XRGB-mini Framemeister

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keropi
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by keropi »

I did notice that on my PAL PS2 playing NTSC games, turns out the ps2's ps1-driver is to blame for the incorrect timing.
Tried with a PS1 as well but still had incorrect timing so now I use the PS2 once more for ps1 stuff since sp193 made a program to fix this: http://ichiba.geocities.jp/ysai187/PS2/PS1VModeNeg.htm

It did bother me and it sucks that I can notice things like that :evil:
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austin532
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by austin532 »

Is the Deep Color option still as useless as ever? I've tried it with many different systems and see no difference.
Framemeister 240p scanline settings: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... start=9600
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mickcris
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by mickcris »

airs wrote:Received Otaku's 3DO RGB Mod Kit on Friday and finished the mod yesterday with a friend's help. The solder points were insane but somehow we got it right on the first try. Results with the mini (480i of course):
Decided to install mine today in my fz-10. Had a couple issues. The frameister would not detect the console until the horizontal image pot was tweeked. I first thought I had done something wrong but it showed on my crappy scart to hdmi convertor. After the pot tweek, all was good till I put the shield back on. Had to cut a bit of the shield to fit the din connector and the horizontal image pot was hitting the shielding and causing the rgb out to stop working and interference on the composite output. Some electrical tape on the shield corrected the problem. I guess I missed the recommended install location by a few millimeters.
Also when I was almost done with the rgb points, I noticed there are larger pads on the back of the board for most of them.
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Xan
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Xan »

slk486 wrote:The crt just matches the timing, so there is no issue. On scalers it's one of those things you may not notice, but when you do, you can't unsee it. My advice is to stop looking for it :) Ignorance is bliss.
Nice to hear it's not a big issue on CRTs... is game speed affected too, or is it only a matter of a fractionally lower framerate?

Couldn't find any info on it, so just to confirm, the XRGB-mini doesn't support 720p input through HDMI, right? Can't say I'm 100% pleased with how my PS3 looks on my Eizo FS2333...
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Fudoh
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Fudoh »

the XRGB-mini doesn't support 720p input through HDMI, right?
it doesn't ?
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Xan
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Xan »

OK, now I saw that you mentioned 720p input in your review so nevermind. I mainly went by the wiki page where it isn't mentioned specifically, and it's not exactly a hot topic on here either (understandably perhaps :)).
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austin532
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by austin532 »

It supports 720p, 1080i, and 1080p inputs but you can't enable scanlines which I guess you really don't need at those resolutions. Still, it would be nice to have scanlines for those Original XBOX games that support 720p like Soul Calibur II.
Framemeister 240p scanline settings: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... start=9600
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Xan
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Xan »

Yeah, I'd be more interested in a comparison of scaling quality. Here's 1080p vs. 720p (with increased sharpness!) on the FS2333. Prad rated the scaling quality as very good, but I guess that's more to be seen in context with other consumer PC monitors. I'm thinking the mini can do a lot better here.

I don't have any HDTVs to compare this with btw.
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darcagn
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by darcagn »

austin532 wrote:It supports 720p, 1080i, and 1080p inputs but you can't enable scanlines which I guess you really don't need at those resolutions. Still, it would be nice to have scanlines for those Original XBOX games that support 720p like Soul Calibur II.
Why? Scanlines don't make sense if you're not upscaling. I've never heard someone explain the 'science' of why we like scanlines, but I imagine it's because you're taking a signal and linedoubling (or more) the picture, which is creating redundant lines. When you mask the image with scanlines, your eyes over time learn to ignore the scanline effect and your brain 'interpolates' the missing lines of detail from the low-def source. It's like looking through a screen door for a few minutes. Your brain over time ignores the screen.

