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The High Definition Retrogaming Thread (Including CRT/BVM/PVM Chatter)

Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
Where are the sites where you can buy a all done for you MISTer? Because if I don't get a MISTer I'm getting the SuperNT tomorrow.
 

Sarge

hardcore retro gamin'
Depends on how much you want to spend. I bought some of my parts from MiSTer Addons, and they have some pre-configured bundles, albeit with no case right now (I think he said they'll get more in May?).


Of course, you still have to run the setup stuff and get everything on your SD card, but I figure some of us can help with that pretty easily if that's the route you want to go.

List of official sellers here: https://misterfpga.org/viewforum.php?f=34
 
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Falselogic

Lapsed Threadcromancer
(they/them)
Yeah, looks like MISTer route is cheaper. I don't have a lot of SNES carts and getting the Analog and an Everdrive is more expensive than just getting the MISTer and the MISTer looks like its a lot more versatile.
 

Sarge

hardcore retro gamin'
It's crazy versatile, yeah. I didn't get the USB board (just making do with a passive MakerSpot hub) or case, but I did spring for the analog IO board because I wanted to be able to run on a CRT.

I've mostly been in the console cores, and they all seem really fantastic. There are some tiny quirks here and there, but by and large it's astoundingly close to the actual hardware, and tweaks are constantly being made.

I know one of the devs is currently working on adding save states to cores that don't support them, which is fantastic. The NES version is in beta right now. I've got to think SNES/Genesis will be easier to implement without all the mappers involved.

Oh, one big note: If all you want is SNES, the Super Nt does have jailbreak firmware, so you can run off an SD card. I do think it lacks support for some of the special chip games, though. (Someone else needs to chime in, but it looks like it doesn't support Super FX or SA1.)
 

ShakeWell

Slam Master
(he, etc.)
We also have a whole MiSTer thread, Falsie, and folks there will definitely help you with what you need.
 

MCBanjoMike

Sudden chomper
(He/him)
Did anybody manage to snag a Super Nt? The kaizo streams I was watching all devolved into buying parties, but it seemed like most folks were actually managing to get them. Of course, 10 minutes after it started they were all gone, but that's still better than I expected things to go.
 

ASandoval

Old Man Gamer
(he/him)
Did anybody manage to snag a Super Nt? The kaizo streams I was watching all devolved into buying parties, but it seemed like most folks were actually managing to get them. Of course, 10 minutes after it started they were all gone, but that's still better than I expected things to go.

I did. Was nervous there for a second too because my computer crashed while I was in line, but I guess it puts a cookie on your computer to hold your place in event of that happening.
 

Willm

To the Max 2.0
(he/him)
Did anybody manage to snag a Super Nt? The kaizo streams I was watching all devolved into buying parties, but it seemed like most folks were actually managing to get them. Of course, 10 minutes after it started they were all gone, but that's still better than I expected things to go.

Yep, I snagged one as well. The first few minutes were crazy as expected, but once things settled it was relatively smooth - certainly better than the Analogue Pocket mess. I decided to go with the Super Famicom variant, though now I'll need to get an SF controller to match the aesthetic - unfortunately the wireless 8Bitdo controllers are no longer in stock.

I probably won't use this as much in the long term as my modded SNES Classic (or a MiSTer when I finally decide to take the plunge) but it will be a nice way to play my (fairly small) cart collection. I have many more NES carts and would probably get more use out of the NT Mini honestly, but $499!? I had a hard enough time convincing myself to buy the Super NT at less than half the cost...
 

lincolnic

can stop, will stop
(he/him)
I got one!

I actually got two by accident, so if anyone in the US wants one (in the Classic color scheme) but missed their chance, please let me know -- I'm not trying to scalp it, all I'd ask is that you cover the original cost ($220) + shipping from me to you.

Edit: the second one is currently spoken for.
 
