Wii 480p Bug and Revisions?

[bizarrewitness]

Funny I spent a decent amount of effort trying to acquire a CPU-40/60 revision console and I come to found out the first models with the 480p fix are slightly sharper than the later RVL-001 models without the 480p fix.

So if I understood correctly, the best picture from the Wii would be with an early model, 480p fix, deflicker off and framebuffer? And a later model with deflicker off + framebuffer follows close behind?

I recently found out about these latter two fixes and planned on downloading USBLoaderGX to my Wii for them. However, I’d be very interested in a more simpler way of doing so. Particularly just a way to get all these image fixes in the most stock way possible. I’ll look into the custom file posted here in this thread but I’m wondering if there’s been any improvements made on that front?

edit: after reading vaguerant’s post on GitHub concerning the Wii’s video output, I think I’m just going to leave my console as is…

[dandiego]

Funny I spent a decent amount of effort trying to acquire a CPU-40/60 revision console and I come to found out the first models with the 480p fix are slightly sharper than the later RVL-001 models without the 480p fix.

So if I understood correctly, the best picture from the Wii would be with an early model, 480p fix, deflicker off and framebuffer? And a later model with deflicker off + framebuffer follows close behind?

I recently found out about these latter two fixes and planned on downloading USBLoaderGX to my Wii for them. However, I’d be very interested in a more simpler way of doing so. Particularly just a way to get all these image fixes in the most stock way possible. I’ll look into the custom file posted here in this thread but I’m wondering if there’s been any improvements made on that front?

edit: after reading vaguerant’s post on GitHub concerning the Wii’s video output, I think I’m just going to leave my console as is…

Do you have a link to that Github post? Thanks.

[bobrocks95]

Funny I spent a decent amount of effort trying to acquire a CPU-40/60 revision console and I come to found out the first models with the 480p fix are slightly sharper than the later RVL-001 models without the 480p fix.

So if I understood correctly, the best picture from the Wii would be with an early model, 480p fix, deflicker off and framebuffer? And a later model with deflicker off + framebuffer follows close behind?

I recently found out about these latter two fixes and planned on downloading USBLoaderGX to my Wii for them. However, I’d be very interested in a more simpler way of doing so. Particularly just a way to get all these image fixes in the most stock way possible. I’ll look into the custom file posted here in this thread but I’m wondering if there’s been any improvements made on that front?

edit: after reading vaguerant’s post on GitHub concerning the Wii’s video output, I think I’m just going to leave my console as is…

I would still absolutely take a 40/60 revision with an AVE-HDMI installed over any other option. Too many fried GPUs on the older consoles to be worth the hassle of tracking down one of the magic few with the right encoder and then you find out you've got green pixels dancing around anyways.

[bizarrewitness]

Do you have a link to that Github post? Thanks.

https://gist.github.com/vaguerant/eb9c7 ... f22b2b0f35

[bizarrewitness]

I would still absolutely take a 40/60 revision with an AVE-HDMI installed over any other option. Too many fried GPUs on the older consoles to be worth the hassle of tracking down one of the magic few with the right encoder and then you find out you've got green pixels dancing around anyways.

Yeah, I consider myself lucky I found an open box console CIB a while ago that hadn’t been used for a decent deal.

I’ve definitely considered getting ElectronShephard’s kit installed, I’ll likely get that done some time in the future. Right now I have it hooked up to an EDTV and it looks real nice.

[Serif]

Does the AVE-HDMI support 240p output?

The filter on 480p content is so noticeable, especially on 2D WiiWare titles, that it's probably worth getting the kit installed to bypass it completely. Pretty irritating that this is even an issue in the first place, but whatever.

[bobrocks95]

Does the AVE-HDMI support 240p output?

The filter on 480p content is so noticeable, especially on 2D WiiWare titles, that it's probably worth getting the kit installed to bypass it completely. Pretty irritating that this is even an issue in the first place, but whatever.

It uses GCVideo, so yes. Also if you have a Tink 4K or Morph scaler it looks even better since you can output the framebuffer res directly and skip another scaling pass.

[ZellSF]

I would still absolutely take a 40/60 revision with an AVE-HDMI installed over any other option. Too many fried GPUs on the older consoles to be worth the hassle of tracking down one of the magic few with the right encoder and then you find out you've got green pixels dancing around anyways.