If you overlay scanlines over 720p material, you'll not only not create any sort of improvement, you'll be literally removing detail from the picture by blacking it out. If you're going to remove detail, why not just use 480p output and turn on scanlines?
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austin532
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by austin532 »

You make a good point. Most 720p and 1080p games look fine without them and adding scanlines only worsen the image but when it comes to games like SC II which was an arcade game that used a CRT monitor and most likely developed with scanlines in mind I think enabling them could help.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm not thinking this through straight. I would love to.
Framemeister 240p scanline settings: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... start=9600
TheRetromancer
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by TheRetromancer »

I've noticed some sync issues with SNES games - A Link to the Past has sync flickering on the intro/title screen, and Mega Man 7 seems to have it at various points throughout the intro stage. I've used both the original SCART/XRGB adapter (rewired for Euro SCART) and retro_console_accessories Boosted Sync adapter. No difference. Can anyone else confirm this?

Raising the sync level actually makes it worse - raising it past 22 causes audio dropouts, and going past 27 causes the XRGB to lose the video. it will re-capture it in a few seconds, but it doesn't improve. It's weird.
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airs
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by airs »

TheRetromancer wrote:I've noticed some sync issues with SNES games - A Link to the Past has sync flickering on the intro/title screen, and Mega Man 7 seems to have it at various points throughout the intro stage. I've used both the original SCART/XRGB adapter (rewired for Euro SCART) and retro_console_accessories Boosted Sync adapter. No difference. Can anyone else confirm this?

Raising the sync level actually makes it worse - raising it past 22 causes audio dropouts, and going past 27 causes the XRGB to lose the video. it will re-capture it in a few seconds, but it doesn't improve. It's weird.
I had similar problems in Chrono Trigger and Street Fighter 2 Turbo until I used an externally powered sync stripper from RCA. The other thing that works for me is restoring CSYNC to pin 3 of the AV Multiout on my SNES Mini and then making sure the cable I'm using routes this to Composite Video pin on the SCART connector.
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by TheRetromancer »

airs wrote:I had similar problems in Chrono Trigger and Street Fighter 2 Turbo until I used an externally powered sync stripper from RCA. The other thing that works for me is restoring CSYNC to pin 3 of the AV Multiout on my SNES Mini and then making sure the cable I'm using routes this to Composite Video pin on the SCART connector.
Mind giving us a link to it?
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mickcris
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by mickcris »

TheRetromancer wrote:
airs wrote:I had similar problems in Chrono Trigger and Street Fighter 2 Turbo until I used an externally powered sync stripper from RCA. The other thing that works for me is restoring CSYNC to pin 3 of the AV Multiout on my SNES Mini and then making sure the cable I'm using routes this to Composite Video pin on the SCART connector.
Mind giving us a link to it?
Here is the external powered adaptor
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Micomsoft-XRGB- ... 1085665742
TheRetromancer
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by TheRetromancer »

mickcris wrote:Here is the external powered adaptor
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Micomsoft-XRGB- ... 1085665742
Actually, I found a solution for my problem, and it literally makes no sense. I'm posting it here in the hopes that someone could explain what's going on.

If you recall, I mentioned that increasing the XRGB's sync level made the sync problems worse. This was using retro_console_accessories Boosted Sync cable. Turning the Sync from 'Auto' to 'Off' helped a lot, but it didn't get rid of every sync problem.

I had also rewired the JP21-XRGB adapter that came with the Mini to Euro SCART. I realised a little bit ago that, while I'd tested it with the Mini's sync on 'Auto', I'd never turned the Sync off. Having the Mini's sync off with the unboosted sync adapter fixed every problem.

To me, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Why would I get sync problems from BOOSTING the sync signal? Is there even such a thing as 'too much sync'? I have noticed that, on the Mini's upper end of the Sync adjust, that the picture would start to move to the left one pixel at a time per one increment on the Sync adjust, starting around a level of 23 or so, until it lost the picture somewhere around 28-30.

