[PS2] GSM (Graphics Synthesizer Mode) & Retrotink 5x

Equipment:
Fat PS2 /w HDD
Brook PS2 Super Converter (DualShock 3)
HD Retrovision Component cable
Linkstyle 3 In 1 Out Component Switch Box
Elgato HD 60 (No S or S+) (No Passthrough)
View HD 1x2 HDMI Splitter/Stripper
Sony X90J
Intro 0:00 - 2:14
SDTV 4:3 2:15 - 3:16
HDTV 4:3 GSM 4:32 - 5:44
HDTV 4:3 GSM RT5X Settings 5:45 - 6:54
HDTV Widescreen 8:55 - 10:04
HDTV Widescreen Settings 10:05 - 11:26

[@farey4111]

Hello! Can you give me some advice? I really into discs and don’t want to play through opl currently I’m trying to improve graphic quality so what’s my question: Is it possible to set 480p using fmcb and gsm for games launching from discs? And also, if I’m playing on led tv, should I still use component or ps2 to hdmi converter do it better for modern led tv? Thank you!

[@nightzeroAX]

You can use the standalone version of GSM (GSM 0.38) to work with real and patched discs (ESR Disc Patcher). If your TV supports component use it. It may or may not be better than PS2 to HDMI dongle. It depends on the TVs upscaling. Also, some TVs do not like 240p/480i/p signals hopefully yours does.

[@farey4111]

@@nightzeroAX does stand-alone gsm requires fmcb? Or I can just plug it via usb and setup real disc? Also, thank you so much for answer, I will experiment with different types of connection to see which one is better Thanks!!

[@nightzeroAX]

@@farey4111 GSM requires your PS2 to be softmodded usually through FMCB. I do not know if this works but you could try using FreeDVDBoot and maybe access GSM that way. I do not have experience with FreeDVDBoot.

[@farey4111]

@@nightzeroAX Thanks!

[@nightzeroAX]

In case you've skipped parts of the vid here's a small list of games that have squished aspect ratios: Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (Needs skip video fix (Mode 4) Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (Needs skip video fix (Mode 4) Call of Duty Finest Hour Kingdom Hearts (Might need skip video fix (Mode 4) Kingdom Hearts II (CGI needs skip video fix (Mode 4) Without Warning God Hand Dawn of Mana Musashi II (Unplayable, too fast) Shox Need for Speed Underground 2 (?) Def Jam Fight For NY (Not squished, plays fine, dithered) Samurai Western (Not squished, plays ok with slow downs (there's slow down w/o GSM) James Cameron Dark Angel (Not squished, plays fine, dithered) Ghost Rider (Not squished, has 16:9 mode, plays fine in 480p, dithered?)

[@gpbear4]

are these squished aspect ratios different than the native aspect ratios? it seems like many game's native resolutions are 512x448 8:7

[@nightzeroAX]

@@gpbear4 Just to be clear I'm no expert on resolutions/aspect ratios as I'm still learning. Yes PS2 games run in 512x448 or 640 (639) x448 internally. GSM's 480p outputs at 720x480 but since PS2 is a 4:3 machine it will display as such. This means games running at 512x448 such as the two in the video will have their aspect ratio squished while games like Def Jam FFNY will be slightly off in AR. You can test this out yourself using PCSX2 or go through GSM on actual hardware. This thread with one of the devs of GSM explains much better than I can: github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader/issues/206

[@mauriciomartinsdemelo7765]

Do you think there are advantages of using GSM combined with the 5X pro? Is the de-interlacing performed on GSM any better, for example? Thanks

[@nightzeroAX]

TL;DR I prefer the de-interlacing looks wise from the RT5X over GSM. Additionally, I dont have to worry about FPS or Skip Video Fix. The image is a clearer but don't expect wonders. You can also use the Smoothing filter which can't be used for interlaced video. The only way I see GSM's "deinterlacing" (not actual deinterlacing it just changing video mode/output) being worth using is if you want Smoothing and don't like scanlines. IMO some games when running in 480i look better with scanlines. Others are passable but then you have to deal with FPS issues or not being able to see cutscenes.

[@mauriciomartinsdemelo7765]

@@nightzeroAX Good point. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@MichaelM28]

GSM de-interlacing looks way better but has limited game compatibility. Definitely use it over the Retrotink 5x when a game is compatible.

[@MichaelM28]

@@nightzeroAX GSM IS actual de-interlacing the game. You can't force a 480i game to 480p without de-interlacing 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@hugo-garcia]

You don't need video skipping with curse of darkness nor any other game. You have to turn on field flipping on GSM settings. By enabling field flipping you can fix all games that crash in cutscenes in progressive mode. I'm blow away by how people never see this option right there

[@nightzeroAX]

Everything after CoD is false. You cannot play the game normally for a lot of games while using EFF. As I've stated previously, LoI skips cutscenes, Growlanser Generations will have cutscene play but resolution is halved and will not make it to title screen, Lord of the Rings Two Towers doesn't work with EFF at all.

[@hugo-garcia]

@@nightzeroAX these are exceptions not the rule

[@nightzeroAX]

@@hugo-garcia That would be nice if there weren't a lot of exceptions and if you didn't claim it can fix all games.

