X-RGB Mini (and other scalers).

[Riven]

Don't like double posting but my RGB Scart upscaler arrived this morning same as the one in the video as AdamKoralik has. Despite the not great build quality it does it job perfectly no lag and looks good.

Has five different resolutions and outputs 60fps at all of them, did a video of Virtua Fighter 2, it appears to have a fliter to deal with the interlacing, however it does look sharper when the picture is paused. Just a note you need a TV that can change the ratio of 720p or 1080p into 4:3, otherwise every game will be in 16:9. Does 50/60hz and you can switch behind the various mode if the auto match doesn't pick it up.

Here's it is at 720p: (Some quality lost due to me having to upload and recode the video in 4:3, but still looks very good)

And a quick 1080p video for comparison

Have only tried the Xbox and Sega Saturn with it so far but both work well. Will uploaded some still capture pictures tomorrow.

[SeanR]

Finally someone takes the plunge and posts an honest review. Imma get one now... In two weeks.

[Riven]

Been testing out both PAL & NTSC games on the Sega Saturn today both at 50hz & 60hz, seems to do everything I've throw at it without much issue.

Here's footage of a 2D game using the RGB upscaler:

My other biggest complain is the scart port is right next to the power in plug so they conflict a little when trying to plug them in and a really fat scart plug might even block the power plug from going into the unit. My one came with a UK mains but it's a cheap and short lead.

Here's a few screenshot I took of a couple of games, they are 1440x1080 but tumblr has downsized them. These pictures are from a direct 1080p capture and have been resized to 4:3.

Battle Garegga in motion using the RGB upscaler: (note the filter)

Battle Garegga in using the RGB upscaler while paused: (filter disappears pictures cleaner sharper)

Same again with Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru first picture is live while moving second one is the game paused:

The paused picture are really sharp and you won't get much better looking than this, unless you are using a really high end capture card and an XRGB the upscaler cost me £35 and so far the result are very good for the money, my only concern is how long the thing will last but I'll just have to keep using it to find that answer out.

I'll post some more videos tomorrow including footage of the PAL games running at 50hz I recorded.

[Edit]

Not going to triple post, but just tested it with an NTSC SNES and it's working, had one issue where it doesn't always pick up the SNES, but once it does it's good to go, turning the SNES on and off fixes the issue. Might be my SNES RGB cable as it's not official one.

One minor thing I have noticed is a few interlace effects don't always appear correct, not a big issue but you can notice it, look at the flames in guardian heroes in the video below

Tried out three PAL games at 50hz didn't feel any lag and these are all fast paced games you would spot an issue a mile off:

PAL 50hz 720p

NTSC 60hz 1080p

Fora quality comparison compare the old Baku Baku Animal or Battle Garegga videos we did on our channel which where done in composite, there's a huge difference in quality.

Here's what my NTSC SFC looks like with some Pop'n Twinbee gameplay via the scaler

[Riven]

Rather than expand my previous post any further, just a quick update to say I've finished testing it with a PAL Sega Mega Drive with a 32X plug into it, scaler had no issue with it. Despite my RGB Scart cable for the Mega Drive not been that good, note the slight background hum in the video.

This is how the PAL version of Sonic the Hedgehog plays at 50hz and 50fps again couldn't see any major issues and tested it with Star Wars Arcade and Virtua Racing on the 32X and Golden Axe III on the Mega Drive. I don't have an NTSC unit so can't test it at 60hz.

(Quick reminder but this video has been resized back to 4:3 aspect ratio from 720p.)

That should give you all enough feedback on the scaler for now to let you make up your own mind if I encounter any problems however I'll update.

[dvdx2]

some pics of my framemeister in action

Some 360 shooters, along with a few capcom fighters.

http://postimg.org/gallery/2iw0bjy8s/

snapped from a camera, so the pics arent great

.

[Droo]

So Dvdx2 - would you recommend it?