I'm happy that my problem has been resolved, now I just want to know what the hell is going on.
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Ed Oscuro »

Completely wild know-nothing guess, but maybe the signal gets clipped when going through a DAC somewhere?
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marqs
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by marqs »

airs wrote:
TheRetromancer wrote:I've noticed some sync issues with SNES games - A Link to the Past has sync flickering on the intro/title screen, and Mega Man 7 seems to have it at various points throughout the intro stage. I've used both the original SCART/XRGB adapter (rewired for Euro SCART) and retro_console_accessories Boosted Sync adapter. No difference. Can anyone else confirm this?

Raising the sync level actually makes it worse - raising it past 22 causes audio dropouts, and going past 27 causes the XRGB to lose the video. it will re-capture it in a few seconds, but it doesn't improve. It's weird.
I had similar problems in Chrono Trigger and Street Fighter 2 Turbo until I used an externally powered sync stripper from RCA. The other thing that works for me is restoring CSYNC to pin 3 of the AV Multiout on my SNES Mini and then making sure the cable I'm using routes this to Composite Video pin on the SCART connector.
Has anybody opened the internally powered adaptor and checked what's inside? Probably at least a LM1881, but I wonder if it includes chroma filter and proper supply decoupling caps?
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keropi
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by keropi »

I was under the impression that the SYNC ON/AUTO/OFF option is to help the monitor and source share the same HZ , for example if the source is 57hz then the framemeister will sync to that and output a 57hz signal and the monitor will try to display it... or is this completely wrong and I am thinking of something else? :?:
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Fudoh »

you're right about that. In some instances unlocking the framerate can still help to reduce dropouts. It's not the intended purpose of the function though and shouldn't be used like that. In general I don't see why anyone would want to the v-sync to off unless one uses a capture device which requires it.

Also if sync level settings of 20+ are required, something else is wrong. The normal range in which all sources should work (if the cables provide the right impedance) is about 6 to 16.
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keropi
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by keropi »

^ I have it to AUTO, that's the recommended setting, right?
What is the setting's intended function then? only to reduce problems in special setups?
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Fudoh »

Auto is right. It's just as you suggested above. With off you (should) get clean 59.94Hz output. With auto you get a framelocked output (output refresh = input refresh).
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by UchihaMadao »

anyone has some optimal settings for a Wii2HDMI + Framemeister combo? i just got a Wii2HDMI adapter from neoya (the ones that don't upscale and just convert the signal) and i'd like to know some settings for it since the settings i had already don't work well.
plus, how do people deal with the audio with this setup? just run extra wires from the adapter?
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arovane
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by arovane »

Very disappointed.

I've got a UMSA with my Dreamcast, thinking that it will improve over a normal Scart. But in my opinion it doesn't, even though I've heard the contrary here. What the UMSA does is that it simply takes the VGA output signal from the VGA box, convert it and output it in SCART to the mini. The result is even a little worse than a direct SCART as there must be some loss in the signal. Worse: games like Street Fighter X, that only works in VGA, doesn't work anymore as the signal is not VGA after going through the UMSA. Crap. Unless I'm mistaking, and being an idiot, it's the first time I've got badly adviced here.

How do I get the VGA signal without loss through the mini??? With Hanzo??? Confused.
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by darcagn »

arovane wrote:Very disappointed.

I've got a UMSA with my Dreamcast, thinking that it will improve over a normal Scart. But in my opinion it doesn't, even though I've heard the contrary here. What the UMSA does is that it simply takes the VGA output signal from the VGA box, convert it and output it in SCART to the mini. The result is even a little worse than a direct SCART as there must be some loss in the signal. Worse: games like Street Fighter X, that only works in VGA, doesn't work anymore as the signal is not VGA after going through the UMSA. Crap. Unless I'm mistaking, and being an idiot, it's the first time I've got badly adviced here.

