Firmware 3.10 -- video problems?

[billb]

System: PS3 60GB [CECHA01] (upgraded to 5400RPM 500GB), FW 3.15, YDL 6.2

This must be limited to certain displays since my CECHA01 is fine over HDMI.

[Kolk1604]

For all we know, this might not even be a bug. It could be that Sony actually fixed an HDMI issue, and that these TVs don't implement the protocol correctly. It works great on my Sony PS3/Sony Bravia combination - and my Acer monitor as well. Has anyone affected by this issue tried their PS3 on another HDMI monitor? That might provide some very useful data.

I think your right. When my PS3 is connected via HDMI, I'm having the same problem. The text is all distorted and barley readable. But after reading this comment, I decided to connect my PS3 via component cables to see if HDMI was in fact the issue. Sure enough it is. With component cables, the problem isn't there. Everything is fine. I wonder maybe it could be the type of HDMI cable...

Core 80GB PS3, 32' Vizio Plasma HDTV

[ppietro]

For all we know, this might not even be a bug. It could be that Sony actually fixed an HDMI issue, and that these TVs don't implement the protocol correctly. It works great on my Sony PS3/Sony Bravia combination - and my Acer monitor as well. Has anyone affected by this issue tried their PS3 on another HDMI monitor? That might provide some very useful data.

I think your right. When my PS3 is connected via HDMI, I'm having the same problem. The text is all distorted and barley readable. But after reading this comment, I decided to connect my PS3 via component cables to see if HDMI was in fact the issue. Sure enough it is. With component cables, the problem isn't there. Everything is fine. I wonder maybe it could be the type of HDMI cable...

Core 80GB PS3, 32' Vizio Plasma HDTV

Nope - it's not the cable. We now believe it's a bug in parsing the EDID (extended monitor information) that is provided over HDMI. It appears that older monitors may send incorrect data - or that the PS3 doesn't interpret it correctly. This may be related to an earlier error that affected nVidia computer display cards - since the RSX in the PS3 is built by nVidia. It appears that the nVidia Linux drivers were ignoring some of this information until a particular driver release turned it on.

Cheers,
Paul

[ileventh]

Well, I got a disappointing form letter reply from Sony SCEA. Does anyone know how to report bugs or issues to them? The contact link on the Playstation website seems to be useless for this. Here's the response they sent:

We apologize for any inconvenience you are having with Linux.

As much as we would like to address all of your questions, there are certain topics that are simply out of the scope of this department within Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). You have reached the Consumer Services Department within SCEA, and we handle all general inquiries for our PlayStation(R) family of products, warranty and repair information, installation and troubleshooting, general corporate business inquiries, PlayStation(R) Underground(TM) Club Membership inquiries, and third party software referrals, just to name a few.

Very specific questions on any particular product (e.g., manufacturing process), programming details of software or hardware, 'reasons or beliefs' on why a product did or did not include certain features, personal opinions, and personal contact information for developers, publishers, and other company employees, are some of the topics that cannot be addressed. Also, there are certain topics that we may not be able to address due to the fact that they are confidential and proprietary to SCEA.

[PlumB]

Hello, just wanted to share my results. Hope this helps.

PS3 80gig MGS4 bundle CECHE01 fw 3.15
TV #1 samsung 50" DLP HL50A650 = BAD
TV #2 samsung 50" DLP HLP5063WX = GOOD
TV #3 element 15" LCD FLX-1510 = GOOD

PS3 was connected to all TVs with the same monster HDMI cable in 720p. When I connected it with component cables the display was fine on the HL50A650. It appears to be an HDMI problem with certain displays, which is strange because the HL50A650 is the newest TV. Maybe I need a firmware downgrade for my TV.

[Taellik]

Upgraded to 3.15 firmware and now my video is clobbered like others reporting problems with resolution / text distortion.

Was previously at the 3.10 release using a Trutech 19In flat screen / HDMI input and no problems.

If the previously posted "stock" Sony response letter is <any> indication, it seems Sony has taken the last lifeboat and we are all going down on the Titanic from this point forward on being able to have a sympathetic ear from Sony support. . . .

