Request for enabling VGA / PS mode in uLaunchelf

[paulodeleo]

Some days ago I have asked here (http://www.ps2newz.net/forums/showpost.php?p=292982&postcount=657) about the possibility to enable VGA or Progressive Scan mode at uLaunchelf boot or when loading elfs.

As <G> said in the past, the the code to enable this video modes is well known. Some docs about it are available here (http://www.oopo.net/consoledev/files/ps2-doublebuffer.txt).

This feature is long time available in O2 modchip firmware, and now, by request of a friend user, asapreta (http://www.ps2newz.net/forums/member.php?find=lastposter&t=25754), to the Matrix Team, their new firmware comes with this feature:


Released today V1.75 Firmware for the Infinity Modchip.

New Features and additions:
- VGA support added

Notes :
- VGA suport was added to this firmware relase. You can now use the original blaze vga adaptor without
the boot cd and enjoy the enhanced games compatibility that this version brings you on your vga screen
(with full original ps2 browser and dvd movies support in vga mode).

VGA mode is set to 640x480 at 60Hz (so the added bonus is that PAL games will run 20% faster).
Games are automatically centered according to the original resolution without vertical or horizontal
side artifacts (a common problem with the original vga adapter).
PSX games are not supported at the moment but will probably be in a future release (altough this is
probably a low priority fix due to the small improvement that vga support could bring to psx games).

When VGA mode is enabled you can access the monitor adjust screen in the config menu by pressing
SELECT. You only need to do this the first time to adjust your monitor settings (a white border is
present at the side of the screen, play with your monitor settings so that the 640x480 screen completely
fills your viewing area).

A schematic of the cable will be soon online on our site for those skilled in the art of patching things
together ;)


The related schematic of the cable is available here (http://ps2vga.modchip.sm/pics/ps2Vga_FINAL_DIAGRAM_NO_GREEN_SCREEN.jpg).

I already have my own cable working with PS enabled games or with the buggy blaze CD. I would be glad to make any tests needed if the devs don't own a cable like this (the ps2 linux cable is ok too).

As I really don't have the needed skills to code this kind of thing :banghead: , so I'm here to ask if anyone could implement this feature into uLaunchelf. :-pray:

[deank]

It is not about VGA/PS, but I didn't want to open another thread, so I'll ask my question here:

Is there a way to make uLaunchElf to start in PAL (or to set PAL to be the default mode).

I don't know why, but most of the programs, which support PAL and NTSC always decide to go for NTSC. I don't know why PAL is not selected, having in mind that my TV is PAL/NTSC compatible.

My modchip (mars a752) doesn't have options to change/handle anything on startup - it just lets me play backups.

Thanks beforehand.

(does uLaunchElf has a download-page or it is just as an attachment in the forum?)

Dean

[JuddMan]

mine is a PAL PS2 and a pal/NTSC enabled TV and it boots in PAL... only diference: No modchip.

[deank]

mine is a PAL PS2 and a pal/NTSC enabled TV and it boots in PAL... only diference: No modchip.

My console is PAL (75004), too and it boots in PAL, but when I start uLaunchElf it goes to NTSC. That's my problem. SMS also boots in NTSC until I changed the settings.


Dean

[Endymion]

Some days ago I have asked here (http://www.ps2newz.net/forums/showpost.php?p=292982&postcount=657) about the possibility to enable VGA or Progressive Scan mode at uLaunchelf boot or when loading elfs.

I would like to see this too. Especially though, I'd like to see the feature to launch in progressive scan. All of the VGA interest has never made a great deal of sense to me--I would think that a lot more people could use it to a lot better effect if attention were directed at doing progressive scan over component rather than VGA as the typical TV is going to be a lot bigger than the typical computer monitor. I am saying this as an owner of the Blaze cable so it isn't as if I don't have a use for it, it's just that I use my HDTV a lot more and progressive scan over component would just rock my socks.

[darklegion]

It wouldn't take much effort to do component progressive either, possibly only one line of code would need to be changed.You could probably even set it up so it chooses a mode based on whether you have component or rgb enabled in the browser.The question is really whether or not someone with the abilities will bother doing it, or if the modchip makers start open sourceing (when hell freezes over).

[NoKKiE]

is this really possible? It would be great to force everything to progressive within Launch ELF. This seems unlikely though, too good to be true.

[paulodeleo]

As said before, seems to be a simple feature to add, but all people who want it is too lame to code it (me included), and all the people capable os coding this stuff into uLaunchelf is not interessted... :(

[dlanor]

As said before, seems to be a simple feature to add, but all people who want it is too lame to code it (me included), and all the people capable os coding this stuff into uLaunchelf is not interessted... :(
It's not just due to lack of interest, but also (at least in my case) due to lack of the necessary hardware. I have no equipment whatever that can deal with progressive scan signals, so debugging such code would be impossible for me.

Best regards: dlanor

[E P]

Dlanor pretty much summed it up for me as well. I don't have the necessary hardware either. I figured if someone knew how to add it they would, then the changes could make it to either dlanor or myself. The changes could then be added to uLaunchELF eventually.

[firehawk]

@EP and dlanor:

Maybe EEUG could help you to implement it on uLaunchELF as he got it to work on SMS. :)

[Kormann]

it would be a nice feauture.. i dont want to spend again my $ to buy a new chip and to pay for the install again =/

Please add this feature when possible and if possible add too DVD9 auto patch mode for games with DVD-Dual Layer Recordable discs ;D

Thx in advance! (uLaunchELF is the best loader yet! :D)