Introduction
The PS3 is both a game console and a computer. Game consoles traditionally output to TV screens, computers traditionally output to computer monitors. TV screens and computer monitors have very little in common. The PS3 can output to both, and can also output to High-Definition (HD) TV screens. Since this involves several completely different sets of standards, things can get complex. This HOWTO will explain the various types of video connections used by the PS3.
Different video connectors for different monitors and televisions
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
This is the best connection for running Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 on your PS3. It allows for the full range of video modes, as long as your monitor or TV supports them. You will need to consult the documentation for your display to find out which modes it will support. It is connected by connecting an HDMI cable to the HDMI port on your PS3 and the HDMI port on your TV. 7.1 channel sound will also be transmitted over the HDMI cable. If you are buying a short cable, it does not matter if you buy an expensive one or a cheap one. HDMI cables can be purchased from the The Store.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
This is the second best connection for running Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 on your PS3, but only if your monitor or TV supports High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). It allows for the full range of video modes, as long as your monitor or TV supports them. You will need to consult the documentation for your display to find out which modes it will support. It is connected by connecting an HDMI to DVI cable to the HDMI port on your PS3 and the DVI port on your TV. No sound is included in the DVI connection. If you are buying a short cable, it does not matter if you buy an expensive one or a cheap one.
Component video
This is the third best connection. It is connected by a cable from the PS3 AV Multi-Out port to your TV or monitor's component ports (red, green, and blue plugs for video; white and red plugs for stereo audio). PlayStation 2 AV Multi-Out cables will also work. This connection will again allow the modes your monitor supports, except for 5:1080p, 10:1080p, 11:WXGA, 12:SXGA, and 13:WUXGA. Common video modes seen here at Terra Soft Solutions are 1:480i, 2:480p, 3:720p and 4:1080i. Note that this defaults to a YPbPr analogue signal with sync on green (or maybe sync on luma), but can be switched to RGB. Component cables can be purchased from the The Store.
VGA connector
A YPbPr component to VGA transcoder can be combined with the component connection above to connect to VGA monitors. These transcoders can be very expensive, but a cheap one used by one of our staff is the VDigi VD-Z3. The YPbPr component signals are transcoded to RGB signals plus the sync signals are stripped out and supplied to the VGA connector as separate horizontal and vertical sync signals. Everything said above about the component connection applies to VGA connections as well. Interlaced modes are typically not supported by most VGA monitors. 3:720p using this connection method seems to work with most computer monitors.
SCART
SCART is a European standard connector that can do the equivalent of component, S-Video, or composite, as well as stereo audio. See those sections for details. It is connected by a cable from the PS3 AV Multi-Out port to your TV or monitor's SCART port. PlayStation 2 AV Multi-Out cables will also work.
S-Video
This is the second worst-case connection. S-Video does not support the minimum recommended resolutions for Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 (3:720p). Only the lowest of resolutions are supported: 1:480i or 6:576i. Stereo audio is supported via the white and red plugs. It is connected by a cable from the PS3 AV Multi-Out port to your TVs S-Video port. PlayStation 2 AV Multi-Out cables will also work.
Composite video
This is the worst-case connection. Composite does not support the minimum recommended resolutions for Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 (3:720p). Only the lowest of resolutions are supported: 1:480i or 6:576i. Stereo audio is supported via the white and red plugs. This is the only connection type that is supported by the cables that come with the PS3.
The various PS3 AV Multi-Out and PlayStation 2 AV Multi-Out cables can be purchased from electronic games stores, eBay, direct from Sony, or from The Store.
This HOWTO was written by Tim Renner and David Seikel, Terra Soft Solutions.
