Hardware So how bad is the interlacing on 3000s?

[Clydefrosch]

I've been using a 1000 so far and the controls as well as the ghosting have been driving me crazy ever since i got the thing.
Even after several attempts to fix the controls (exchanging the rubber thingies, putting pieces of paper under the dpad to rise it up a little etc) I've never got them comfortable. In the end, pressing left or right always had a 40% chance to press down or up for some reason... and theres the issue with the square button randomly starting to get stuck that the 1000s had.

Now I've read that the 3000's buttons are great, at least compared to the 1000s and that the ghosting is gone, but now that I'm actively looking into buying one, I keep reading about the interlacing. Thanks sony, fix one thing and break it at the same time.
So is it really that bad? I've tried to look for videos of it, but theres basically just two, one showing randomly slowed down footage and bad screenshots of disgea.
and then theres a video of someone playing disgea, where I cant see interlacing at all.

so how bad is it really? does anyone have a high quality video showing interlacing on a few games?


I'm almost beginning to consider the psp go, even though its analog nub appears to be almost unreachable with its weird position and the buttons seem to be even more sunken in than on the psp 1000... I guess I could live with the nub being unreachable for most emulating purposes if the buttons were otherwise responsive and great. but they probably arent, right?
Are the Go's buttons the same as on any other psp, or do they use those clicky ones like on the original DS? ( http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6411/f42v.jpg )

 

[TecXero]

I do believe there's a setting that reduces the scanlines, though the colors aren't as vivid if you change it. I prefer 2000s myself, but that's due to homebrewing. The Go's screen is supposed to be great, fixing the problem of the 3000. Honestly, it depends on how sensitive you are to the scanlines, if you really want your image as vivid as possible, if you want a big screen or small screen, and if UMDs matter to you. For the Go, button wise, it isn't bad, just think Game Boy Micro.

If you're willing to sacrifice the vividness of the screen to reduce the scanlines, still want a big screen, and want to use UMDs: just grab a 2000 (unless you really want an internal microphone).
Also, there's a good chance it'll be a fully hackable one, though that doesn't matter much anymore unless you want to do development for the PSP.

If you want a vivid picture, don't mind scanlines, and want to use UMDs: grab a 3000.

If you want a vivid picture without the scanline problem and don't mind a lack of UMD drive: grab a Go.

 

[Clydefrosch]

the thing is, I dont really know if i mind scanlines. theres no way for me to test either a go or 3000 and i couldn't find a hd video that shows the scanlineproblem. on the 2 or 3 screenshots, it looks like the sprites in games were all over the place, which i would mind, on videos, i'm not sure if I'm seeing a problem or just artifacts from a cheap mobilephone camera or a dirty screen...
i do know what I mind a lot is the ghosting and the bad dpad of the original psp (and the wobbly buttons, specially the square one because sony, for some reason, thought it would be a good idea to build the button right ontop of the screen))


I dont mind the lack of umd at all. with 14gb memory theres enough room for all my games.

I never had a gameboy micro, but i believe they have those clicky buttons too, right? like the DS or the gameboy advance sp had?

 

[ut2k4master]

get a psp go, its sooo much better. the scanlines on the 3000 are really distracting

 

[reprep]

get a E1004, that thing has a great screen. though it lacks wifi and stereo speakers. that is if you really want UMD and large screen. if not buy a psp go, you won't be disappointed.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

get a E1004, that thing has a great screen. though it lacks wifi and stereo speakers. that is if you really want UMD and large screen. if not buy a psp go, you won't be disappointed.

"PSP Street" also doesn't allow to swap batteries, but it has a nice false impression of a touchpad which is just a sticker.

 

[Reploid]

I had 1000, then 2000 and now 3000. Scanlines was a problem for... a few days maybe? I got use to it quickly. But colors are better, but I got used to it too. So... it's a decent PSP by my standars. I played PSP Go for a a small time too, but screen is so tiny, if you ask me. Normal models got screen size just right, not too small, not to big.

 

[nl255]

The general rule with the Go is if you are a pirate then get the Go (assuming it isn't too small for your hands), if not then avoid it like the plague. Keep in mind that there are several really good games that can't officially be played on the Go including Birth By Sleep and Crisis Core (they work perfectly as an ISO if you have CFW on it though). The biggest catch is that while the internal 16GB of storage is very nice if you want more you have to use the official micro Memory Sticks rather than the much cheaper MicroSD cards. The Go does support connecting a PS3 controller to it so you can connect it to your TV (component or composite, no HDMI sadly) and play it on the big screen if you want.

 

[Clydefrosch]

well, I guess I'll go for a used go and hope for the best then.

I'd like to ask one more thing while I'm here.

I've run across this video of someone somehow being able to run mario kart at constant fullspeed with sound on the psp.

can anyone explain how that is possible?
I've tried every speedhack option and every other option too, but could only get it to run close to fullspeed with sound disabled. is that all due to the 2000's additional ram? I always thought that ran couldn't affect the speed.

 

[TecXero]

well, I guess I'll go for a used go and hope for the best then.

I'd like to ask one more thing while I'm here.

I've run across this video of someone somehow being able to run mario kart at constant fullspeed with sound on the psp.

can anyone explain how that is possible?
I've tried every speedhack option and every other option too, but could only get it to run close to fullspeed with sound disabled. is that all due to the 2000's additional ram? I always thought that ran couldn't affect the speed.

