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DF Retro: Nintendo 64 HDMI Video Options
- Thread starter Fuzzy
- Start date
Great video as usual!
I don't know if this is actually true, but I remember reading that there were some early French n64models that were capable of RGB output.
I don't know if this is actually true, but I remember reading that there were some early French n64models that were capable of RGB output.
This is so relevant to me right now. As I sit in my Japanese hotel room buying JP N64 games once again before going back to my JP N64 that can't easily be plugged into my new 4K TV (no SCART/S-video ports). I am so ready for an HDMI mod.
The problem with the n64 is that the video is inherently blurry. Even an RGB output isn't going to look that great. You really need some type of deblur to improve the video much over s-video.
Here are some of my old UltraHDMI shots:
UltraHDMI retro mode:
The problem with the EON is that it's $150 and it gets you no where near any of those shots.
It looks amazing, but you are not prepared for the amount of dithering some games have.
But look how sharp that map is.
This video kinda cemented my want for a Retrotink 2x. Got an N64, Wii, and PS2 that I'd love to hook up and purchase games for!
Not deBlur, but Retro Mode is the way to go with UltraHDMI.It looks amazing, but you are not prepared for the amount of dithering some games have.
But look how sharp that map is.
I've had the EON Super 64 for a while now and it's good but I'm still dying for that HDMI N64 mod. I don't have any soldering experience, so I need to find a place that can install it for me because that HDMI mod looks sweet.
Great vid. It looks like the EON is probably good enough for me right now. I'd obviously love an UltraHDMI mod but they're constantly out of stock and SO EXPENSIVE. The EON looks to get me close to what I want (essentially being able to use my stock console on my no-SCART 4KTV) with little to no downsides. Reckon I'll be grabbing one.
The problem with the n64 is that the video is inherently blurry. Even an RGB output isn't going to look that great. You really need some type of deblur to improve the video much over s-video.
Here are some of my old UltraHDMI shots:
UltraHDMI retro mode:
The problem with the EON is that it's $150 and it gets you no where near any of those shots.
Imo, I much prefer blur over the low-res, dithered, Escher-esque stair stepping image you get without.
The UltraHDMI is 127$ if you buy directly from Marshall, you just have to find two other people who want it, because minimum quantity is 3 units.
What's the cheapest option with the least latency? Because I don't really care about how it looks...I just want to hook it up to my living room TV and play some Cruisn with my wife.
Check the bottom picture which has retro mode enabled.
That's going to be the Retrotink2X with your current N64 cable in and HDMI out.
Yep, even adding Retro Access's s-video cable to it if someone doesn't want to gamble on the cheap ones online it's still cheaper than the Super 64 and you can use it for more than one console.
I know people want to play on old hardware, but honestly the N64 is one of the systems that benefits the most from emulation. The polygon characters look great at high resolutions, and while textures can stand out (in a bad way) at times, the overall look is so good.
Seems like the EON Super 64 is a surprisingly effective piece of kit, but the conclusion they reached here is basically the same one I had when it was first announced: that it's too expensive for how limited it is and the kind of results it delivers, especially since the Retrotink is available for ~$50 less and offers comparable results without being limited to systems that use the SNES AV plug.
Speaking of which, has anyone actually tested out the Super 64 on a SNES or GCN to see how those systems look through it? I assume they'd work, since they're all using the same plug, and besides the SNS-101 they all support S-Video.
Also, how does the Super 64 handle 480i content? Assuming it's the basic bob deinterlace we find on a lot of these other scalars, but I can't really find any info...
Speaking of which, has anyone actually tested out the Super 64 on a SNES or GCN to see how those systems look through it? I assume they'd work, since they're all using the same plug, and besides the SNS-101 they all support S-Video.
Also, how does the Super 64 handle 480i content? Assuming it's the basic bob deinterlace we find on a lot of these other scalars, but I can't really find any info...
You'd have to cut the case of the Super 64 for it to even fit into the SNES because of what the plastic on it looks like.
The fact that it's lagless means it bobs 480i content. You can't deinterlace 480i game content because there's no guarantee that any field has any direct relation to any prior or subsequent field. You usually just end up with a mess of combing artifacts.
You could just take the case off of it.
Castlemania also in a few colours if people want to support them instead of Amazon.
I had Retrofixes.com install my mod, but it looks like they're not doing it anymore for some reason. I think the kits have started to become even harder to come by this year, which is perhaps the reason why some modders aren't doing it anymore.
So for PAL owners you'd suggest either RetroTINK or one of mod options?
Found a company in Australia that still does the UltraHDMI mod, but it's currently out of stock.
Thanks man.
I literally just bought an N64 today. It's come with an RF and a composite.
Thing is my LG C7 doesn't have a composite video input and the picture through RF is really fuzzy and I don't think there's a way to tune it anymore.
Looks like I'll order the retrotink.
Yes. It's exactly what I use too and it looks great.
It doesn't QUITE match the perfection of the Ultra HDMI via the OSSC but it gets very very close. I mainly use it because I prefer playing on a CRT. Deblur + RGB on a PVM is just fantastic.
Must be nice to have a PVM! I've tried finding one but good luck finding one at a reasonable price. Currently I'm using a Toshiba 27A41 and there's no RGB option there... but there is component so it's not too bad for PS2 games.
Works with anything that outputs composite, s-video or component.
the retrotink thing looks interesting, the main adapter in the video I don't think it's worth this much, if they had designed a little different to also fit snes and gc, and it had better build quality, maybe... but I do understand that the plug and play aspect of it is good.
I do think that svideo to 480p is a good solution for retro gaming in modern tvs, it's sharp enough not to look like the mess you probably get just using composite directly on the TV, and it's not ultra sharp like an emulator.
I do think that svideo to 480p is a good solution for retro gaming in modern tvs, it's sharp enough not to look like the mess you probably get just using composite directly on the TV, and it's not ultra sharp like an emulator.
My UltraHDMI was easily worth the money and effort to install it. The de-blur option is like magic, and retro mode works really well for the games that don't look quite right when they're that sharp. Honestly, installation wasn't that hard, it just took a lot of patience.
They're not that hard to refurbish. I got some of the metal bowls that Steel Stick puts out, and they made a huge difference. Then there's plenty of good alternatives to the official controller these days, though you lose the ability to play shooters with movement on the dpad and aiming on the stick with most of them.
They're not that hard to refurbish. I got some of the metal bowls that Steel Stick puts out, and they made a huge difference. Then there's plenty of good alternatives to the official controller these days, though you lose the ability to play shooters with movement on the dpad and aiming on the stick with most of them.