RetroUSB AVS - HDMI NES implemented on a FPGA!

[Adderall]

I had the death grip with a kickstarter v1.... my fix was to permanently install an everdrive n8

[Guspaz]

You should still take advantage of the free replacement. I mean, it's free.

[Sarto]

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting, but I found this thread when doing a search online for help. I just received my AVS last week. I am looking to connect it to a computer monitor / projector at work so we can have old-school gaming nights after work.

I have an HDMI to VGA adapter from Victsing. It works fine for converting my laptop HDMI out and putting it onto the projector VGA input in the conference room. I tried connecting the AVS though, and the projector would not recognize that anything was plugged in. I did the same thing and tried connecting it to one of my computer monitors, but still no image. I know the AVS isn't the issue because it worked on my flat screen at home.

Any ideas on the best way to get the HDMI out to show up through VGA?

[Guspaz]

IIRC the HDMI on the AVS doesn't output an EDID, which could be confusing your adapter.

[philexile]

I had a chance to try out the AVS and I have to say, I'm really impressed.

I'm using it with a Sony XBR-55HX929 LED monitor which has exactly 48ms (3 frames) of lag in game mode. As long as the TV is in game mode, the lag is always 3 frames no matter what resolution is being used. The 720p output from the AVS looks perfect.

The only small issue I noticed, which has been noted in some reviews, is that the pixel width is inconsistent when set to the third setting most resembling the typical NES display width. I figured out a way to fix this though and get a consistent pixel width.

I set the AVS display width to fill the 16:9 space completely – so the slider is set all the way to the right. I then set my TV to force 4:3, which is the "normal" setting under Wide. When I did that, the picture looks perfect.

Aside from this one thing, everything looked and played great.

I had been using a NESRGB modded Twin Famicom through an XRGB-1/Lumagen Radiance. The AVS is much sharper which I sort of like on one hand, but I also miss the more natural feel of my original setup. I'm wonder if this sharpness will be an issue for me when I finally get an OSSC?

The AVS also feels like it is snapper since the Radiance probably added a little lag.

I saw the US Gamer review didn't seem to like the design of the console. I think this is crazy. Its small and a nice play on the original design of the NES. It isn't awkward at all. One thing I will say is that I didn't like that the lid has to be up if you use the Famicom port – but a simple Famicom-to-NES adapter fixes that.

It is really great to be able to point to a product to recommend to those who love the NES, but lack a lot of technical knowledge.

[Guspaz]

I find the trapezoid unappealing. If the shape had been square, it would have looked much better.

[Brad251]

I find the trapezoid unappealing. If the shape had been square, it would have looked much better.

I have to agree. That trapezoid shape is just ugly.

[philexile]

It would just look like a pizza box then. Go trapezoid!

[Brad251]

Go pizza box or go home.

[Guspaz]

It would just look like a pizza box then. Go trapezoid!

Like the NES, you mean?

[BONKERS]

The trapezoid isn't the best, but it looks unique. And it looks like a NES.

[orange808]

Frankly, a proper top loader with the BLW and HiDefNES looks more like a NES--with compatibility for all my carts, no input lag, and robust video options (crop overscan, filters, interpolation, scanlines, 640p/720p/1080p).

Delicious.

Let's be honest; clones are cheap knockoffs. If you have the means, mod a real front loader. Get HDMi, a good RF out, composite outs, and that awesome pizza box look.

[Guspaz]

Yes, ideally, but a frontloader in good condition plus a BLW plus a HiDefNes and install costs more than an AVS, and requires a heck of a lot more effort to get going. The AVS is a good cheaper and simpler alternative for people who just want something plug-and-play.

[BONKERS]

Frankly, a proper top loader with the BLW and HiDefNES looks more like a NES--with compatibility for all my carts, no input lag, and robust video options (crop overscan, filters, interpolation, scanlines, 640p/720p/1080p).

Delicious.

Let's be honest; clones are cheap knockoffs. If you have the means, mod a real front loader. Get HDMi, a good RF out, composite outs, and that awesome pizza box look.

It's cheaper. Hassle free. Has essentially 100% compatibility until proven otherwise. No Input Lag. Better expansion audio than HDNES since it pulls it straight from the cart and isn't emulated/simulated. This also has the option to crop lines and scanlines.

You don't need 1080p output because then you are losing lines in scaling and wasting performance. 720p gives you full height scaling, which will then be scaled by the TV instead while still getting full height. Unlike with 1080p with 4x. With 5x you lose lines in scaling. Not many decent 1080p TVs 720p scaling is so horrendous that it will make 720p output bad from this thing.

