Losing video signal at random with Pi 4 (mini-HDMI to VGA)

TheBattleMaster

Pi Model: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (2GB RAM)
Power Supply used: Raspberry Pi Official USB-C Power Supply (Black ver.)
RetroPie Version Used: Retropie 4.6 (Only updated the Retropie-Setup script)
Built From: "retropie-buster-4.6-rpi4.img" (Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website)
USB Devices connected: Afterglow PS3 USB (Wireless) Controller
Verbose log: runcommand.log
Emulator: lr-fbneo

My pi 4 is connected to a VGA Monitor (Not a CRT, running at 1024x768 @60hz) via a mini-HDMI to VGA adapter. For audio, I just connect my headphones to the audio port. Also, I used another VGA screen (1280 x 1024 60Hz) to see it had the same issue. (it did)

I only lose signal randomly only when playing arcade games. It can happen for only a second, or at worst, multiple times leaving me with a black screen. While this happens, I don't lose audio so I know the game is still running. If I open the Retroarch menu or quit the game when the screen is blank, the signal returns.

Once the screen signal returns back to normal, the monitor does an "auto config" to adjust the image on screen. The monitor only does this once on boot or after loosing the video signal.

My guess is that for some reason the resolution changes, but I don't know what settings to go and change to test.

I've added my runcommand log of me playing X-Men: children of the atom (950331 Euro). In game, the signal was fine on the menus, but lost the signal multiple times during the first fight.

TheBattleMaster

UPDATE:
I've went and did more research to try to find a fix. I thought that if I went and edited the boot settings it could help set a fixed resolution.

The following are some things I changed on boot/config.txt:

uncomment hdmi_group = 2 & hdmi_mode = 16 --- problem persists
uncomment config_hdmi_boost = 4 --- Problem persists.
uncomment hdmi_force_hotplug = 1 --- Problem persists.
uncomment and set hdmi_group = 1 & hdmi_mode = 1 --- I don't loose signal during gameplay, however the screen is very low -res and letterboxed.
set hdmi_group = 2 & hdmi_mode = 16 --- Problem persists.

I'm still not sure what is the problem exactly. The last one should've worked as that's the resolution and refresh rate of the monitor used.

Anyways, if I find a solution this week that does not result in a small screen, I'll update the thread again. If anyone has any suggestions on what other settings I should look over, I would greatly appreciate it.

mitu

Frankly, this looks like a connector problem - hardware is not up to the task. Do you have a normal TV (HDMI) to test without the VGA adaptor ?

TheBattleMaster

@mitu
Thanks for the reply!
I do have a normal TV, the problem is that the HDMI cables I've ordered along with the pi 4 don't work. I'll have to order new ones to test at a later date.
The reason I just kept working on with this screen was that I wanted to build a small (4:3) bar top arcade with it.
Now, knowing that this screen won't work for this, I'll have to research for a suitable replacement as well.
Thanks for the help :)