Color banding on PS1 model SCPH-5000 (Early PU-8 Board)

[tongshadow]

There are countless discussions about the original PlayStation hardware revisions, all trying to answer: Which one is the best? Among all models and board revisions, there seems to be a Mythical aura around the first models, more specifically, the ones with RCA output jacks. They are said to have the best audio quality (audiophile tier?) as well as the best picture quality. While audio is hard to measure and quantify, making it highly subjective, video quality is more objective. That's what I want to address.

According to a Wikipedia page some of the earlier models with RCA outputs can either have worse video quality, in the form of color banding around solid colors:

The original hardware design included dual-ported VRAM as graphics memory, but due to a shortage in parts, Sony redesigned the GPU to use SGRAM instead (which could simulate dual-porting to some extent by using two banks). At the same time the GPU was upgraded to utilize smoother shading, resulting in overall better image quality compared to earlier models, which were more prone to banding; additionally, performance for transparency effects was improved, resulting in less slowdown in scenes using this effect heavily. This Rev. C hardware first appeared in late 1995 and, unlike in Japan, was not marked with a model number change in NTSC-U and PAL territories - SCPH-1001/1002 systems can have either revision, as the change happened between revisions of the PU-8 mainboard.

This means that models with the PU-8 board may or may not have the Rev. C hardware that fixes the banding issues. And on another paragraph:

With the release of the SCPH-5000 series being produced only in Japan, it followed the same exterior design as the Japanese SCPH-3xxx series, its only differences being that it was switched to Rev. C hardware (same as late 1001/1002 units) with some upgrades to flawed components from previous models and a reduced retail price.

So the japanese SCPH-5000 console should have the Rev. C revision and no color banding, correct? However, it's not true... at least not completely.

I had the chance to buy a SCPH-5000 and, compared to my SCPH-5501 console, the color banding is still visible.

https://i.imgur.com/DGVPWI7.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/h3UWYZj.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/DwatFWk.jpeg

This video also shows what the issue looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKjcxCuRfM

Both my consoles are using the same cables and also have the Xstation ODE installed (in case that matters), so the difference is caused by the hardware. The motherboard number of this particular unit ends with "12", whereas most Early PU-8 are "11", while Late PU-8 are "21".

Is anyone else with PU-8 or PU-7 board models experiencing color banding?

[fernan1234]

Could be that some early 5000 units still had the old GPU.

The safe move seems to be to go for a 5500 unit. Also the 5500 still has the same DAC as the 1000 so they will have the exact same audio quality as those older units with RCA jacks (the RCA jacks vs the multi-out means nothing for the audio, which comes down to the DAC).

[tongshadow]

Also the 5500 still has the same DAC as the 1000 so they will have the exact same audio quality as those older units with RCA jacks (the RCA jacks vs the multi-out means nothing for the audio, which comes down to the DAC).

That is probably true but I like the versatility the RCA outputs offer. You can easily use high quality audio cables to connect into an amplifier, this helps mitigate audio issues caused by low quality cables. The composite jack allows you to connect Light guns more easily with an RGB cable, without needing special adapters. You can also use a component cable for the PS2/3 and use the composite jack as a sync source, enabling easier connectivity to PVMs and other devices that use BNC.

[bobrocks95]

Any RCA jack mods for later revisions? Can't imagine it would be hard to pull the final signal on a wire and hook it up to a jack, unless having two connections causes issues. All 3 are already fully buffered and ready to go.

For lossless audio you can also look into a digital mod. Don't remember is PS1 has a variant for just digital audio like the Saturn does though.

[fernan1234]

Yeah, the GPU disadvantage of the 1000 doesn't make the conveniences of the RCA jacks (or even an RCA) mod worth it IMO. Might as well just spend on a high quality fully shielded coax cable for the cleanest analog audio with an RCA breakout on the cable connector for light guns (Retro-Access or RGC can make one for you). And as bobrocks95 said, if you want the cleanest audio you can also get a digital mod, though the gap between that and the analog coax cable may be negligible.

[tongshadow]

Yeah, the GPU disadvantage of the 1000 doesn't make the conveniences of the RCA jacks (or even an RCA) mod worth it IMO.

That's precisely the point, some units with the RCA outputs already have the newer GPU chip that doesnt cause banding. I'm trying to track down such models and hear experiences from other users.

[fernan1234]

That's precisely the point, some units with the RCA outputs already have the newer GPU chip that doesnt cause banding. I'm trying to track down such models and hear experiences from other users.

Oh actually I think there may be a confusion in regard to when Sony introduced the board revision with the new GPU, but who knows you may have to burn through some units until you find one with the revised board (if it really did happen at this point and not until the 550X model as I suspect).

Alternatively what you may want to to do is track down a SCPH-5903 unit.

