Chronic and Random Video Problem

[bmfinc]

Hey, wondering if this happens to anyone else, sometimes during a game the video gets messed up for about 30 seconds. This happens after every 3-5 hours of playing, hard to say for sure because it is always different.

The video will turn completely green, or just become fuzzy, but you can still just barely make out what is happening. It has occured on most of my games: commando 3, uncharted, warhawk and so on.

The PS3 is plugged in with a USB to a two year old HD Hitachi projection TV.

Any ideas?

[StealthKat]

I have a similar problem. My 60GB unit will randomly display horrible red static all over the screen. You can still (barely) make out what is on screen but the colors are all messed up. When this static problem shows up, whenever the screen should be solid black, it is green instead.

This seems to happen to my system more when it is warm than cold. My best guess is that something in the graphics chipset is failing in some way.

I called Sony and they said "send it in". It is out of warranty but luckily I used a credit card that automatically extends the mfg warranty when I made the original purchase. My is going back for repair/swap next week.

[bmfinc]

I have a similar problem. My 60GB unit will randomly display horrible red static all over the screen. You can still (barely) make out what is on screen but the colors are all messed up. When this static problem shows up, whenever the screen should be solid black, it is green instead.

This seems to happen to my system more when it is warm than cold. My best guess is that something in the graphics chipset is failing in some way.

I called Sony and they said "send it in". It is out of warranty but luckily I used a credit card that automatically extends the mfg warranty when I made the original purchase. My is going back for repair/swap next week.


That is a good idea, maybe I will call sony before the warrenty goes. If I sent it in I just dont know if they would find the problem because it is so random. It isnt too bad, but I am scared that I am going to be carrying the flay in WH to win a game and then, boom it is going to happen, and no body would believe it :snicker

[razorblade416]

Hey, wondering if this happens to anyone else, sometimes during a game the video gets messed up for about 30 seconds. This happens after every 3-5 hours of playing, hard to say for sure because it is always different.

The video will turn completely green, or just become fuzzy, but you can still just barely make out what is happening. It has occured on most of my games: commando 3, uncharted, warhawk and so on.

The PS3 is plugged in with a USB to a two year old HD Hitachi projection TV.

Any ideas?

Plugged in through USB? Last time i checked USB doesn't carry video signals, perhaps you mean HDMI?

Anyway, have you tried any other device through this connection and it worked right? Could be the connection.

Here's something to try:
1. Which the PS3 is on standby, hold down the power on the PS3 console for 5 sec until it beeps
2. if it asks if you want to use HDMI, say yes
3. set it up using automatic settings

This may reset your video settings that might be causing DHCP problems. That's all i got for ya, hope it helps :)

[bmfinc]

Plugged in through USB? Last time i checked USB doesn't carry video signals, perhaps you mean HDMI?

Anyway, have you tried any other device through this connection and it worked right? Could be the connection.

Here's something to try:
1. Which the PS3 is on standby, hold down the power on the PS3 console for 5 sec until it beeps
2. if it asks if you want to use HDMI, say yes
3. set it up using automatic settings

This may reset your video settings that might be causing DHCP problems. That's all i got for ya, hope it helps :)

Oh man, I need to proof read more :|, yes I mean HDMI, and I have it set as the default. Good advice though - thanks!

[menefreghista]

Oh man, I need to proof read more :|, yes I mean HDMI, and I have it set as the default. Good advice though - thanks!


using the Preview Post button helps
however don't be too hard on yourself ... i still get confused between HDMI and USB when i have to plug a peripheral to my notebook :mrgreen:

[bmfinc]

In case anyone is curious I have found the solution to problem. It turns out that it is not the PS3 at all and instead it is my TV. Apparently all Hitachi F59s have a problem with HDMI where randomly the video freaks out for a short period of time. Here is a thread about it: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=842581

This is good news because sony stated they would take my PS3 and send me a refurbished replacement. Refurbished = Someone else's problem.

[kalishnikov]

Projection TVs and PS3s don't mix all that well, from what I've read, but I don't have one and can't confirm.

Glad you figured out what it is though bmf, would hate to see you not be able to play games. ;)

[StealthKat]

Hey good to see you found the root cause.

Interesting pattern here... As I was packing my 60Gb unit to send it in, I noticed that my HDMI connection to the back of the TV was alarmingly loose. Short story = the HDMI connector on my Samsung TV was what had failed, NOT MY PS3!!!

Like the OP, I am also happy I didn't settle for a refurb when I didn't need one!

Now... if only the new 1080p Bravia's were cheaper!!! ;-)

[bmfinc]

Projection TVs and PS3s don't mix all that well, from what I've read, but I don't have one and can't confirm.

Glad you figured out what it is though bmf, would hate to see you not be able to play games. ;)


@Kalish - thanks for the post, yes I was worried that after we just got everything set up I was out, that would have been really frustrating! I just switched my ps3 to a Samy PN50A45 from the Hitachi 65A59 and the picture is somewhat tighter in the corners, but overall they are both comparable. Please note that I am not a huge details guy, I dont over analyze these things. To get 65 inches of game plan without remortgaging your house I think the 65A59 is a great TV, and apparently they have created a fix for the problem.

@SK - good for you! I wounder how many perfectly good ps3 sony gets because of other problems! :D