HDMI>VGA converter

[shmupsrocks]

Which are the best converters for going from HDMI to VGA?

[digitron]

Which are the best converters for going from HDMI to VGA?

Hello, last time I did this I used the Portta HDMI to VGA and it did the job fine, it was recommended by the Retrotink group.

[jd213]

A lot of adapters have off-spec voltages according to the following spreadsheet, although I'm not sure if it makes a noticeable difference:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Misteraddons is coming out with an adapter (that can be used with just about any HDMI source, not just MiSTer), and it reportedly has proper output so might be the best quality, plus it also has S-Video output (via Saturn cable). It likely won't be as cheap as the already available adapters, though.

https://misteraddons.com/products/refle ... -to-analog

Edit: Dunno if this adapter will work with HDCP-encrypted signals (most other adapters do), although it should be fairly easy to get HDCP-stripping HDMI splitters on places like Aliexpress.

[Gunstar]

A lot of adapters have off-spec voltages according to the following spreadsheet, although I'm not sure if it makes a noticeable difference:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Misteraddons is coming out with an adapter (that can be used with just about any HDMI source, not just MiSTer), and it reportedly has proper output so might be the best quality, plus it also has S-Video output (via Saturn cable). It likely won't be as cheap as the already available adapters, though.

I didn't see Porkshop reply to the guy who made that spreadsheet but I hope it meets his standards, would be nice to get a community made DAC that isn't HDFury expensive or a lottery buy from China

[Josh128]

I have a variety of them ranging from StarTech to Tripp Lite. If you are interested I can sell you one for cheap. If you want something specific tested, I can do that and let you know if it works before you buy,

[shmupsrocks]

That spreadsheet is incredibly helpful.

The Misteraddons DAC will surely be great.

Is input lag ever a concern with these?

Here's a list from RetroRGB:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/retrorgb/li ... etrorgb-20

[Josh128]

The first tab mentions "Grade A, B, or C", but no grades are listed for any of the DACs?

I assume Green= A and Red = C? No idea what grade beige, gray, and mint green are. Some of the grays dont even process the signal yet others like the Tendaks seem to work fine, yet they are the same color?! How is anyone supposed to know this?

[jd213]

I'd like to know more about that spreadsheet myself, looked through the author's (kurohouou) twitter and didn't find anything that explains much about it.

I assume off-spec voltages just mean that the colors might look slightly off, and it's not near enough to damage a CRT, though.

[jd213]

Kuro Houou made an updated spreadsheet with easier to understand rankings:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

As well as a detailed technical explanation with screenshots:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fz3 ... 2nlbp9r33g

[Josh128]

So...stay away from the Rankie/AG 6200 based converters? It shows the gamma issue but doesnt show if its possible to make good with monitor settings.

[kitty666cats]

AG6200 DACs are poopy, for real

[Gara]

For anyone looking to pick up an HDFury X3 or X4 you can get a decent price on the official website if you use their sale area.

https://hdfury.com/product/insane-deals/
Password: welcome
Hdfury X3 is $100 and x4 is $200. Coupon code "discount" will get you 10% off. Shipping seems to run at a fixed rate of $32, but it is quite fast.

You can sometimes find them cheaper on Ebay, but this way you get a new unit plus all the accessories. (Photo stolen from EzWidor)

Spoiler

[Ikaruga11]

The HD Fury X3/3 is very good. I have one and it works perfectly.

[kitty666cats]

The HDFury X4 definitely isn’t worth the extra $100. I heard from a reliable source (the guy who has tested tons of DACs and made a spreadsheet) that stock of the HDFury 3 and 4 is running EXTREMELY low. We are both members of the HDFury Discord and he has communicated with them privately.

Sooo, if you’re in the market for a HDF3 or 4 I’d pick one up sooner than later. You can always get a used one on eBay though. I really wish I had a HDFury Nano GX, the JunkerHQ wiki’s section on DACs for the OSSC says it’s pretty much the most accurate one. It also has an adjustable slider on it for adjusting the gamma level of the video output. I NEVER see those ones on eBay, it’s a bummer.

P.S. make sure to get a HDFury 3 that uses a miniUSB for the power connector. There’s older models out there that use this super tiny barrel jack that’s extremely hard to find.

[ldeveraux]

I heard from a reliable source (the guy who has tested tons of DACs and made a spreadsheet) that stock of the HDFury 3 and 4 is running EXTREMELY low.

It was Bob wasn't it!!

[kitty666cats]

I heard from a reliable source (the guy who has tested tons of DACs and made a spreadsheet) that stock of the HDFury 3 and 4 is running EXTREMELY low.

It was Bob wasn't it!!

