Gameboy Advance RGB NTSC

[kamiboy]

Does the "Loading GBI on XenoGC from scratch" method require a bootchip or is a burned GBI mini-dvd disc somehow able to self boot?

[tacoguy64]

A GC/GBP running GBI is the best option at the moment, but the best display for that is going to depend on how much lag you're willing to tolerate. The GBA runs at a non-standard refresh rate of 59.7275Hz. If you run the ULL version of GBI on a CRT monitor, it's going to run the GameCube at 59.7276 Hz, giving you the smoothest motion (almost exactly matching the GBA refresh rate) and virtually no lag (under one frame of latency). CRT monitors are generally able to play things a bit loose with refresh rates. The problem is that an HDMI device is probably not going to sync to that. I don't know exactly how the HDMI mod handles non-standard refresh rates. If it just passes it through directly, your display probably won't work at all. If it buffers things out to 60Hz, then you'll get less smooth motion as duplicate frames are added to make up.

Probably on HDMI you need to run the regular version of GBI, which at 60Hz has 2-3 frames of latency, on top of whatever latency your HDMI display and the HDMI mod add, if any. It will also suffer the same problem of slightly jittery motion as duplicate frames will be added to hit 60Hz.

So, will you get a better image quality on HDMI? Yes. At the expense of extra lag and less smooth motion. I've not tried any of this, so maybe you've got a low-latency HDMI display, and maybe the HDMI mod will output at 59.7276Hz, and maybe your HDMI display will accept that non-standard refresh rate just fine.

I don't know exactly how the HDMI mod handles non-standard refresh rates.

It has no framebuffer, so it outputs whatever the Gamecube uses.

on top of whatever latency your HDMI display and the HDMI mod add

GCVideo-DVI adds less than two lines (not frames) of lag in the worst case and about two dozen pixels in the best case.

That don't sound too bad. The lag probably wouldn't be noticeable.
I don't want to spend money on a separate GC component cables and an HDMI mod for each separate system.

[Shuco13]

... for Smash Bros Melee Japanese, $10 USD for SD Gecko,...

Sorry I assumed any version of Smashbros would do. In that case most people would've needed only the SD Gecko, since I can't think of anybody not having any version of smashbros. As for the Xeno you're right: It's the cheapest and easiest method, provided you're able to install the chip yourself.

@Fudoh
You don't necessarily need an official SD Gecko. Any SD-to-Memorycard adapter will do.

[Extrems]

It will also suffer the same problem of slightly jittery motion as duplicate frames will be added to hit 60Hz.

No, the whole point of making GBI was to eliminate judder algorithmically. The project wouldn't exist otherwise.

Sorry I assumed any version of Smashbros would do.

And you're right.

[bobrocks95]

That don't sound too bad. The lag probably wouldn't be noticeable.
I don't want to spend money on a separate GC component cables and an HDMI mod for each separate system.

megalomaniac's solution coming out soon will have either a digital or an analogue (component) version. If you have multiple systems there's also plans for an external cord solution in the coming months.

[Guspaz]

It will also suffer the same problem of slightly jittery motion as duplicate frames will be added to hit 60Hz.

No, the whole point of making GBI was to eliminate judder algorithmically. The project wouldn't exist otherwise.

Fair enough, I assume you're doing interpolation, then? That comes at the cost of extra latency, so it's not a solution without a cost. In any event, I suppose it's a good solution for people who want something to "just work", but 2-3 frames of lag in GBI plus maybe 1-2 frames of lag in the display and you're looking at 3-5 frames of lag total, that's a decent chunk of lag.

Sorry I assumed any version of Smashbros would do.

And you're right.

Your instructions are a bit unclear, then: the way you placed the Japanese label right after the English label implies that the Japanese version is the one that is required. It doesn't change much anyhow, because the North American version of Smash Melee is even more expensive than the Japanese version (~$55 USD). I disagree with Shuco13 that everybody has the game, because the vast majority of GameCube owners don't have the game: it sold ~7 million copies to ~21 million GameCube owners. It's odd that the game is so expensive considering it sold a significant number of copies.

[lev11]

@guspaz, smash bros cost issue is same with goldeneye on n64, I guess both are a combination of being still sought after while being keepers with much replay value, whereas people are happy to sell off other titles.

@fudoh, sorry if this is too obvious on my ebay after searching if I scroll down left hand side there's a worldwide option to then search again?

@kamiboy, the xenogc is the boot chip in that example, you'd need to tweak the laser pot too though to boot from burn able mini-DVDs.

[Thomago]

@Extrems: Nice to see you here!

[Shuco13]

@Guspaz
Ok, so let's agree on the fact that IF you have Smashbros Melee it's your cheapest option since you only need the SD-adapter.

@Extrems
I've always wanted to thank you for your work but have never had an account on gc-forever. I'm really looking forward to future versions of GBI and hope some day using the GBA-GC connector will be possible. Good luck!

[Guspaz]

Ok, so let's agree on the fact that IF you have Smashbros Melee it's your cheapest option since you only need the SD-adapter.

