576p or 1080i ????????

[JB@XL]

Now that i have the component cables for the ps3 wondering if there are any advantages / disadvantages using one setting rather than the other.

At the moment i have it set to 1080i which looks really good to my untrained eye.Wondering what the more clued up members rate the better resolution.

Currently i have a 32" jvc lcd (link below) and wonder if there would be much difference in moving to a 720p set possibly 37" or 42".If so how much do you reckon to ask for the jvc.

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/pdfs/WVTV/200408/066_WV_0804.pdf

[Ouenben]

1080i without a doubt it's still Hi definition resolution, i dont think 576p is. (enhanced definition maybe)

[anephric]

1080i, no question. Although I prefer 720p to 1080i.

[wakka]

Dude 576p isn't even high definition. Surely google can answer these kind of questions, do some research on wikipedia or afterdawn.

[EvilBoris]

The ps3's output is closest to 720p, so that is what I would set it to. Unless of course you have a 1080p tv in which case it's obvious which you should pick

[fallenangle]

1080i fairly obviously.

576p - EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV but in some countries counted as HD until quite recently, apparently). PAL progressive scan but that means it will still be running at the standard PAL 50Hz refresh rate. If that is correct it's another reason not to use it.

[Lyris]

You'd think 1080i would be the obvious choice (usually it is) but it's a good question. Older LCD TVs often don't handle 1080i well at all and instead slice out every second line to create 540p. So in that case, clean 576p out of the PS3, perversely enough, would be better.

The LCD TV I had from that era (2004, ahh ) did a better job with 1080i than 576p so don't take my word on it, give it a good look. I'm not sure if the same would be true of that particular TV though.

The only way to tell is to take a good look at the picture though. Do you have any Sony Pictures Blu-ray Discs? If so, those have 1080p test patterns on them. Put one in and type 7669 (phone keypad letters for "SONY") on the menu to gain access to the patterns and have a good stare at the fine details in them.

[JP]

I'd go with Lyris in what he is saying on this about the way that your TV may handle 1080i.

In the end though these choices are down to personal preference over anything else. One setting may well be the preferred setting for your hardware and technically the closer image to what should be on the screen but there really is nothing more important than personal judgement in these areas.

Try the different settings and completely ignore everybody else's advice and use the setting that is more comfortable for you to watch irrelevant of how accurate or distorted it my or may not be.

If you're unable to tell the difference between the settings when you try them then you've nothing to lose on either of them.

[fallenangle]

There's an interesting Wikipedia entry for 720p versus 1080i.

The effect of the particular make/model of TV isn't mentioned and shouldn't be ignored or, of course, subjective preference. But at their best the bottom line seemed to be that 720p is better for fast moving subject matter like sports mainly because it's not interlaced. But 1080i does give noticeably higher res./sharper results for all other uses.

Horses for courses I'd guess ie. it depends what you're viewing but with the 720p versus 1080i results being so close it does suggest 576p is going to be inferior in most respects to 1080i. Whether this inferiority is significant - that's another issue.

[JP]

I'd agree with that too, I'm in a very agreeable mood today it seems!

I find that on mine 720p is the only one I can use when I'm watching things like rugby but for most things I do find 1080i preferable. I often find myself using 720p while playing games too.

[JB@XL]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I did see the fast moving against higher res image reference and i dont have any sony pictures blu ray discs but i will keep a look out and use the handy test patterns so thanks Lyris.

Currently i am using 1080i although i am mostly playing minna no golf 5 so not much high speed action and it looks superb.

[EvilBoris]

There's an interesting Wikipedia entry for 720p versus 1080i.

The effect of the particular make/model of TV isn't mentioned and shouldn't be ignored or, of course, subjective preference. But at their best the bottom line seemed to be that 720p is better for fast moving subject matter like sports mainly because it's not interlaced. But 1080i does give noticeably higher res./sharper results for all other uses.

Horses for courses I'd guess ie. it depends what you're viewing but with the 720p versus 1080i results being so close it does suggest 576p is going to be inferior in most respects to 1080i. Whether this inferiority is significant - that's another issue.

To be honest I'm not sure how somemone can claim this is true on a 720p native (or near enough set).

The games are output at 720p, then your PS3 will upscale the game to 1080i, then your TV has to deinterlace it and scale it back down to 720p.

Or 720p output> TV does very little.

If anything you'll just be adding lag

[fallenangle]

True but I did say "at their best" the differences are considered marginal. On paper 720p should be better than 1080i for the reasons you state (less processing) but does that always translate to observable benefits practice?