PS2 RGB Mod

[panzeroceania]

so am I to understand it correctly that the guide shows theory for producing RGB from 3 different models of PS2, but has only been proven to work on the 1st?

also, if you can tap RGBHV, does that mean you could produce a VGA Signal for computer monitors? would it only work with games that support progressive scan? would it work at all?

I'm still shady on which consoles are capable of displaying 31khz RGB, and which ones are only capable of 15khz RGB.

I know systems like the Saturn are physically capable of VGA, but have zero games that would support it. I know the Dreamcast comes equiped to output VGA on most all titles out of the box, as does the Xbox 360 but I'm unclear on the PS2.

From what I've studied it seems like the PS2 and Wii should be able to output analog 31Khz RGB via VGA DB15 D-Sub

It also seems, in Theory, that the Gamecube, Xbox, Xbox 360, and PS3 could output digital 31Khz RGB via DVI-D except for the fact that (at least with the gamecube) we have no way of decoding the digital video

[Jibbajaba]

I'm not sure what you mean in reference to the PS2.  No mod is needed for 15kHz RGB.  I've displayed both a fat and slim PS2 in RGB with no problems.  If you are asking about VGA, then I am not sure.  If you are interested in playing your systems in VGA, you should consider investing in an XRGB.

Chris

[Endymion]

There's an item in your PS2 browser's standard menu for video. It lets you select between Y-Pb-Pr and RGB. Just change it to RGB and it will be RGB; your PS2 component cable uses the same pins for Y-Pb-Pr that it uses for RGB, so it will Just Work(tm). The only gotcha is that the PS2 sends sync over green, so the picture will be out of wack unless your screen supports that sync type. You can use an LM1881 circuit to filter the sync out and then you're good. For VGA, you'll get that if you use the standard methods for progressive scan with games that support it. You can also force it with a Matrix Infinity chip, the old Blaze VGA boot disc, XPloder HDTV player, and various homebrews that are out there. XRGBs work as well of course but that's not ideal when you could get progressive scan natively.

[panzeroceania]

I was referring to the mod that is in the gamesx wiki about tapping RGBHV right off the motherboard and supressing the sync on green. Perhaps this is only for watching DVDs? (the author of the wiki didn't talk about games) but I would be wanting to do it for gaming.

As for VGA it's not that I want to play in VGA by upscaling the signal, I was wondering if the PS2 was capable of outputing VGA natively in some games like the dreamcast.

[Endymion]

Well, the purpose of doing that mod, is simply to remove the sync from the green line. See, if you have a "normal" VGA monitor, then it is very likely that it does not support this kind of sync. If that's the case then you have to get the sync out of the green, and into a pin that your screen can use... it really isn't more complicated than that. Using an LM1881 is a simple way to do it without opening up your PS2. Tapping it from the motherboard before it is added to green is another way of doing it, if you would rather not have a dongle, if you are comfortable with working with the motherboard and either altering the output socket or adding a whole new VGA socket then that's another way for you to do it. It Just Works(tm) once you get it done, for games or for movies or whatever.

Here's a nice little mod I saw a while back, looks like he used an LM1881 though. He also mounted it in the hard disk bay which is kinda bogus if you ask me, but there are plenty of ways to go about it.

[panzeroceania]

so I'm still not clear on whether the PS2 outputs 15KHz or 31Khz by default

[Endymion]

It outputs 15KHz by default. To get 31KHz you have to enable progressive scan by a boot sequence of buttonpresses (Alien Hominid for instance), visit a menu and enable it (God Of War for instance), or use Blaze, Xploder, or a homebrew to force it.

[l_oliveira]

To get a ps2 to output RGB in 31khz+ you need to go to the system settings on the OSD and change component video output from YCbPr to RGB.

Several important things need to be considered:

In 15Khz you're supposed to extract sync from either CVBS or Y.

In 31Khz there's no Y neither CVBS (both are disabled) and HV comes XOR-ED (Composite Sync) and it's mixed with the Green video signal (Sync on Green or SoG, an VESA standard for low number of pins computer display.)

If RGB is set on the menu, games will aways switch to RGB31khz SoG once you tell them to turn on progressive scan.

Forcing with software is an option but some of these software will enforce progressive scan while returning the output to YCbPr format.

On the older consoles (Up to SCPH3000xR it's possible to disable SoG with an jumper on the RGB/YCbPr encoder chip and then one can tap H and V from the Graphics Synthesizer chip for the best possible image. I used to have an console modded that way, but once I got an SoG capable monitor I removed the mod.

[panzeroceania]

On the older consoles (Up to SCPH3000xR it's possible to disable SoG with an jumper on the RGB/YCbPr encoder chip and then one can tap H and V from the Graphics Synthesizer chip for the best possible image.

that's what I was thinking and planning for, I figure there is less chance for interference if the sync is on it's own channel.

[Endymion]

Are you planning to use this with a standard VGA input or a multisync type monitor?

[panzeroceania]

the plan was standard VGA just for proscan games until I can afford a multisync monitor like a Wells Gardner CRT