XRGB-mini Framemeister

[eightbitminiboss]

Different encoders, different sync level.

Should mention that I have a LM1881 in the chain. Changing the sync level didn't change much.

[jessiewonka]

Actually on the topic of a small LCD -- any suggestions?

Dell U2414 (24") with IPS or Asus 279Q (27") via VA panel. Extremely fast, good picture, rotatable and not too expensive.

Quick update - after some further research I had a Dell U2414H sent next-day via Amazon. It's a beautiful display, maybe crisper than my late 2013 27" iMac. Slim and easily rotates either direction. But in the end it was just too small. I knew there would be some loss at the top and bottom, but some games like Gunbird 2 don't even go edge-to-edge on the sides, making for a very small overall play area on a 24" screen. I really thought 24" would be ideal.

It did do well though as a second desktop display rotated vertically, particularly useful when browsing the web and reading forums. And shmups in mame were larger than than 27" iMac. But I just can't justify the $300 since all the games I play, including mame, are on my Panasonic P55VT60.

I could just get something larger than the 24" Dell but that starts to become unrealistic for my space/budget/needs.

[jessiewonka]

Different encoders, different sync level.

Should mention that I have a LM1881 in the chain. Changing the sync level didn't change much.

Pushing sync to 30 worked for me with a 1CHIP-03.

[Astraea FGA Mk. I]

I am in the market for a XRGB unit and I'm torn between the XRGB-3 and the XRGB Mini.
The main issue is the input lag. <5ms vs 20ms.
The compact size of the mini appeals to me, I can't imagine routinely transporting the 3.
The digital output is also very appealing, while all of my displays support VGA newer HDTVs and monitors often don't.

I will be using an RGB modded SNES Jr.

Is the input lag of the mini acceptable? It is a lot of money to spend just to find out the input lag ruins the whole experience for me.
My 360 setup has <5ms lag and it feels great, though shmups likely benefit more from low latency than typical Super Nintendo games.

[blizzz]

Input lag on the mini is fine, especially if you keep using your 5ms PC monitor. But even with a 30ms TV it's not a big problem.

[Sixfortyfive]

Everyone has their own thresholds, but I'd never spend money on a setup that has more than 1 total frame of lag. I can definitely feel when something is 2 frames off and it's aggravating.

[BuckoA51]

I was playing some PC Engine shmups the other day on a TV that has 30ms lag anyway and I didn't seem to notice the lag from the mini. Yet last time when I was playing SMS games on it I got fed up with it feeling laggy. Really the only alternative if you want to play on a big screen TV is the old XRGB3+ABT combo, and that doesn't work with the SMS or PC Engine (hence why I was using my Mini )

[airs]

When used with a fast display the lag from the mini is not noticeable to most people.

[airs]

So I became aware that some games have issues on 1CHIPs like Demon's Crest and Disney's Aladdin showing glitches at the top of the screen. I was going through my ROMs and this is showing up on The Firemen (and to some extent Demon's Crest's title screen).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFtDblY ... e=youtu.be

Is that because of how the 1CHIP is wired for sync differently?

Edit: Might as well post the Demon's Crest video, but that's not a sync issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lm0mhOhtzM

You need to either: make sure your LM1881 is getting enough power OR get rid of the LM1881 and use CSYNC (pin 3 on NTSC SNES)

[GohanX]

Yeah, I play shooters and fighters all the time on my mini, no issues. The only game I have an issue with is Punch Out on NES, I can't beat Tyson on anything but a real NES on a CRT.

[eightbitminiboss]

So I became aware that some games have issues on 1CHIPs like Demon's Crest and Disney's Aladdin showing glitches at the top of the screen. I was going through my ROMs and this is showing up on The Firemen (and to some extent Demon's Crest's title screen).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFtDblY ... e=youtu.be

Is that because of how the 1CHIP is wired for sync differently?

Edit: Might as well post the Demon's Crest video, but that's not a sync issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lm0mhOhtzM

You need to either: make sure your LM1881 is getting enough power OR get rid of the LM1881 and use CSYNC (pin 3 on NTSC SNES)

I have a cable with CSYNC on order. I spent Saturday RGB modding a SNES jr. and that had the same issue and led me to CSYNC was not being utilized. I have a LM1881 in the chain but only the 1CHIP and the SNES jr. have the sync problem, all my other consoles don't.

