Retro gaming, TV advice please.
Discussion
This year I have been filing in a few holes in my retro console collection. However the older they are the more problems they create trying to get them to display properly.
Mega drive 1 and Mega CD1- I have to use this on the 50" panasonic upstairs. This came with a flying lead scart connection and seems to do a half decent job of displaying it using RGB scart. Image off centre to the right slighly.
Sega Saturn- As above, upstairs on the 50" using Scart connection
Sega Dreamcast- Different this one. I use a composite, stereo L + R adaptor to HDMI and run it straight into the front of the Denon amp aux HDMI socket and onto the Sony XE90. I'm convinced the image could be improved upon greatly but it does work and is convienent.
N64- works the same as the Dreamcast with the composite to HDMI adaptor.
Gamecube- same as N64
Wii- same as n64
PS1- works over composite to HDMI adaptor.
PS2- as above.
original xbox- I haven't got that out for a good long while but I'm guessing that would be an adaptor job as well.
The "modern" stuff PS3, PS4 pro, Xbox 360 and Xbox one X are hooked up through the Denon permanently.
It seems the older it is the harder it is to connect up and get working properly, The older devices seem to display off the right hand edge of the screen. I'm guessing this is a refresh rate based problem, but in truth don't know enough about it. I'm happy to sacrifice ultimate image quality over the convienence of haveing everything in one place on one screen.
Anyone got any suggestions.
Mega drive 1 and Mega CD1- I have to use this on the 50" panasonic upstairs. This came with a flying lead scart connection and seems to do a half decent job of displaying it using RGB scart. Image off centre to the right slighly.
Sega Saturn- As above, upstairs on the 50" using Scart connection
Sega Dreamcast- Different this one. I use a composite, stereo L + R adaptor to HDMI and run it straight into the front of the Denon amp aux HDMI socket and onto the Sony XE90. I'm convinced the image could be improved upon greatly but it does work and is convienent.
N64- works the same as the Dreamcast with the composite to HDMI adaptor.
Gamecube- same as N64
Wii- same as n64
PS1- works over composite to HDMI adaptor.
PS2- as above.
original xbox- I haven't got that out for a good long while but I'm guessing that would be an adaptor job as well.
The "modern" stuff PS3, PS4 pro, Xbox 360 and Xbox one X are hooked up through the Denon permanently.
It seems the older it is the harder it is to connect up and get working properly, The older devices seem to display off the right hand edge of the screen. I'm guessing this is a refresh rate based problem, but in truth don't know enough about it. I'm happy to sacrifice ultimate image quality over the convienence of haveing everything in one place on one screen.
Anyone got any suggestions.
It really is a never ending circle of model numbers, Sony or Bang & Olufsen, 240/480 resolutions etc.
Interesting read that you play PS2 on a modern TV using a converter, what do PS1 games look like? The main reason for the need of a CRT is that I want my PS1 and PS2 games to look as good as possible.
I'll still get a CRT for my NES and Mega Drive though
Interesting read that you play PS2 on a modern TV using a converter, what do PS1 games look like? The main reason for the need of a CRT is that I want my PS1 and PS2 games to look as good as possible.
I'll still get a CRT for my NES and Mega Drive though
Hi Nick,
I'm getting a new convertor delivered tomorrow that comes highly recommended off a retro gaming website.
This one.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RMMGOGS/ref...
here's the article
http://retrogamingcables.co.uk/How-to-hook-up-retr...
I will get it setup when it arrives and takes some pictures and video. It seems like it handles RGB video signals which will be a big bonus.
I will let you know how I get on.
I'm getting a new convertor delivered tomorrow that comes highly recommended off a retro gaming website.
This one.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00RMMGOGS/ref...
here's the article
http://retrogamingcables.co.uk/How-to-hook-up-retr...
I will get it setup when it arrives and takes some pictures and video. It seems like it handles RGB video signals which will be a big bonus.
I will let you know how I get on.
Edited by spudgun GB on Saturday 15th September 20:05
soad said:
Why not purchase one of those modern Nintendo Classic Mini systems?
I wouldn't dream of playing on PS1.
Graphics were poor back then (two decades ago!!), never mind now.
Hell, even a GameCube would be an improvement on that.
