Retro computer on CRT VGA monitor?

[sigh]

Hi guys,

Does anyone here have any experience connecting a retro computer to a CRT VGA monitor?
I would like to connect my CPC464, CPC 6128 PLUS, Sega Saturn, Megadrive, Gamecube and PS2 to my 24" Sony Trinitron. As it's a crt, it doesn't have scart inputs, only VGA and BNC connections.
I'll also need some way to hear the audio.

[chinnyhill10]

Hi guys,

Does anyone here have any experience connecting a retro computer to a CRT VGA monitor?
I would like to connect my CPC464, CPC 6128 PLUS, Sega Saturn, Megadrive, Gamecube and PS2 to my 24" Sony Trinitron. As it's a crt, it doesn't have scart inputs, only VGA and BNC connections.
I'll also need some way to hear the audio.

Unlikely to work unless the monitor can scan to the same rate as the CPC. You'll probably need a converter box to turn the Horizontal and vertical timings into something a PC monitor can use.

[CraigsBar]

Hi guys,

Does anyone here have any experience connecting a retro computer to a CRT VGA monitor?
I would like to connect my CPC464, CPC 6128 PLUS, Sega Saturn, Megadrive, Gamecube and PS2 to my 24" Sony Trinitron. As it's a crt, it doesn't have scart inputs, only VGA and BNC connections.
I'll also need some way to hear the audio.

I've done it with one of these


Arcade Game Converter CGA RGB YUV EGA to VGA GBS8220 Support Dual Monitor Output


It works very well for most games, although some games and demos will use effects that lead to jerky scrolling (Edge Grinder for example)


It's just a case of connecting the RGB signals to the pin header on the board and then running a pair of amplified PC speakers from the headphone socket on the CPC.


Craig

[SOS]

Maybe you found something interested here: Deinterlacing, Scaling, Processing: Classic videogame systems on LCD and Plasma

[sigh]

I've done it with one of these


Arcade Game Converter CGA RGB YUV EGA to VGA GBS8220 Support Dual Monitor Output


It works very well for most games, although some games and demos will use effects that lead to jerky scrolling (Edge Grinder for example)


It's just a case of connecting the RGB signals to the pin header on the board and then running a pair of amplified PC speakers from the headphone socket on the CPC.


Craig

Wow! Not too sure what I'm looking at here

A few questions:

1: Does it come as a bare board as shown or in a box?
2: What leads are you using to connect your CPC to this device as there is no RF/SCART.
3: Do you have any photo's of your set up so I can make sense of what this device looks like when connected please?

Maybe you found something interested here: Deinterlacing, Scaling, Processing: Classic videogame systems on LCD and Plasma

Thanks for the link. I've been looking at those devices and they seem  to have a few scart options, but I'm wondering if there has to be some sort of custom leads built to connect the CPC to many of these.

Would one of these work?

XRGB-mini FRAMEMEISTER - XRGB wiki

[sigh]

I found this one also, called a Sync Strike:

Sync Stripper, Sync Separation, Sync Cleaner - ArcadeForge

I saw a lead made for the CPC 464 that has an output to scart (I also have one for my CPCPLUS).
I'm guessing that I can use that lead with the Sync Strike to output to my VGA CRT monitor?

[CraigsBar]

Wow! Not too sure what I'm looking at here

A few questions:

1: Does it come as a bare board as shown or in a box?
2: What leads are you using to connect your CPC to this device as there is no RF/SCART.
3: Do you have any photo's of your set up so I can make sense of what this device looks like when connected please?

Thanks for the link. I've been looking at those devices and they seem  to have a few scart options, but I'm wondering if there has to be some sort of custom leads built to connect the CPC to many of these.

Would one of these work?

XRGB-mini FRAMEMEISTER - XRGB wiki

1. No its a bare board,
2. The pin header on the left as you look at it provide CPC compatible RGB etc...
2b. The also provide a loom for this pin header so all you need to add is some heat shrink shielding and a 5 (or pin din plug.
3. I'll set it up and grab photos tonight if I get a chance.

[sigh]

1. No its a bare board,
2. The pin header on the left as you look at it provide CPC compatible RGB etc...
2b. The also provide a loom for this pin header so all you need to add is some heat shrink shielding and a 5 (or pin din plug.
3. I'll set it up and grab photos tonight if I get a chance.

Uh -oh! That sounds like it may involve soldering?* Would love to see the pictures.








*I'm not a solder/DIY kinda guy.

[CraigsBar]

Well I had a moulded 8pin din from a broken cm14 so connected the wires from that to the loom with a small terminal block. I'll set it up and grab photos at some stage tonight, being paddy's day I am not at home right now.

[SOS]

Would one of these work?

