i dont have any solid numbers for you, but arcade monitors run at higher levels, if you connect a ps1 directly you'll get a dim or washed out image, you need a video amp of some kind.
the cheapest way to boot an import game on an unmodified playstation is to jam the button down so the console thinks the disc cover is closed when it's open, put in a native region game, turn the power on, wait until the second playstation logo comes up (the "PS" one with the black background), then grab the disc out and put the import one in, I think you have to be fairly quick, try experimenting..
some people believe this method will damage the drive motor over time because you have to grab out the disc while it's spinning, this is quite possible, but I never had a problem.
otherwise you could buy a game enhancer, they plug in to the io port on the back of the old big grey playstations and among other functions allow you to play imports. I think they require the lid closed button to be jammed down too, they came new with a cool little spring thing that clipped between the lid and the button so you could still open and close the lid but the button was always pressed.
not sure on the method for booting an import, but I know it was alot better than the swap trick above.