[BuckoA51]

Interesting I didn't think pure csync was needed with the Mini, I'll make certain that Ray adds this to any further SNES jr machines we modify.

[BuckoA51]

btw, there seems to be some issues on the XRGB Wiki, anyone else seeing this at the top of the page?

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[eightbitminiboss]

Interesting I didn't think pure csync was needed with the Mini, I'll make certain that Ray adds this to any further SNES jr machines we modify.

Yeah, it's weird. I've been running on a 1CHIP for a while and never ran into the sync issues because up until this past weekend, never played any game that exhibited the problem. If it wasn't for the fact I was playing Chrono Trigger on the DS, I probably would have seen it earlier rather than come across it now.

Stranger still, when I did actually run Chrono Trigger, sync would act up when there's a dialog box on the bottom of the screen, but moving it to the top, no problem. It's like a layer or something is the cause of the issue in general.

[austin532]

Weird question of the day. I know the Mini keeps settings for each resolution so why is it that when the PS2 switches from 480i to 240p while playing a PS1 game the Mini's settings stay at the 480i settings?

Is this a bug?

Is this because the first signal the Mini receives is a 480i signal?

Is there any way to fix this.

This issue is the main reason why I have my PS1 hooked up. Otherwise I would just use a PS2.

[Artemio]

btw, there seems to be some issues on the XRGB Wiki, anyone else seeing this at the top of the page?

Notice: unserialize() [function.unserialize]: Error at offset 0 of 744 bytes in /services/webpages/util/a/u/aurbina.site.aplus.net/public/xrgb/includes/objectcache/SqlBagOStuff.php on line 430

My hosting has some issues with php, we are working on it. It shouldn't affect any data.

[Konsolkongen]

Weird question of the day. I know the Mini keeps settings for each resolution so why is it that when the PS2 switches from 480i to 240p while playing a PS1 game the Mini's settings stay at the 480i settings?

Is this a bug?

Is this because the first signal the Mini receives is a 480i signal?

Is there any way to fix this.

This issue is the main reason why I have my PS1 hooked up. Otherwise I would just use a PS2.

Because you are using RGB? The Mini doesn't store settings for different RGB resolutions, for some reason. It does for component, so it's really weird that there's a difference :/

[austin532]

That's unfortunate, but at the same time kind of makes sense why they would program the Mini like that. Most people use RGB for retro systems that only output 240p (occasionally 480i) so there is no need to keep multiple RGB settings like Component. Still, it would be nice if they added that feature or at least gave us profiles.

[eightbitminiboss]

That's unfortunate, but at the same time kind of makes sense why they would program the Mini like that. Most people use RGB for retro systems that only output 240p (occasionally 480i) so there is no need to keep multiple RGB settings like Component. Still, it would be nice if they added that feature or at least gave us profiles.

That's what I've been hoping for on the color buttons all this time.

[Konsolkongen]

That's unfortunate, but at the same time kind of makes sense why they would program the Mini like that. Most people use RGB for retro systems that only output 240p (occasionally 480i) so there is no need to keep multiple RGB settings like Component. Still, it would be nice if they added that feature or at least gave us profiles.

I'd like seperate options for 480i, especially for the games that switches between the two occasionally. 480p VGA is doable on the RGB input too, but I've never used it, so no idea if it saves those settings seperately

[austin532]

Alright, so I'm trying to get the best possible picture out of the Mini and have several questions about how to do so.


1. What is the best US power supply to use on the Mini to eliminate noise?

2. What exactly do I need and what are the steps to get 480p out of RGB?

3. What would you say is the best Scart Switch on the market?

4. How do you force PS2 480i games to 480p?

5. What is the best way to hook up multiple systems besides using a surge protector?

[EmperorZelos]

Alright, so I'm trying to get the best possible picture out of the Mini and have several questions about how to do so.


