PI2SCART on the RPi4

DJMoss

Hi all,

I want to run this wonderful RetroPie software through my old CRT (B&O MX7000) using PI2SCART. I intend to emulate various systems up to PS1, but I'm not interested in playing anything more modern than that. I bought the RPi4 8Gb with the PI2SCART, but so far I'm having no success in getting it running, and every tutorial i read is using a RPi3B.

So my question is simple really.. Would I be better off buying a new RPi3B, and finding another use for the RPi4? Or can any of you confirm that what I would like to do is actually possible with the RPi4.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions and shared experience.

Thank you for the wonderful community spirit in here. Hope I can help others once I know what I'm doing myself.

mitu

What problems do you have in making Pi2Scart work ?

DJMoss

Hi, thanks for responding!

I can install Retropie but it will not run Emulation Station, nor will it allow me to update it.

I've put similar messages to this on various forums, without a single person reassuring me that they successfully use PI2SCART with their Pi4. Makes me think that maybe they just aren't compatible.

mitu

Did you adjust your config.txt with settings for Pi2Scart ? How did you install RetroPie ?

DJMoss

I installed Retropie downloaded from the official site and mounted using balena.
The image works perfectly on my LCD.

Then I tried adding the following to the config.txt file, as per the official page http://pi2jamma.info/pi2scart

disable_audio_dither=1
dtparam=audio=on
dtoverlay=vga666
enable_dpi_lcd=1
display_default_lcd=1
dpi_group=2
dpi_mode=87
hdmi_timings=320 1 16 30 34 240 1 2 3 22 0 0 0 60 0 6400000 1 #240p

From this I get a boot with several errors that eventually ends with the Retropie: ~ prompt.
If I type emulation station here, I get the following errors (can't read all as they are partly off screen):
Could not initialise EGL
Renderer failed to initialize
Window failed to initialize

Any help much appreciated!

mitu

@DJMoss said in PI2SCART on the RPi4:

Could not initialise EGL
Renderer failed to initialize
Window failed to initialize

You probably disabled the KMS overlay needed for the Pi4's GPU to work. Post your entire config.txt file.

DJMoss

@mitu

For more options and information see

http://rpf.io/configtxt

Some settings may impact device functionality. See link above for details

uncomment if you get no picture on HDMI for a default "safe" mode

#hdmi_safe=1

uncomment this if your display has a black border of unused pixels visible

and your display can output without overscan

#disable_overscan=1

uncomment the following to adjust overscan. Use positive numbers if console

goes off screen, and negative if there is too much border

#overscan_left=16
#overscan_right=16
#overscan_top=16
#overscan_bottom=16

uncomment to force a console size. By default it will be display's size minus

overscan.

#framebuffer_width=1280
#framebuffer_height=720

uncomment if hdmi display is not detected and composite is being output

#hdmi_force_hotplug=1

uncomment to force a specific HDMI mode (this will force VGA)

#hdmi_group=1
#hdmi_mode=1

uncomment to force a HDMI mode rather than DVI. This can make audio work in

DMT (computer monitor) modes

#hdmi_drive=2

uncomment to increase signal to HDMI, if you have interference, blanking, or

no display

#config_hdmi_boost=4

uncomment for composite PAL

#sdtv_mode=2

#uncomment to overclock the arm. 700 MHz is the default.
#arm_freq=800

Uncomment some or all of these to enable the optional hardware interfaces

#dtparam=i2c_arm=on
#dtparam=i2s=on
#dtparam=spi=on

Uncomment this to enable infrared communication.

#dtoverlay=gpio-ir,gpio_pin=17
#dtoverlay=gpio-ir-tx,gpio_pin=18

Additional overlays and parameters are documented /boot/overlays/README

Enable audio (loads snd_bcm2835)

dtparam=audio=on

[pi4]

Enable DRM VC4 V3D driver on top of the dispmanx display stack

#dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d
#max_framebuffers=2
dtoverlay=vga666
[all]
#dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d
overscan_scale=1

disable_audio_dither=1
enable_dpi_lcd=1
display_default_lcd=1
dpi_group=2
dpi_mode=87
hdmi_timings=320 1 16 30 34 240 1 2 3 22 0 0 0 60 0 6400000 1 #240p

mitu

Yes, the issue is that you commented out the KMS overlay:

...
[pi4]
#Enable DRM VC4 V3D driver on top of the dispmanx display stack
#dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d
#max_framebuffers=2
...

Enable it back - uncomment both lines present in the [pi4] section - and EmulationStation will start.

DJMoss

Sir, you are a gentleman, and a very knowledgable one at that!

Booted first time to emulation station.

Thank you so much! :)

davorgekko

@djmoss - I have the exact same setup as you (Pi4, pi2scart, mx7000). I have a couple of problems with overscan. Did you fix this through the config?
If too much OT perhaps we can take it in a pm?

Thanks! 😊