It costs the same as the XenoGC, so it only ends up cheaper because you buy the SD card once instead of a different mini DVD for each new version of GBI. But it's very inconvenient, having to go through game menus every reboot, so as far as I can tell the only reason you'd ever want to do the Home Bros approach is if you don't know how to solder.

[Shuco13]

Well you don't get single DVDs either do you? A quality pack of DVDs also costs ~10€ if you want to be sure they work with the cube.
In any case yes, it might not be convinient, but an easy access method for those who hesitate to hardmod their systems.

BTW: You don't even need an SD-adapter. You just need a method to get the .gci file to a large memory card (Wii, use your friend's homebrew,...) and you're basically ready to launch GBI. So in case you already own a memory card there's even more potential to save money.

[Einzelherz]

I haven't paid much attention to this project in a while. Can the ULL version work over S-Video yet?

[bobrocks95]

I haven't paid much attention to this project in a while. Can the ULL version work over S-Video yet?

I saw someone say it worked for them, but my S-Video cord is on loan with my N64 to a friend, so I can't update and try it out for myself.

[Guspaz]

I've always used the ULL version on S-Video without issues on my PVM, but I'm not using the latest version of GBI, as everything seems to be working fine as-is (if it ain't broke?) and very little of the updates seems to impact the ULL version.

[bobrocks95]

I've always used the ULL version on S-Video without issues on my PVM, but I'm not using the latest version of GBI, as everything seems to be working fine as-is (if it ain't broke?) and very little of the updates seems to impact the ULL version.

Actually, you posting about it working may have been what I was thinking of. Either compatibility varies by display or Extrems fixed it shortly after someone brought it up- I got it pretty soon after the LL and ULL versions were added and had to stick with LL.

[Guspaz]

I believe I'm using 2015-10-14.

[Einzelherz]

Mine is likely much older than that so I'll look into the updated versions.

[bobrocks95]

Would like to hear back from you after you check it out, would be very nice to know.

[Smashbro29]

I've still been unable to load GBI in 240p only 480p.

Months ago I asked Extrems and he said load Melee in 480i to load GBI ULL in 240p.

I tried it, I get sound and visual garbage and the mini reports a 480i signal.

I have no idea how to move forward.

[bobrocks95]

I've still been unable to load GBI in 240p only 480p.

Months ago I asked Extrems and he said load Melee in 480i to load GBI ULL in 240p.

I tried it, I get sound and visual garbage and the mini reports a 480i signal.

I have no idea how to move forward.

Saw a post just now on gc-forever, give this a try maybe?

Create a file called gbi.dcp with the following line in it:
--scan-mode={non-interlace}
and place in same directory as gbi

This was in response to someone saying that it was defaulting to 480p for them.

[kamiboy]

Grabbing the latest version of ULL via http://files.extremscorner.org/gamecube/apps/gbi/latest and booting using Xeno gives me black and white on s-video, so the issue is still present it seems.

Using the regular gbp disc I get colour, so the fault is not with my TV.

[Guspaz]

Have you tried 2015-10-14? 240p S-Video works fine on both my PVM and my Epson projector with that build (also via XenoGC).

[kamiboy]

The latest is 2016-01-03 or some such. That is the one I use.

What options have you put in the config file?

[Guspaz]

I don't have a config file. I'm using the ULL version.

[kamiboy]

I am also using the ull version. I only have two blank mini-dvd discs left I do not want to waste them on experimentations. The black & white issue could be caused by many things.

Do you have the image file that you burned? Care to share it.

[Guspaz]

Sure, I'll figure something out to post it when I get home from work.

Caveat: it's a bit large. My bluray burner won't burn small ISOs (produces coaster), so I had to make the ISO myself and pad it out using a random file, so IIRC it was something like a gig and a half. Probably I only needed a few megabytes of padding, but I tossed a one point something gig file in there and it worked, so I just went with it, and didn't feel like experimenting.

EDIT: Are you using a PAL gamecube? I've got a North American unit.

[kamiboy]

I have a NA unit as well, the original version with the digital out port. Maybe you only need to give me the files on the iso, I can make them into a burnable dvd myself.

[Guspaz]

Here is the set of files/tools that I used to produce the ISO (including GBI):

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/484 ... 0151014.7z

I deleted the ~1GB video file from the disc folder that I had stuck in there to pad the ISO.

[kamiboy]

thanks. What I do not understand though is why colour over s-video would not work in the version prior, and the version after this one.

[Guspaz]

I don't know... This is the only version that I've ever used. I downloaded it, burned it (after making a few coasters due to the too-small ISOs), and then just started using it. It worked fine on my PVM, and on my Epson PowerLite 8345, which has the GameCube S-Video looped to it through the PVM.

There don't seem to have been any changes to the ULL version of consequence after this version, so I've never had any reason to upgrade.

But, if you're in the PAL region, why use S-Video instead of the native RGB of the console? And hopefully BadAssConsole's rumoured plug-and-play solution will actually be direct replacement component cables for NTSC consoles.