Make sure you're using the latest build of Snes9xTYL mod (mecm version, not cm) and have the PSP acceleration engine enabled. Disabling the audio won't help much since it's mostly handled by the ME core, so no real need for it to be disabled. Snes9xTYL has had a lot of work put into it from various authors, it's well optimized.
The settings I generally use:

[Video]
Engine: PSP accel. + accur. soft
Frameskip: auto change below 9
VSync: yes

[Misc]
PSP Clockspeed: 333mhz

Those are the only settings that really affect the performance. Vsync is more of personal preference. You can easily fine tune the settings through trial and error, though. I don't have a copy of Mario Kart for the SNES, so I can't test it out, but I can't imagine it's as intensive as Yoshi's Island.

 

[Foxi4]

I wouldn't base my choice on the interlacing issue, I would base it on the form-factor desired. Essentially, the PSP-2000 suffers from ghosting, the PSP-3000 suffers from interlacing issues and the PSP Go may or may not be comfortable for you and it uses M2 sticks instead of Pro Duo sticks which are harder to get in high capacities. I would personally look for an early PSP-2000 (data code 8b or earlier) or a PSP-3000, the Go is great if you want to use Bluetooth, but I honestly prefer the PSP-1/2/3000 form factor rather than the slider.

 

[Jayro]

I have a PSP-2001, fully hacked with 6.60 PRO C CFW permanently installed. My UMD and PS1 isos all play fine from the 8GB memory card. Emulators run great. I don't see ghosting or scanlines, as the 2000's easily have the most vivid screens. I softmodded my battery into a pandora battery, and use my 512MB mem card as a Magic MemoryStick++ with a bootable 5.00 recovery CFW.

 

[Clanver]

getting a vita is not an option for you? You might easily find a used one under 100 €.

I had a 1000er psp as well before. Had the same problems as you, the ghosting and the controls did get stuck all the time. For that matter, psp games look great on the vita.
Ofc getting a cfw on there is not the easiest thing.

 

[Plstic]

3000 all the way. I don't mind the scan lines and I'm really sensitive to ghosting. I can't play games on LCD TVs because of ghosting :/.

 

[reprep]

well if vita cfw is an option for you, it is the ultimate psp. but unfortunately it is a bit hard now to make a vita cfwed.

vita has real analogs, not nubs like psp. also you can use the second stick assigned to front buttons, d-pad or L/R. it is a very useful feature.

screen is great, you can go up to 64 gb memory stick (if you are willing to pay the price).

having a cfwed vita even only for psp games is well worth imo. i bought mine for about 100 euros with 16 gb memory card. a great buy.

 

[Clydefrosch]

the sticks arent an issue for me, i mean, so far i got by with an 8gb stick, the go has 14gb available. and the m2 sticks cost about 10-20 bucks on amazon, about the same as the pro duo ones, should I ever need extra space.
form factor is most likely a noissue. i've played so many consoles and handhelds and I've always gotten used to their form.

Make sure you're using the latest build of Snes9xTYL mod (mecm version, not cm) and have the PSP acceleration engine enabled. Disabling the audio won't help much since it's mostly handled by the ME core, so no real need for it to be disabled. Snes9xTYL has had a lot of work put into it from various authors, it's well optimized.
The settings I generally use:

[Video]
Engine: PSP accel. + accur. soft
Frameskip: auto change below 9
VSync: yes

[Misc]
PSP Clockspeed: 333mhz

Those are the only settings that really affect the performance. Vsync is more of personal preference. You can easily fine tune the settings through trial and error, though. I don't have a copy of Mario Kart for the SNES, so I can't test it out, but I can't imagine it's as intensive as Yoshi's Island.

nope, best i get out of it like that is 39-45 fps still, even after playing around a lot.
not sure what you mean by 'auto change below 9' though. I put the frameskip to 1 or 2 at the most, anything above that and games get unplayable. at least a game like mario kart.

 

[reprep]

the sticks arent an issue for me, i mean, so far i got by with an 8gb stick, the go has 14gb available. and the m2 sticks cost about 10-20 bucks on amazon, about the same as the pro duo ones, should I ever need extra space.

unfortunately 16 gb is more like 35-40$ on amazon. i need a 16 gb m2 memory stick and i can't find a decent priced one.

 

[Clydefrosch]

unfortunately 16 gb is more like 35-40$ on amazon. i need a 16 gb m2 memory stick and i can't find a decent priced one.

well i dont know about us prices and i guess, more gb cost more.
german amazon has 8gb pro duos and m2s for about 14€. which is still a lot, but acceptable for me, should i ever see the need for more space

I've ordered a used pspgo now and I'll just hope that it runs snes a little bit better and that the buttons are like I expect them. and if it doesnt work out... oh well.

 

[TecXero]

nope, best i get out of it like that is 39-45 fps still, even after playing around a lot.
not sure what you mean by 'auto change below 9' though. I put the frameskip to 1 or 2 at the most, anything above that and games get unplayable. at least a game like mario kart.

Their newer builds have the options for auto frameskip. You could try different engines, but I can't really help much as I don't have the game. Never really enjoyed Mario Kart until the N64 version, so I never bothered to get the SNES version.

 

[codezer0]

As someone with a 2000 and and a go here, I can say...

The further/newer you go, the better the screen quality will be. That said, you also start giving up how 'new' a firmware you could run that could be in perma-CFW mode. Annoyingly, Sony purposely changed the connectors between each significant revision; otherwise replacement screens from an E1000 would be enormously in demand because that el-cheapo system paradoxically had the fastest/best screen for the handheld.

The go's actual screen is great, but it does feel a little small compared to the standard type PSP's. Also, I personally hate the stock controls... for a lot of the games, it actually seems to get in the way, especially in any game that compels you to use both the D-pad and the analog nub. At least on the upside, you can fix that by pairing the go with a PS3 controller, as the go is the only model with Bluetooth in it. I will concede however that the go is very pocket-able and will fit much easier in smaller pants pockets or even the odd shirt pocket.