1. What is the best US power supply to use on the Mini to eliminate noise?

2. What exactly do I need and what are the steps to get 480p out of RGB?

3. What would you say is the best Scart Switch on the market?

4. How do you force PS2 480i games to 480p?

5. What is the best way to hook up multiple systems besides using a surge protector?

1: I don't know
2: you mean 480i signal from RGB or 480p from component or to 480p on HDMI?
3: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bandridge-Premi ... B0015YYN1W
4: no clue
5: scart switch I'd say, I have it that way

[Fudoh]

2) he likely means how to feed 480p in RGBs format to the front-RGB input. (Answer: by using a passive sync combiner or an active sync processor, e.g. an Extron Sync interface)

4) if a game supports 480p on it's own you just hold a button during startup or confirm when you're asked for 480p. Other titles can be forced to 480p by using GSM. GSM can be installed on a memory card or used as a boot disc. A few titles that don't run with GSM can be forced to 480p using the HDTVExploder boot disc.

[BuckoA51]

GSM style functionality is now also built into the latest open PS2 (hard drive/usb) loader.

[austin532]

2) he likely means how to feed 480p in RGBs format to the front-RGB input. (Answer: by using a passive sync combiner or an active sync processor, e.g. an Extron Sync interface)

4) if a game supports 480p on it's own you just hold a button during startup or confirm when you're asked for 480p. Other titles can be forced to 480p by using GSM. GSM can be installed on a memory card or used as a boot disc. A few titles that don't run with GSM can be forced to 480p using the HDTVExploder boot disc.

2. Yes, that's what I mean. So are these the steps needed? PS2 > (RGB Scart cable) > Sync Strike > (VGA cable) > Extron interface > (VGA to MiniDin cable) > XRGB Mini?

4. Yep, I already know about holding the X and Triangle buttons to get Progressive mode. By GSM you mean the Graphics Synthesizer Mode using FreeMcBoot?


There's still 3 more problems.

I need a good power supply to use with the Mini to eliminate noise
I need a good Scart switch with at least 3 inputs
I need to know to best way to hook up at least 14 different outlets without blowing a fuse. Most surge protectors only go up to 12.

[Fudoh]

2. Yes, that's what I mean. So are these the steps needed? PS2 > (RGB Scart cable) > Sync Strike > (VGA cable) > Extron interface > (VGA to MiniDin cable) > XRGB Mini?

yes, unfortunately. It's so complicated because the PS2 does output RGBs in 15khz mode, but RGsB in 31khz mode.

I need to know to best way to hook up at least 14 different outlets without blowing a fuse. Most surge protectors only go up to 12.

just chain two.

Do you get additional noise from the original Mini PSU ?

[BuckoA51]

2. Yes, that's what I mean. So are these the steps needed? PS2 > (RGB Scart cable) > Sync Strike > (VGA cable) > Extron interface > (VGA to MiniDin cable) > XRGB Mini?

A Keene Syncblaster black box is a far more simple solution than this.

[austin532]

2. Yes, that's what I mean. So are these the steps needed? PS2 > (RGB Scart cable) > Sync Strike > (VGA cable) > Extron interface > (VGA to MiniDin cable) > XRGB Mini?

yes, unfortunately. It's so complicated because the PS2 does output RGBs in 15khz mode, but RGsB in 31khz mode.

I need to know to best way to hook up at least 14 different outlets without blowing a fuse. Most surge protectors only go up to 12.

just chain two.

Do you get additional noise from the original Mini PSU ?

Yes, I'm using the original Mini's PSU which is plugged in to a 12 outlet surge protector. The noise is still noticeable using PS2 RGB but is very minor compared to PS2 Component. I even tried it with PS1 just to make sure it wasn't just the PS2.

Chain two surge protectors together? Is that even safe?

[eightbitminiboss]

Yes, I'm using the original Mini's PSU which is plugged in to a 12 outlet surge protector. The noise is still noticeable using PS2 RGB but is very minor compared to PS2 Component. I even tried it with PS1 just to make sure it wasn't just the PS2.

Chain two surge protectors together? Is that even safe?

Not even remotely. Don't do this.

[austin532]

2. Yes, that's what I mean. So are these the steps needed? PS2 > (RGB Scart cable) > Sync Strike > (VGA cable) > Extron interface > (VGA to MiniDin cable) > XRGB Mini?

A Keene Syncblaster black box is a far more simple solution than this.

So there is no need for a Sync Strike or Extron then? How would you set this up? PS2 > RGB Scart > Syncblaster > Scart to 8 Pin MiniDin > XRGB Mini? If so that is a hell of a lot easier.