Does PS3 Upconvert?

[zamboni]

I tried to do a search online for an answer, and I found a few threads where people were arguing and never got a straight answer

[Sandmannd]

Do you mean is it backwards compatible? There's nothing for PS3 to convert up to. I know there is one type (I believe the one with the smaller hard drive) that will play PS2 games. But not all of them do that.

[zamboni]

No, upconverting takes a regular DVD and makes it a 1080. Not a Blu-Ray, just a higher resolution.

[Sandmannd]

Ah, gotcha, not sure about that.

[buddah7]

no it does not."Unlike many stand-alone DVD players today, the PS3 does not upconvert standard-definition DVDs to 1080p for output over HDMI."

[hoggs222]

It believe it does upconvert to 1080i though. Also, the PS3 is still one of the best Blueray players on the market.

[buddah7]

The PS3 has the ability to upscale normal DVDs to either the 720p, 1080i, or 1080p resolution but only when using an HDMI connection. It helps but upscaled DVDs still don't look as good as Blu-ray movies when played at either 720p, 1080i, or 1080p. I stand corrected!

[zamboni]

Thanks guys, I did a search online for an answer and seen a bunch of arguments, but no clear answers.

[Valv]

Are they going to drop the price soon ?

[zamboni]

Yahoo said by April it will drop $100, and that was announced a few months ago

[Whoaru99]

Yes, it can upscale, but there is a note on the Sony PlayStation HSOforum that says this

5. DVD upscaling requires current System Software, an HDMI cable and HDMI compatible TV set. Upscale up to up to 1080p.

So, it looks like the answer is "yes" it can upscale if the software/firmware is new enough (and the other conditions are met too).

EDIT: Further research seems to indicate the PS3 will upscale with software/firmware version 2.43 or newer (released Sept 17, 2008). The newest software/firmware is version 2.60 (released Jan 21, 2009).