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lincolnic

can stop, will stop
(he/him)
Yeah, I'm gonna give it a shot! At least until the rubber in my SNES controllers breaks, then I'll have to figure out what to do next.
 

Kirin

Summon for hire
(he/him)
I actually got two by accident, so if anyone in the US wants one (in the Classic color scheme) but missed their chance, please let me know -- I'm not trying to scalp it, all I'd ask is that you cover the extra shipping from me to you.
I am.... tempted. I do have my stack of old SNES carts sitting right here in a box. Hmm. Lemme think about it for a bit. (No worries if someone more decisive snaps it up.)
 

lincolnic

can stop, will stop
(he/him)
I am.... tempted. I do have my stack of old SNES carts sitting right here in a box. Hmm. Lemme think about it for a bit. (No worries if someone more decisive snaps it up.)
No worries, let me know if you want it.

Also, I realize I might not have been totally clear in my original post (which I'll edit right after this) -- I'd be selling this for the original cost + shipping, not just the cost of shipping. Just wanted to be up front!
 

Peklo

Oh! Create!
(they/them, she/her)
I've been semi-regularly checking back on the stock situation over at Retro Gaming Cables ever since I got my Dreamcast last autumn, and this week is the first time I've seen the RGB SCART cable for the system available to order. Consumer-grade CRTs like my Trinitron can't make use of the 480p output or anything, but there's a switch toggle for up to 576i signals on the cable for compatibility with sets like that, with the usual signal clarity their custom work comes with. Very excited, as any system I plan to use will eventually be outfitted with their cables where possible.
 

Kirin

Summon for hire
(he/him)
Also, I realize I might not have been totally clear in my original post (which I'll edit right after this) -- I'd be selling this for the original cost + shipping, not just the cost of shipping. Just wanted to be up front!
Haha, yes, I was assuming that!
 

ShakeWell

Slam Master
(he, etc.)
I've been semi-regularly checking back on the stock situation over at Retro Gaming Cables ever since I got my Dreamcast last autumn, and this week is the first time I've seen the RGB SCART cable for the system available to order. Consumer-grade CRTs like my Trinitron can't make use of the 480p output or anything, but there's a switch toggle for up to 576i signals on the cable for compatibility with sets like that, with the usual signal clarity their custom work comes with. Very excited, as any system I plan to use will eventually be outfitted with their cables where possible.

That cable is AMAZING, even if you can't use the 480p setting. My CRT also won't do 480p, and it looks FANTASTIC there, as well as with the 480p on linedoubled to 960p by my Framemeister.
 

Mr. Sensible

Pitch and Putt Duffer
I've been a happy Framemeister user since 2014, but I'm looking to get myself an OSSC specifically for my component-connected consoles since it's supposedly better at handling 480p than the FM. Seems like videogameperfection.com is still the preferred source for purchasing an OSSC, so I guess I'll be shelling out for VAT since I'm in the US and it's shipping from Europe.

Is there anything in particular that I should be aware of before buying one of these? I'm very comfortable configuring my FM, but I've heard the OSSC is a bit trickier to set up, at least initially.
 

Sarge

hardcore retro gamin'
Perhaps wait and see how the RetroTINK 5X turns out? That looks like it might end up invalidating almost everything on the market. I even hear it's going to have seamless 240p/480i switching.
 

ShakeWell

Slam Master
(he, etc.)
Yeah, I was going to say. Mike Chi is at work on somethin' GOOD. Really excited to see how the TINK 5X is.
 

Mr. Sensible

Pitch and Putt Duffer
I still went ahead and bought an OSSC for now because (A) it's at least $100 cheaper, and (B) I'm buying this more for its 480p VGA-to-HDMI transcoding and line-doubling on 480i signals. Will definitely be keeping an eye on the RetroTINK 5X, though!
 

