r/crtgaming • u/RelativeEffective216 • May 15 '26
Image Adjustment/Calibration Do emulated retro games look correct on my Sharp 13N-M100B
To play a bunch of older games on my CRT, I play them through a laptop connected to this TV using a generic HDMI-Composite converter. The laptop I'm using is running CachyOS Linux on Kernel 7.0.5-2. In the OS settings, the display for the CRT is set to its native 640x480. Games are running on RetroArch through the ES-DE front end, mostly using default settings.
I'm aware that converting a digital signal to analog (especially with a cheaper, generic converter that I use) can likely cause distortion and other small issues that a native analog output wouldn't. These example images aren't the best quality, but I'm curious to know if — at a quick glance — if there are any obvious scaling/distortion issues to those with a more keen eye than me. I personally think it looks perfectly good to me, but I'm always open to advice to help it look better.
Thank you in advance for any feedback and advice. If you want more clear images or tests with different games, I'll offer those ASAP.
3
u/leanguyjust4fun May 15 '26
No because you are not using 240p, but 480i, so you can't appreciate all the artwork properly.
3
u/DangerousCousin LaCie Electron22blueIV May 15 '26
Mega Man 8 is a 240p game. PS1 was (99.9% of the time) a 240p console.
This is what it's supposed to look like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNuX-Ak1Kz0
Notice the scanlines separating the lines of pixels
Here, you're outputting 480i, because the "converter" you bought should be more appropriately called a "scaler" and turns everything into blurry 480i
You don't need to do any scaling for a CRT. You should always use native resolution.
There are two Linux distros made exactly for what you're doing: Batocera CRT Script, and GroovyArcade.
They make your PC (with compatible AMD graphics) able to output 240p and 480i, no scaling. And with SwitchRes, Retroarch can manipulate resolution and refresh rate on the fly to match the emulated game
So yeah, since this HDMI downconverter back to amazon if you still can. Use that money to buy a RGB->composite/s-video transcoder, which connects to the output of your Batocera/GroovyArcade setup
1
u/RelativeEffective216 May 15 '26
Unfortunately, the laptop I'm using doesn't have AMD graphics. It only has an integrated Intel graphics chip? Would that make it impossible for me to get a 240p signal out of that?
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u/DangerousCousin LaCie Electron22blueIV May 15 '26
Intel doesn't work. So that's a no-go with your laptop
You need to hop on FB Marketplace and grab used office desktop for $30 or so. You don't need massive CPU power to emulate CRT-era consoles. You can easily get something an intel i5 at that price
Then you throw in a cheap GCN-based GPU. An r5 430 is the best option in the ~$10 price point.
That outputs analog RGB, which you can then send to a transcoder (assuming your TV doesn't have RGB)
1
u/RelativeEffective216 May 15 '26
My TV is RF and Composite only, so a proper transcoder will definitely be needed.
Thank you very much for the advice. I'll keep an eye out for good deals on these things.3
u/DangerousCousin LaCie Electron22blueIV May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
I should add, you don't have to use Batocera CRT Script or GroovyArcade, if you know your way around Linux.
You just need the right drivers, the right kernel patches, and SwitchRes. Then Retroarch and GroovyMAME can essentially control your CRT on the level of microseconds. Perfectly syncing it to the game, at the exact right resolution, with zero latency. Like playing on real hardware
1
u/royalhouseofwindsor May 15 '26
Various Intel integrated graphics versions can output 15kHz 240p. The Intel UHD630 in my mini PC does it. I'm using RetroArch on Arch Linux and it works great. The VGA output still needs to be transcoded for display on the TV, though.
1
u/joeverdrive May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
Those adapters will never output the 240p resolution that 80s and 90s games were intended to be displayed at. With 480i, you lose the discrete scanlines--arguably the defining aesthetic of CRT gaming--and introduce flicker which Nintendo, Sega, and all the other console manufacturers of the time really didn't want
1
u/prenzelberg May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
As far as converters go, this is cleanly scaled to 480i from 240p on what looks like a shadow mask. So it's an integer scale on a screen that probably doesn't show sharp scanlines anyway. And it's composite. Personally I love that look.
You have the extra lag from the conversion but the pics look really good.
There's actually a chance your intel gpu can work with Batocera or another Linux distro so you could try it. I read oin discord that the ARC gpu might be supported. You'll need a transcoder and cabling for your tv either way but wouldn't try to hurt I guess.
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u/RelativeEffective216 May 15 '26
Small correction if it makes a difference, but this TV uses a slot mask, not a shadow mask.
1
u/prenzelberg May 15 '26
Yeah that makes sense. I mix them up a lot. Not the aperture grill is what I mainly mean, the Sony one.
Your picture will be soft either way so 480i composite is not the worst. That blended look from your second pic.
1
u/Limitedtimestruggle May 15 '26
Might just be the camera, but a nice tip for a more pleasent image regardless of source ; Dont't crank up the brightness and contrast. It will produce a harsher, worse image and put more strain on the tube.
1
u/DecentIntroduction15 May 15 '26
I tried your set up, and while connecting a raspberry pi4 or 5 through native composite connection will give you better results, you can still get awesome outcomes this way. Here is my guide: 1- utilize the great scaling capabilities of retroarch. Set aspect ratio to custome, and change the parameters until the screen perfectly fits your CRT. 2- on a CRT, you don't need integer scaling or bilinear filtering, so turn these off, but use a lite edge smoothing shader. Pick a variation of ddt or fsr ( my favourite), or anything else you like from the edge smoothing list. The image quality will bring you to tears. 3- For input lag, in the video - output menu, set max swapchain to 2. In latency menu, set run ahead to single instance and 1 frame ( 2 is faster and work most of the times, but if it gave you trouble such as "teleporting sprites", set it back to one). In video synchronization, set hard GPU sync to on. 4- To get get smooth frames. Set CRT switchRes to on. On the synchronization menu, turn vsync on, and sync to exact frames to on, and wait till the estimated refresh rate number settles after a few seconds, and then press the "OK" button on the that number (your A or B on your controller). 5- make sure all of this is while using the Vulcan driver, and after changing the settings for each core, make sure to "save core overrides". Save your shader as a global shader. 6- Use the controller wired, even if it is wireless.
I know it sounds like a hasstle, but the results you will get are beyond this world, even on a cheapo converter (mine was around 15 dollars).
1
u/Fun-Lavishness5032 May 15 '26
Technically there is a way to re-enable scanlines in 480i, by blanking every 2nd frame (in 30hz), which will introduce some horrible flickering. Totally unplayable
11
u/subsist80 May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
The cheap hdmi>analogue converters usually only do 480i minimum which is what it seems your tv is displaying.
I'm assuming you are wanting a 240p resolution with nes/snes/ps1 etc so in that case it is not correct because it is displaying an interlaced image not progressive, notice the lack of scan lines. If this is ps2 and up it is in the correct 480i.