Idiot's Guide To Getting and Using a US PSOne/PS1

[Moodmon]

Having read all those stickies above, I'm still none the wiser. I need a complete idiot's guide to getting and using a US PS1/One.

• I know I need a step-down, but I don't know which one.
  Will I be able to play it with composite leads? (my TV can handle RGB, but it 'shadows' the channel that was on previously)
  Will I find a decent quality machine (I've heard they tend to break. A lot) that can play FMV in assorted RPGs?
  How much should I be looking to pay?
  Where do I get one from?
  Is it easier to use a chipped PS1?
  If so, will it handle games with more than one disc?

[gossi the dog]

I'd get a chipped PS1 if I were you. That way you can easily play all region games and best of all you won't have any problems whatsoever with multi disk games.

[Saurian]

Ennit - chipped PS1/one + RGB cable, nothing else is needed.

If you get an old style machine just make sure it's not a 1xxx revision -
SCPH 5xxx, 7xxx and 9xxx revisions are cool but test FMV on it just to be sure (if you can)

[Moodmon]

Does that mean I should be looking to get a PSOne then? You sound as if I should avoid the older ones if at all possible?

And I still can't ruddy find one. [Sigh]