[Grey Fox]

Yes - great bit of kit. Takes a fair bit of investment (cables etc) and tweaking to get the best out of it but it is a good bit of kit and a good investment for anyone who regularly games especially if they don't have the room for a good CRT

[dvdx2]

yes Droo - amazing bit of kit.

The only drawbacks are no lightgun games and 480i signal quality (mainly ps2) is hit or miss. Everything else - wow

For me, most stuff looks better than a CRT, down to perfect geometry. However it can take a while to figure out how to get the best out of it. I have had it for months and am still squeezing more quality out of it.

[Tomdominer]

Yeah, I can't recommend this box enough either. It's really got me back into retro gaming in a big way. Its such a richer and more nostalgic experience than an emulator is to me. Loving it!

As for getting the best out of it (probably others have mentioned) there are some online profiles available that give perfect pixel alignment for each console. This makes the scanlines also work perfectly.

http://www.firebrandx.com/downloads/framemeisterprofiles.zip

From this site: http://www.firebrandx.com/pixelpurist.html

EDIT:

Check out Super Mario World at 1080p on my projector. I mean, you could almost cut yourself on those pixels.

[SeanR]

ffffuuuu!!!!

[Droo]

Ok, I'm gonna buy one of these up - but beyond the actual device itself - what else do I need to buy?

[Rob G]

Ok, I'm gonna buy one of these up - but beyond the actual device itself - what else do I need to buy?

Hi Droo,

I've got a Framemeister that I have just decided to sell. Drop me a PM if you're interested.

Cheers

Rob

[dvdx2]

some pics of my new geffen vga - dvi scaler in action

Soul calibur upscaled to from 720x480 to 1600x1200 (proper aspect). Never have i seen the dreamcast looking so good....totally blown away

http://postimg.org/gallery/1uhky9um4/

I cant believe the detail this brings up. Going to give a good spread of software a test drive. More pics soon!

[gunrock]

How much was the gefen?

[dvdx2]

How much was the gefen?

It was £75 new

[Grey Fox]

Can highly recommend the Gefen VGA to DVI Scaler Plus. It is what I have used for my Dreamcast for the last couple of years. Incredible piece of kit. Vast range of output resolutions and just all round lovely bit of kit.

[dvdx2]

Can highly recommend the Gefen VGA to DVI Scaler Plus. It is what I have used for my Dreamcast for the last couple of years. Incredible piece of kit. Vast range of output resolutions and just all round lovely bit of kit.

What settings do you use mate?

[Grey Fox]

Not at home at the moment but I think 720p with clock/phase set to 108 in my Bravia and when hooked up to my 4:3 Dell monitor 1600 x 1200 not sure if the other settings. Will check once home.

What I do know is it is the best I have ever seen my Dreamcast look and the scaling is uber quick. It makes it 'pop' like VGA on a high end CRT

[Riven]

Paid about £30 for my VGA scaler granted only does 720p and 1080p but a quick 4:3 adjust and you have a fantastic picture, which I've used for capture

[Parappa]

So for 30 quid it will upscale to 1080p. I therefore assume this is a lot better than a VGA box? Also does this just support dreamcast cause I am very tempted to invest in an xrgb mini as I have a lot of retro consoles now but there a bit pricey!

[Riven]

So for 30 quid it will upscale to 1080p. I therefore assume this is a lot better than a VGA box? Also does this just support dreamcast cause I am very tempted to invest in an xrgb mini as I have a lot of retro consoles now but there a bit pricey!

The one I use is just a standard VGA scaler it will work with any VGA source, you will still need a Dreamcast VGA box as you plug that into the scaler. Mines a cheaper one so doesn't offer that many options but it does the job gives a lovely picture too. You will need a TV that can force the picture back to 4:3 as otherwise all the game will appear in widescreen at 16:9 and slightly stretch. More expensive scalers will give you more resolution options.

[SeanR]

Finally someone takes the plunge and posts an honest review. Imma get one now... In two weeks.