Taellik

[billb]

I recently ordered a ViewSonic VX2433wm 24-inch WideScreen LCD Monitor (1080p w/HDMI+HDCP) and can only hope it will be OK. Will know in a week or so ...

Perhaps we should ask about this issue on the cbe-oss-dev mailing list?
http://lists.ozlabs.org/listinfo/cbe-oss-dev

I haven't seen any mention of it there yet and haven't posted about myself since I don't have any displays with the problem (so far).

No info on ydl.net's advisory pages at this time, either:

http://www.ydl.net/support/advisories.shtml

[claude3141]

My equipment:
PS3: CECHL01 (80GB), F/W 3.15, YDL 6.2
TV: Samsung LN32A550 F/W 1004.1 (2008-05-21)

Both 720p and 1080p setups give the same blurred screen as described by others.

I don't have the latest firmware releases (F/W 1005.1 and 1006.1) on my TV. I'm a bit reluctant to upgrade it because everything else is working perfectly fine. It would be good to know though if it would fix the problem, so I was wondering if anybody had such a TV with its latest firmware and still got the YDL video problem.

[Taellik]

Since upgrading to the 3.15 firmware and having my video become distorted to the point of being nearly unintelligble, and that this problem has been reported as far back as firmware 3.10 I've come to the conclusion that Sony has decided to "brick" any phat PS3 using the OtherOS option since the PS3 has HDMI output only and has attacked that as it's "Achillies heel" to deter people from using the OtherOS feature on older PS3s.

If no support or fix is forthcoming, no need to have YDL on the PS3 anymore.

Taellik

[billb]

Since upgrading to the 3.15 firmware and having my video become distorted to the point of being nearly unintelligble, and that this problem has been reported as far back as firmware 3.10 I've come to the conclusion that Sony has decided to "brick" any phat PS3 using the OtherOS option since the PS3 has HDMI output only and has attacked that as it's "Achillies heel" to deter people from using the OtherOS feature on older PS3s.

No conspiracy theories here, please. The PS3 does not have only HDMI output -- you can use component video cables as well, assuming your display has component inputs, and live happily HDMI (and HDCP) free. Also, not all displays with HDMI inputs are affected -- even different models within the same brand.

I can certainly understand the frustration though. My new monitor will be here tomorrow and I may get to join the crowd ...

Does your Trutech display have component inputs, or are you stuck with HDMI on that model? You should be able to run at 720p using component video without having this issue (of course you shouldn't have to -- just a workaround).

[billb]

Since this problem starts at kboot, has anyone experiencing this issue tried using a different bootloader?

I'd try this one:

http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/ ... petitboot/

Save otheros.bld to media in /PS3/otheros/otheros.bld then use the "Install OtherOS" option from the XMB. If it doesn't work, install the bootloader from the YDL DVD again.

[ppietro]

Since this problem starts at kboot, has anyone experiencing this issue tried using a different bootloader?

I'd try this one:

http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/ ... petitboot/

Save otheros.bld to media in /PS3/otheros/otheros.bld then use the "Install OtherOS" option from the XMB. If it doesn't work, install the bootloader from the YDL DVD again.

That's a good idea - but since it also affects PS2 progressive output, it may not make a difference. It would be interesting to test it, though.

Cheers,
Paul

[billb]

That's a good idea - but since it also affects PS2 progressive output, it may not make a difference. It would be interesting to test it, though.

Right -- well I can confirm it does boot YDL 6.2 properly, at least.

[Taellik]

There are a lot of You Tube vids showing up now with PS3 / HDMI problems. These problems are happening on the game side for the demonstrations, but more importantly the problem is occurring on the phat PS3 type machines.

Have a look on You Tube and see what problems gamers are running into since Sony has put out the "phat brick" firmware release.

Taellik

[billb]

There are a lot of You Tube vids showing up now with PS3 / HDMI problems. These problems are happening on the game side for the demonstrations, but more importantly the problem is occurring on the phat PS3 type machines.

Do you have a link to a video with someone showing the problem we're discussing in this topic? On the game side it would show up during PS2 progressive output on a PS3 with PS2 compatibility after updating to firmware 3.10+ connected via HDMI.

Also, I had a suggestion for you here ... are you able to use that workaround? Or have you used the alternative bootloader? Not much likelihood of success with that, but worth a try.