Old video games look bad on new tv. What can be done?

[Cunha]

I mean most CRT's are better than Most LCD's in almost every single measurement. The only exception is actual number of pixels. Anything you can use on a CRT looks awesome on it, because CRT's are awesome. (ones that aren't broken, or nearly broken)

Good stuff.

[SignOfZeta]

Just use an old TV. Good ones are free. Win win. It doesn’t even really have to be a good TV but for best results, Sony, JVC, Toshiba are the best. 27” is a good size but smaller honestly makes the old stuff look better. Don’t waste 1$M trying to make a PGP run off HPA.

[scottieb]

I'll look into some of the modding options and other things.

Getting an old CRT is not an option. There is no place for one and a separate set up just for gaming isn't needed.

I do enjoy the old tellies more, especially for old game systems. Not long ago I gave away an old JVC D series that I purchased when I managed at Circuit City. 27" display model. I bought it for $250. Times were different 20 years ago. I miss them.

[vijil]

Some modern TVs have ML/AI based upscaling that tries to preserve detail. I'd be interested to see how well it worked, but going from 640/480 or whatever to 4k will always be a huge ask and probably brings some latency to boot. See bottom of this article - most samsung QLED TVs have a version of it. I'd assume the likes of LG etc would too. https://news.samsung.com/global/next...inition-tv-era

[Axel]

Side question, since OP got his answer: I am trying to run a SNES on an LED screen and having zero luck. I have used RCA input, tried a coax cable (channel 3 lol)--when that didn't work I got a new composite cable, and when THAT didn't work I got an RCA to HDMI converter. I've tried three TVs and two consoles (one of which is BNIB, so I don't think it's the console).

Mostly I'm getting some distorted output that doesn't look or sound like anything (same from both consoles, hence why I don't think it's the console). The HDMI converter didn't output anything at all except it's own screensaver

The only hits I get on Google are about converting to HDMI output, which seems to just be a matter of the right cable, which I've done... Am I missing something stupid obvious here?

[scottieb]

Have you power to the RCA to HDMI converter?

[snoopay700]

Like Scottie said, make sure you have power to the converter.

An alternative is something like the Retron 5

[Axel]

Yes. I get the screensaver signal from the converter. It flicks back and forth from 720 to 1080p backgrounds in response to a switch on the converter so it seems to be working fine

Frustratingly, the wife has a Retron 3 somewhere but she can't find it.

[SignOfZeta]

...just get a CRT. Seriously. I’ve been down this rabbit hole and I’ve seen 1000 other people do it. You can buy an endless river of $$$ boxes that never seem to end or you can just use what it was made to run on and have zero issues ever. You made room in your living rooms for for a wall sized billboard to run ads on. Your parents didn’t have that. Make room for grandmas little portable TV stand and just run that same setup forever for free. Either that or run emulators.

[Cunha]

The only exception is if you throw down the (not that much money) to get whatever console Analogue is making https://www.analogue.co/pocket which will have HDMI out and can add back scanlines and stuff to make it look good on an LCD.

But even that is bascially emulated and not quite right like playing on a CRT, which really are the best, but they are either too small, or when they are big they are too bulky. Its the best tech its just too expensive to move around and with the technology as it was in 2005 ish when it shut down they were as deep as they were tall which is a problem when you got a 100 incher or something.

GL with your games! I got a sweet 14 inch sony for my PS2 and SNEs and N64. I have a small guy because I don't get to play much and don't have space for a big beautiful CRT that I would prefer.

[SignOfZeta]

My main display for 16-bit is a 19” Samsung that happens to have the most perfect geometry I’ve ever seen in a flat tube. Genesis, MVS, look amazing. Even an unmodded PC Engine looks good over composite on it. I’m going to cry when it dies...but the thing is almost 20 years old and that hasn’t happened happened yet. My 27” JVC is a bit easier to see though.

But CRTs are old and yucky like grandpas farts so nevermind.

[Cunha]

When we upgraded to 24 inch CRT monitors we got rid of our original viewsonic 19 inch display that we got new with out 1ghz thunderbird and voodoo 5 5500 PC when it was state of the art.

I wish we kept the display I got some great blood shot eyes from playing on that high performance monster for like full days straight. Lots of tribes 2 and everquest.

[SignOfZeta]

My last SVGA CRT is a Dell that isn’t particularly impressive. I keep it around just for Dreamcast. It’s the same monitor I beat a lot of those games on for the first time...after my Diamondtron died in like 2003. For Rez, Daytona 2, Fighting Vipers 2, Cannon Spike, it’s the definitive experience, IMO, especially Rez.

[ghilliesuit]

How is it you guys have me actually considering the purchase of a CRT TV? I am unsubscribing from this thread

[skinnyfatguy]

You can often find them for free on craigslist, ect. Goodwill and Salvation Army stopped taking them a number of years ago.

[ChoSanJuan]

I have an old crt and a vcr in my office. The upside is I can just hook up all my retro gear and not worry about anything . Also, big bonus is that all my gun games work without any stupid tricks and additional hardware.
It
Just
Works

[SignOfZeta]

I forgot about gun games. I can’t imagine what nonsense people are going through to keep those going. CRT for life! ...or at least the life of my last CRT.

[boarder2k7]

How is it that we've gotten this far down the thread without someone bringing up the cheap, easy, and space saving alternative of smearing a thin layer of Vaseline on your glasses?

[Cunha]

Non chain thrift stores will still have them for like 20 bucks, often enough.

Definitely watch craigslist. I have had to pass up really high end sony 4x3 and wide screen displays that i just didn't have space to store. Really hurts!

[SignOfZeta]

People get rid of them because they don’t have the space...but they seem to have space for the huge thing that replaced it? Another popular excuse for ditching CRTs is power consumption but in reality most old TVs are only less efficient PER INCH so in reality your TV from today may be burning as much or more juice than what you had 20 years ago. LCDs tend die faster too so that’s more energy wasted.