Edumacate me on PS3

[Raudermaster]

Ok, here's the jist of it. Me and my Dad went out and bought a PS3 today. Come home, get ready to hook it up to Dad's HDTV, adjusted it to broadcast in 1080i, pop in a game, and it switches back to 480p:confused:? Even popped in a Blu-Ray DVD and it acted really funky, it was like split two screens, all fuzzy and whatnot, but the sound was fine. And it still said it was in 480p. And that was using an HDMI cable (unhooked the cable box and used that one.) We bought this with it: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7985709&type=product&id=1155065410910 since the kid at the store said it would give just about the same quality as an HDMI cable but a bit less since my Dad's tv only has one HDMI input so we would have to buy a splitter. With that cable hooked up, it won't even go to 1080i on the Menu, just stays in 480p. The only time it works is when the HDMI cable is in but when you use a game/movie it will go back to 480p. I plugged it into my HDTV in my room to see if it would work, the same thing except with the movie it wasn't all funky like my Dad's tv. So, can someone PLEASE help with this and tell me what we're doing wrong? Thanks.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

Connect it to the internet, and do the system update. Never heard of this happening before. What brand tv is it? I have heard some Westinghouse LCDs had compatibility issues with the PS3.

[Raudermaster]

My Dad's is a Mitsubishi DLP and mine is a Polaroid LCD.

[xopher]

Sorry for the late and long chime-in here. Congrats on the PS3 purchase!! The PS3 is often very smart, sometimes too smart for its own good. It will try to do its best in its environment, although it doesn't always do what we want.

As for those cables, I can't confirm whether or not they will send the full 1080 signal to the DLP. I'm running HDMI to a Toshiba 56MX195, which has a max input of 1080i, meaning even with HDMI, the PS3 will never give me better than a 1080i option in the Settings > Display Settings > Video Output Settings menu. :toss: It might be worth reading the fine print in the specs of the Mitsubishi's owner's manual.

Additionally, the PS3 will adjust its output to what it has been given. If you give it a standard DVD, which is 480i, it won't be able to produce the image in 1080i, only an upscaled composite. However, a Blu-Ray DVD should take advantage of the full PS3 and Mitsubishi technology and blow your mind with 1080 (Casino Royale, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the Fifth Element all met and exceeded my expectations).

Lastly, Sony has a good job of correctly labeling their games for what resolution they support. For example, on the back of my copy of Transformers: The Game (don't buy this game aside from the novelty value), it says "Supported HD Video Output: 720p, 1080i, 1080p", meaning that the game can be awful up through the full range of HD qualities. Conversely, my copy of The Orange Box (buy this game and play all of its awesomeness, especially the Portal Subgame), says "Supported HD Video Output: 720p", meaning it can be awesome up to 720p. If your TV can handle 720p and do something with it (display it without distortion, or upscale it, or somehow plaster it on the screen), you're in like Flint. If your TV can't deal the in the input, then you might start getting the funky results.

You prolly already got this resolved, but I wanted to see how things turned out so we can all hope and dream together that the MM will be in Gran Turismo 5.. :)

p.s. After we get Raudermaster's issue resolved, we'll need to start compiling our best MM icons and logos, as well as hi-res backgrounds, to make a custom MM PS3 theme!!

[Raudermaster]

Thanks for the help, that was exactly the problem, my Dad's tv. Has a max res. output of 1080i, and it actually turned out that the HDMI cable we got had a small crack in it that was messing things up.

[bigmerc'03]

the games are awsome and u really have to call of duty4 online and the best hi-def game of 1080i i seen and played has to be jericho, cod 4, ninja gaiden and asassins creed all are my favorites

[Vortech347]

I'm using mine right now to surf and post. :)

[ckadiddle]

I was going to suggest trying another cable. Sometimes it really IS the simplest thing. But not often. ;)