[ubisoft]

TOPIC: Reset, adjust graphics display --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Video Modes
The PS3 uses a set number of video modes, denoted by number rather than by resolution:

0:auto mode
YUV
60Hz 1:480i 2:480p 3:720p 4:1080i 5:1080p
50Hz 6:576i 7:576p 8:720p 9:1080i 10:1080p
RGB
vesa 11:WXGA 12:SXGA 13WUXGA
60Hz 33:480i 34:480p 35:720p 36:1080i 37:1080p
50Hz 38:576i 39:576p 40:720p 41:1080i 42:1080p

A quick explanation for the above table
60Hz 480i needs a quick explanation for most computer users, who are used to traditional monitors and resolutions, so let's break it down.
60Hz is the rate at which your display will refresh, in this case, 60 times per second.

480 refers to the resolution of the mode. It is slightly misleading, as the resolution you get will be slightly less vertical lines than the number would suggest. The equivalent resolutions in horizontal by vertical pixels is:

480 = 576 x 384
576 = [missing data]
720 = 1124 x 644
1080 = 1688 x 964

The i, or p stans for Interlaced or Progressive. Interlaced televisions work by alternating lines with video frames, much like locking your fingers together. One finger on one line, another finger on the next. Thus, two frames, frame 1 and frame 2 are displayed at the same time, and would appear as so:

1111111111111111111111111
2222222222222222222222222
1111111111111111111111111
2222222222222222222222222

Televisions that support Progressive Scan give a much higher quality picture by using the full vertical resolution for a frame.

Minimum Video Mode for Yellow Dog Linux 5.0
The minimum supported graphical mode for running Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 is mode number 3, 720p. This functions with HDMI and Component connections as explained below.

If you use a Composite connection, the graphical install is not supported. You will need to use the text based installer and then modify your post-install environment to support graphics. However, this is painful and not highly recommended as the resolution is too low for many applications to be useful. If you have only an S-Video connection and wish to enable graphics, refer to the HOWTO Switching to Graphical Mode after Text Based Install.

Different Video Connectors for Different Monitors

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.

Component
This is the second best connection. It is connected by connecting a cable from the PS3 Multi-Video port to your TV or monitor's component ports (Red, Green and Blue for video, White and Red for audio). This connection will again allow the modes your monitor supports. Common video modes seen here at Terra Soft are 1: 480i, 2: 480p, 3: 720p and 4:1080i

Composite
This is the worst-case connection. Composite does not support the minimum recommended resolutions for Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 (720p). Only the lowest of resolutions are supported: Mode 1 or 6: 480i at 60 Hz or 576i at 50 Hz.

During Installation
When installing YDL, you will need a monitor or television capable of at least 720p in order to perform a graphical install. If you do not have this capability, or running "install" at the KBoot prompt does not work with your monitor or television, "installtext" may be used instead. This will force the YDL 5 installer to run in a low-resolution text mode.

Once the system is installed, you will need to start your system by typing "ydltext" and hitting enter at the KBoot prompt. This will start YDL in a low resolution text mode.

If the default graphical install is supported by your hardware, then after installation, the default "ydl" boot can be used.

Post-Install
Once the system is started, you may try several video modes to determine which will work with your monitor or television. The mode can be changed by invoking the ps3videomode program:

ps3videomode -v #

Where # is one of the video mode numbers listed above. The default "install" and "ydl" options use mode 3, running at 720p. Mode 1 is a safe default that works on the most monitors or televisions.

The ps3videomode program will only change the resolution for the current display and is only usable in a text terminal as a way to guage which modes will work well for your system. It will only affect the current virtual terminal, leaving the others scrambled.

Once you have determined the video mode you find best for your monitor or television, you may make the change more permanent by editing your /etc/kboot.conf file, adding a configuration with the video argument you would like. For example, the kboot.conf file generated by the YDL installer provides four different modes:

# kboot.conf generated by anaconda
default=ydl
timeout=10
root=/dev/sda1
ydl='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3
initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3.img
root=/dev/sda2 init=/sbin/init video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb'

ydl480i='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3
initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3.img
root=/dev/sda2 init=/sbin/init video=ps3fb:mode:1 rhgb'

ydl1080i='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3
initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3.img
root=/dev/sda2 init=/sbin/init video=ps3fb:mode:4 rhgb'

ydltext='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3
initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3.img
root=/dev/sda2 init=/sbin/init 3'

The above lines DO NOT WRAP.

If none of these meet your needs, you may copy one of these lines, replace the label and edit the video=ps3fb:mode:# number. For example, to make a new configuration named myconfig that will start with mode 5:

myconfig='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3
initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.1ps3.img
root=/dev/sda2 init=/sbin/init video=ps3fb:mode:5 rhgb'

The above lines DO NOT WRAP.

If you wish to make the the default boot, change the default=ydl line to read:
default=myconfig

When you reboot, it will use this video mode as the default.

This HOWTO was written by Tim Renner, Terra Soft