My HDV-8S SCART +HDMI to HDMI Converter arrived. £24 to upscale my old consoles for my old 720p set that's going in the games room. Eventually.

It's smaller than I expected, and reasonably good build-quality (without opening it up, obv).

I won't be able to set it up before the weekend*, but hopefully it'll do a job, right?

* a weekend, possibly this year.

[Creamstick]

Report back on what it's like, I'm planning on getting one of these in the next two weeks. I'm especially wondering what the quality is like with a SNES and RGB cable. I was planning on plugging it into the RGB SCART socket on my TV, but it's a Toshiba 47" 3D model that has a proprietary cable that has a connection for the TV on one end and an RGB SCART socket on the other end, and the person I got the TV from can't find the cable after weeks of looking. The cable is nearly £40!

[Riven]

I won't be able to set it up before the weekend*, but hopefully it'll do a job, right?

Should do as long as the unit isn't faulty, touch wood but mine is still working very nicely and I'm using it for all my SNES, Saturn, PS1, Gamecube, Mega Drive video on our youtube channel. Creamstick I've done a few SNES games on my channel the Pop 'N' Twinbee video I did is in a previous post in this topic number #33.

We've now got a scaler for just about every format under the sun, to get everything to 1080p without having to use emulators.

Just this week I picked up a special PSP scaler to see what it was like, it has a ZOOM function to make the PSP games full screen as normally if you just use a PSP component cable it plays in a tiny window on the telly. Here's a video I did of the product, got it from amazon.

On the downside however the first one I ordered came with a bonus rattle inside it, so I had to send that one back, meaning the build quality isn't the best. That said it does a great job and while not pinprick sharp it does improve the picture greatly if using a PSP2000 or 3000 on a TV.

If you connect a PSP game to the TV normally it looks like this with huge borders around it.

[Creamstick]

Should do as long as the unit isn't faulty, touch wood but mine is still working very nicely and I'm using it for all my SNES, Saturn, PS1, Gamecube, Mega Drive video on our youtube channel. Creamstick I've done a few SNES games on my channel the Pop 'N' Twinbee video I did is in a previous post in this topic number #33.

Awesome! I'll order one on Thursday, cheers!!

[Kevvy Metal]

I've bought myself a Framemeister! ..and I now have it in my possession but working towards having a little retro step up that's applicable to the consoles of my Youth.

I'm waiting on RGB cables for My Multiregion modded PAL Megadrive and my Super Famicom then it'll all get under way!

Also gone with the the Sync-stripper adapter from Retro Game Cables and looking forwards to getting the whole thing set up!

[Riven]

Gave the RGB scaler and my new capture card (Elgato HD60 Pro) a real test today with X-Men vs. Street Fighter on the Sega Saturn record at 1080p 60fps, then corrected back from 16:9 back to 4:3.

I'll leave you all to pass judgement on the scaler.

[KriessG]

Well I think that looks superb!

[Kevvy Metal]

Just got my XRGB Framemeister set up with my Super Famicom and Yoshi's Island is tearing my eyes out with it's beautiful and super colourful pixels!

This is an absolutely amazing piece of kit and completely gives my old retro stuff a new lease of life. I love it so much.

[spanky debrest]

Can anyone with a non x-rgb / Framemeister type scalar speak on the issue of lag?

I appreciate that if you're more into RPGs than, say, shooting twitch type experiences (or if you're primarily uploading captured footage to youtube) it might not be a much of an issue but I'd rather not try and play most of my old stuff at all than have to go through the pain of recalibrating my muscle memories.

I've almost pulled the trigger on buying a Framemeister too many times to count. I often wuss out of it by reminding myself that I have a decent CRT (compatible with most of my consoles) in storage, and that quality of gaming (measured by lag) should come before anything else - even comfort, screen size and the crazy fantasy that a non-enthusiast might even appreciate how good that Mega Drive / PS2 game looks.