Windows 7 and 720x480 60Hz CVI CRT issues

[Snayperskaya]

Hiya. I've spent the last couple days "reviving" a fairly OK PC for basic emulation, which consist of: Core 2 Duo E7500, 4GB DDR2, Radeon HD4670 512MB. A CVI SD TV (It's a old 20' CRT) is plugged at the S-VIDEO port. by a cable like this (7-pin S-VIDEO):



It was running Windows XP on before and the videocard was outputting to the TV just like a CRT monitor. I can choose from 800x600 and above and it scales properly. When on a emulator, I could set it to 720x480@60Hz fullscreen for a great gaming experience.

Windows 7 have a serious issue, though: With Windows 7 build-in drivers, I can choose just three resolutions: 640x432, 640x480 and 720x480 and I'm limited to 25/29Hz (50 and 60Hz is available but it causes the video signal to garble), making VSYNC unusable or screen tearing very badly. Even with ATI drivers I can't get past those limitations.

What I've tried, so far:

* The three drivers ATi have at their site (with and without Catalyst - couldn't find a way to force the CRT to work as a standard monitor and whatever I tried ended up in very flickey screen on resolutions that were working);

* CRT Emu Driver. Tried both 1.2b and 2.0 beta. 1.2b didn't work, still could choose only from default resolutions and refresh rate and 2.0 gave me a blue tinted screen, also native 720x480 @60 Hz can't be selected for Windows usage - I could select 800x600 @75Hz or 1024x768@ 60Hz only.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Fudoh]

and I'm limited to 25/29Hz (50 and 60Hz is available but it causes the video signal to garble)

25 means 50Hz interlaced and 29Hz means 59.94Hz interlaced. If you choose 50 or 60Hz you get progressive 31khz resolutions, so your TV can't display them.

I don't think that the CRT EMU Drivers work with your card's s-video output. They only affect the analogue RGBHV output (if your card is supported).

[Snayperskaya]

and I'm limited to 25/29Hz (50 and 60Hz is available but it causes the video signal to garble)

25 means 50Hz interlaced and 29Hz means 59.94Hz interlaced. If you choose 50 or 60Hz you get progressive 31khz resolutions, so your TV can't display them.

I don't think that the CRT EMU Drivers work with your card's s-video output. They only affect the analogue RGBHV output (if your card is supported).

Cool. but how come XP and 7 behave differently on this aspect? Also, why does Retroarch (or any other emulator) detects the TV's frequency as ~30Hz, making the VSYNC option unusable?

Looks like both Windows output video thru different methods, otherwise I should be able to choose from higher resolutions just like on XP (where I can go as high as 1600xetc).

[Fudoh]

why does Retroarch (or any other emulator) detects the TV's frequency as ~30Hz, making the VSYNC option unusable?

because it can't deal with the interlaced output and reads it wrong.

Looks like both Windows output video thru different methods, otherwise I should be able to choose from higher resolutions just like on XP (where I can go as high as 1600xetc).

I would really just accept that the s-video output on those cards is utter bullshit.

If you want real low res (240p) from your video card you have to deal with it's RGBHV output. If you "just" want a picture plus the flexibility of using higher resolutions, maybe try an external scan converter instead. This way you can drive your windows setup at regular PC resolutions and the external box will provide compatible s-video output for your TV at all times. I see a Extron VSC 150 for $20 on ebay.com right now.

[Snayperskaya]

why does Retroarch (or any other emulator) detects the TV's frequency as ~30Hz, making the VSYNC option unusable?

because it can't deal with the interlaced output and reads it wrong.

Looks like both Windows output video thru different methods, otherwise I should be able to choose from higher resolutions just like on XP (where I can go as high as 1600xetc).

I would really just accept that the s-video output on those cards is utter bullshit.

If you want real low res (240p) from your video card you have to deal with it's RGBHV output. If you "just" want a picture plus the flexibility of using higher resolutions, maybe try an external scan converter instead. This way you can drive your windows setup at regular PC resolutions and the external box will provide compatible s-video output for your TV at all times. I see a Extron VSC 150 for $20 on ebay.com right now.

Sadly I live in a country with loads of restrictions on importings (~2 months for a deliver and a 60-100% tax on both item and shipping costs), so I'd like to make best use of what I have in my hands. I've swapped from XP to 7 on this machine because I can't get Launchbox to work on XP

I'd be satisfied with a way to make Win7 output like XP - even though it isn't "pure" or anything, it works OK for me. If I can't find a suitable way I'd probably try another frontend (or even roll back for Hyperspin, even though setting up the whole thing is a pain).

EDIT: I don't know if I understood what you meant, but I am using composite video for the TV, not SVIDEO. The SVIDEO plug is on the card only.

[Fudoh]

even locally you should be able to find a VGA to composite converter for the price of a McDonalds meal. Going this way saves you a lot of trouble configuring your setup.

[Snayperskaya]

even locally you should be able to find a VGA to composite converter for the price of a McDonalds meal. Going this way saves you a lot of trouble configuring your setup.

I wish this was true... 20 USD fetches me a SVIDEO/composite, at best. VGA to Component conversors are on the 60+ USD mark here.

[Snayperskaya]

Does anyone else have any other suggestion on this? Done some more fiddling with drivers/CRTEMU but couldn't achieve a positive outcome.

What boggles my mind is the fact that I can take a glimpse on the monitor working at PC-oriented resolution (looks like 800x600) on the first reboot after installing a driver, but it only lasts a second or two and goes to 720x480 at interlaced. The way XP works is perfect: I can use the PC-oriented resolution (even if it's a bit flicky, it works) on the frontend and just switch to 480i@60Hz (native videocomponent mode, great picture quality) on fullscreen at the emulator.

[BazookaBen]

Have you tried creating the resolution with CRU?

http://www.monitortests.com/forum/threa ... tility-cru

[Snayperskaya]

Have you tried creating the resolution with CRU?

http://www.monitortests.com/forum/threa ... tility-cru

Not yet. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

[Snayperskaya]

Tried it with native and AMD drivers but Windows didn't add the selected resolutions.

Well, I think I'll just have to stick to ol' trusty XP (and forget about Launchbox) for this. Thanks for all help.

[BazookaBen]

Tried it with native and AMD drivers but Windows didn't add the selected resolutions.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, you need quickres.exe to select the low resolutions:

http://www.ultimarc.com/download_old.html

Scroll to bottom of page. It's the only tool I know of that lets me select resolutions under 480p.