Retro Consoles on HDTV?

[Moviefan2k4]

I recently bought a 40" LCD HDTV, and I'd love to get as much from my older consoles as possible. I have an NES, SNES, Genesis, and N64, but they all use AV "composite" technology. My TV only has one port for that, but I've read about converters that can scale up for HDMI. Does anyone know of a reliable American source for such a device?

Ideally, I'd love to get the same quality from the hardware that emulators provide, but I'm not looking to do any internal mods. Suggestions?

[JDavis]

The problem with upscalers is getting one that won't add a delay to the signal (because gaming is very timing-sensitive), so you'll be paying a fair amount of money for one.  This website is dedicated to the subject, and they primarily recommend the XRGB-Mini, AKA the Framemeister, which will set you back about $500+.

Outside of that, or modding, about the best I can recommend is to get S-Video cables for the SNES and N64, assuming your TV has a port for it.

And then there's also the Retron 5, but who knows if that'll live up to its promises.

[Nacho3]

I have one of the less expensive AV/S-Video to HDMI upscalers and I haven't noticed any lag but the picture quality isn't that much better. The title screens look better and it doesn't look stretched taking up my whole screen but I would say its on par with S-Video. The only reason I use it is because my 42" LED does not have S-Video hookups but I'm thinking of switching my N64, SNES, Saturn and Dreamcast to my 32" LCD that does have S-Video to see if it looks any better.

[Arseen]

I bought RGB -> HDMI scaler, but haven't tried it yet.

That should give better image than S-VHS -> HDMI.

[Moviefan2k4]

The problem with upscalers is getting one that won't add a delay to the signal (because gaming is very timing-sensitive), so you'll be paying a fair amount of money for one.  This website is dedicated to the subject, and they primarily recommend the XRGB-Mini, AKA the Framemeister, which will set you back about $500+.

I saw a video on YouTube about that, but its only got one AV port...and $500 is twice what I paid for my TV off CraigsList.

Outside of that, or modding, about the best I can recommend is to get S-Video cables for the SNES and N64, assuming your TV has a port for it.

The NES was made prior to S-Video tech, and my TV doesn't have the right port anyway.

I bought RGB -> HDMI scaler, but haven't tried it yet.

That should give better image than S-VHS -> HDMI.

I've heard of RGB cables, but all the older systems (at least in the U.S.) were made for standard AV. Wouldn't that require yet another converter as well?

[Arseen]

SNES outputs RGB natively, Some N64 models can be modded to output RGB.

Genesis outputs RGB too.

[Moviefan2k4]

SNES outputs RGB natively, Some N64 models can be modded to output RGB.

My SNES only has multi-out AV and RF.

Genesis outputs RGB too.

Since when? I have the Genesis 1, and the only inputs I see are RF and maybe S-Video (can't tell for sure with the latter).

[scarmullet]

SNES outputs RGB natively, Some N64 models can be modded to output RGB.

My SNES only has multi-out AV and RF.

Genesis outputs RGB too.

Since when? I have the Genesis 1, and the only inputs I see are RF and maybe S-Video (can't tell for sure with the latter).

RGB can be obtained from those AV Jacks. You can buy SCART cables that will do just that.

What I recommend that has worked well for me, a CGA to VGA scaler, they go for $30 on Ebay. You can feed in the RGB signal through the BD-15 port (VGA type), and get a scaled image. One way to do this is buy a sync strike, another 30...or you can make your own cables that go straight to the DB-15 port, using a sync stripper IC. A sync Strike will let you use SCART RGB cables (just RGB will be hooked up in the Sync Strike).

[Moviefan2k4]

I'm not looking to spend a ton of cash on multiple converters, and I don't know jack about modding. I just want to get an emulator-quality picture and sound from the original hardware, if that's even possible.

[Dravenae]

For anything older than and including the Nintendo Wii, your better off with a CRT TV to be honest mate. PS3, Xbox 360, and the Wii U are the consoles that you should hook up to your HD TV, but if you want to hook up your older consoles to your new TV, there are tutorials on YouTube.

[scarmullet]

I'm not looking to spend a ton of cash on multiple converters, and I don't know jack about modding. I just want to get an emulator-quality picture and sound from the original hardware, if that's even possible.

Not possible. You are better off building an HTPC, and using that to run Emulators.

[Doom]

I'm not looking to spend a ton of cash on multiple converters, and I don't know jack about modding. I just want to get an emulator-quality picture and sound from the original hardware, if that's even possible.

Not possible. You are better off building an HTPC, and using that to run Emulators.

You can also buy the USB backup devices that let you back up your own games and sometimes use the original controllers as well.

[Arseen]

SNES outputs RGB natively, Some N64 models can be modded to output RGB.

My SNES only has multi-out AV and RF.

Yes the Multi-out outputs Composite signalt (Yellow RCA), RGB and fat model S-VHS too.

Genesis outputs RGB too.

Since when? I have the Genesis 1, and the only inputs I see are RF and maybe S-Video (can't tell for sure with the latter).

That is not S-VHS output but Genesis version of multi-out.

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For both (SNES + Genesis) you just need the RGB-scart cable of the console.

[wiggy]

There are some pricey suggestions in here.

I didn't notice if you said or not, but does the TV have S-vid?  I know a lot of really new TVs don't. If it does, start there since that's about as cheap an option as you can get. I have an S-vid modded SNS-101 and Genesis 3 hooked up to my (now relatively old DLP) and the picture is beyond crystal clear.  

That said, it really depends on the tele. My Samsung LCD does not get along with the SNES. I get the notorious fuzzy vertical line through the middle of the screen with composite and S-vid. Never tried it with the component modded SNES, but I sold it, so no idea if that would have been better.

Point is, you won't know how well your classic systems get along with your modern TV until you hook em up and give em a go. So, plug em up, see what you get, and go from there is what I suggest.


edit: there are some really helpful threads on digital press about this sort of thing, often with links to more brand specific forums regarding getting the best picture from classic consoles on new TVs. Might wanna take a look over there to do some research

[Moviefan2k4]

My TV is a 40" Element LCD, with 3 HDMI ports and 1 red-white-yellow AV. There's a couple of other red and white ports, but I don't know what they're for. The model number is ELDFW407.