David Amadorl’m not sure this is very well known fact but early Playstation 1 console models had more issues with color banding that later ones, they HW patched in the later PS1 revisions so some games would look different depending on where you played it.
Stinkie McPhee@djlink this was the number one reason why I prefer the SCPH-1001. It's way goofier.
My name is Gordo@Stinkie Hmm. Apparently this was corrected with the PU-8 mobo revision around December of 1995. I know I got mine in grade 2*, which would have been at least '97, but I don't remember anything ever looking nearly as smooth as the example on the right, and I played the sh** out of Tomb Raider 1 and 3. I didn't even know unemulated PS1 could look that smooth, lol.
Maybe the first couple models to drop in Canada were still using leftover stock of the older boards? I wish I still had my first one because I don't remember the exact revision. I do have an SCPH-9001 and a "PSOne" sitting on my kitchen table (for some reason). I should hook both up and see if I can spot a difference. I know mine from way back was earlier than 9001 though, because it definitely had the parallel port with the little cover.
*weird tangent: I remember getting it for a my first communion, but that sounds really weird to me now. Do people even give gifts for communions? And a bloody PS1!? To a ~7 year old!? Idk man. I have to be mixing two different grade 2 memories. I do distinctly remember getting home after the communion, and running upstairs to play PS1 instead of socializing with my extended family, lol.