Nintendo Consoles Causing Video Flicker on a Newer CRT-TV

[Hobie-wan]

Some info on 240P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/240p

It looks like it is maybe just struggling with the Nintendo signals like either the systems or the TV are right on the edge of the specification so it just loses it for a moment every now and then. Kind of like a digital TV signal turning to blocks if it is marginal. The PS1 might just be doubling the pixels and sending out a proper 480i signal so the TV is happy with that instead of sending out a doubled 240P signal.

[theclaw]

I assume PS1 supports 480i when called for? If so very rare use due to memory constraints.

You must try out Mega Man X4. It'll be a great help to research this further. The FMV scenes actually run at different resolution than gameplay.

[Zing]

This wouldn't be the first report of a SNES triggering 240p issues while other systems work. The PlayStation is also vulnerable, however. It can even manifest the problem when running 240p PS2 games (Ico for example).

[theclaw]

Isn't that in theory impossible though? I thought SNES games and Ico use the exact exact same mode.

But I dunno. Weirder things have happened.

[Zing]

This is analog video. There can easily be differences in the signal timing.

[theclaw]

Right I should know that. D'oh. HDTVs often don't like the timing of Neo Geo.

[Chronogears]

Some info on 240P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/240p

It looks like it is maybe just struggling with the Nintendo signals like either the systems or the TV are right on the edge of the specification so it just loses it for a moment every now and then. Kind of like a digital TV signal turning to blocks if it is marginal. The PS1 might just be doubling the pixels and sending out a proper 480i signal so the TV is happy with that instead of sending out a doubled 240P signal.

Thanks for that information. I never knew that CRT-TVs had any kind of compatibility issues like this. In that case, barring an expensive upconverter, I would be fully out of luck with NES/SNES/N64 on this TV, right?

You must try out Mega Man X4. It'll be a great help to research this further. The FMV scenes actually run at different resolution than gameplay.

This wouldn't be the first report of a SNES triggering 240p issues while other systems work. The PlayStation is also vulnerable, however. It can even manifest the problem when running 240p PS2 games (Ico for example).

Here's a new video of me testing out Mega Man X4 and Ico. As it happens, neither of these games demonstrate any problems. I also tested MMX4 on the PS2 just for the heck of it, and it was fine, as well.




I have also tested an old VCR from the early-nineties and a DVD player from 1997. The DVD player has no display problems, but, sadly, doesn't have any input pass-throughs. The VCR, on the other hand, has the same video-signal-dropping tendencies as the Nintendo systems itself, without anything hooked up to it.

For what it's worth, I tested the following systems on the Wii's virtual console (via composite):

Genesis, NES, and SNES had the same problem.
N64 and TurboGrafx-16 were fine.

[ChuChu Flamingo]

I goggled RCA Truflat 240p and came up with someone stating they can't get their super nintendo to work either. It seems like you're not alone.

TV just doesn't want to work with 240p signals, and it is a miracle it works with the PS1.

I never cared much for the last generation CRTs (year 2000+). Almost all of them had poor craftsmanship and would often times do digital processing on material.

Best of luck in finding a display.

[Hobie-wan]

Bleh, that sucks. I guess that VCR is just passing through and not altering the signal at all. Normally you'd want the signal passed cleanly through so it doesn't lose quality, but in this case you actually want it to process a little. Unless there's a way to tweak the TV internally (by a TV repairman) so it is more accepting of the signal, I'm not sure what else you could do.