Retro console and games thread

kinger8938 said:
Is there any reason why an Xbox via RGB scart would give out a slightly softer blurry picture over that of a PS2 and GC with the same signal and tv?

Ps2 seems much sharper than my Xbox, maybe the cable is crap?
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Where did you buy the cable from? I’ve had “fake” RGB cables before that were sold as RGB but were actually wired up as composite.

Whoop said:
Somewhere in this thread is the technical explanation of plastic yellowing but in a nutshell it's the flame retardant chemical rising to the surface and you can buy/make your own bleach to strip it out the plastic.

It's all available from Amazon, I did think about it... but then I decided to ignore it and play on. :D
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Yeah that’s pretty much my understanding of it - I think it was an incorrect blend that was somehow causing it? And that some batches were more “incorrect” than others.

I have a SNES with a nasty yellowed bottom half but the top half is almost completely a brand new looking grey colour, parts never swapped round.
 
britain4 said:
Where did you buy the cable from? I’ve had “fake” RGB cables before that were sold as RGB but were actually wired up as composite.
.
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I went on eBay and did consider this could be the case. One thing I also noticed is that with all my other consoles via rgb, when you turn them on they are in letter box 16:9 until I press a button to make them full screen. The Xbox and it's cable launch in full screen, don't know if that means anything?
 
kinger8938 said:
Indeed, I use these guys all the time but just thought surely another supplier can do a good job of it ;) I guess I'll have to buy one and see if it's any better!
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I bought an RGB off Amazon for my SNES and got checkerboards which tells me no csync so bought a better one off these guys and no more checkerboard
 
Housey said:
I bought an RGB off Amazon for my SNES and got checkerboards which tells me no csync so bought a better one off these guys and no more checkerboard
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Ahh Ok, luckily I dint have that but just doesn't seem as sharp as the other systems. I don't know if it's normal for them to launch in 16:9 or not? It's then a button press on the remote to make it 4:3. Pretty sure I've heard this can happen with rgb?
 
You should be able to fairly easily unscrew the collar on the SCART plug and have a look how the wiring is done inside if you want to be 100% certain - or perhaps test the continuity on the connectors if you can’t get inside it.

I’ve used Retro Gaming Cables before and can agree that they are the best quality I have ever used, I also have some from Retro Computer Shack that are top notch too.

Think the “fake” one I got was for the GameCube if I remember rightly, I thought I’d try and save some money and go for a generic cheap cable
 
britain4 said:
You should be able to fairly easily unscrew the collar on the SCART plug and have a look how the wiring is done inside if you want to be 100% certain - or perhaps test the continuity on the connectors if you can’t get inside it.

I’ve used Retro Gaming Cables before and can agree that they are the best quality I have ever used, I also have some from Retro Computer Shack that are top notch too.

Think the “fake” one I got was for the GameCube if I remember rightly, I thought I’d try and save some money and go for a generic cheap cable
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The scart didn't fit the socket when it arrived due to it not being together properly ;) good sign. I'll do that I guess it needs each pin to be wired up?
 
kinger8938 said:
The scart didn't fit the socket when it arrived due to it not being together properly ;) good sign. I'll do that I guess it needs each pin to be wired up?
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That is a bad start! At least you know it comes apart lol. I have stolen an image from here to illustrate:

xbox.png


So if it’s wired up to pin 20 instead of pins 7, 11 and 15 then you know it’s composite.
 
britain4 said:
That is a bad start! At least you know it comes apart lol. I have stolen an image from here to illustrate:

xbox.png


So if it’s wired up to pin 20 instead of pins 7, 11 and 15 then you know it’s composite.
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Thanks!

This is the one

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/130956078134

I was hesitant but all the reviews claimed a true RGB picture. It could just be mine is wired incorrectly by mistake but I'll take a look! If it is set as composite, I guess the image would be identical to if I was using the red white and yellow cable? I may try and use that to compare, see if it looks the same too
 
kinger8938 said:
Thanks!

This is the one

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/130956078134

I was hesitant but all the reviews claimed a true RGB picture. It could just be mine is wired incorrectly by mistake but I'll take a look! If it is set as composite, I guess the image would be identical to if I was using the red white and yellow cable? I may try and use that to compare, see if it looks the same too
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I bought one of those from that seller and complained it wasn't true RGB. Got a refund, binned the cable and purchased from Retro Gaming Cables.
 
So is it considered normal for an RGB cable to launch the console in 16:9 on a CRT? They all seem to do this except the xbox which could be another sign of a non-rgb cable
 
britain4 said:
That is a bad start! At least you know it comes apart lol. I have stolen an image from here to illustrate:

xbox.png


So if it’s wired up to pin 20 instead of pins 7, 11 and 15 then you know it’s composite.
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Just took a look. Mine is wired to 7, 11 and 15 and 20. So is that incorrect then?

*just looked at my gamecube one too and it is wired to all 4 aswell but looks much better and has more going on inside
 
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kinger8938 said:
So is it considered normal for an RGB cable to launch the console in 16:9 on a CRT? They all seem to do this except the xbox which could be another sign of a non-rgb cable
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The aspect ratio auto switching is nothing to do with the cable being RGB or not, it's just a feature of SCART. I don't think many consoles actually supported it so you're probably just getting your TVs default 16:9 for everything else.
 
Tweaked my Retro shelf a little bit, removing the printer paper draws which was only there to raise the TV up a bit with an old stand I had. This now means I have a place to slide an old home computer under, so here it is with my Atari ST in place, which fits like a glove!

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Also dropped my Amiga 600 (because it fitted) onto my Cub monitor for and ST v Amiga competition! Forgive the wall marks, those go soon but there were cabinets in front of the walls for years and they have got moved. Flooring and walls getting done in 2 weeks :)

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I have 16 plug sockets behind this shelving....and only 2 free sockets which are for the ST/Amiga. All plugged in, now to get the Scart splitter sorted so I can get the consoles all plugged in and ready to go with ease. It never stops in my house :D
 
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