Solving grainy PS3 image

[mrapoc]

The lowdown is my new ps3 displays a grainy image downstairs on the big sony yet old tv using either composite (yellow, white and red) or composite to scart.

A side issue to this was i had to remove the red wire as a loud buzzing noise would be ever constant (double grounding i think) but for now the video is the main gripe.

I now have it upstairs on my dell 2007wfp - composite connection (just yellow into monitor) and the grainyness is still there. This isnt just movies..its as soon as it is turned on.

If composite isnt up to the job why supply it...ive tried tweaking output settings to no avail. I was thinking...

Will this solve my problems? Or should i get a better one?

The idea would be to have that going to a dvi splitter so i can flick between pc (dvi) and ps3 (dvi) on the fly

[Rik]

It should do, Sam, unless the unit is faulty. I'd have a word with Sony as it doesn't seem right that output is grainy on any interface.

[mrapoc]

Can you see any adapters which allows 2 dvi incoming to 1 dvi outgoing (ps3 and pc in...one to monitor kinda thing)

Cant see any on play.com

[Rik]

Maplin and eBuyer don't seem to have anything, Sam.

Scan have these:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=707474
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=527258

Would that do it (I can't remember which end is male for DVI)

Possibly with:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=580128

[Steve]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HQ-AVSWITCH-10-Port-DVI-Switch/dp/B000GTLFS6/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1206119274&sr=1-24

[Rik]

Now there was a place I didn't think to look.

[mrapoc]

Thanks! karmic!

PS3 is DVI v1.3 iirc

So that box thingy should do the job 

[mrapoc]

Just bought http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=370033893480&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=024

Now for a HDMI - are they pretty much all the same? Other than 1.2/1.3 kinda thing

[Rik]

No idea, Sam, but if you've an Aldi near you, they're on special offer Monday at £4.99.

[mrapoc]

Ive ordered the one i saw on play.com

Seems to have some good stuff (gold plated etc.)

So yeh

This should solve it 

karma for both of u

[Rik]

Let us know if it solves the problem, Sam.

[mrapoc]

If it doesnt we know its the ps3... 

Should do though tbh

[Dangerjunkie]

Hi,

Composite is the worst of all the video connection interfaces. It combines brightness and colour information into a single analogue signal. If you're using it I would expect you to be seeing "dot crawling" on bright coloured areas, particularly at the edges and an image that is as soft as poo (as well as no HD.) This "dot crawling" could be the graininess you are seeing.

For your Sony TV if all it has is SCART (and AV) and no HDMI or DVI sockets then the best you will probably be able to get in RGB standard definition. Make sure the PS3 SCART lead does RGB (as well as composite) and that it is connected to an RGB-capable SCART socket (not all SCARTS are RGB on most Sonys I've seen. The one(s) that are are usually coloured orange and/or have a little picture of a TV screen with 3 dots in it next to them). Make sure the SCART cable is correctly inserted and there are no bent pins. SCARTs are famous for losing RGB or dropping audio if they're not quite plugged all the way in. Also make sure that you've selected RGB output on the PS3 if there is an option and also on the TV if needed.

Your Dell monitor has DVI with HDCP so it should work and you should get HD capability too. All you should need is an HDMI to DVI cable and an audio cable as DVI doesn't have audio in it. If you need a switcher you can either switch DVI (at the screen end of the cables) or HDMI at the source end. If all your gear has HDMI then I would go the HDMI route as audio is integrated and the wiring will be simpler. I've not shopped at either of the two places below but their websites look good and they've been around for ages. They seem to sell just about every audio/video switcher/converter known to man.

http://www.lektropacks.co.uk/
http://www.keene.co.uk/

Good luck. Let me know how you get on,
Paul.

[mrapoc]

Karmic advice there

To recap...my stuff should come tomorrow:

• HDMI > DVI Gold plated cable
• 2 Port DVI switch for PC/PS3 harmony

I am hooking the PS3 up to my Digital decoder via optical for Dolby Digital output 

Weird thing is that sound makes the horizontal lines appear even worse, almost shaking the screen about and if the sound is really strong (ie an explosion) the screen will blank out for a second (this is on both screens)

I read something about "double grounding" but am unsure how I would pratically fix this. HDMI should solve it though 

[Rik]

It certainly sounds like the audio is bleeding into the video, Sam. I'd wait and see if you still have a problem before trying to isolate the grounding.

[mrapoc]

How / why would the audio be doing that? Is there a way of solving it?

Unless its just a case of waiting for my damn cable lol 

[Rik]

Could be an issue with the PS3 or the cable, I suppose.

[Lance]

If you have a problem with grounding, just make sure you're using a nice solid piece of wood 

[Rik]

 

[Steve]

Thats two planks of wood required now,  laptop and PS3!!!

[mrapoc]

The HDMI > DVI cable worked and its lovely in 720p   

Now how to stop playing it! 

[Rik]

I'd give Sony a yell, Sam, and sk whether there should be that much difference - it doesn't sound right to me.

[Steve]

There is a large visual difference going from  480i to 720p with the PS3