Nah, my buddy Kuro Houou. He tests a bunch of HDMI to VGA DACs to find which work best and are most color-accurate for MiSTer direct video output (he’s found that the HDFury 3 & 4 are pretty much the best ones out there).

I couldn’t picture RetroRGB Bob taking the time to test a bunch of DACs for color/voltage accuracy with a scope and prying them open to check the different chipsets etc. He just suggests a random few kinda shitty ones on his website.

[ldeveraux]

It was Bob wasn't it!!

Nah, my buddy Kuro Houou. He tests a bunch of HDMI to VGA DACs to find which work best and are most color-accurate for MiSTer direct video output (he’s found that the HDFury 3 & 4 are pretty much the best ones out there).

I couldn’t picture RetroRGB Bob taking the time to test a bunch of DACs for color/voltage accuracy with a scope and prying them open to check the different chipsets etc. He just suggests a random few kinda shitty ones on his website.

I knew you'd get my joke!

[strayan]

I was lead to believe the performance of the hdfury3 was suboptimal https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php?tit ... s_for_OSSC

[kitty666cats]

I was lead to believe the performance of the hdfury3 was suboptimal https://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php?tit ... s_for_OSSC

Yeah, I haven't really noticed that issue from the JunkerHQ wiki. There's different firmwares for the thing, maybe they were using the older one. All the people I know who have a HDF3 have nothing but great things to say about 'em. That being said, I would still absolutely love to have a Nano GX, haha.

BTW that Tendak they're comparing it with is almost impossible to find now. That's likely one of the older Tendaks which used a completely different (and superior) chipset than all the ones nowadays have.

[Lord of Pirates]

Minor ringing and a slightly softer output would be acceptable trade-offs, if they're still problems, for no black crush.

[fernan1234]

Not worth it when you can just roll the dice through a bunch of cheap adapters that will have none of those issues plus no black crush. Good cheap adapters are still out there, you just have to look around. Don't spend so much money on HDFurys.

[kitty666cats]

Not worth it when you can just roll the dice through a bunch of cheap adapters that will have none of those issues plus no black crush. Good cheap adapters are still out there, you just have to look around. Don't spend so much money on HDFurys.

Yeah, the prices are a bit crazy. I got lucky and found mine new in box on Facebook marketplace for $40. The gamble on the cheap adapters is still pretty bad, though - there's SO much shit to sift through. Of course, Amazon's got one hell of a return policy


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was linked earlier in this thread, but this is definitely worth checking out. It highlights just how good the HDFury 3 is, still may be worth the money for people who care enough:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fz3 ... 3Iyjk/edit

[fernan1234]

Yeah, besides making Amazon partially compensate for their bad practices by making full use of their return policy, looking for second hand deals for known-good DACs is a good way to go. I got a particular Startech DAC (not the one tested in that doc, another one that retailed for around $150) that has zero issues and accurate levels for less than 20 bucks shipped.

[kitty666cats]

https://misterfpga.org/viewtopic.php?t=7151

If you read through this thread, Kuro and other people mention never having seen the HDFury 3's issues documented on the JunkerHQ wiki. And Kuro has done some deep-dive testing on all these different DACs

[fernan1234]

If you read through this thread, Kuro and other people mention never having seen the HDFury 3's issues documented on the JunkerHQ wiki. And Kuro has done some deep-dive testing on all these different DACs

I can only speak of my experience with a white HDFurry 3 bought directly from HDFury. It had no issues with HD signals, but the ringing was obvious with 240p (using direct video from a MiSTer) as well as 480i which immediately made me realize I had wasted 130 bucks on it when I had at least 2 different DACs bought for cheap that performed the same but without the ringing on SD stuff.

That said, there may well be some variance among HD Furys with some units not having this problem.

[kitty666cats]

If you read through this thread, Kuro and other people mention never having seen the HDFury 3's issues documented on the JunkerHQ wiki. And Kuro has done some deep-dive testing on all these different DACs

I can only speak of my experience with a white HDFurry 3 bought directly from HDFury. It had no issues with HD signals, but the ringing was obvious with 240p (using direct video from a MiSTer) as well as 480i which immediately made me realize I had wasted 130 bucks on it when I had at least 2 different DACs bought for cheap that performed the same but without the ringing on SD stuff.

That said, there may well be some variance among HD Furys with some units not having this problem.

I have one of the black ones and haven’t personally used it for 240p yet. Most often I use it at 720p from my PS4 to watch shit on my 34” CRT presentation monitor

[Josh128]

These things are literally cheap as dirt and honestly I need to revisit the ones I have as I dont recall any image issues with them. I cant imagine paying >$100 for a unit with ringing issues vs $10 for a unit that works perfectly fine with no obvious visual issues.