The PS3 SDK update: making 1080i possible |
If you're a videophile and you're curious about the PS3's HD performance, then this post is for you. An article over at Beyond3dD takes an in-depth look at just how the mysterious PS3 hardware scaler works.Since the console's release last November, there have been reports of trouble when attempting to play certain titles in 1080i/p. The thing is, the console did not automatically upscale its video output to the desired resolutions. Common thought was that it was up to either the game software to support these resolutions natively or leave the scaling job to the internal scalers of user's HDTVs.
Of course, these HD issues might be a thing of the past. The latest software development kit (SDK) update from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.">SCEI (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.) finally exposes part of the built-in hardware scaler to developers. The article goes into long and technical explanations about how taxing it was for developers to get their games to output at 1080i/p before the SDK update, and how now after the SDK is released, the burden is somewhat lessened.
While we will avoid the technical explanations for now (and just leave it to you guys to read through it using our read-link below) we will give you this passage from the article that ponders the secrecy that Sony has surrounded the scalers in and why the current SDK is only half the solution:
Interestingly enough, "some" is the key word when describing the unlocked functionality; SCEI only gave access to hardware accelerated horizontal scaling. Horizontal scaling on its own cannot upscale a 720p image into 1080p/i --this would require both horizontal and vertical scaling. Hence, the newly exposed scaler functionality is not enabled in the PS3's user interface directly, but instead will still require developer support to work.
At the time of publication, the reasons why SCEI didnÂ’t give developers access to both horizontal and vertical scaling are still unknown, as are the reasons they didnÂ’t grant developers access to horizontal scaling until now. The video scaler itself remains shrouded in mystery, as strange as it may seem, but at least now we can say with confidence that it does indeed exist. There are multiple reasons for this continuing secrecy, and insiders are reluctant to discuss them even off the record, never mind for publication.
Perhaps what's immediately important to you folks as gamers/videophiles is whether or not the new SDK will finally allow you to enjoy HD on your 1080i only HDTV. So here's the Beyond3D's conclusion:
In conclusion, the foretold yet hitherto unseen PlayStation 3 hardware scaler has made its entry onto the development scene with this SDK update. Its appearance should bring hope into the hearts of 1080i-only HDTV owners that all future games may support their television sets natively. They may also look forward to seeing patches to some of the currently released 720p-only games, should developers have the time and inclination to revisit their old code base and hack a new 960x1080 rendering mode into it.
For more information on the technical aspects of their look at PS3 video output scaling, feel free to click our read-link below.
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Comments [refresh]
Hopefully this fixes some issues people are having..
Why doesn't anyone ever talk about the fact that Bluray movies cant be played at 720p???
I have a 720p max tv and am really disapointed i can only watch them in 1080i mode. If Sony does have an internal hardware scaler why the heck dont they use it in their own video player ?!
I think sony is leaving people who have 720p max sets out in the cold on this one. I understand 720p may not be True HD and I should go buy a 1080p monitor, but I cant afford one right now and I hate watching anything in 1080i..... please Sony hook me up.
What are you talking about? I have a 720p TV and my Blu-Ray movies play in 720p...
This should shutup the doomsday crews.
Nice Job Sony!!!!
Im using HDMI and it doesn't work... Maybe I shoudl try my PS2 component cables.... what do you use?
Sux I would have to not use hdmi if thats the case...
Everyone remember how after the ps2 launched everyone started *****ing about how they had crazy aliasing? Then Sony said, oh it's all available, developers just have to set it to work. But, the devs had to set that up to work from the get go - early on in development.
Same old problems... new faces.
hey, i'm having the same issue, i cannot view my movies in 720p mode.
All HDTVs support 1080i and 1080p
Same old problems .... new faces +
Ps3 going to win!!! lol
It's a totally unannounced horizontal hardware scaler that Sony has only granted developers access up til now. This one does not only make it possible to upscale games and movies to 1080i/p but it also makes it possible for the upscaling to use memory not much more than 720p itself... which also results in 1080i/p games running at 720p frame rate for there is enough space to work with now... if the vertical scaler is unlocked now, it would put the PS3 on par with the XBox360 in terms of scaling capabilities.
Talking about how Polyphony unlocked 1080i on PS2... lol
hey you are a noob. you have to plug the component and the hdmi cables up. turn on the tv so it pics up the component signal, then go to settings and put sound and video to hdmi, after that change the tv to the hdmi channel and press x.
If I buy a plasma that outputs in 720p and 1080i will I be able to see 1080p material in 1080i with a PS3?