PS1 graphics were a huge upgrade from the Amiga 1200 and Mega Drive 32-X we had back then.I wouldn't dream of playing on PS1.
Graphics were poor back then (two decades ago!!), never mind now.Hell, even a GameCube would be an improvement on that.
The new input device arrived on Sunday and I'm very pleased with it indeed.
I had some issues with it going though the Denon AV reciever but once I played with some engineer settings within the amp, sorted that out.
It definately handles RGB signals as well as composite. The image quality is noticably better with the RGB scarts over the composite options so I have now started to look at these for all my old consoles.
Heres a few screen shots.
The screen is my 55" Sony XE9005 set in 4:3 aspect ratio, as games of this period should.
I had some issues with it going though the Denon AV reciever but once I played with some engineer settings within the amp, sorted that out.
It definately handles RGB signals as well as composite. The image quality is noticably better with the RGB scarts over the composite options so I have now started to look at these for all my old consoles.
Heres a few screen shots.
The screen is my 55" Sony XE9005 set in 4:3 aspect ratio, as games of this period should.
I found this thread today, just after putting away my N64 and searching for fixes.
All I have to connect up the N64 is the aerial lead. Plugged it into two modern flat screen TVs with no success. Saw a video about tuning one of the input channels to search for the signal, but it wasn't the same as my TV and fried my brain. So I'd given up when this thread appeared in my "what's new" forum view.
I'm grumpy now because I allowed my wife to persuade me to part with two CRT TVs, one a fairly large "living room" TV, and the other one of those "own brand" smaller "bedroom" TVs with a VCR and DVD.
Now I have a boxed MegaDrive, two PS2s, a boxed PS1, and a (bought second hand many moons ago) unboxed N64, with games for all of them, stuck in a big box at the bottom of a cupboard.
I don't want a "retro gaming den" permanently set up, as I don't have space for that. I'd just like to be able to plug these consoles into one of my modern TVs for an hour or two now an then to play Goldeneye, or to remind myself just how terrible Italia 90 was. Anyone got a cheap and easy fix/bodge or two I could try? Or could point me to the right place for trustworthy advice on the subject?
I'd rather not have to buy new cables and stuff. The PS2 has AV leads, so I might be able to make that work, but the N64 only plugs into the aerial socket on the telly as it is, and it's Goldeneye I want to have a play with more than anything, as I can't find my decent PS2 games anyway...
All I have to connect up the N64 is the aerial lead. Plugged it into two modern flat screen TVs with no success. Saw a video about tuning one of the input channels to search for the signal, but it wasn't the same as my TV and fried my brain. So I'd given up when this thread appeared in my "what's new" forum view.
I'm grumpy now because I allowed my wife to persuade me to part with two CRT TVs, one a fairly large "living room" TV, and the other one of those "own brand" smaller "bedroom" TVs with a VCR and DVD.
Now I have a boxed MegaDrive, two PS2s, a boxed PS1, and a (bought second hand many moons ago) unboxed N64, with games for all of them, stuck in a big box at the bottom of a cupboard.
I don't want a "retro gaming den" permanently set up, as I don't have space for that. I'd just like to be able to plug these consoles into one of my modern TVs for an hour or two now an then to play Goldeneye, or to remind myself just how terrible Italia 90 was. Anyone got a cheap and easy fix/bodge or two I could try? Or could point me to the right place for trustworthy advice on the subject?
I'd rather not have to buy new cables and stuff. The PS2 has AV leads, so I might be able to make that work, but the N64 only plugs into the aerial socket on the telly as it is, and it's Goldeneye I want to have a play with more than anything, as I can't find my decent PS2 games anyway...
yellowjack said:
I found this thread today, just after putting away my N64 and searching for fixes.
All I have to connect up the N64 is the aerial lead. Plugged it into two modern flat screen TVs with no success. Saw a video about tuning one of the input channels to search for the signal, but it wasn't the same as my TV and fried my brain. So I'd given up when this thread appeared in my "what's new" forum view.
I'm grumpy now because I allowed my wife to persuade me to part with two CRT TVs, one a fairly large "living room" TV, and the other one of those "own brand" smaller "bedroom" TVs with a VCR and DVD.
