Picture 'flickers' slightly in NTSC mode

[Crono]

I'm not new to the NTSC mode at all... but I noticed that the picture flickers ever so slightly (it's hardly noticeable) on my TV, like text in a (NTSC) game, for example. I just assumed that this was normal, as NTSC has 525 lines and PAL has 625 lines, and generally an NTSC picture is lesser detailed compared to a PAL picture - so therefore, I carried on.

But is this 100% normal? My TV definitely supports 60Hz as the picture is stable and doesn't 'roll up and down the screen' in the mode. So can anyone shed some light on this?

Cheers .

EDIT: Or is it the refresh rate? as NTSC (30Hz) has quicker refresh rate than PAL (25Hz) and maybe the slight flickering is due to this?

[Treble]

What leads are you using? Composite, S-Video, RGB or component?

[Vaipon]

EDIT: Or is it the refresh rate? as NTSC (30Hz) has quicker refresh rate than PAL (25Hz) and maybe the slight flickering is due to this?

No. The faster a refresh is the less the display should be seen to flicker, even on an interlaced display like a console. This is why PC monitors are normally very easy on the eyes because you can crank the refresh up to 120hz progressive.

Btw. Are you sure you don't notice flickering on PAL games? The only flickering that is normally visible on consoles is due to the interlaced display, but this is even worse on a PAL system because of the slower refresh.

[Crono]

What leads are you using? Composite, S-Video, RGB or component?

I'm using RGB leads.

Btw. Are you sure you don't notice flickering on PAL games? The only flickering that is normally visible on consoles is due to the interlaced display, but this is even worse on a PAL system because of the slower refresh.

Well, strangely I notice less flickering, or in some cases no flickering at all in PAL games. However, this is in PAL 60hz, not PAL 50hz. It's just when I play a game in NTSC 60Hz I notice a slight bit more flickering than when playing a PAL game in PAL 60hz.

[optimusomega]

I remeber a friend of mine had a similar problem on his old sony TV, it just flickered on the left top corner with NTSC games , sounds like a problem with the TV not outputting NTSC signals well.

[Sieg]

I always wondered about this ...

My DC flickers like mad when in PAL mode, which makes it infuriating to play, however in 60hz / NTSC mode - the flicker is confined to an inch at the top of the screen. I've grown accustomed to that and don't notice it much anymore.

Initially I thought the DC was just fux0red, but a friend had pretty much the same problem ... and apparently a lot of folk have it ...

Why the hell is this so ? And is there some sort of easy way to fix it ?

S.

[Crono]

I remeber a friend of mine had a similar problem on his old sony TV, it just flickered on the left top corner with NTSC games

My DC flickers like mad when in PAL mode, which makes it infuriating to play, however in 60hz / NTSC mode - the flicker is confined to an inch at the top of the screen. I've grown accustomed to that and don't notice it much anymore.

Initially I thought the DC was just fux0red, but a friend had pretty much the same problem ... and apparently a lot of folk have it ...

Yep, that's exactly what mine does aswell. It flickers quite alot in the top left hand corner... I just thought it was normal. Well, anyway, I'm glad I'm not the only one this has happened to . It just look's like I'll have to put with it, I suppose.

[optimusomega]

How about trying some new cables, it might be a TV fault tube etc, but it couldn't hurt to try

[Molloy]

I remeber a friend of mine had a similar problem on his old sony TV, it just flickered on the left top corner with NTSC games , sounds like a problem with the TV not outputting NTSC signals well.

I get that on my old Sony triniton when I play ntsc Dreamcast games.

Can't get my PS2 to work on the TV at all.

Flickery 60hz is alot better than 50hz. Wish I could get a signal.

[Mofoman]

I know you can notice slight flicker on games like Biohazard on Ntsc but it happens on the pal versions too,it is kinda like a shimmer rather than actual flicker.

I think it has something to do with the resolution the games are set in and not the actual tv or console.

[Kron]

I always wondered about this ...

My DC flickers like mad when in PAL mode, which makes it infuriating to play, however in 60hz / NTSC mode - the flicker is confined to an inch at the top of the screen. I've grown accustomed to that and don't notice it much anymore.

Initially I thought the DC was just fux0red, but a friend had pretty much the same problem ... and apparently a lot of folk have it ...

Why the hell is this so ? And is there some sort of easy way to fix it ?

S.

The flicker at the top of the screen is due to a faulty graphics chip, it seems to get rid of the banding problem if you use an RGB Scart and run a game at 60hz, but in 50hz mode on some models with this problem it looks really evident.

Ive come across 2 PAL DC's myself that have done it when repairing them for other faults, its a pretty small ratio of good/bad though.

[Akira]

time to dig this sucker up! Right i have a 1 month old phillip's CRT and it too has this constant flicker in the left hand corner of the screen that's only apparent when i'm playing my games in 60hz i.e US games,US machines,PAL 60hz

It also appears to be getting worse as it's starting to stretch up the left side of the screen.But like i said,play games in 50hz and it's fine.Any idea how to fix this?

[andrewfee]

I was getting an unstable image at the top of the screen on my Super Famicom via RGB, but it turned out that the lead had three resistors inside it.

I twisted them so that the wires were crossed, effectively bypassing them, and it went away, giving me a perfectly stable image. Perhaps this is your problem?

[Akira]

but surely this can't be the problem with all 5 of my scart cables can it?

[Lyris]

I doubt it has anything to do with the cables. It's probably a side-effect of the UK mains frequency being 50hz and the video signal you're sending being 60hz. A CRT expert on the AV Forums will probably be able to give a better answer.