Anyone else retro console gaming on a 4k TV? If so I need help!

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blackbeasst

2[H]4U
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Trying to hookup my retro duo (nes/snes) to my TCL Roku tv but the picture quality is horrendous (yes I know, it’s not supposed to look stellar!). I have an rca to hdmi and rca to 3.5mm av adapter. The hdmi keeps the screen closer to 16:9 while the 3.5 keeps it closer to 4:3.

But as you can see by the pics the pixels are hideous. Some reviews for the adapters as well at the console don’t seem to have issues on newer tvs.

Am I missing something in order to get this to better quality?

Rca-hdmi
568504B5-B281-46FD-A1CD-A6242C8E6C91.jpeg


Rca-3.5mm
D986695D-443F-4339-B7A2-224F40A13B87.jpeg
 
pendragon1 said:
try turning off scaling on the tv and make sure its on the pc/game input
Click to expand...
That’s the thing, Roku tv’s are limited to settings and there isn’t a scaling option.

Also as far as input I only have the two options….HDMI or AV.
FB1487BA-20AD-4650-A1C5-4C3B8333C1EF.jpeg
19A0C002-03FE-4C5B-B73F-A389943FBB82.jpeg
 
blackbeasst said:
That’s the thing, Roku tv’s are limited to settings and there isn’t a scaling option.

Also as far as input I only have the two options….HDMI or AV.
View attachment 547550View attachment 547551
Click to expand...
the "picture size" is probably its scaling. game mode is on which should do the same thing as the dedicated game/pc inputs, you just want it to turn off any image filters built in.
 
pendragon1 said:
the "picture size" is probably its scaling. game mode is on which should do the same thing as the dedicated game/pc inputs, you just want it to turn off any image filters built in.
Click to expand...
The picture size is set to direct. Other options are:

Normal: just fills screen (2 small black lines were on each side when Direct was selected)

Stretch: does exactly what it says….stretches it out side to side!

Zoom: stretches up/down and left/right.
 
blackbeasst said:
The picture size is set to direct. Other options are:

Normal: just fills screen (2 small black lines were on each side when Direct was selected)

Stretch: does exactly what it says….stretches it out side to side!

Zoom: stretches up/down and left/right.
Click to expand...
direct should be the one but it sounds like its still doing some sort of scaling, the image should have shrunk (closer to native res). you might be better off getting a retro trio hd+, it has 720p hdmi out.
 
pendragon1 said:
direct should be the one but it sounds like its still doing some sort of scaling, the image should have shrunk (closer to native res). you might be better off getting a retro trio hd+, it has 720p hdmi out.
Click to expand...
The rca-hdmi has a 720/1080 switch. Tried both 🤣

The search continues for a way!
 
The newer RetroTRIO has HDMI and is only $10 more than the Duo was.
 
Try using an EDID spoofer to force it to output at a particular resolution?

I use a 1440p one to get my MClassic to display correctly on my Roku TV. Hell, if you want to spend the cash you could just try an Mclassic, it has a forced 4x3 mode.
 
Many modern displays cannot accept the 240p output of older consoles and scale them up.

The correct solution is to buy something like a Retrotink which will properly scale the image up, without adding input lag, so it can be displayed correctly.

Check out the site retrorgb.com to get information no how to connect old consoles to modern TV's.

I've also found you a video by this creator that helps explain the issue.
 
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Whatever your posting from could emulate the roms and output HDMI out to your tv I'm betting.

If you need the controller feeling buy a USB to nes adapter.

With emulators you get better save states. Rewind and more.
 
If you prefer to play your cartridges, the new Super NT comes out in Q2. They're also making the Mega Sg for Sega cartridges, set for release around the same timeframe. They're more expensive, but they include upscaling hardware for 1080p output and use a FPGA to play the cartridges.

https://www.analogue.co/super-nt
https://www.analogue.co/mega-sg

If you want to try the emulation route, a MiSTer FPGA is the way to go.

https://www.retrorgb.com/mister.html
https://hardforum.com/threads/mister-fpga-retro-console-hardware.1992861/

I currently use my SNES Classic Mini as a NES/SNES emulation box. If you already have a NES or SNES classic it's a no-brainer, though input lag can be bad with some games.

https://github.com/TeamShinkansen/Hakchi2-CE
 
You have to set both the monitor/TV to 1:1 resolution matching. It will then only show the game in a small window on the monitor thats the exact resolution of the output signal from the consoles.
I play an Intellevision II on our 4k TV + a 1080p one this way without an issue, its two samsung TVs, the console just shows in a small window on the screen. Its pretty useless on the 4k as on the 55" screen, its a window thats maybe 1/6th the total screen area in the dead center lol
The scaling on older consoles would be handled 100% on the TV, so if you cant get it to do this, it would be a display issue in that it isnt scaling correctly to 1:1
The issue is that TVs especially are not intended to display content that isnt full screen, so very few of them actually work correctly in 1:1 mode, and most tend to do "Fit to screen and keep aspect" instead of 1:1 matching despite that "direct" should in theory be 1:1.


Re-reading, Im going to think the issue is related to you using adapters, and not necessarily the display. Using an adapter likely has the adapter forcing out a set resolution, and matching it by scaling the input from the console before outputting to the TV.
The only adapter I use is a simple 2-pole antenna -> Coax, which is just a cable termination change and not an adapter with equipment in it.
 
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