I doubt there's that many fried GPUs:

• I haven't really heard anything in the mainstream about this. You don't even have to go into gaming circles to find people aware of PS2 DRE, Xbox 360 RROD or PS3 YLOD
• Even in gaming circles, this seems to be rather unknown to lots of people
• The main source of failures is claimed to be turning on WiiConnect24, an optional feature that requires Wifi

I think if you're getting cheap Wiis from local flea markets / sites you're more likely to end up ahead economically than if you go for AVE-HDMI modding. Especially if any of the following hold true:

• You also want a spare Wii
• You have to ship Wiis internationally for modding
• You can find value in any non-480p fix compatible Wiis you end up with
• You buy bundles and get extra accessories you need for cheap

Now obviously it's still the inferior option (worse audio and video), but it's not hard to make a case for it for anyone who doesn't have an unlimited budget.

I wish there were a way of disabling deflicker when launching GC games from the disc channel, since apparently that bypasses using the Wii video encoder, so there's no 480p bug?

Where have you heard this? I don't believe this is true. There just isn't a lot of reason to use the disc channel so no one is interested in the work of hacking it.

You can however use USB Loader GX to launch Gamecube discs with the 480p fix. Either with DIOS MIOS or Nintendont. I think original MIOS, Devolution and Swiss should all also be possible to run with the 480p fix, but I haven't verified.

Deflicker is something entirely different from 480p fix.

[nostos156]

Funny I spent a decent amount of effort trying to acquire a CPU-40/60 revision console and I come to found out the first models with the 480p fix are slightly sharper than the later RVL-001 models without the 480p fix.

So if I understood correctly, the best picture from the Wii would be with an early model, 480p fix, deflicker off and framebuffer? And a later model with deflicker off + framebuffer follows close behind?

I recently found out about these latter two fixes and planned on downloading USBLoaderGX to my Wii for them. However, I’d be very interested in a more simpler way of doing so. Particularly just a way to get all these image fixes in the most stock way possible. I’ll look into the custom file posted here in this thread but I’m wondering if there’s been any improvements made on that front?

edit: after reading vaguerant’s post on GitHub concerning the Wii’s video output, I think I’m just going to leave my console as is…

I would still absolutely take a 40/60 revision with an AVE-HDMI installed over any other option. Too many fried GPUs on the older consoles to be worth the hassle of tracking down one of the magic few with the right encoder and then you find out you've got green pixels dancing around anyways.

Does the AVE-HDMI bypass the benefits that a BU99 chips gives you?

I read that even with buying 60 version consoles, it's not guaranteed you'll get a BU99 chip at all.

[bobrocks95]

Funny I spent a decent amount of effort trying to acquire a CPU-40/60 revision console and I come to found out the first models with the 480p fix are slightly sharper than the later RVL-001 models without the 480p fix.

So if I understood correctly, the best picture from the Wii would be with an early model, 480p fix, deflicker off and framebuffer? And a later model with deflicker off + framebuffer follows close behind?

I recently found out about these latter two fixes and planned on downloading USBLoaderGX to my Wii for them. However, I’d be very interested in a more simpler way of doing so. Particularly just a way to get all these image fixes in the most stock way possible. I’ll look into the custom file posted here in this thread but I’m wondering if there’s been any improvements made on that front?

edit: after reading vaguerant’s post on GitHub concerning the Wii’s video output, I think I’m just going to leave my console as is…

I would still absolutely take a 40/60 revision with an AVE-HDMI installed over any other option. Too many fried GPUs on the older consoles to be worth the hassle of tracking down one of the magic few with the right encoder and then you find out you've got green pixels dancing around anyways.

Does the AVE-HDMI bypass the benefits that a BU99 chips gives you?

I read that even with buying 60 version consoles, it's not guaranteed you'll get a BU99 chip at all.

AVE-HDMI bypasses the 480p bug since the encoder isn't used for the digital output. You also get the benefit of the raw framebuffer resolution for Tink 4K/Morph and of course all digital video and audio.

And yes, getting any particular console revision doesn't guarantee you get any specific encoder. Haven't heard any progress on identifying the encoder by serial number or anything. I'll continue to argue against randomly buying Wiis and crossing your fingers (pain to disassemble, not that cheap anymore locally, GPU could be damaged anyways) and ZellSF will continue to argue the opposite.

[nostos156]

I would still absolutely take a 40/60 revision with an AVE-HDMI installed over any other option. Too many fried GPUs on the older consoles to be worth the hassle of tracking down one of the magic few with the right encoder and then you find out you've got green pixels dancing around anyways.

Does the AVE-HDMI bypass the benefits that a BU99 chips gives you?