How do I get the VGA signal without loss through the mini??? With Hanzo??? Confused.
Yes, this is the best way to display the DC on the XRGB-mini. What do you see on the XRGB-mini's status screen when you have it hooked up? 640x480p, correct? If so, try changing VISUAL_SET -> AUTO_SCALER to VIDEO and see if that fixes the problem.
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by BuckoA51 »

What the UMSA does is that it simply takes the VGA output signal from the VGA box, convert it and output it in SCART to the mini.
Don't confuse VGA as in the screenmode and VGA as in the DSUB-15 connector. UMSA does no conversion other than combining sync, what goes in is what comes out. The signal that is output is still the same 720x480 progressive when in VGA mode.
The result is even a little worse than a direct SCART as there must be some loss in the signal.
There's no loss because the only conversion going on is converting separate sync to composite sync.
Worse: games like Street Fighter X, that only works in VGA, doesn't work anymore as the signal is not VGA after going through the UMSA.
Do you actually own one or are you speculating here? The signal is still 720x480, no conversion is applied. How would the game even know that you were using an UMSA?
Unless I'm mistaking, and being an idiot, it's the first time I've got badly adviced here.
Mistaken but hardly being an idiot just because you misunderstood.
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Please check the Wiki before posting about Morph, OSSC, XRGB Mini or XRGB3 - http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/Main_Page
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by arovane »

darcagn wrote:
arovane wrote:Very disappointed.

I've got a UMSA with my Dreamcast, thinking that it will improve over a normal Scart. But in my opinion it doesn't, even though I've heard the contrary here. What the UMSA does is that it simply takes the VGA output signal from the VGA box, convert it and output it in SCART to the mini. The result is even a little worse than a direct SCART as there must be some loss in the signal. Worse: games like Street Fighter X, that only works in VGA, doesn't work anymore as the signal is not VGA after going through the UMSA. Crap. Unless I'm mistaking, and being an idiot, it's the first time I've got badly adviced here.

How do I get the VGA signal without loss through the mini??? With Hanzo??? Confused.
Yes, this is the best way to display the DC on the XRGB-mini. What do you see on the XRGB-mini's status screen when you have it hooked up? 640x480p, correct? If so, try changing VISUAL_SET -> AUTO_SCALER to VIDEO and see if that fixes the problem.
Actually no, it's always displaying 720x480i, whether i'm using just SCART or VGA box + UMSA...
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Fudoh
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Fudoh »

Do you have a VGA box with a 15/31khz switch like the Hanzo ? You're supposed to run it in 480p - that's the whole point.
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arovane
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by arovane »

Worse: games like Street Fighter X, that only works in VGA, doesn't work anymore as the signal is not VGA after going through the UMSA.

Do you actually own one or are you speculating here? The signal is still 720x480, no conversion is applied. How would the game even know that you were using an UMSA?
Yes I own a copy, imported from Japan, and the game don't work properly with VGA box + UMSA, it display the picture zoomed x4, as if I was using RGB with Scart. I know the game is not RGB compatible but I thought using VGA box + UMSA would work, I was wrong.
Unless I'm mistaking, and being an idiot, it's the first time I've got badly adviced here.
Mistaken but hardly being an idiot just because you misunderstood.
I may be an idiot cause I still didn't understand the whole point of using VGA box + UMSA + RGB mini instead of just SCART to Mini :)
Visually I can't tell the difference, and the status of the mini still shows 720x480i whether I'm using just Scart or VGA + UMSA...
So I'm really into deep water with this.
Last edited by arovane on Mon May 26, 2014 4:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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arovane
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by arovane »

Fudoh wrote:Do you have a VGA box with a 15/31khz switch like the Hanzo ? You're supposed to run it in 480p - that's the whole point.
No I don't. I Have a regular VGA box with TV/PC switch. Where can I get a Hanzo?
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Re: XRGB-mini Framemeister (now available !)

Post by Fudoh »

I still didn't understand the whole point of using VGA box + UMSA + RGB mini instead of just SCART to Mini
on low-res 2D games it doesn't matter, but once you run a native hi-res game, true 480p is always superior to deinterlaced 480i.

As long as your VGA box is set to PC you should get 480p - period. Your Mini really shows 480i in the input status screen ?
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