<![CDATA[MME4CRT Forum - Discussion]]> https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:25:45 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[MME4CRT2SCART]]> https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=52 Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:11:48 +0000 https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=52 I've been working on quite a few PCB projects in EAGLE in the last decade and would like to contribute to MME4CRT with this.
(If everything works out, maybe the final thing could be sold here, we'll see...)

There are quite a few options to connect your PC to a CRT Television or Monitor, but my personal opinion is that none of them is really able to perform a seamless transformation from a PC to a videogame console... either you need a separate PSU or you end up with bulky scart-to-scart leads (or at least monstrous cable-beasts that carry video signals, sound and power in separate leads). Last but not least I think none of the available options are cost-efficient for the end-user.

In the past I came up with an idea - I integrated a small PCB inside a SCART connector which can hold many different parts depending on whatever the purpose may be.

(The following links to a page in German, sorry, but you can see many pictures of the progress)
https://circuit-board.de/forum/index.php...er-Boards/

[Image: 20150209_231045.jpg]

I will design 2 circuit boards that will feature everything to get the best possible visuals, audio and all the voltages that your TV requires to switch into RGB mode and enable 4x3 non-letterboxed format. The first PCB will go inside a little case and has inputs for USB, VGA and Audio. The second PCB will be situated in the SCART connector to ensure an easy assembly.


Setup could be like this:
PC -> (short cables) -> little box with inputs -> (Scart or BNC cable) -> [TV or Monitor]


Here's my feature list:
  • Open-Source Design: Build your own or buy one, whatever suits your budget without losing any features
  • Properly shielded cables
  • H/V Sync-combiner-circuit for true C-Sync output
  • 0.7 Vpp @75 Ohms within specs of what any TV expects to receive
  • Separate Audio-Ground for noise-free sound
  • StepUp-Converter to provide 12V for switching to 4:3 mode (Scart-Pin#16)
  • Optional proper Stereo/Mono conversion, switchable (nice2have if your TV only has mono)
  • Inputs:
    VGA -> Video
    USB -> 5V Power
    3.5mm Headphone -> Stereo Audio

  • Outputs:
    9-Pin MiniDIN to Scart
    -> R, G, B, C-Sync, Audio-L, Audio-R, Audio-GND, 5V Power, GND
    VGA Connector with switchable SYNC (H/V or C-SYNC)
    -> to be used with a VGA-to-BNC cable (for professional studio monitors like Sony PVM etc.)
    Extra Audio connectors via CINCH
  • 15KHz Lock Mode (disables the output if the signal is out of range)

So, this is it.
I'd like your feedback about the feature list and any other ideas and wishes are welcome.

There's no release schedule or masterplan until I start working on it and report some progress.

.jpg   sync-combiner.jpg (Size: 72.15 KB / Downloads: 7)

.jpg   dc-dc-converter.jpg (Size: 82.81 KB / Downloads: 8) ]]> I've been working on quite a few PCB projects in EAGLE in the last decade and would like to contribute to MME4CRT with this.
(If everything works out, maybe the final thing could be sold here, we'll see...)

There are quite a few options to connect your PC to a CRT Television or Monitor, but my personal opinion is that none of them is really able to perform a seamless transformation from a PC to a videogame console... either you need a separate PSU or you end up with bulky scart-to-scart leads (or at least monstrous cable-beasts that carry video signals, sound and power in separate leads). Last but not least I think none of the available options are cost-efficient for the end-user.

In the past I came up with an idea - I integrated a small PCB inside a SCART connector which can hold many different parts depending on whatever the purpose may be.

(The following links to a page in German, sorry, but you can see many pictures of the progress)
https://circuit-board.de/forum/index.php...er-Boards/

[Image: 20150209_231045.jpg]

I will design 2 circuit boards that will feature everything to get the best possible visuals, audio and all the voltages that your TV requires to switch into RGB mode and enable 4x3 non-letterboxed format. The first PCB will go inside a little case and has inputs for USB, VGA and Audio. The second PCB will be situated in the SCART connector to ensure an easy assembly.


Setup could be like this:
PC -> (short cables) -> little box with inputs -> (Scart or BNC cable) -> [TV or Monitor]


Here's my feature list:
  • Open-Source Design: Build your own or buy one, whatever suits your budget without losing any features
  • Properly shielded cables
  • H/V Sync-combiner-circuit for true C-Sync output
  • 0.7 Vpp @75 Ohms within specs of what any TV expects to receive
  • Separate Audio-Ground for noise-free sound
  • StepUp-Converter to provide 12V for switching to 4:3 mode (Scart-Pin#16)
  • Optional proper Stereo/Mono conversion, switchable (nice2have if your TV only has mono)
  • Inputs:
    VGA -> Video
    USB -> 5V Power
    3.5mm Headphone -> Stereo Audio

  • Outputs:
    9-Pin MiniDIN to Scart
    -> R, G, B, C-Sync, Audio-L, Audio-R, Audio-GND, 5V Power, GND
    VGA Connector with switchable SYNC (H/V or C-SYNC)
    -> to be used with a VGA-to-BNC cable (for professional studio monitors like Sony PVM etc.)
    Extra Audio connectors via CINCH
  • 15KHz Lock Mode (disables the output if the signal is out of range)

So, this is it.
I'd like your feedback about the feature list and any other ideas and wishes are welcome.

There's no release schedule or masterplan until I start working on it and report some progress.

