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Post by magroc1 on Jan 12, 2022 13:46:09 GMT
Any suggestions for a good adapter to connect the C64 maxi to VGA monitor as I read that some people experienced issues?
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 12, 2022 13:57:37 GMT
I'm using one called BENFEI off Amazon for both my Raspberry PI and mini. Zero problems. Just remember you'll need it's audio out jack plugged into PC desk top speakers or a boom box or something if your monitor doesn't have speakers. Here it is. Only $8. Btw I also use one that does the reverse of this, converts my PC VGA output to HDMI. Whatever you buy make sure it's doing HDMI to VGA output and not the reverse... BENFEI HDMI to VGA,Gold-Plated... www.amazon.com/dp/B01KLKQN9U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_shareBtw too sometimes you can get away with not having to plug USB into the adapter to power it, but remember it might not give full brightness or have some other issue if you don't have it also plugged into a power source. Mine works either way but I've got it plugged in to power just in case. Guess it depends on what setup is plugged into and out of it to display maybe. |
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Post by magroc1 on Jan 12, 2022 14:16:28 GMT
I'm using one called BEMFEI off Amazon for both my Raspberry PI and mini. Zero problems. Just remember you'll need it's audio out jack plugged into PC desk top speakers or a boom box or something if your monitor doesn't have speakers. Here it is. Only $8. Btw I also use one that does the reverse of this, converts my PC VGA output to HDMI. Whatever you buy make sure it's doing HDMI to VGA output and not the reverse... BENFEI HDMI to VGA,Gold-Plated... www.amazon.com/dp/B01KLKQN9U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_shareBtw too sometimes you can get away with not having to plug USB into the adapter to power it, but remember it might not give full brightness or have some other issue if you don't have it also plugged into a power source. Mine works either way but I've got it plugged in to power just in case. Guess it depends on what setup is plugged into and out of it to display maybe. Thank you so much for your help. Would you mind letting me know if you're using a pal C64? or NTSC? |
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 12, 2022 19:46:19 GMT
NTSC, but I'm running the mini in PAL mode sometimes. I keep wondering why people keep making that distinction since you can set the mini or maxi to output it's display and use the software timing of either pal or NTSC? Is there something I'm missing about that? Besides, most LCD monitors made in the last 15+ years or so are able to sync to pal, ntsc, or various other computer timing outputs. Even to odd timing displays such as 15khz and such that the Amiga or other retro computers used for certain odd graphics modes.
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Post by magroc1 on Jan 12, 2022 21:16:48 GMT
NTSC, but I'm running the mini in PAL mode sometimes. I keep wondering why people keep making that distinction since you can set the mini or maxi to output it's display and use the software timing of either pal or NTSC? Is there something I'm missing about that? Although I have an old C=64 I don't have any experience with the C64 Maxi because I ordered it last week and I have not yet received it. Is it true that when converting the video image from HDMI to VGA the image will be softer? I would rather connect it to my 4:3 LCD VGA monitor than to a wide HDMI monitor, but I want a sharp crisp image. I am also wondering if someone tried to connect the C64 to a CRT VGA monitor. |
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Post by oocozyoo on Jan 12, 2022 22:13:33 GMT
Any suggestions for a good adapter to connect the C64 maxi to VGA monitor as I read that some people experienced issues? I`ve been using this one and had no problems with it. £3.89. ebay
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 13, 2022 0:03:54 GMT
Had no issues with a softer or blurred image on a wide screen VGA monitor that's about 12 years old. Yes VGA can be a step down in resolution compared to HDMI I guess in certain very high resolutions but remember we're dealing with retro stuff here that never gets that high. Even on my Raspberry PI setup more modern stuff like Amiga, Nintendo 64, etc, looks great. There are several screen modes you can pick from in the mini or Maxi to do whatever screen output you want, from the old ratio to widescreen or even pixel perfect or scan lines. They each are cool in their own way.
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Post by magroc1 on Jan 13, 2022 10:04:40 GMT
Thank you, I found that the reason for blury image is because VGA signal is analog. For preserving the image quality it's suggested to opt for HDMI to DVI. However there variations of DVI, so I'm not sure if it's suggested, to chech which DVI version is on the monitor.
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 13, 2022 12:11:42 GMT
I wouldn't worry about trying to use anything better than a VGA monitor. Like I said unless the monitor is huge your eye will never be able to notice less resolution on super new high res platforms. That's pretty much the only reason 4K TV exists, cuz once a tv gets too big you can see the individual pixels of a non 4K tv.
Remember too the C64 had S video output using the right connector, which was the best video available back then and it was pretty much unheard of it was so new. If you want as true of an experience as possible probably the best option would be to get a TV or monitor that had S video input and use a HDMI to s video converter.
I got lucky and a few months back came across 3 LCD widescreen computer monitors for $2 a piece at a garage sale that range in age from 12 to 15 years old. Every one works, and they use VGA and a few other input styles.
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Post by magroc1 on Jan 14, 2022 19:47:18 GMT
Any suggestions for a good adapter to connect the C64 maxi to VGA monitor as I read that some people experienced issues? I`ve been using this one and had no problems with it. £3.89. ebay
I bought a converter like the above and it works great. However, I wish if the jack plug would had been on the other side because the jack plug is making pressure on the micro USB cable, which is connected to the PSU. I'll try to buy thinner jack plug because this can damage the PCB. |
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 15, 2022 1:17:12 GMT
One more thing about VGA... Remember stuff like the 64 and even computers for a while after that were using S Video or something less in ability than more modern VGA. Point being I don't think you're going to see any degradation in video unless your HDMI to VGA converter is junk. If anything the picture quality is going to be clearer and better than any of those old platforms had, just because they aren't suffering from signal noise or other lackings of old hardware or video connectors back then.
And far as analog versus digital goes, sometimes analog is better just like in music with vinyl records. It helps smooth things so the chunkier pixels aren't so harsh but instead blend in better to each other. That's one of the reasons people prefer an actual CRT TV for retro gaming. It's much more vivid than LCD and it also helps blend pixels together the way they were intended for a game.
Btw too interestingly enough did you know the colors are a little different on a pal compared to a NTSC 64? You'll find the red for sure a little different shade on pal compared to ntsc. It has something to do with how pal processes the color signal I guess.
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Feb 5, 2024 14:16:57 GMT
Feb 5, 2024 14:16:57 GMT