Suggestions for a good Euro SCART to VGA scaler (1024x768)?

[cause_of_chaos]

Hi all,

I have been doing a lot of reading-up on scalers for my HDTV, and I was wondering if you have any suggestions for a good SCART to VGA scaler?

My TV's resolution is 1366x768 and is XGA compatible (highest resolution via VGA is 1360x768). 480p doesn't look that good via VGA so I was looking at 1024x768 (as it looks much sharper).

I'm looking at spending up to £150 (as I'm planning to by the SLG3000) so I was looking at some suggestions.

I mainly want to play my Saturn and SMD/G/CD/32X consoles, along with my PS2. Oh, and mainly fighters and shooters.

Any assistance will be much appreciated!

cause_of_chaos

[Fudoh]

I'm looking at spending up to £150 (as I'm planning to by the SLG3000) so I was looking at some suggestions.

that doesn't really work. You only achieve genuine looking scalines by feeding 480p into the SLG3000. Since your display doesn't seem to handle this well though, you're out of luck.

But to cover your question: There are quite some nice processors on this price range. DVDO iScan HD(+), Cinemateq Picture Optimizer II , Vigatec GVC1280 - all these offer RGBs input and 1360x768 output. Some others as well - - hatever the 2nd hard market has to offer right now.

[fagin]

If you wanted to utilise a SLG and then upscale to your TV's native res that is possible (whilst retaining realistic low res scanlines)...... unfortunately not for your price range though and it would require a chain of devices.

[cause_of_chaos]

Cheers for the reply guys.

I can output 640x480 through my TV, but when I try using an emulator (PC > DVI), I get horrible scan lines with every 3-4 lines looking darker than the rest.

I can try a 640x480 scaler, as the consoles don't look too bad when plugged-in directly yo the RGB SCART port. To be honest, I was planning on spending £200 all inclusive, so if there is a scaler that also applies decent scan lines, I'll be happy to take a look.

I was considering buying an XRGB-3 (as they go for around £200), but I've read that it's scan line generator is terrible.
Another option is the JS Technology "Simple Video Scaler"; with NTSC signal that will give a 480p signal.

On another note, does the SLG3000 support 576p? I'm not sure that is does...

cause_of_chaos

[Fudoh]

but when I try using an emulator (PC > DVI), I get horrible scan lines with every 3-4 lines looking darker than the rest.

then it will look the same from a 480p video processor output, or from the SLG3000, or from the XRGB.

I was considering buying an XRGB-3 (as they go for around £200), but I've read that it's scan line generator is terrible.

where would you have read this ? The XRGB's scanline emulation is at good as it gets, and it's actually the same as on the SLG3000. But from your above statement on your TV/monitor, neither of them will perform good on your TV.

nother option is the JS Technology "Simple Video Scaler"; with NTSC signal that will give a 480p signal.

JS Tech's processors do not support 240p. I emailed with them a lot.

On another note, does the SLG3000 support 576p? I'm not sure that is does...

yes, it does, but hardly any VGA input on a TV or monitor does support it...

[fagin]

To do what you ultimately want to do you would need to upscale or line double from RGB SCART to 480p. Feed that via DSUB15 (VGA) from the scaler / linedoubler to the SLG. Feed the SLG to another scaler which would then need to upscale to your native res of your TV.

None of this will be straight forward as the cheaper (and good) 2nd hand scalers / linedoublers referred to above are not all that common on the 2nd hand market. If you can wait though bargins can be had. You just need to be patient.

Neither of the x768 resolution screens I have handle 480p well, so I have to either use my 1080p resolution screens (if I want to use LCD etc) or I have to pull all my "boxs" out. In the long run you maybe better off getting a proper FULL HD resolution TV, that has an inbuilt scaler that manages 480p better.

[cause_of_chaos]

Cheers Fagin and Fudoh!

I was planning on getting a new TV anyway, as I've had mine for years (Samsung LE23R88BDX).

I was hesitant on looking at 1024x768 scalers anyway as I always prefer native resolutions.

Any suggestions on a decent 480p scaler for around £150?

Nice, informative YT vids by the way! I might try the modded scaler you built using that £50 scaler and a few other parts.

cause_of_chaos

[Fudoh]

Any suggestions on a decent 480p scaler for around £150?

same as above. Most of the linedoublers (480p only output) didn't have RGBs inputs, just component. With the introduction of scaling, RGBs acceptance was introduced as well. Just check my site ( http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/ ), write down a few models and set up an automated eBay alert.

[cause_of_chaos]

Cheers for all your help Fudoh and Fagin. I would love to buy the SLG3000, but I'll just settle for an RGB Scart > HDMI Scaler and output 720p (even though only 1360x768 looks good on my LCD). When I upgrade my TV I'll consider a proper scaler.

Cheers for all the help!

cause_of_chaos