I read that even with buying 60 version consoles, it's not guaranteed you'll get a BU99 chip at all.

AVE-HDMI bypasses the 480p bug since the encoder isn't used for the digital output. You also get the benefit of the raw framebuffer resolution for Tink 4K/Morph and of course all digital video and audio.

And yes, getting any particular console revision doesn't guarantee you get any specific encoder. Haven't heard any progress on identifying the encoder by serial number or anything. I'll continue to argue against randomly buying Wiis and crossing your fingers (pain to disassemble, not that cheap anymore locally, GPU could be damaged anyways) and ZellSF will continue to argue the opposite.

I mean, if you're hard modding a HDMI chip on board you're going to be disassembling anyway

From what I can guess, the White Mario Kart pack is probably the most likely to have the BU99 chips since that came out half a year later than the black Wii bundles.

[Rulumi]

For the 480p bug software patch to work you want a BU9055, not a BU99XX.

[ZellSF]

Not sure why you would disassembly a Wii that's compatible with the 480p fix.

not that cheap anymore locally

I mean you can get two Wiis shipped from eBay to Kentucky (let's just assume your profile location is what you mean by locally) for less than the AVE-HDMI kit without shipping and installation. If you're even a bit thrifty, you can find them for cheaper. Add in shipping + taxes + installation (your own time has value) you can at least get three Wiis and still end up having saved money. More if any of the factors I mentioned hold true.

Maybe if you need graded new in box Wiis, then they're not cheap locally, but then you can't be on much of a budget anyway.

[spmbx]

Maybe it differs by location? My local goodwill has a stack of wii's for 15 a piece and they aren't going anywhere.

[nostos156]

I would still absolutely take a 40/60 revision with an AVE-HDMI installed over any other option. Too many fried GPUs on the older consoles to be worth the hassle of tracking down one of the magic few with the right encoder and then you find out you've got green pixels dancing around anyways.

Does the AVE-HDMI bypass the benefits that a BU99 chips gives you?

I read that even with buying 60 version consoles, it's not guaranteed you'll get a BU99 chip at all.

AVE-HDMI bypasses the 480p bug since the encoder isn't used for the digital output. You also get the benefit of the raw framebuffer resolution for Tink 4K/Morph and of course all digital video and audio.

And yes, getting any particular console revision doesn't guarantee you get any specific encoder. Haven't heard any progress on identifying the encoder by serial number or anything. I'll continue to argue against randomly buying Wiis and crossing your fingers (pain to disassemble, not that cheap anymore locally, GPU could be damaged anyways) and ZellSF will continue to argue the opposite.

Actually, I'm curious. If the HDMI mod for the Wii bypasses all of this crap, does that mean it provides an output that perfectly matches a Gamecube as well? Would it be the ideal solution to those wanting perfect GC output on their Wii's without all the issues? I'm not sure if the software bugfix gets the output as sharp as a native Gamecube using component cables.

[bobrocks95]

Does the AVE-HDMI bypass the benefits that a BU99 chips gives you?

I read that even with buying 60 version consoles, it's not guaranteed you'll get a BU99 chip at all.

AVE-HDMI bypasses the 480p bug since the encoder isn't used for the digital output. You also get the benefit of the raw framebuffer resolution for Tink 4K/Morph and of course all digital video and audio.

And yes, getting any particular console revision doesn't guarantee you get any specific encoder. Haven't heard any progress on identifying the encoder by serial number or anything. I'll continue to argue against randomly buying Wiis and crossing your fingers (pain to disassemble, not that cheap anymore locally, GPU could be damaged anyways) and ZellSF will continue to argue the opposite.

Actually, I'm curious. If the HDMI mod for the Wii bypasses all of this crap, does that mean it provides an output that perfectly matches a Gamecube as well? Would it be the ideal solution to those wanting perfect GC output on their Wii's without all the issues? I'm not sure if the software bugfix gets the output as sharp as a native Gamecube using component cables.

HDMI on GameCube and HDMI on Wii should be exactly the same as far as I know. Both use GCVideo after all. HDMI vs component cables *could* depend on your setup, but generally HDMI will have a slight advantage just from being digital, though it's likely going to be a very small difference.

Removing a scaling pass with the Fix Video Off setting on GCVideo with either HDMI solution is definitely an improvement though. See the Double Dash screenshots here: https://consolemods.org/wiki/AV:RetroTI ... o_GameCube

[nostos156]

AVE-HDMI bypasses the 480p bug since the encoder isn't used for the digital output. You also get the benefit of the raw framebuffer resolution for Tink 4K/Morph and of course all digital video and audio.