.jpg   sync-combiner.jpg (Size: 72.15 KB / Downloads: 7)

.jpg   dc-dc-converter.jpg (Size: 82.81 KB / Downloads: 8) ]]> <![CDATA[our hero]]> https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=47 Tue, 12 Mar 2019 10:23:39 +0000 https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=47
let us know where our hero is. 

Smile]]>
let us know where our hero is. 

Smile]]> <![CDATA[Linux: using xrandr to display only a segment of the screen]]> https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=44 Thu, 07 Mar 2019 14:52:11 +0000 https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=44
Yesterday I came across this post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/comme..._on_a_pvm/

I had no idea xrandr was able to feed a predefined segment of a video-output to a monitor.


Code:
xrandr --output VGA1 --scale-from 320x240 --pos 1x1

With my intel GPU I'm using Super Resolutions (mostly 2560x240) and often times I see the output-image is scaled out of proportions when running apps like desktops, emulationstation gui, scummvm etc.

What I did is switching to a super resolution and then run the proposed code to correct the issue.
I was excited to realize that it worked out of the box and the image on my crt looked great.

Now I guess there has to be a drawback using this method - there's got to be, because nobody would use super resolutions instead, right?
Could it be that this method may cause vsync and/or tearing issues?
Since I only tested it with mostly static scenarios like scummvm, maldita castilla for linux and the lxde desktop I haven't seen any issues.

So, let me rephrase the question...
If I was able to create a perfect 320x240@60Hz (or ANY other!) output on my crt with this method, why would I bother to use super resolutions?

I think a super resolution is only needed in the first place to prepare the canvas in terms of height.. Using the segmented output I could create any width I could think of. I have to admit, I have no idea how refresh rates are handled within this concept.

Maybe I'm wrong about this - could somebody please enlighten me?]]>
Yesterday I came across this post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/comme..._on_a_pvm/

I had no idea xrandr was able to feed a predefined segment of a video-output to a monitor.


Code:
xrandr --output VGA1 --scale-from 320x240 --pos 1x1

With my intel GPU I'm using Super Resolutions (mostly 2560x240) and often times I see the output-image is scaled out of proportions when running apps like desktops, emulationstation gui, scummvm etc.

What I did is switching to a super resolution and then run the proposed code to correct the issue.
I was excited to realize that it worked out of the box and the image on my crt looked great.

Now I guess there has to be a drawback using this method - there's got to be, because nobody would use super resolutions instead, right?
Could it be that this method may cause vsync and/or tearing issues?
Since I only tested it with mostly static scenarios like scummvm, maldita castilla for linux and the lxde desktop I haven't seen any issues.

So, let me rephrase the question...
If I was able to create a perfect 320x240@60Hz (or ANY other!) output on my crt with this method, why would I bother to use super resolutions?

I think a super resolution is only needed in the first place to prepare the canvas in terms of height.. Using the segmented output I could create any width I could think of. I have to admit, I have no idea how refresh rates are handled within this concept.

Maybe I'm wrong about this - could somebody please enlighten me?]]> <![CDATA[Intel custom resolutions with official tool]]> https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=43 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 08:26:04 +0000 https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=43 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...1551088462

It looks like intel is pretty non-restrictive when it comes to custom resolutions. It's the pc-manufacturers that enforce certain display modes and lock custom resolutions.

I'd love to know if there's a way to unlock these restrictions ...]]> https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...1551088462

It looks like intel is pretty non-restrictive when it comes to custom resolutions. It's the pc-manufacturers that enforce certain display modes and lock custom resolutions.

I'd love to know if there's a way to unlock these restrictions ...]]> <![CDATA[Lovely small PC: HP Elite 8000 USDT]]> https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=38 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 06:39:15 +0000 https://mme4crt.alphanudesign.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=38

.jpg   hp-compaq-elite-8000-usdt-vorne-mit-externem-netzteil-2540-1546012224.jpg (Size: 55.1 KB / Downloads: 10)

It's a HP Elite 8000 ultra small formfactor:
  • Core2Duo 3,16 GHz, E8500
  • 4 GB DDR3 Ram
  • 250 GB HDD, 7200 RPM
  • Intel GMA-4 GPU
  • 6 * USB 2.0, 1 * VGA, 1 * LAN, 1 * Audio, 2 * PS/2, 1 * Displayport
  • Dimensions: 25 x 25 x 7 cm, Weight: 3 KG
The System is pretty much ideal for a PC-to-CRT setup.


.jpg   ff1.jpg (Size: 126.14 KB / Downloads: 14)


.jpg   g88.jpg (Size: 95.79 KB / Downloads: 9)


They are selling these off for 30€, if anybody wants to get one I can arrange shipping etc.
I'm located near Bielefeld, DE.]]>

.jpg   hp-compaq-elite-8000-usdt-vorne-mit-externem-netzteil-2540-1546012224.jpg (Size: 55.1 KB / Downloads: 10)

It's a HP Elite 8000 ultra small formfactor:
  • Core2Duo 3,16 GHz, E8500
  • 4 GB DDR3 Ram
  • 250 GB HDD, 7200 RPM
  • Intel GMA-4 GPU
  • 6 * USB 2.0, 1 * VGA, 1 * LAN, 1 * Audio, 2 * PS/2, 1 * Displayport
  • Dimensions: 25 x 25 x 7 cm, Weight: 3 KG
The System is pretty much ideal for a PC-to-CRT setup.


.jpg   ff1.jpg (Size: 126.14 KB / Downloads: 14)


.jpg   g88.jpg (Size: 95.79 KB / Downloads: 9)


They are selling these off for 30€, if anybody wants to get one I can arrange shipping etc.
I'm located near Bielefeld, DE.]]>