RPi 3b+ VGA and SCART hats

[2mg]

What are the current go-to VGA/SCART hats (in early 2026) for 3b+?

Recalbox RGB Dual - not sold/replaced by Dual 2 (and RPi5 only as per shop requirement section).

RBG-PI 2 - sites barely loading right now, so I dunno about required minimum RPi, but seems like "legacy" RGB-Pi isn't sold anymore?

Gert VGA666 - seems easy to find and cheap, but Lo-tech VGA hat seems to have replaced this one (aka VGA888)?
Can I can also use a VGA-SCART adapter, and how do I handle sync?

Pi2SCART - still good, any newcomers?
Can I also use a SCART-VGA adapter, and how do I handle sync?

HDMI-VGA DAC (transcoder only) - a bit of a lottery, but stuff like Tendak still works?

If I missed any, lemme know!

PS: which of these aren't locked/tied to their respective OS, seems RGB-Pi 2 is for ReplayOS only for example, as I'd like to give multiple OS-es a try?

[fernan1234]

For a 3B+ HDMI+DAC is the way to go, since you can still get full color 240p and 480i that way, as long as the OS supports it (Recalbox would be my recommendation). This no longer works well on 4 and 5 Pis, so for those a hat is the way to go (I do think new options like the Dual 2 can also allow custom refresh rates, but I'm not sure about this).

[2mg]

For a 3B+ HDMI+DAC is the way to go, since you can still get full color 240p and 480i that way, as long as the OS supports it (Recalbox would be my recommendation). This no longer works well on 4 and 5 Pis, so for those a hat is the way to go (I do think new options like the Dual 2 can also allow custom refresh rates, but I'm not sure about this).

So HDMI > VGA for CRT monitors (480p+), and then VGA > SCART cable for 240p/480i?
And it works with dynamic res/switchres and/or super resolutions?

Gotta ask, why were so many VGA and SCART hats made for RPi3 in that case, I thought HDMI wasn't playing along with interlaced resolutions?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The High Score Saves site sells an ArPiCade setup: https://www.highscoresaves.com/ArPiCade ... ARPICADE.5 and the necessary Raspberry Pi 3B+ board as well: https://www.highscoresaves.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-3B/

It has built-in support to run in the low-res 15.7kHz format namely at the 320 x 240p output to be used on a candy cab or portable supergun setup.

Here's the ArPiCade support site: https://www.arpicade.net/index.php?PHPS ... b28a3c430f

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Here's an ArPiCade thread asking about if JPN region Batsugun can run with an older Raspberry Pi 3B+ setup: https://www.arpicade.net/index.php/topic,94.0.

The end-user had been using the older Final Burn Alpha OS (with arcade rom region switching bug) and upgraded to the latest Final Burn Neo OS v3.11 (that does support arcade rom region switching) to play the JPN region Batsugun rom in tate format on an arcade cab setup using the older "RPi 3B+" board setup -- fascinating read indeed (considering it's very recent and relevant February 2026 postings).
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Retrotink sells a dedicated VGA to Scart cable here: https://www.retrotink.com/shop/hd15-to-scart-cable Shipping is based out of Southern California to your final destination -- it's business as usual.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[2mg]

The High Score Saves site sells an ArPiCade setup: https://www.highscoresaves.com/ArPiCade ... ARPICADE.5 and the necessary Raspberry Pi 3B+ board as well: https://www.highscoresaves.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-3B/

It has built-in support to run in the low-res 15.7kHz format namely at the 320 x 240p output to be used on a candy cab or portable supergun setup.

Here's the ArPiCade support site: https://www.arpicade.net/index.php?PHPS ... b28a3c430f

----------
Here's an ArPiCade thread asking about if JPN region Batsugun can run with an older Raspberry Pi 3B+ setup: https://www.arpicade.net/index.php/topic,94.0.

The end-user had been using the older Final Burn Alpha OS (with arcade rom region switching bug) and upgraded to the latest Final Burn Neo OS v3.11 (that does support arcade rom region switching) to play the JPN region Batsugun rom in tate format on an arcade cab setup using the older "RPi 3B+" board setup -- fascinating read indeed (considering it's very recent and relevant February 2026 postings).
----------

Retrotink sells a dedicated VGA to Scart cable here: https://www.retrotink.com/shop/hd15-to-scart-cable Shipping is based out of Southern California to your final destination -- it's business as usual.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Thanks, but I don't need anything JAMMA related currently.

RT cable unfortunately needs a sync combiner, but besides that I still need to figure out ways to get VGA and SCART output of a 3b+.

[fernan1234]

Gotta ask, why were so many VGA and SCART hats made for RPi3 in that case, I thought HDMI wasn't playing along with interlaced resolutions?

Interlaced support comes down to the OS and its configurations. Most retro game focused OS, including some of the most popular back then, simply did not implement it. Recalbox does, which is why I recommended it. This setup does support switchres and super resolutions (but not custom refresh rates, you will be limited to standard 60hz or 50hz).

And if you need SCART for your setup, then yes, a simple VGA to SCART cable connected to the DAC would work.

[ChurchOfSolipsism]

I'm using the RGB Dual hat with an RPi4 and Recalbox and a CRT. It's so convenient and good that I barely play any of my original consoles anymore
Admittedly, I don't have an NES capable of producing an RGB signal, so...