Resolution setting for crt tv
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I have a raspberry pi model 2b and I've ordered a 3.5mm to composite cable so I can connect my pi to an old crt tv to try and recreate the feel of the older consoles more closely. I'll be playing nes, snes and genesis almost exclusively on retropie, and I was wondering what resolution I should set for the pi. My crt has a max of 480i, but I know a lot of the older games played in 240p or close to it. Just wondering if anyone has tried 240p and 480i with the pi on a crt and what they thought looked better?
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The Raspberry PI only supports 480i and I think the interlacing is horrible. I created a request for 240p support on the firmware github repo: https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/683
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@deckard
I have a Pi 3, there's no composite output (anyway horrible especially in 480i like said Starquake). By the HDMI port it can display 240P and even less. Just by editing the config file from the root and set the resolution. It require a HDMI 2 VGA module (cheap). It is also possible to use the GPIO output and the GERT VGA module: cheap as well. And then you need a simple VGA2SCART cable if you have such screen. Full RGB, really pixel perfect. I'm using a RGB monitor, my cable isn't a SCART but a DIN6. So I made my cable. -
@nanar
What's a good solution for regular CRT TV's then? You English may have SCART, but in the USA we only have composite on older CRT TV's (some only have coaxial!). MAYBE S-video if you're lucky like my nice Sony XBR. Newer 1080i CRT TV's (like flatscreen tube TV's) will have component but they're more rare with so many free old-school CRT's out there... -
@Dochartaigh said in Resolution setting for crt tv:
What's a good solution for regular CRT TV's then? You English may have SCART, but in the USA we only have composite on older CRT TV's (some only have coaxial!). MAYBE S-video if you're lucky like my nice Sony XBR. Newer 1080i CRT TV's (like flatscreen tube TV's) will have component but they're more rare with so many free old-school CRT's out there...
I can't help that much with CRT TV with only RF or composite. Take a look at GBS-8100.
You can found Commodore 1084 or Atari ST monitors in the USA? Maybe Philips monitor or US brand I don't know? There are many RGB monitors in Europe, we can use old TV with SCART too (not all RGB but most are), I think it is possible to do something with S-video, I saw people who made small PCB to convert a RGB signal from Amstrad CPC (DIN6). I'm also thinking to the pro studio video monitors with BNC cable, Sony PVM. People connect their PI with and picture is perfect in glorious old school resolution. -
@nanar said in Resolution setting for crt tv:
PVM/BVM monitors here are about $5,000 USD / £4,000 for the size of TV most of us are used to! ;(
You can get nice Sony/Toshiba/etc. 32" (81cm) CRT TV's for free pretty much anywhere (some are the 1080i ones if you keep a lookout...although those are around 100-150kg for 32-26"!).
People want money for the old Commodore monitors since they're collectable (not much, but still, ~100-150 vs. FREE and free wins every time). Just no use for them with a Pi it seems - I use my two CRT TV's for my old consoles but would LOVE to use a Pi on one and see if it matches the console version.
For most of us home users (speaking for myself here), we're used to the 27"+ TV's. Monitors just aren't that big normally....so it's either get a little 13 or 17" monitor with better resolution or a 27-36"...most will choose the larger (with only composite or S-Video inputs normally). I still ALWAYS have my eyes out for a cool high quality monitor (even if it'll be tiny ;)
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Mate , me too i have sony pvm and work with homemade vga to bnc using the hdmi to vga connector,works great but like you say i too have to set the resolution in the /boot config.txt using hdmi_cvt followed by the desired resolution this works but indeed if i set it lets say for neogeo games then snes and pcengine have lelft and right black borders on the screen
Off course i do not have these if i choose the hdmi_cvt resolution to match pcengine/snes resolution but then the neogeo games are "off"..
this is the problem i thus have..i always have to change the resolution in the /boot config.txt when changing between emulators like this...have you found a way around this for yourself?I love the image the pi 3 outputs , it simply amazing
I hope you can help!Before i forget,happy gaming! ;-)
Edwin
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@nostromo are you not able to set the resolution for the different emulators in their config files so you can keep the config.txt set to one setting? Sorry i dont know much about the crt stuff. I do really want a sony pvm though but expensive...
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Hi mate, no i cannot set them, well , yes i can but then if i try using the custom viewport setting to lets say 352 x262 (somehow my Sony PVM does not take the 224 so i have to go with 262 but still looks great) for PC engine legend of hero Tonma while booted in the config.txt as something else like 256x262 (for the rest of pc engine games) then the sizing does not work...it's driving me nuts
One good thing doh, using just the config.txt dcmi_cvt settings, i can obtain near perfect native resolution for just about anything..
That's why i am looking for a way to use that somehow as it gives me the best results but just not so workable as i have to reboot and adjust the config.txt cdmi_cvt settings each time..
such a shame as this pi 3 with retro pie is able to make it work for the all what matters here for me and that is true native res for all! just amazing really
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