And yes, getting any particular console revision doesn't guarantee you get any specific encoder. Haven't heard any progress on identifying the encoder by serial number or anything. I'll continue to argue against randomly buying Wiis and crossing your fingers (pain to disassemble, not that cheap anymore locally, GPU could be damaged anyways) and ZellSF will continue to argue the opposite.

Actually, I'm curious. If the HDMI mod for the Wii bypasses all of this crap, does that mean it provides an output that perfectly matches a Gamecube as well? Would it be the ideal solution to those wanting perfect GC output on their Wii's without all the issues? I'm not sure if the software bugfix gets the output as sharp as a native Gamecube using component cables.

HDMI on GameCube and HDMI on Wii should be exactly the same as far as I know. Both use GCVideo after all. HDMI vs component cables *could* depend on your setup, but generally HDMI will have a slight advantage just from being digital, though it's likely going to be a very small difference.

Removing a scaling pass with the Fix Video Off setting on GCVideo with either HDMI solution is definitely an improvement though. See the Double Dash screenshots here: https://consolemods.org/wiki/AV:RetroTI ... o_GameCube

Yeah, if the Wii HDMI output is the exact same as using HDMI on a Gamecube DOL-001 then the WIi definitely seems the superior way to go, assuming you can install it.

A shame we've still found no workaround for the later revisions of the Wii boards for the 480p fix as of yet for those who can't. Has it been figured out if it is entirely possible or we're just missing the correct registers to change?

[RebeL9]

Actually, I'm curious. If the HDMI mod for the Wii bypasses all of this crap, does that mean it provides an output that perfectly matches a Gamecube as well? Would it be the ideal solution to those wanting perfect GC output on their Wii's without all the issues? I'm not sure if the software bugfix gets the output as sharp as a native Gamecube using component cables.

HDMI on GameCube and HDMI on Wii should be exactly the same as far as I know. Both use GCVideo after all. HDMI vs component cables *could* depend on your setup, but generally HDMI will have a slight advantage just from being digital, though it's likely going to be a very small difference.

Removing a scaling pass with the Fix Video Off setting on GCVideo with either HDMI solution is definitely an improvement though. See the Double Dash screenshots here: https://consolemods.org/wiki/AV:RetroTI ... o_GameCube

Yeah, if the Wii HDMI output is the exact same as using HDMI on a Gamecube DOL-001 then the WIi definitely seems the superior way to go, assuming you can install it.

A shame we've still found no workaround for the later revisions of the Wii boards for the 480p fix as of yet for those who can't. Has it been figured out if it is entirely possible or we're just missing the correct registers to change?

There were some guys looking into this and doing some research to nail down which revisions are affected and out of that work out some kind of universal fix. But I haven't heard anything new. This would be a gamechanger if they manage to succeed. The benefits would be to have a better cooled down system together with the sharpets image output.

[nostos156]

Would anyone have any idea of how this could happen, assuming this is accurate?

I have a Gamecube with RGB Scart and launch day Wii with component cables, PAL versions. The picture quality on Gamecube is MILES better with RGB than the Wii with component. It's strange, the Wii picture is sharp but lacks the brightness, clarity and colour intensity of the RGB Gamecube. In Wii games the picture is great, it only occurs in Gamecube games.

So I use each console for it's own games.

At first I would have said the way the TV handles the RGB SCART/Component is the issue, but they specifically pointed out Wii games look fine and only GC ones look dull as hell compared to the RGB SCART. I've never heard of this before. Is it related to this? https://www.retrorgb.com/wiirgbvscomponent.html

[RebeL9]

Would anyone have any idea of how this could happen, assuming this is accurate?

I have a Gamecube with RGB Scart and launch day Wii with component cables, PAL versions. The picture quality on Gamecube is MILES better with RGB than the Wii with component. It's strange, the Wii picture is sharp but lacks the brightness, clarity and colour intensity of the RGB Gamecube. In Wii games the picture is great, it only occurs in Gamecube games.

So I use each console for it's own games.

At first I would have said the way the TV handles the RGB SCART/Component is the issue, but they specifically pointed out Wii games look fine and only GC ones look dull as hell compared to the RGB SCART. I've never heard of this before. Is it related to this? https://www.retrorgb.com/wiirgbvscomponent.html

That sounds weird.
I have a PAL Wii and the GC games look nice with component cable. I know since i also have a PAL Gamecube and OEM component cables.

