XRGB-mini Framemeister

[berserkdude]

I'm having trouble finding a psu (european) for the xrgb mini :-/
Can someone tell me where can I buy a psu that works with it?

or some kind of adapter?

[Konsolkongen]

You can use a stepdown converter (240V to 110V) and just use the original PSU.

[berserkdude]

You can use a stepdown converter (240V to 110V) and just use the original PSU.

I was looking at that as well, but isn't 110v to much?

[Fudoh]

it's atually around 115 volt as it just divides your outlet by two and no, it's not too much - works just fine.

[berserkdude]

Nice
Is a 50w step down enough?

[Fudoh]

of course.

[Fudoh]

audio buzzing on the RGB input ?

I noticed it a few times before, but checked more thoroughly today: the RGB port's audio input seems to pronouce audio buzzing. I played some NES today and a few titles there have a silent title screen. By accident my TV was set quite loud and I could an annoying audio buzzing. I could reduce it by lowering the Mini's volume level and raising the TV's audio level instead.

Did anybody else notice this ? I have tried just a RGB sources today, but not many. Running audio from the same sources directly into the TV set I get basically no buzzing or only with extreme volume settings on the TV.

What I want to find out, if it's the poorly shielded JP21-MiniDin adapter cable which produces this or the Mini's input itself. So who's using alternative Mini adapter cables from retro-access or retrogamingcables ? Or maybe self-made custom cables ? Konsolkongen ?

[Konsolkongen]

Yeah I made a custom cable from BNC on my Extrons to the XRGB. But I run audio though my amplifier, so I haven't noticed any buzzing.
I have some Dreamcast problems I have to sort out, but perhaps I can check it out after that. I hope someone else will do it though as I would have to fiddle with a lot of wires to test this

[RGB32E]

Did you ever consider that running audio through the mini isn't a good idea if you want to preserve sound quality? It's digitizing analog audio (ADC), so it's bound to result in a lower quality signal when it finally gets convertered back to analog!

[berserkdude]

What kind of behavior should expect from a pal SNES + rgb scart (with a jap to euro scart adapter )?

Will I be able to play games that require good reflexes ( like contra 3),with scanlines ?

I'm kind of afraid of ordering the unit right now without knowing how it will behave with my pal snes :s (I really want to play the games with the scanlines and with a minimum stuttering possible)

Don't know if that is already fixed in the new firmware or should I expect stuttering , lag or ugly looking scan lines?

[Fudoh]

Did you ever consider that running audio through the mini isn't a good idea if you want to preserve sound quality?

sure, I usually don't and just noticed it (again) when I did a quick test for something else yesterday.

[marqs]

Did you ever consider that running audio through the mini isn't a good idea if you want to preserve sound quality? It's digitizing analog audio (ADC), so it's bound to result in a lower quality signal when it finally gets convertered back to analog!

Yeah, but most post-90s amplifiers and flat TVs are doing the same thing

[Fudoh]

Will I be able to play games that require good reflexes ( like contra 3),with scanlines ?

if you play a game like Contra 3 on a 50Hz PAL SNES you certainly don't need good reflexes, since the game's running in slow motion already.

Except for this, it should work fine. Scanlines for PAL sources look best with 576p50 output.

[marqs]

What kind of behavior should expect from a pal SNES + rgb scart (with a jap to euro scart adapter )?

Will I be able to play games that require good reflexes ( like contra 3),with scanlines ?

I'm kind of afraid of ordering the unit right now without knowing how it will behave with my pal snes :s (I really want to play the games with the scanlines and with a minimum stuttering possible)

Don't know if that is already fixed in the new firmware or should I expect stuttering , lag or ugly looking scan lines?

The total latency most likely depends more on your TV/monitor than mini. Mini adds 1 frame plus a couple of milliseconds latency with non-interlaced inputs (~18ms @ 60Hz, ~21ms @ 50Hz). Scanlines should look fine at 480p or 720p output.

[PixelDharma]

Is there a way to get Wii VC games to looks right, with scanlines etc? I haven't tried it in a few weeks but I seem to remember wondering if the scanlines were wrong....

Perhaps the 480P output? Is there a way to force 240P through component?

[Fudoh]

should be fine. On 480p inputs the "B" scanlines are used, which are harder to adjust. Set one (even or odd) to invisible and adjust the others to your liking. If they're misaligned, use the "other" ones (even instead of odd and the other way around).

[kamiboy]

If you set your Wii to 480i output and the virtual console title in question supports 240p, which most do, then your Wii will output a 240p signal no matter what cables you are using.

I go my wii hooked to my PVM and that is how it works for me.

[Konsolkongen]

I was supposed to test something with a PAL N64 modified to RGB for someone. I completely forgot who and what

I did the mod last week, but then realized I only had US and JAP games, so I had no way of testing it The console have been shipped back to it's owner and it works fine, sorry, but I can't help you after all

[Fudoh]

did you get rid of the interference on the modded N64 ?

[Konsolkongen]

I did not As you said was the case with Markus' the flickering goes away after a while, but reappears after awhile and so on.

