Coupling The XRGB-mini With A Original Nintendo Wii

[zedrein]

I'm currently very tempted by the popular XRGB-mini aka "Framemeister" which is now retailing at an all time low of $350.00 + free shipping brand new from most online shops. Here's the thing: I utilize the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console for all of my retro gaming needs and I would like to know if owners of the Framemeister feel that purchasing this upscaler would be worth the $ for my setup. I'd imagine that I will also purchase a D5 cable or a 3 x RCA to D5 adapter to take advantage of the best video output available for a NTSC Wii, Component video (Y Pb Pr) (the Framemeister only accepts Component video via this connection, popular in Japan). I then would have to purchase a HDMI to HD15 transcoder because I'll be playing on an AOC LCD computer monitor which lacks HDMI input and the current XRGB-mini only outputs HD video via a HDMI out. I love original hardware but it is so convenient having all my favorite NES, Super NES, Master System, and Genesis (Megadrive) titles consolidated in one package, plus, I really quite like the Wiimote and Classic Controller Pro as game controllers. I know many retro gamers are purists and loathe the idea of emulation on a modern gaming platform but my current logic is this: the original Wii will inherently pump out a sharper, more colorful image compared to the legacy hardware it emulates with far less video artifacts and cleaner audio, as well! The Wii even displays emulated retro titles in their original, non-interlaced "240p" resolution! The Wii is an awesome medium for console emulation and I would love to know if it can benefit from the Framemeister's lauded upscaling abilities...

[HydrogLox]

If you are sticking to the Wii then simply get a Neoya WII2HDMI and be done with it. It converts the component 480p/480i to HDMI 480p/480i - i.e. leave the scaling to the TV. Now some TVs don't support 480i over HDMI so make sure that your's does; if you are looking for a new TV anyway find one that also has low input lag. If you change your mind and want to use original hardware get the XRGB-Mini.

See also http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... 83#p932783

[blizzz]

It's not worth it, unless you have a huge library of VC titles that support 240p output. Not all VC titles do support 240p though, and those have a nasty blur effect.

If you're planning to use unofficial emulators like snes9x GX or Retroarch you will run into input lag problems. The Framemeister adds a bit of latency and if you combine that with the emulation lag it will be unplayable. Personally I find snes9x gx already unplayable without the Framemeister on my LCD TV. Retroarch is slightly faster, but it will still be a disappointment if you invest that amount of money. You could just go with a small PC + SNES pad adapter and spend less money than with the Framemeister.

[mattbox]

If your looking to put $350+ into improving your setup your best bet would be to Invest in a nice HDMI compatible monitor and go with the wii2hdmi thing. It's not worth buying an xrgb-mini if your not going to use the RGB input at all.

[zedrein]

It's not worth it, unless you have a huge library of VC titles that support 240p output. Not all VC titles do support 240p though, and those have a nasty blur effect.

If you're planning to use unofficial emulators like snes9x GX or Retroarch you will run into input lag problems. The Framemeister adds a bit of latency and if you combine that with the emulation lag it will be unplayable. Personally I find snes9x gx already unplayable without the Framemeister on my LCD TV. Retroarch is slightly faster, but it will still be a disappointment if you invest that amount of money. You could just go with a small PC + SNES pad adapter and spend less money than with the Framemeister.

I actually have modded my Wii and installed Snes9x GX, and FCE Ultra GX. My Wii is connected to a AOC computer monitor with a gadget called a transcoder, it essentially takes the Wii's Component video signal and converts it into VGA. The reason I'm intrigued by the Framemeister is that I am disappointed with how the games look on my monitor, they're pretty blurry and I love that razor sharp look. I do have to admit that there seems to be a noticeable amount of input lag in my setup, which is quite annoying...

[ApolloBoy]

I then would have to purchase a HDMI to HD15 transcoder because I'll be playing on an AOC LCD computer monitor which lacks HDMI input and the current XRGB-mini only outputs HD video via a HDMI out.

Why not just go for an HDMI to DVI adapter? That makes much more sense than converting it to VGA and it's much cheaper.

[zedrein]

I then would have to purchase a HDMI to HD15 transcoder because I'll be playing on an AOC LCD computer monitor which lacks HDMI input and the current XRGB-mini only outputs HD video via a HDMI out.

Why not just go for an HDMI to DVI adapter? That makes much more sense than converting it to VGA and it's much cheaper.

My monitor must be old or just cheap (I didn't buy it - I'm borrowing it from my Dad), it only has a HD15 "VGA" input. I checked out this Wii2HDMI gadget that everyone is talking about but it doesn't seem to actually upscale the image, simply convert it...

[zedrein]

FWIW it seems like when it comes to retro consoles being displayed on modern displays that it's the customer's choice as to which upscaler will be used: the televisions' CON: majority of HDtv manufacturers seem to not give a damn about non-interlaced 240p material, the Framemeister CON: May add input lag.

[ApolloBoy]

I'd honestly suggest getting an XRGB-2 plus or an XRGB-3 instead of a Framemeister. Those have VGA output and have little to no input lag. The XRGB-2 is nice as well, but it lacks a D-terminal input so no component video on that one.

[HydrogLox]

I checked out this Wii2HDMI gadget that everyone is talking about but it doesn't seem to actually upscale the image, simply convert it...

That is by design and that is why it is the one to get - the Wii HDMI adapters that upscale are all garbage - you are better off letting the TV do the scaling.

The Micomsoft XRGB devices are amazing little boxes primary designed to deal with 240p and 480i video signals but they cannot perform miracles - the Wii's output is blurry to begin with and no XRGB device can fix that. Lots of XRGB owners have come to the conclusion that running the Wii's output through an XRGB is a waste of time.

Those have VGA output and have little to no input lag.

Which is fine if you always want to keep a display with a VGA input (typically a CRT monitor) around - other than that modern displays with VGA inputs are becoming much rarer (especially TVs).