Sarge

hardcore retro gamin'
Tell us how it works out! I admit that I'm probably not immediately jumping on the 5X because 1) I have a 2X currently, and 2) I mostly retro game on a 32" CRT. And as of late, it's almost all been MiSTer gaming. (Well, that, and PC Engine Duo since I finished Jessie Jaeger in Cleopatra's Curse on real hardware.)
 

Ixo

"This is not my beautiful forum!" - David Byrne
(Hi Guy)
Aye, look what I picked up for $3 at Goodwill:

image0.jpg


It’s a Panasonic TR-990c. BNC in, BNC out. (No audio, which is a bummer, but I can work around that.) I picked up some BNC to RCA adapters off the ‘bay and I’m good to go.

image0.jpg


Monochrome, so the best thing for it would be OG Gameboy I figured. That picture is just a quick and dirty “hit full screen on Visual Boy Advance” with no thought given to aspect ratio or scaling. There’s a VGA to RCA converter happening in-between here too so that’s probably not giving me the best picture either.

Anyone have any suggestions on a good permanent use for this little thing?
 

Mr. Sensible

Pitch and Putt Duffer
Ooh, a monochrome PVM! Might be a good option for old PC/DOS games. I don't think you'd lose too much playing most C64 games in black-and-white, for example.
 
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ShakeWell

Slam Master
(he, etc.)
Mine doesn't have audio, either. I just have the cables I have hooked up to it putting audio out to a Y-splitter that goes to a headphone jack so I can use PC speakers or headphones.

As for the TINK5X, Bob has a video premiering tonight to go over the features.

 

Kirin

Summon for hire
(he/him)
Man, that's looking super tempting, especially as I'm just starting to put together a room for my older consoles (with an older 1080 flatscreen that got demoted from the living room when my partner brought a larger one). But that price, oof. Though honestly it's possible I would be just as well off with one of RetroTink's 2x models for much cheaper. I need to do an inventory of the console outputs and cables we have on hand. Between the two of use there's definitely PS 1-3, N64, and Wii. (I would say I might also hook up a SNES, but since I just signed up to buy lincolnic's accidental extra SuperNT, that's probably a moot point.)

Speaking of too many consoles, are there good/popular solutions for retro console input-switching? Like, something I could pipe a bunch of those into and just output component or SCART to a RetroTink, without having to re-plug cables all the time?
 

Kirin

Summon for hire
(he/him)
.... ouch. I suppose it's a lot of custom hardware but I was hoping it wouldn't be that bad.

Related note, I was looking at RetroTink's 2X pages and noticed this disclaimer:
  • Sega Genesis and PS1/PSOne composite video generates off-spec signals and may not work correctly. For Sega Genesis, we recommend the HD Retrovision Cables. For PS1, we recommend a PS2 with good quality component cables.
Hrm. I do have a PSOne sitting around and I'm not sure if my PS2 is still reliable (I have recollections that the laser was being pretty wonky last time I used it, even after some attempts at tuning).

Though, the 5x says it works with PS1 so it may have overcome whatever issues it had.
 

narcodis

the titular game boy
(he/him)
Just wanna plug one of my new favorite twitter accounts, CRTpixels
Every day, they post a side-by-side comparison of an unfiltered emulated in-game screenshot vs the same screenshot on a real CRT monitor.
 

Sarge

hardcore retro gamin'
Yeah, I think the big thing with the 5X is that it has that triple buffer mode that pretty much ensures that off-spec signals are still put into a format that pretty much any TV will read properly. It's also what allows that seamless switching between 240p/480i.

I was curious to how my 2X handled the switching in Die Hard Arcade, and man, it sucks having that blackout on every transition. I definitely took it in the face multiple times. I'd almost consider it unplayable on my set, although there are probably other TVs that pick the signal back up faster. Better to not get the drop in the first place, though!

Speaking of, I'm thinking about potentially making a project of one of those GBS8200 boards. While I'm sure it's not up to the level of the 5X, it does offer seamless resolution switching with that new firmware.
 
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