PS2 on HDTVs?

[greenegt]

I'm planning to pick up a PS2 this weekend and was wondering how the image looks on widescreen HDTVs. I was just going to hook it up with the standard composite cables, since my component hookups are being used. I assume I'll have to stretch the image to get rid of black bars. Anyone have experience with this?

[rudyjuly2]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

I'm planning to pick up a PS2 this weekend and was wondering how the image looks on widescreen HDTVs. I was just going to hook it up with the standard composite cables, since my component hookups are being used. I assume I'll have to stretch the image to get rid of black bars. Anyone have experience with this?

I've read the PS2 looks lousy on HDTVs since they expose many flaws that blurring can help hide. I only have a regular TV but the PS2 looks a lot better with the S-Video than the standard composite cables. Its funny since I don't notice a big difference using S-Video over composite with the satellite receiver but the PS2 looks a LOT better using S-Video. I can only imagine it would look even better on component. You can get cheap component PS2 cables for around $10 (my S-Video was dirt cheap and work great) although you would have to buy a component switch for the extra connection.

Quietcool just bought an HDTV and was talking about this very thing over on his site (consolesports.net).

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

PS2 horribly underscans on HDTV's, there's always black bars on the sides, it sucks but what can you do. They aren't huge and don't take away from the gaming, but an inch maybe of black on each side can be annoying.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

PS2 horribly underscans on HDTV's, there's always black bars on the sides, it sucks but what can you do. They aren't huge and don't take away from the gaming, but an inch maybe of black on each side can be annoying.

How about the actual visuals EG? Do the jaggies look worse?

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

How about the actual visuals EG? Do the jaggies look worse?

It doesn't look bad, looks better than composite.

[Knight165]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

I don't have the black bars on my HDTV monitor. It's Dell's 32" HD PC monitor.
As for the visuals....some things look great...others are very underwhelming.
It certainly doesn't look crisp, but considering that I have the XBox and 360 also hooked up to it as well as my PC...I'm not about to bring in another monitor just for the PS2, so I guess it depends on your setup whether it will be good for you or not.

M.K.
Knight165

[greenegt]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

Thanks for the replies, fellas. I saw some S-Video cables for $12, so I think I'll pick those up. I'm hoping one of the TV's zoom modes looks decent. Worse comes to worse, I'll hook it up to a 4:3 TV in another room.

[jpup]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

Thanks for the replies, fellas. I saw some S-Video cables for $12, so I think I'll pick those up. I'm hoping one of the TV's zoom modes looks decent. Worse comes to worse, I'll hook it up to a 4:3 TV in another room.

get component cables, not S video.

[Blzer]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

get component cables, not S video.

How does it look with component cables on a standard TV? Guess I need a standard TV with component inputs to do such a thing.

Better yet, what about Xbox with component inputs? Is it really THAT much better?

[CaptainZombie]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

Thanks for the replies, fellas. I saw some S-Video cables for $12, so I think I'll pick those up. I'm hoping one of the TV's zoom modes looks decent. Worse comes to worse, I'll hook it up to a 4:3 TV in another room.

green, pickup the Sony Component cables for $24. Games won't look too bad on a 16:9 stretched, but it will be noticeable. Stay away from the S-Video if you have the capability for component.

[Ridgeberg]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

I have a DLP TV and noticed some pretty noticeable lag with the PS2. For example, MLB The Show, you had to press the swing button about a quarter-second before the ball was in the strike-zone. That coupled with the pitching meter (which, due to the lag, was like throwing darts in the dark) totally ruined the game. Which is a shame.

Noticed similar things with other sports games, but precise timing games were the worst.

You might be better off hooking it up to a non-HD set.

[ODogg]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

I have a DLP TV and noticed some pretty noticeable lag with the PS2. For example, MLB The Show, you had to press the swing button about a quarter-second before the ball was in the strike-zone. That coupled with the pitching meter (which, due to the lag, was like throwing darts in the dark) totally ruined the game. Which is a shame.

Noticed similar things with other sports games, but precise timing games were the worst.

You might be better off hooking it up to a non-HD set.

Not necessarily, depends on the HDTV. I have a Samsung SL5088 and there is zero lag and I don't even use gaming mode. Also, I don't have the black bars on the side like some have said. As for the visuals, they look great....for PS2 that is. The visuals are still not going to look high-def-like in a sense they're like the 360 but they aren't bad either.

Also, I can't speak for other sets but the newer Samsungs have DNIe which smooths out jaggies alot and I noticed a pretty big improvement going from my 30" Samsung (CRT) to my 50" Samsung (DLP). I'm using component cables (Monster cables) btw.

[greenegt]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

I'm just going with S-video, so I don't have to bother with buying a component switch box. My two component inputs are being used by the 360 and a HD cable receiver. I know I won't be able to take advantage of PS2's 480p-enabled games, but as long as the picture is playable, I'm happy.

[Kodiak33]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

I borrowed a friends PS2 for play FF12 and it looks like crap on my 56" HDtv with component cables. It really shows the shortcomings of the PS2.

[greenegt]

Re: PS2 on HDTVs?

Well, I picked up a PS2 today and hooked it up via S-video. Picture looks pretty good. I set the PS2 display to "Full" and did the same on my TV's zoom settings and the picture now fills the entire screen. I'm happy about that. Also love how small the slim PS2 is. I'm going to enjoy going back and playing through all of the PS2's exclusive hits.