[@hugo-garcia]

@@nightzeroAX All the 200 or so games on my HDD are fixed

[@nightzeroAX]

@@hugo-garcia I'm not going back and forth here. GSM is a gamble and so is EFF. EFF based on what I've tested with OPL 1.1 increases compatibility if you simply want in-game and don't care about other issues such as halved resolution.

[@ceff01]

im using gsm with a 10 pound hdmi adapter lol. And it plays all games 1080 and looks better than this whyyyyyyyyyyyyy? why

[@MichaelM28]

GSM does de-interlacing

[@GUYFROMEldos]

Can you tell me how to stop the audio from stuttering on opl

[@MichaelM28]

Are you using SMB or hard drive?

[@GUYFROMEldos]

@@MichaelM28 I use usb please tell me if there is a solution or what SMB is

[@djm9937]

GSM does a better job of deinterlacing than any upscaler, not sure one is really required ?

[@nightzeroAX]

I've already gone over this in a previous comment but i'll do it again. Unless you can get a decent PS2toHDMI dongle and will be satisfied with the quality or have a CRT that does 480p via component; a quality upscaler will be better than any option out there that includes using GSM. GSM, as stated previously, only works with some games and if it does sometimes it comes with issues that need workarounds. The scaler in the video eliminates at least two issues with its Motion Adaptive Deinterlacer for 480i games and the squished aspect ratio.

[@djm9937]

@@nightzeroAX Yeh those PS2to HDMI dongles are rubbish. I use a Portta component to HDMI box as recommended by RetroRGB . I'd love to try the RetroTink 5X myself, my 2X pro sits in the drawer as quite frankly does a poor job, mostly due to the 'bobbing' . I have a catalogue of about 400 PS2 games, and GSM won't work with about 5% using v0.38. Wobbling Pixels has done a few videos of GSM vs OSSC and is clear GSM does come out the clear winner. The differences between OSSC and the 5X are not so stark ? I'm guessing with GSM it's because the PS2 is deinterlacing the image at source ?. Being able to finely adjust the aspect ratio with the RetroTink 5X is a huge bonus, tho my TV does a decent enough job, but could do better.

[@nightzeroAX]

@@djm9937 Would like to make a correction. GSM is not "deinterlacing" but simply changing video modes. I do not own an OSSC but I have seen comparisons in the past between it and the Framemeister. Also, I do not know how WP is capturing footage with the PS2 and OSSC. When I watched his videos last year I don't recall WP mentioning if it was the Passthrough mode of OSSC or something else. That being said, it's hard for me to judge if GSM with OSSC's Passthrough vs GSM + OSSC at 960p would make a noticeable difference. Anyway, I'd still invest in a RT5X with or without GSM as it'll still be updated or wait for the other two competitors to showcase their hardware. GBSControl would be an option but I don't know if they're selling kits still.

[@djm9937]

@@nightzeroAX Indeed, I stand corrected. GSM outputs in progressive scan rather than de-interlaces,. thereby giving a superior image compared to any scaler .

[@MichaelM28]

@@nightzeroAX GSM IS deinterlacing. You can't turn 480i into 480p without some kind of deinterlacing.

[@karar353]

02:57 How did this list appear?

[@nightzeroAX]

The list is from the RetroTINK 5X device not GSM.

[@karar353]

@@nightzeroAX Oooo Okay Thank you❤️

[@Retrolex1995]

If i use GSM i cant use opl so i cant boot any game

[@djm9937]

you can use GSM inside OPL

[@siriuscasa]

It works with SCART with CSync?

[@nightzeroAX]

GSM or RetroTINK 5x? GSM I don't know as I don't use Scart. RT5x will work with RGB Scart for PS2 on 480i mode not 480p. I don't know about CSync.

[@siriuscasa]

@@nightzeroAX OSSC works with CSYNC vía SCART on 480p (With progressive scan or Progressive vía GSM). My question was for the RTX5 Pro. Anyway is a great product. Thnxs for ur help.

[@nightzeroAX]

@@siriuscasa If you go to Mike Chi's twitter there's a Discord link on there. There are many people there who should be able to answer your question(s).

[@V3ditata]

most games dont need skip fmv and get fixed if you enable field flipping emulation

[@nightzeroAX]

I don't know what "most games" are as there's no comprehensive list of them that explains which work with GSM and EFF. Kingdom Hearts II for example works but Beat Down and Lament of Innocence either stutters (BD) or skips cutscenes (LoI). The other reason I didn't mention EFF is for field rendered games such as Crash the Wrath of Cortex or Dynasty Warriors 4. Using that is halving the resolution to 240p or makes it look like a PSX game. That and there's serious video bobbing that can't be fixed by the RT5X afaik.

[@V3ditata]

@@nightzeroAX some games that are fixed by eff: silent hill series and resident evil outbreak games. EDIT: if i recall correctly, gta sa crashes with mode 2, so you need eff

[@Bilal-ys1ln]

I don't know why you don't buy an old crt tv and rest from the problems, its price is cheap

[@nightzeroAX]

Same reason I don't play emulators often. It's called preference.

[@MichaelM28]

CRTs are expensive, smaller screen size, less bright and very bulky