XRGB-mini FRAMEMEISTER - XRGB wiki

Yes (i've used it with my CPC with an seperate Scart-Cable and an seperate Framemeister European-Scart-Adapter ) and
No, it has only HDMI-Out.

[sigh]

Yes (i've used it with my CPC with an seperate Scart-Cable and an seperate Framemeister European-Scart-Adapter ) and
No, it has only HDMI-Out.

Couldn't you use a hdmi to vga lead on the hdmi out?

[robcfg]

Nope. It would need to convert the signal again, probably rescale it, as hdmi is pure digital and vga pure analog.

[Octoate]

A few questions:

1: Does it come as a bare board as shown or in a box?
2: What leads are you using to connect your CPC to this device as there is no RF/SCART.
3: Do you have any photo's of your set up so I can make sense of what this device looks like when connected please?

Have a look at the tutorial on my homepage, there you can find a plan on how to connect the device to a CPC or a Plus:
Connect a CPC to a VGA display

[CraigsBar]

Well I had a moulded 8pin din from a broken cm14 so connected the wires from that to the loom with a small terminal block. I'll set it up and grab photos at some stage tonight, being paddy's day I am not at home right now.

Here's the pictures....


https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ddi7mt4mo1huh1/2015-03-17%2023.54.21.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j5ydnk89npiwhiz/2015-03-17%2023.54.35.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ue1aff37churr9/2015-03-17%2023.56.50.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fwroy6hmlmub6kd/2015-03-17%2023.57.05.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ff4ezcmgu7ja9a6/2015-03-17%2023.58.25.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hfmhpz7jb04s0ux/2015-03-17%2023.58.36.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gbhjn210ude1xh3/2015-03-17%2023.59.02.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5nc68sf1c90dkja/2015-03-17%2023.59.29.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/om4lo973d8um7so/2015-03-17%2023.59.59.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gnyjqg3fhwgllcz/2015-03-18%2000.00.34.jpg

[sigh]

Have a look at the tutorial on my homepage, there you can find a plan on how to connect the device to a CPC or a Plus:
Connect a CPC to a VGA display

Thank you for the link. How did you obtain the connector to fit into the CPC/PLUS? (the end bit that is shaped like an s-video)

Here's the pictures....


https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ddi7mt4mo1huh1/2015-03-17%2023.54.21.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j5ydnk89npiwhiz/2015-03-17%2023.54.35.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ue1aff37churr9/2015-03-17%2023.56.50.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fwroy6hmlmub6kd/2015-03-17%2023.57.05.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ff4ezcmgu7ja9a6/2015-03-17%2023.58.25.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hfmhpz7jb04s0ux/2015-03-17%2023.58.36.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gbhjn210ude1xh3/2015-03-17%2023.59.02.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5nc68sf1c90dkja/2015-03-17%2023.59.29.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/om4lo973d8um7so/2015-03-17%2023.59.59.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gnyjqg3fhwgllcz/2015-03-18%2000.00.34.jpg

Thank you for the pictures!
Do you have a full zoomed out  picture of the device and 6128 with the pin out connector attached? (Sorry for asking this.) I think these pictures would be great for the wiki.




I may have to find a more plug and play solution or just stick to emulators for someone like myself.

[CraigsBar]

Thank you for the link. How did you obtain the connector to fit into the CPC/PLUS? (the end bit that is shaped like an s-video)

Thank you for the pictures!
Do you have a full zoomed out  picture of the device and 6128 with the pin out connector attached? (Sorry for asking this.) I think these pictures would be great for the wiki.




I may have to find a more plug and play solution or just stick to emulators for someone like myself.

it's the same board as @octoate shows in his link above. Except mine supports 2 vga displays. Anyway his page Haas some more pictures and wiring diagrams, you only need to connect 4 wires in the din socket, I am sure if you but the board, and the right din plug some people here (me included) would be happy to do the soldering for you.

The 4 wires needing connection are Red, Green, Blue and Sync. These are colours red, green, blue and grey on the provided loom.

[sigh]

it's the same board as @octoate shows in his link above. Except mine supports 2 vga displays. Anyway his page Haas some more pictures and wiring diagrams, you only need to connect 4 wires in the din socket, I am sure if you but the board, and the right din plug some people here (me included) would be happy to do the soldering for you.

The 4 wires needing connection are Red, Green, Blue and Sync. These are colours red, green, blue and grey on the provided loom.

I really appreciate that; thank you.

Just out of interest, what CRT monitor are you using?

[CraigsBar]

Well, I have an iiyama 17 inch CRT, but the pictures last night were taken on a viewmaster LCD VGA 4:3 simply because that is what is on my workbench at the moment.

If I have time I might set it all up with the CRT on the dining room table tonight to grab a new photo.