optimal settings for console emulation on crt tv

[creamygarlicdip]

Hi guys,

I'm using the following for emulating snes on my pc:

Sony KV-30HS420 30-Inch FD Trinitron WEGA, 1080i/480p with hdmi
my pc with an nvidia gtx460, i have it connected to the tv
for controllers using 2 sega saturn model 2 controllers connected to the pc via a usb adapter

that said im trying to determine the optimum resolution settings for pc and emulators for best accuracy. my understanding is that the snes outputted various resolutions depending on the game.

anyone have any thoughts on this? so far i have windows set at 720x480p and the snes 9x emulator at the same.

[Ed Oscuro]

Missing info - does your current resolution show an image? Is it good / bad? It's also worth noting here that 720x480 isn't the right aspect ratio for your TV or the emulators - but if it works, it works. Try viewing a square / circle to be sure, though.

This might be a tricky one if feeding it "real" 480i signals gives worse quality or lag performance than on regular 480i TVs. Your HiScan set likely does some kind of line-doubling or simple scaling.

First thing I would try, though, is feeding it 480i signals. There will be some information around places (like here) about outputting such resolutions from a graphics card (and the cables needed to do the same), though be careful as obviously these aren't supported on PC monitors old or new, and you don't want your system stuck to something that you can't view with a regular monitor, especially if you don't get a working image on your TV either.

If it works, probably the major thing to look at is its scanline handling - or rather, whether scanlines appear properly at all in 480i. And likewise it's doubtful that lightguns will work for related reasons.

If 'original' resolutions fail then your best bet will be to just have the computer handle the scaling stuff, and feed it a 1080i image, or possibly 480p if it looks better.

[creamygarlicdip]

the current resolution shows an image. the tv is a 16:9 set so i've used 720x480p and 1080i. its a bit odd with emulators because i have the option of changing the resolution in the nvidia control panel, lots of options there. and i also have options in the emulator itself.

i was curious if anyone had messed around with snes emulators running on crt tv's via hdmi and could recommend good settings. I'm a bit of a noob with older console emulation.

Like are you better off to output in progressive or interlaced mode?

[Ed Oscuro]

I think the short answer is that you can answer this question quicker than anybody else. Many gamers simply have stayed away from these HD-ready / HiScan displays because of the differences in 480i handling. It sounds like you haven't done anything awful to the set, so as long as you choose supported resolutions you should be safe.

Theoretically, we say that 480i (including proper 240p display) is best, followed by 480p and 1080i (assuming the progressive display is superior to an interlaced one) but the point may be moot given that the set probably upscales everything to 1080i. Whether there is lag in some modes and whether scanlines are present or thick - that's down to the implementation in the set.

16:9 set so i've used 720x480p and 1080i.

720x480p working doesn't surprise, but it's not 16:9. Does it come with borders?

A bit of explanation here: If the graphics card is flagging 720x480 with an aspect ratio, perhaps the set handles it in the correct aspect ratio. If we had a DVD running at 720x480, then that video would come with its own aspect ratio information. But desktop graphics don't seem to (but maybe I'm wrong here).

This might not be worth worrying about, but it's worth keeping in mind that there are a few steps in which the aspect ratio of an emulated game can get lost on the way to this TV.

Bottom line - things would be far simpler and also more accurate if you were simply sending a 480i signal to a 480i tube (or equivalent - the pro Sony monitors with HD support all seem to have great 480i support without taking a scaling step, with only a few exceptions like a couple of their PGM monitors).

[cools]

http://geedorah.com/eiusdemmodi/forum/index.php

[Fudoh]

480p + emulated scanlines is fine. But it's essential that the emus you're using provide proper linedoubling. For example: SNES runs at 224 lines and your emu must not stretch that to 480 lines, but to 448 lines and the add borders to get a full 480p output. Same for MAME and others. If you set MAME to DirectDraw instead of D3D you automatically get that. On others emus you really have to check.

[Artemio]

Try the linearity test in the 240 suite, as well as the checkerboard and vertical lines.

That way you'll know if the signal is right

[creamygarlicdip]

thanks guys ill try out your suggestions

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm happy you liked our suggestions, but the positive feedback thing is meant for commercial trades (i.e., if I sold you a monitor, instead of just talked about it - talk is cheap ya know!)

Anyway, let us know how it goes.

Also, wow, I can mark this off my bucket list:

"You have received new positive feedback from creamygarlicdip"