4k TVs scale badly no matter whether you use 1080p or 720p. They are both far higher ratios than 720p to 1080p. But both are also able to be integer scaled to 4k if any half brained TV manufacturer allowed a point sampled upscale option to be added to their sets.


Authenticity is nothing more than some illusionary farce concocted by your mind. Because any mod made to an original NES hardly makes it authentic. So if you really want authenticity, then you should be using a stock NES and playing at best with composite video hooked up to your LCD then with a standard 72-Pin and all the shit that comes with that. Since the NES was never intended to be played in RGB or scaled digitally to high resolution with technology from 20 years in the future or with a decent card edge connector that doesn't end up compromising it's own reliability due to how it's designed.

[leonk]

^^^ so many 1/2 truths by someone who obviously hasn't truly tested all the available solutions out there (NESRGB + xrgbmini, hi def nes, avs) I must conclude must be a forum troll who has an invested interest in AVS (as owner or contributor) or just jumps to conclusions based on low res YouTube videos.

where to begin.

- properly installed, hidef nes or nesrgb is as reliable as the original console. Reliability of the avs design hasn't been proven. Need time to prove it.
- 720p was chosen not because 1080p was a waste, but because the AVS was engineered to be a low cost hdmi solution. Bunnyboy could have paid $30 for the much more powerful FPGA that would have done so much more (including 1080p). But then it would be over his price point. (ie would you pay $30 more for 1080p and in game menus? and other features that can be added via usb upgrades?)
- exp audio on cart is analog. AVS has to sample it and try and clean it up to digitize. Exp audio isnt universal. Everdrive/powerpak implement (somewhat) at one audio level, real carts at another. Sampling that port all the time can add hiss. See the debate of resistor value to use in simple exp mod to see what I'm talking about. Kevtris did to exp what AVS did to the PPU. If you got issue with pure digital, correctly amplified exp audio, then why don't you with the PPU skmulation in the AVS??

Don't understand why you need to make a battle out of this. Many people (me included) want the best video/audio solution at ANY cost. If there was a $1000 NES that was 4K, 5.1 surround, on screen menus, internet game tracking, plays real carts .. I'd buy it and talk about it.

[Arasoi]

.

[opt2not]

What's the word on accessing the menu without having to power on and off?

[Guspaz]

It can be accessed with a button combination, but the menu/UI runs on the simulated NES itself, so resetting the console to use it is unavoidable.

[lettuce]

Is the beta firmware available to the general public, if so where can i find it?

Also why am i getting strange artifact's on the background graphics when the screen scrolls left or right??, setting the pixel aspect to its lowest setting seems to remedy this but then the screen looks too narrow??

[Guspaz]

They're all here:

http://retrousb.com/downloads/

It looks like the newest beta was 1.20b6 on 2016-09-28.

[lettuce]

Thanks!!

Also if im using the NES cart slot and a Everdrive cart will i be able to use the expansion audio for JPN games?? or does the expansion audio only work via the famicom slot?

[Arasoi]

.

[Elrinth]

I'm using famicom with it... seating the carts perfectly seem to be kinda wonky.

[lunch_box]

I really ant one of these...BUT...Jesus Chris that shipping to UK is extortionate

[ApolloBoy]

I really ant one of these...BUT...Jesus Chris that shipping to UK is extortionate

That's international shipping for ya.

[strygo]

I picked one of these up after the Nt Mini went out of stock. I had been excited to learn that a more recent update to the firmware added custom palettes (many people complained about the built-in palette in their initial reviews when the device came out). I was sad to learn that the updated firmware only comes with a few more palette choices and not the ability to use totally custom ones. I'd really love to get FBX's and nakedarthur's palettes added. Anyone happen to know bunnyboy who might be able to convince him? I sent a mail to his customer support and received a "thanks for the feedback" mail.

Apart from this nit, I really like the device. I've used my EverDrive N8 with it and it works very nicely. Others complained about the menu, but it is reminiscent of the ones found in Secret of Mana, so I happen to dig it.

[jd213]

Sorry for the bump, but I was using my AVS for the first time in a while, and I was reminded how I don't like its Famicom slot (I hear its NES slot isn't so great either). There's way too much room around it and it's way too shallow, so it can't hold cartridges straight like a real FC, meaning that one has to be extra careful when inserting/removing carts, and if one bumps the cart it can make it glitch out. I'm also afraid of bending a cart's PCB.

Has anyone made a 3D printed replacement or something? I personally wouldn't mind if the NES slot was blocked.

[BONKERS]

Cut a small piece of cardboard to fit? Real cheap fix heh.
I haven't used any FC carts with mine so I don't have a frame of reference.