Micomsoft Special online...

[Fudoh]

... on my website: http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/micomsoft.html

Especially for gamers who realized that they need a Micomsoft upscaler, but can't decide for one unit or the other.... Enjoy!

[Ed Oscuro]

FWIW, the shadow mask look is a specific type of technology used for masking phosphors, not found in Trinitrons which are generally an improvement over that type. Technically speaking, you can't see the shadow mask on a Trinitron, although you can still see the phosphor groups.

Hope you get a chance to update this soon with info about the DISPL!

[SuperDeadite]

Suggestion, at the end where you break down the recommended setups, how about adding a line about Japanese Computer use. For those interested in such machines, the XPC-4 is really the only useful option.

[Fudoh]

absolutely - will do.

[Adderall]

I didn't know the Framemiester had so much lag

Thanks for the rundown

[Fudoh]

If you have one and you didn't mind so far, don't worry about it. Just because it's more than on the older XRGB units, doesn't mean that it's a big deal. It's definitely less than almost every TV's 15khz processing stage takes.

[Adderall]

If you have one and you didn't mind so far, don't worry about it. Just because it's more than on the older XRGB units, doesn't mean that it's a big deal. It's definitely less than almost every TV's 15khz processing stage takes.

I sold my xrgb2+ with the intention of getting a framemiester.... but now having 2nd thoughts.
I might just go with rebuying the xrgb2+ AND the framemiester just in case I get too picky about it.

[SuperDeadite]

If you have one and you didn't mind so far, don't worry about it. Just because it's more than on the older XRGB units, doesn't mean that it's a big deal. It's definitely less than almost every TV's 15khz processing stage takes.

I sold my xrgb2+ with the intention of getting a framemiester.... but now having 2nd thoughts.
I might just go with rebuying the xrgb2+ AND the framemiester just in case I get too picky about it.

Remember the Frame outputs in HDMI, and when you are converting the analog input to digital output, there has to be some lag. But this also applies if you are connecting an analog source directly to a TV that then does it's own A-D conversion. By the way, I still have your old XRGB-2.

[Adderall]

By the way, I still have your old XRGB-2.

Glad to be of service !! nothing beats in person delivery from the states to Japan

Let me know if you ever want to sell your DISPL (which I'm sure would be never)....

[BuckoA51]

Great write up Fudoh, I'll be sure to link to that from my site. Your conclusions were the same as mine when I did the Framemeister PAL tests. One thing though, you say the Framemeister is the king of 480i handling for games, I thought the DVDO had better deinterlacing (though I hardly play many 480i games so haven't really compared). Is this true only for pseudo 240p 480i titles or would you always prefer the Framemeisters deinterlacing over the DVDO's?

[Fudoh]

Technically the ABTs have better deinterlacing, that's right. They're after faster when it comes to adaptive deinterlacing decisions the background detail is great. But if you take a look at the whole package which includes A/D processing, deinterlacing and scaling, the Framemeister is the only processor to deliver 480p-like details from 480i sources. I'm pretty sure that's related to the degree of interpolation the processor adds (high on the ABT, low on the Mini).

The DVDO is perfectly fine for 480i handling, but as Konsolkongen stated not too long ago: the Mini somehow let's you forget that a game's missing a 480p mode.

[Seraphic]

Nice work as always, Fudoh.

On your main website you have an upcoming review of the Faroudja DVP-3000. This is a little off topic, but...
Not sure how much you have worked with the unit (if at all yet) but how might it compare to the Micomsoft processors or other processors in general?

[Fudoh]

Not at all (yet). Starting in september. I'm pretty sure though to what to expect. The DVP-3000 was Faroudja's first "budget" super scaler. Budget in quotation marks because it was still $20,000. The DVP-3000 is what little later on became the master design for the FLI-2200 processor. Genesis decided at that point to leave out the scaling though (and brought it back in the FLI2300). What Genesis failed to implement was the multi-sensing of the component input, so the DVP-3000 is basically the first processor (by years!) to accept 15 and 31khz signals on the same input. It should perform rather well with 240p and 480i signals. On the Micomsoft special in the Faroudja "box" I have some Videon snapshots. I expect the same from the DVP-3000 with 480p output and I expect nicer performance in 480i due to the added scaling - but this as usually defeats the scanline compatibility.

[slk486]

Outstanding comparison Fudoh, convincing me that the XRGB-3 is the scaler I need next

The C2 for laserdiscs and 480 3D titles, where 1 frame lag doesn't matter.
Framemeister for Wii, Amiga and C64, where again, lag isn't as important or perhaps the XRGB-3 with the Edge.
XRGB-3 for the meat and potatoes - 240p, where low input lag is king

Hopefully I can finally get rid of my spare Edge and Optoma - maybe even both Edges or the Mini.

[RGB32E]

Were the LHS pics 480p output? Why didn't you keep the screenshots consistent?

[ruger]

Great summary and guide Fudoh!

but keep in mind that you are more likely to find a nice looking arcade cab in your area than to find an actual Micomsoft DISPL for sale anywhere or anytime soon.

Since I have found a nice looking arcade cab (Egret II) in my area, I think I need a DISPL next

[Fudoh]

Were the LHS pics 480p output? Why didn't you keep the screenshots consistent?

didn't I ? What's LHS ? All shots showing scanlines are 480p, except for the Framemeister which is 720p. Shots without scanlines are upscaled to 1080p.

[Fudoh]

ah, left hand side ... You're asking about the XPC's sharpness. Here's a better comparison shot. Top to bottom: 480p, 480p with scanlines and 1080p:

[sparksterz]

Man, I always love reading your reviews. No one ever takes the time to go into that much depth anymore!

[Konsolkongen]

The DVDO is perfectly fine for 480i handling, but as Konsolkongen stated not too long ago: the Mini somehow let's you forget that a game's missing a 480p mode.

Right. Before getting the Framemeister I was obsessing about games not running in 480p and would try forcing the games in 480p using bootdiscs like the Blaze HDTV Player or homebrew solutions. Most often this would not work at all or there might be severe graphical errors in some games.
With the Framemeister I just don't give a fuck anymore. Gregory Horror Show on the PS2 really surprised me, and with the right settings it can end up looking almost Dreamcasty - which is a good thing

[BuckoA51]

I've found the GSM mode selector to work with a lot of games, but not all of them of course. Maybe I'll give Fantavision a try on the Framemeister when I get a chance.