[psojpx]

There are countless discussions about the original PlayStation hardware revisions, all trying to answer: Which one is the best? Among all models and board revisions, there seems to be a Mythical aura around the first models, more specifically, the ones with RCA output jacks. They are said to have the best audio quality (audiophile tier?) as well as the best picture quality. While audio is hard to measure and quantify, making it highly subjective, video quality is more objective. That's what I want to address.

According to a Wikipedia page some of the earlier models with RCA outputs can either have worse video quality, in the form of color banding around solid colors:

The original hardware design included dual-ported VRAM as graphics memory, but due to a shortage in parts, Sony redesigned the GPU to use SGRAM instead (which could simulate dual-porting to some extent by using two banks). At the same time the GPU was upgraded to utilize smoother shading, resulting in overall better image quality compared to earlier models, which were more prone to banding; additionally, performance for transparency effects was improved, resulting in less slowdown in scenes using this effect heavily. This Rev. C hardware first appeared in late 1995 and, unlike in Japan, was not marked with a model number change in NTSC-U and PAL territories - SCPH-1001/1002 systems can have either revision, as the change happened between revisions of the PU-8 mainboard.

This means that models with the PU-8 board may or may not have the Rev. C hardware that fixes the banding issues. And on another paragraph:

With the release of the SCPH-5000 series being produced only in Japan, it followed the same exterior design as the Japanese SCPH-3xxx series, its only differences being that it was switched to Rev. C hardware (same as late 1001/1002 units) with some upgrades to flawed components from previous models and a reduced retail price.

So the japanese SCPH-5000 console should have the Rev. C revision and no color banding, correct? However, it's not true... at least not completely.

I had the chance to buy a SCPH-5000 and, compared to my SCPH-5501 console, the color banding is still visible.

https://i.imgur.com/DGVPWI7.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/h3UWYZj.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/DwatFWk.jpeg

This video also shows what the issue looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKjcxCuRfM

Both my consoles are using the same cables and also have the Xstation ODE installed (in case that matters), so the difference is caused by the hardware. The motherboard number of this particular unit ends with "12", whereas most Early PU-8 are "11", while Late PU-8 are "21".

Is anyone else with PU-8 or PU-7 board models experiencing color banding?

Hi I also have the JP 5000 but am not able to open it up as it's been oddly screwed in by a modder with strange screws. But I just want to know which specific DAC AKM chip it has inside (4309/4310 etc). Do you happen to know? Doesn't seem to be anywhere else on the web.

[tongshadow]

There are countless discussions about the original PlayStation hardware revisions, all trying to answer: Which one is the best? Among all models and board revisions, there seems to be a Mythical aura around the first models, more specifically, the ones with RCA output jacks. They are said to have the best audio quality (audiophile tier?) as well as the best picture quality. While audio is hard to measure and quantify, making it highly subjective, video quality is more objective. That's what I want to address.

According to a Wikipedia page some of the earlier models with RCA outputs can either have worse video quality, in the form of color banding around solid colors:

The original hardware design included dual-ported VRAM as graphics memory, but due to a shortage in parts, Sony redesigned the GPU to use SGRAM instead (which could simulate dual-porting to some extent by using two banks). At the same time the GPU was upgraded to utilize smoother shading, resulting in overall better image quality compared to earlier models, which were more prone to banding; additionally, performance for transparency effects was improved, resulting in less slowdown in scenes using this effect heavily. This Rev. C hardware first appeared in late 1995 and, unlike in Japan, was not marked with a model number change in NTSC-U and PAL territories - SCPH-1001/1002 systems can have either revision, as the change happened between revisions of the PU-8 mainboard.

This means that models with the PU-8 board may or may not have the Rev. C hardware that fixes the banding issues. And on another paragraph:

With the release of the SCPH-5000 series being produced only in Japan, it followed the same exterior design as the Japanese SCPH-3xxx series, its only differences being that it was switched to Rev. C hardware (same as late 1001/1002 units) with some upgrades to flawed components from previous models and a reduced retail price.

So the japanese SCPH-5000 console should have the Rev. C revision and no color banding, correct? However, it's not true... at least not completely.

I had the chance to buy a SCPH-5000 and, compared to my SCPH-5501 console, the color banding is still visible.

https://i.imgur.com/DGVPWI7.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/h3UWYZj.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/DwatFWk.jpeg

This video also shows what the issue looks like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HKjcxCuRfM

Both my consoles are using the same cables and also have the Xstation ODE installed (in case that matters), so the difference is caused by the hardware. The motherboard number of this particular unit ends with "12", whereas most Early PU-8 are "11", while Late PU-8 are "21".

Is anyone else with PU-8 or PU-7 board models experiencing color banding?

Hi I also have the JP 5000 but am not able to open it up as it's been oddly screwed in by a modder with strange screws. But I just want to know which specific DAC AKM chip it has inside (4309/4310 etc). Do you happen to know? Doesn't seem to be anywhere else on the web.

Pretty sure it was a 4310, like most units with RCA outputs.
No discernible difference in sound quality at all between the 4309 used in newer models, at least for me.