Need advice on connecting RetroPie to a CRT

Dezmancer

Hi all, I do apologize in advance for this post as I searched and see people have posted now and then asking for advice on this topic, but nothing I read seemed to capture my specific use case.

That said, I have a Raspberry Pi 3 with RetroPie on it that I'd like to try running on a 13" Toshiba 14AF43 I have. It has component in and I've been looking at this guide to figure the best way to hook the rpie up. I am aware the RPI3 has a natural composite out but I want to leverage my TV's component connection for better quality.

Right now I am looking at using the GERT VGA-666 he recommends along with this cable to connect it to my TV. This leaves me with just a few uncertainties:

I think this will only transfer video to the TV. Not sure what I'm supposed to do for audio.
The RGB Guide talks about needing to use a sync combiner. Since I am connecting to a consumer-grade CRT and not a professional RGB monitor like the guide assumes I am not sure whether this bit applies to me or not.
Not sure if the config file edits the RGB guide lists will be the same since, again, it's a consumer-grade CRT and not an RGB monitor/PVM.

I know retrotink ultimate is an option too and considered best-in-class for this, but it's significantly pricier. VGA-to-component seems a better way to give it a shot unless the retrotink can offer an insanely better picture on a TV of this size. Feel free to convince me, because it does look like a cool gadget.

mitu

@Dezmancer said in Need advice on connecting RetroPie to a CRT:

I think this will only transfer video to the TV. Not sure what I'm supposed to do for audio.

The composite jack can act also as an audio output - just get a RCA cable and hook it up to the front audio inputs. Or you can get an USB soundcard (the analog audio is not so great on RPI) with an similar jack output (like this).

The RGB Guide talks about needing to use a sync combiner. Since I am connecting to a consumer-grade CRT and not a professional RGB monitor like the guide assumes I am not sure whether this bit applies to me or not.

I think it might apply, the VGA666 looks to output RGBHV, while the cable you linked might expect RGBS. The cable you linked has in the description:

Compatibility --- Your display system must support component video (Y, Pr, Pb) signal output function in order for the image to display properly. Please consult with your VGA card's user manual for more information. Specific TV-out feature on video card is required, pleas

which makes me a bit wary of it's capabilities of converting RGBHV to YPbPr (usually you need a converter for this).

Not sure if the config file edits the RGB guide lists will be the same since, again, it's a consumer-grade CRT and not an RGB monitor/PVM.

It should be fine.

I know retrotink ultimate is an option too and considered best-in-class for this, but it's significantly pricier

Yes, it's pricier, but has built-in YPbPr output and you'd just need just a simple component cable to hook it up to your TV.

youxia

The config is the same, it does not matter if its pvm, monitor or consumer. You will possibly still need some tweaks , depending on your TV (to center the picture). That guide is quite old and so may be the timings he listed. I recommend looking at RGB-Pi or Retrotink configs on github, they're more up to date and work with Gert as well.