users have chains of several devices just to get a decent signal out of the PS2. This appears to be really overkill and do little more than create lots of opportunities for interference/noise and a high probability of failure in one or more of the signal conversion devices.

Apparently 31 kHz can be forced using GS Mode Selector, but the setting only applies until the console is powered down. Also, navigating blindly to change the mode each time the console is powered on may be necessary.

Is there a way to force the console to default to 31 kHz output on boot? Or is there a vastly simplified alternative to using several devices chained together?

Thanks!

[Fudoh]

PS2 always boots in 15khz (and RGBs). Even if you run GSM from a memory card, there are only so much titles which you can successfully force into 31khz.

What display or processor do you want to use which requires RGB and can't work with component ?

[D]

Agreed with the aforementioned suggestions.
I'd set it up to run OPL+GSM and set that to 480p.
You can either auto boot it to that or make a key input shortcut. I have mine setup that by pressing up on the controller during boot up, will go to OPL+GSM, thus running in 480p.
Or you can do blindly by memorization of course.

Another idea is to just boot a game disc that supports 480p like guilty gear or Outrun2006/SP for instance.

Once you are able to get a 480p picture from your ps2, then you can do VGA.
Once you get it, it's glorious. You'll be one of the few that run vga out of their ps2. I still don't understand why this is not done by everyone. Same with the xbox. Unlike the xbox, indeed there are only so many ps2 games that can be forced to 480p, but there are still many titles to be forced. I made an excel sheet with what works and what doesn't.
Check out my posts here: http://psx-scene.com/forums/f291/gs-mod ... post815857
I'm 'd123456'.

Some of the games that work in 480p (the values are for GSM to get the game centered correctly):
Hokuto No Ken (Arc´s Fist of the North Star) -4
Sengoku Basara X -4
Sega F355 Challenge
Initial D
Gradius V
SNK arcade Classics -16
DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou
Capcom Classics Collection 1 -16
Gigawing Generations -16
Metal Slug 5 -16
Metal Slug 4
Metal Slug Complete -16

[awe444]

there are only so many ps2 games that can be forced to 480p

For games that don't work when forced to 480p, people have reported using the 640x960i mode (which is also RGsB) as a workaround, at least with PC CRTs and possibly transcoders---see this post.

I've tried inputting this 640x960i RGsB mode to the OSSC and got weird results. What the OSSC sees (i.e., what it reports on its LCD status display) differs depending on whether the game works with 480p forcing or not. If the game does work with 480p (e.g., Star Wars Battlefront), then the 640x960i gets recognized by the OSSC as RGsB 480p, 31.6 kHz, 60 Hz, but what I see on screen looks like a line doubled 480p cropped into a 480p image (so half of the doubled lines are beyond the top and/or bottom of the screen). If the game doesn't work with 480p forcing (e.g., Castlevania Lament of Innocence) then the OSSC interprets the 640x960i signal as RGsB 480i, 31.6 kHz, 120 Hz, though what you see on screen is again the the same unwanted 2x vertical stretched 480p image.

This makes me wonder if the OSSC can, in a future firmware update, be made to successfully interpret the 640x960i RGsB signal and convert it to 640x480p RGsB. I'll bet it's probably too much a niche feature request because too few people use GSM on their PS2. Then again, it's a very popular console and if it could be made to work then probably every game would become capable of 480p output.

[buckchow]

Thank you very much for the helpful responses. When I next have time to fiddle with this stuff I'll definitely have to look into making it easier to switch to 480p on boot. I hadn't heard about the 960i approach for non-480p games but that will be interesting to test as well. I have a few different CRT monitors that I prefer to use with old console games, so it's nice to think I can make it practical for PS2 games to be compatible.

[BazookaBen]

I also have Free MC Boot set it up where I can press a button on boot and my PS2 launches GS mode selector automatically. GSM then launches in 480p mode, which I set as its default. From there I can either go back to the PS2's menu in 480p, or select another resolution/refresh rate combo before I go back to the menu. This way I can avoid navigating menus blindly on my PC CRT which doesn't accept the PS2's 15hkhz

[awe444]

This makes me wonder if the OSSC can, in a future firmware update, be made to successfully interpret the 640x960i RGsB

In case there's interest in this I started a thread in OSSC feature request forum:
https://www.videogameperfection.com/for ... de-on-ps2/

[NormalFish]

960i on the ossc would be useful. I've been debating going to entirely OPL with my ps2 collection at least for a while since I'm in a relatively small apartment and my collecting is slowing down. As it's my primary console, those PS2-specific features interest me more than most, but perhaps in the future a PS2-specific firmware (one that drops features that don't help PS2 users to make more space for those which do, an issue that has been discussed recently in other feature requests) would be possible.

[awe444]

a PS2-specific firmware (one that drops features that don't help PS2 users to make more space for those which do, an issue that has been discussed recently in other feature requests) would be possible.

Nice. Curious what other PS2-specific features do you refer to? I suppose anything RGsB related, since no other consoles use that sync type, right (besides PS3)?