[nostos156]

Would anyone have any idea of how this could happen, assuming this is accurate?

I have a Gamecube with RGB Scart and launch day Wii with component cables, PAL versions. The picture quality on Gamecube is MILES better with RGB than the Wii with component. It's strange, the Wii picture is sharp but lacks the brightness, clarity and colour intensity of the RGB Gamecube. In Wii games the picture is great, it only occurs in Gamecube games.

So I use each console for it's own games.

At first I would have said the way the TV handles the RGB SCART/Component is the issue, but they specifically pointed out Wii games look fine and only GC ones look dull as hell compared to the RGB SCART. I've never heard of this before. Is it related to this? https://www.retrorgb.com/wiirgbvscomponent.html

That sounds weird.
I have a PAL Wii and the GC games look nice with component cable. I know since i also have a PAL Gamecube and OEM component cables.

Yeah, it makes no sense. The Wii has no known colour differences vs the GC, as far as I know. The only differences related to the sharpness of the picture due to 480p bug and deflicker filter applied on the Wii.

I know the RGB SCART would be more saturated than component as that is often mentioned when looking it up, but the component being different from Wii and GC mode on the same console is really weird...

The only thing I can think of is that he was playing PAL games natively, so not forcing 480p (as you have to do that in homebrew). That means Wii games were doing 480p, and GC 480i. From there I can only deduce that perhaps his TV couldn't handle a 480i component input properly, leading to the messed up colours?

[Extrems]

The deflicker filter equally exists on the GameCube.

[legoTG2006]

I own a white RVL-001 CPU-40 with a BU9955EKV AVE chip, as far as I know the Wii itself never came in a bundle.

I purchased some legit Nintendo component cables sometime this past august, and i've been using my Wii pretty much daily since then, and I haven't had any issues with the progressive scan whatsoever. My setup is pretty much as bare bones as it gets, component from the Wii goes to my TV, picture on the screen, boom. I use wiiflow and through that I have de-flicker disabled, framebuffer enabled, 480p 'patch', pretty much all the bells and whistles software side.

I am pretty confused, just wanna know exactly what this bug is. I've seen tons of hearsay online, and pretty much just wanna know if my Wii is even affected, or if there's like a specific AVE chip or chips that have this issue, and what I could do to fix this issue aside from hardware mods, which I may look into eventually.

I can send screenshots if needed.

Cheers.

[Extrems]

Boot the 240p Test Suite, enable 480p modes under options, switch to 480p mixed 480p/240p assets (1:1), select the checkerboard under video tests.

If you get a solid gray screen, the 480p fix is a placebo.

[legoTG2006]

Ran 240p test suite in HB launcher without the patch, and it’s a solid grey screen.

I will try and run 240p test suite inside of USB loader or wiiFlow later and turn on the patch, but the AVE chip is among the latest ones, quite frankly don’t think there will be any effect, but I guess I’ll see what happens.

[Extrems]

Oh no, you are running with the patch. It's built-in.

[legoTG2006]

Makes sense. Thanks for the response.

[nostos156]

Boot the 240p Test Suite, enable 480p modes under options, switch to 480p mixed 480p/240p assets (1:1), select the checkerboard under video tests.

If you get a solid gray screen, the 480p fix is a placebo.

Hmm, did we not come to the conclusion that the 480p bug was never actually fixed with this mythical BU99 chip? Or is it now that the BU99 one is the only one that fixes it, but CPU 40/60 models can have other encoder chips aside from that one so you can't tell unless you run the test suite or open it up?

[nostos156]

The deflicker filter equally exists on the GameCube.

Fair enough. I just remember reading the deflicker filter needs to be off for the Wii to get the same video output quality as the Gamecube (along with the 480p bugfix).

Also, do you have any ideas about what I said? Possibly just that guy's display interpreting a 480i component signal poorly instead of it being a Wii issue?

[bobrocks95]

Boot the 240p Test Suite, enable 480p modes under options, switch to 480p mixed 480p/240p assets (1:1), select the checkerboard under video tests.

If you get a solid gray screen, the 480p fix is a placebo.

Hmm, did we not come to the conclusion that the 480p bug was never actually fixed with this mythical BU99 chip? Or is it now that the BU99 one is the only one that fixes it, but CPU 40/60 models can have other encoder chips aside from that one so you can't tell unless you run the test suite or open it up?

Latest conclusion I heard is that only one encoder does anything with the 480p fix active, and you're not guaranteed to get it with any particular model. The alternative is an HDMI mod to bypass the encoder.