PS3 1080p/24hz playback from usb/hdd video files? (i.e. non-blu ray source)

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slapnutz

38 posts

Geek

#73727 20-Dec-2010 19:59

Hey guys,

Does anyone know if the PS3 is able to output 1080p/24 when playing non-bluray disc movies?

Basically, I have two files...

1)
1080p/24hz
Codec=xvid
Container=AVI

2)
1080p/24hz
Codec=H264
Container=MP4

When I try these (via usb or ps3 hdd) my TV still detects them as only 1080p/60hz.
However if I try my Toy Story 3 BD disc for example, the TV correctly switches to 1080p/24hz.

Is it a setting or something or am I out of luck and will need a Media Player Box?

Also, if thats the case, which Media Player Boxes would actually work well with these files and output 1080p/24hz? (and 1080p/24hz .MKV too)
WDTV? AC Ryan? Popcorn Hour A210? ...etc...

Thanks, any help is appreciated.

timmmay

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#419711 20-Dec-2010 21:40

Do you have it connected to a PC? If so you can use the free "PS3 Media Server" software.

slapnutz

38 posts

Geek

#419718 20-Dec-2010 22:09

timmmay: Do you have it connected to a PC? If so you can use the free "PS3 Media Server" software.

Thanks but getting it to play file formats isnt the issue as far as the 1080p/24hz specific question goes.

I am aware of PS3 Media Server and its great, however in the end its still the PS3 that outputs to the TV, thus I need it to output at 24hz instead of the standard 60hz menu/dashboard mode.

timmmay

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#419725 20-Dec-2010 22:24

Not really sure then. I hit play and the picture comes onto the screen. I'm interested to hear what difference it makes? Quality, or compatibility maybe?

buzzy

217 posts

Master Geek

#419923 21-Dec-2010 13:00

As Timmmay says - why are you wanting to output at 24Hz? What difference does it make versus 60Hz?

Talkiet

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#419929 21-Dec-2010 13:17

Recent Plasmas (especially high end sets) can do some really nice processing on genuine 24p inputs such as frame doubling, tripling or quadrupling... They can retain a "film-like" feel while smoothing the motion somewhat.

If the signal is output at 60p, the smoothing algorithms can go overboard and you end up with an effect that really annoys some people and is sometimes referred to as the "soap opera affect" where the motion is ultra smooth and looks like the style of motion you get on TV shows.

Hard to describe and some people won't notice it - but for others it's a completely different viewing experience.

For the record, I too have noticed the PS3 won't output 24p for anything but Blu-ray.

I did notice an option in XMBC (haven't connected it to \my TV yet) to "match output signal to frame rate:\" which might accomplish what you're after.

Cheers -N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

buzzy

217 posts

Master Geek

#420022 21-Dec-2010 16:06

Good response, thanks for the clarification Talkiet.

slapnutz

38 posts

Geek

#420559 22-Dec-2010 17:31

Thanks guys. Guess its off to research dedicated media players as the next stage.

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Talkiet

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#420565 22-Dec-2010 17:37

slapnutz: Thanks guys. Guess its off to research dedicated media players as the next stage.

No probs... FWIW, I have a WD TV LIve and it also appears to only support 50/60...

I HAVE heard (but not tested myself) that a PS3 will play an AVCHD stream from a local source (USB HDD, internal PS3 HD) and preserve 24p... I've also seen a reference to this working with streaming as well, but I haven't got a link for you on this sorry... Might help with a google query though.

Oh, the WD TV Live is great in almost every respect... The big advantage the PS3 has is in the speed and precision of navigating folders, and in an odd oversight the WD TV can't seek to a specific time in a file!!!

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek

#420908 23-Dec-2010 11:00

Talkiet:
I HAVE heard (but not tested myself) that a PS3 will play an AVCHD stream from a local source (USB HDD, internal PS3 HD) and preserve 24p... I've also seen a reference to this working with streaming as well, but I haven't got a link for you on this sorry... Might help with a google query though.

Basically the PS3 has two players, the XMB which will do all of the formats like divx/wmv etc at 50 and 60Hz and then the internal blu-ray playback which will do blu-ray/AVCHD streams which can be 50Hz, 60Hz and 24Hz. The XMB will always default to 60Hz for 24p content.

So the way around it is to 'trick' the PS3 into thinking the video is blu-ray/AVCHD compliant.
One such program that will help faciliate this is AVCHDMe