Now I have a boxed MegaDrive, two PS2s, a boxed PS1, and a (bought second hand many moons ago) unboxed N64, with games for all of them, stuck in a big box at the bottom of a cupboard.
I don't want a "retro gaming den" permanently set up, as I don't have space for that. I'd just like to be able to plug these consoles into one of my modern TVs for an hour or two now an then to play Goldeneye, or to remind myself just how terrible Italia 90 was. Anyone got a cheap and easy fix/bodge or two I could try? Or could point me to the right place for trustworthy advice on the subject?
I'd rather not have to buy new cables and stuff. The PS2 has AV leads, so I might be able to make that work, but the N64 only plugs into the aerial socket on the telly as it is, and it's Goldeneye I want to have a play with more than anything, as I can't find my decent PS2 games anyway...
I know you don't want to buy leads but my tv is slightly dated so has a SCART connection. I bought a cable from here https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk for my snes and it works well. All I have to connect up the N64 is the aerial lead. Plugged it into two modern flat screen TVs with no success. Saw a video about tuning one of the input channels to search for the signal, but it wasn't the same as my TV and fried my brain. So I'd given up when this thread appeared in my "what's new" forum view.
I'm grumpy now because I allowed my wife to persuade me to part with two CRT TVs, one a fairly large "living room" TV, and the other one of those "own brand" smaller "bedroom" TVs with a VCR and DVD.
Now I have a boxed MegaDrive, two PS2s, a boxed PS1, and a (bought second hand many moons ago) unboxed N64, with games for all of them, stuck in a big box at the bottom of a cupboard.
I don't want a "retro gaming den" permanently set up, as I don't have space for that. I'd just like to be able to plug these consoles into one of my modern TVs for an hour or two now an then to play Goldeneye, or to remind myself just how terrible Italia 90 was. Anyone got a cheap and easy fix/bodge or two I could try? Or could point me to the right place for trustworthy advice on the subject?
I'd rather not have to buy new cables and stuff. The PS2 has AV leads, so I might be able to make that work, but the N64 only plugs into the aerial socket on the telly as it is, and it's Goldeneye I want to have a play with more than anything, as I can't find my decent PS2 games anyway...
To update?
I had another go at it. Came at it fresh, instead of tired. Once I'd hooked it all up again, I tried tuning the TV to the N64 again. Tried Analogue auto-tune. Tried freeview auto-tune. Tried auto-tune for both signals. Tried manual search too.
Curiously, on one pass I managed to find a "black screen" channel, but no N64 output. Everywhere else on the frequency search was the usual white noise. Once I'd worked out that I had to shut off the Virgin Media box (set it to standby) the "black" channel sparked into life with the Bond theme, and a picture.
So I've wasted my entire day playing Goldeneye on the N64. As predicted, graphics were terrible, but then it was never about graphics when it was new, Goldeneye was all about the gameplay. It lost nothing in that respect - still brilliant. Sadly my playing skills (I've not played any console or PCgames for 6 years or so) were not quite as I'd remembered them, and it took an age to get through even the easiest levels. Loads of saved progress and cheats still stored on it too. Happy days.
Going to see if I can get one of the PS2s to work when I've got bored with the N64. Possibly easier as it has the triple AV leads (if the cables all still work).
I had another go at it. Came at it fresh, instead of tired. Once I'd hooked it all up again, I tried tuning the TV to the N64 again. Tried Analogue auto-tune. Tried freeview auto-tune. Tried auto-tune for both signals. Tried manual search too.
Curiously, on one pass I managed to find a "black screen" channel, but no N64 output. Everywhere else on the frequency search was the usual white noise. Once I'd worked out that I had to shut off the Virgin Media box (set it to standby) the "black" channel sparked into life with the Bond theme, and a picture.
So I've wasted my entire day playing Goldeneye on the N64. As predicted, graphics were terrible, but then it was never about graphics when it was new, Goldeneye was all about the gameplay. It lost nothing in that respect - still brilliant. Sadly my playing skills (I've not played any console or PCgames for 6 years or so) were not quite as I'd remembered them, and it took an age to get through even the easiest levels. Loads of saved progress and cheats still stored on it too. Happy days.
Going to see if I can get one of the PS2s to work when I've got bored with the N64. Possibly easier as it has the triple AV leads (if the cables all still work).
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