I haven't tried a different PSU yet, so it could be the US one I'm using now or perhaps even the stepdown.
I've been wondering if using the stepdown converter for the XRGB's PSU could be a cause of flickering in the picture? I get it on every system although it's subtle for the most part. The N64 has it the worst but that's also hooked up to the same stepdown converter.

[lettuce]

Any ideas is Micomsoft are considering adding profiles to future FW updates, so we can have presets for different consoles??.

I have read posts on a few forums that using the mini negates the need for a CRT display!, are these device really THAT damn good?? Surely your still not going to get the CRT glow and pop from the image, which to me is half the reason for using a CRT display, i know the mini will produce a much sharper picture than you could ever hope for from a CRT but for nostalgia reasons alone sure a CRT is still going to be king for retro visuals???

Also where the best place to source one of these from for shipping to the UK?

[Fudoh]

Any ideas is Micomsoft are considering adding profiles to future FW updates, so we can have presets for different consoles??.

I certainly hope so.

I have read posts on a few forums that using the mini negates the need for a CRT display!, are these device really THAT damn good??

go back 2 or 3 pages. Fagin posted a screenshot BVM vs. LCD.

lso where the best place to source one of these from for shipping to the UK?

either 2nd hand here in the trading station or from Solaris Japan.

[lettuce]

go back 2 or 3 pages. Fagin posted a screenshot BVM vs. LCD.

This is the thing though, what are we all trying to achieve here??, for me its the look of the old consoles from when i was younger, this in itself is nostalgia related and guess its different from person to person, but i was lucky enough to have an older brother who had a job so had a nice big TV for gaming and always use RGB scart connections.

Now if you want the best CRT picture then your not going to beat a BVM, but we never had a BVM for a display when we were younger so the displays that 99% of us grew up with was a lot less sharper. So this is why i was concerned about reports of the mini having a super sharp image, as this is not what i remember from when i was a child.....i guess were all trying to turn back the clock

[pyrotek85]

go back 2 or 3 pages. Fagin posted a screenshot BVM vs. LCD.

This is the thing though, what are we all trying to achieve here??, for me its the look of the old consoles from when i was younger, this in itself is nostalgia related and guess its different from person to person, but i was lucky enough to have an older brother who had a job so had a nice big TV for gaming and always use RGB scart connections.

Now if you want the best CRT picture then your not going to beat a BVM, but we never had a BVM for a display when we were younger so the displays that 99% of us grew up with was a lot less sharper. So this is why i was concerned about reports of the mini having a super sharp image, as this is not what i remember from when i was a child.....i guess were all trying to turn back the clock

I grew up with the RF modulator on a CRT, so yeah... I think this looks pretty good lol. As some said earlier in the thread, the Mini might not be as good as a high quality CRT, but not all of us have one, or have the room needed for one if we wanted to get one. I like the convenience of using the same LCD monitor I use for my PC, but those of us with dedicated gaming rooms might prefer using CRTs.

[Fudoh]

that's no problem at all. You can always decrease the scanline strength and you can easily decrease the sharpness using the scaling settings (or by just using 480p output instead). 480p output with decreased scanline intensity looks very much like a classic CRT TV (with RGB). Whatever you like best.

[lettuce]

Ok that's it, I'm getting a mini. Gunna have to grab a new TV too, the 32" Panasonic LCD I'm using is rubbish. I'm thinking a UT30 or a ST50.

I wouldn't go for the ST50. I had one for about a month and most of them suffer from horrible vertical banding and DSE (Dirty screen effect). Further more the scaling from 720p to 1080p is quite bad on the Panasonics (uneven scanlines and a crazy amount of ringing).
The Samsung E6500 has amazing scaling (zero ringing) and pretty great screen uniformity. Brightness pop is a minor issue, but besides that I like it much more than the ST50. Input lag is also just 16ms compared to a lagfree CRT.

http://forums.hdtvtest.co.uk/index.php?topic=7428.15
http://forums.hdtvtest.co.uk/index.php?topic=7100.450
http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/samsung- ... 262022.htm

I dont think ive ever had a LCD display better than the Sharp Aquos 40" i had......have (its in my Pincab now). I was a bit dubious about it when it was recommend to me as you don't really hear much about Sharp in the consumer market, but everyone in the industry rave on about how good the Sharp panels are...and i was pleasantly surprised

[lettuce]

that's no problem at all. You can always decrease the scanline strength and you can easily decrease the sharpness using the scaling settings (or by just using 480p output instead). 480p output with decreased scanline intensity looks very much like a classic CRT TV (with RGB). Whatever you like best.

I put this question to you then, if you could only have one (taking in all the pros and cons of each device) would you keep your BVM or Mini???

[Fudoh]

Mini. Easily. I don't use the BVM for playing.

[lettuce]

Mini. Easily. I don't use the BVM for playing.

Really?...how come you dont use the BVM?

[Fudoh]

first I hardly play anyway these days and second, then I play, I prefer a larger screen.