Difference between revisions of "Analogue video output options for OSSC"

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The OSSC can be adapted to output analogue video simply and affordably by using any standard DVI/HDMI to VGA adapter. There are no special requirements for this adapter and pretty much any model on the market will suffice. This allows the unit to be used with high quality analogue only displays, such as PC CRT monitors, CRT projectors, etc.
 
The OSSC can be adapted to output analogue video simply and affordably by using any standard DVI/HDMI to VGA adapter. There are no special requirements for this adapter and pretty much any model on the market will suffice. This allows the unit to be used with high quality analogue only displays, such as PC CRT monitors, CRT projectors, etc.
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Although this page was created with the OSSC in mind, there's no reason why these adapters couldn't be used with other processors or digital video equipment, but keep in mind that HDMI devices that use HDCP copy protection may not be compatible with adapters like these.
  
 
== Tested HDMI/DVI to VGA adapters ==
 
== Tested HDMI/DVI to VGA adapters ==
  
Gunstar from the Shmups forum (original thread [http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=59860]) has very kindly tested a number of HDMI/DVI to VGA adapters with his OSSC.
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Gunstar from the Shmups forum (original thread [http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=59860]) has very kindly tested a number of HDMI/DVI to VGA adapters with his OSSC. His findings are presented here. The community is encouraged to add
  
 
=== HD Fury 3 ===
 
=== HD Fury 3 ===
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*Outputs to YPbPr or RGBHV
 
*Outputs to YPbPr or RGBHV
 
*USB powered
 
*USB powered
You were supposed to be the one! Ahem, well it doesn't crush black and it's got some cool features like shifting the picture left and right and being able to expand the RGB range (I couldn't get this to work) but from what I'm seeing it has some ringing and maybe it's doing some scaling? This is a reticule comparison on Halo: ImageImage
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No black crush and some some useful additional features such as picture shifting/positioning and the ability to expand the RGB range (I couldn't get this to work). Nevertheless, appears to add a slight ringing/halo effect to the image, as can be seen in the screenshots below.
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(images here)
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It is difficult to see in these screenshots but the reticule has additional pixels around it that are of a darker value. When using the HD fury 3 they're not visible and the image looks a little softer.
  
It probably isn't clear in these shots but the reticule has these additional pixels around it that are of a darker value, through the HD fury 3 they're not visible not to mention it looks a little softer. I've tested against a component transcoder and it looks like exactly like the image I get from the Tendak/UnbradedHDMI to VGA. I made sure to play with the OSSC's 480p DVI/HDMI options too but it still wouldn't look correct. I wonder if the HD Fury 2 and the Nano are better in this regards?
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Black detail comparison (Artificially brightened)
  
Black detail comparison (Artificially brightened since photoshop gif output seems to mess with the image): Image
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(images here)
  
 
=== MECO female HDMI to male VGA ===
 
=== MECO female HDMI to male VGA ===
  
Image
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[[MECO]]
-£9.60/$12.40/€11.37
 
-Audio out
 
-Gender changer Female to Female required
 
-No power required
 
  
Wouldn't send a signal through to the pc-CRT so can't comment on the picture, like the others, it doesn't use power nor does it have an option to be powered. The plastic case wasn't properly aligned so I might have had a broken version. If anyone has tested these then please let me know if you got it to work.
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*Cost around £9.60/$12.40/€11.37 as of April 2017
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*Audio out
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*Female to Female gender changer may be required
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*No external power supply required
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Did not work/would not send a signal through to the CRT monitor (possibly a faulty unit).
  
==== Tendak female HDMI to male VGA/DSUB ====
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=== Tendak female HDMI to male VGA/DSUB ===
  
Image -£13/$16.80/€15.40 (approximate prices) -Audio out -Would require a Female to Female gender changer to get it to connect to your pc-CRT -No power required
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[[Tendak]]
  
This is the one I recommend as it doesn't crush black detail and should be easy to get on amazon. Comes with a warranty which is nice as these adapters can be fragile in my experience. Build quality is okay, the case is plastic and it feels fairly light, I think you'd need to be careful of dropping it.
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*Cost around £13/$16.80/€15.40 as of April 2017
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*Audio out
 +
*Female to Female gender changer may be required
 +
*No external power supply required
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Does not crush black detail, easily and readily available and comes with a warranty. Build quality is acceptable, the case is plastic and it feels fairly light. Overall this adapter is recommended.
  
 
ImageImage No crush on the grey ramp test: Image
 
ImageImage No crush on the grey ramp test: Image
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=== Unbranded DVI to VGA ===  
 
=== Unbranded DVI to VGA ===  
  
Image
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*Cost around £3.36/$4.34/€3.98  
-£3.36/$4.34/€3.98
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*No external power supply required
-No power required
 
 
 
 
Crushes blacks. Avoid these type of adapters.
 
Crushes blacks. Avoid these type of adapters.
 
ImageImage
 
ImageImage
  
=== Unbranded female HDMI to female VGA (Branded version shown) ===
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=== Unbranded female HDMI to female VGA ===
  
Image -£5/$6.50/€5.92 -Audio out -No power required
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[[female HDMI to female VGA]]
 +
(Branded version shown)
  
I've had several of these, one worked just as good Tendak with no black crush but died on me during testing, I might have had the monitor and OSSC powered so its destruction could be entirely my fault...Another would slightly crush black detail so they seem inconsistent. I originally bought these from eBay but they're almost half price on AliExpress, I have the cheapest model on the way to me for those who might be interested in the cheapest option and will update this thread when I test it. Can't recommend since you don't know if you'll get a good one.
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*-£5/$6.50/€5.92
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*Audio out
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*No external power supply required
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Quality varies, some crush blacks while others work perfectly. Not recommended since you cannot be sure of the quality of the unit you're getting.

Revision as of 13:27, 30 April 2017

Getting VGA from your OSSC

The OSSC can be adapted to output analogue video simply and affordably by using any standard DVI/HDMI to VGA adapter. There are no special requirements for this adapter and pretty much any model on the market will suffice. This allows the unit to be used with high quality analogue only displays, such as PC CRT monitors, CRT projectors, etc.

Although this page was created with the OSSC in mind, there's no reason why these adapters couldn't be used with other processors or digital video equipment, but keep in mind that HDMI devices that use HDCP copy protection may not be compatible with adapters like these.

Tested HDMI/DVI to VGA adapters

Gunstar from the Shmups forum (original thread [1]) has very kindly tested a number of HDMI/DVI to VGA adapters with his OSSC. His findings are presented here. The community is encouraged to add

HD Fury 3

HD Fury 3


  • Cost around £220/$284/€260 as of April 2017
  • Audio out
  • Manual horizontal image shift control
  • Dual female HDMI inputs
  • Outputs to YPbPr or RGBHV
  • USB powered

No black crush and some some useful additional features such as picture shifting/positioning and the ability to expand the RGB range (I couldn't get this to work). Nevertheless, appears to add a slight ringing/halo effect to the image, as can be seen in the screenshots below.

(images here)

It is difficult to see in these screenshots but the reticule has additional pixels around it that are of a darker value. When using the HD fury 3 they're not visible and the image looks a little softer.

Black detail comparison (Artificially brightened)

(images here)

MECO female HDMI to male VGA

MECO

  • Cost around £9.60/$12.40/€11.37 as of April 2017
  • Audio out
  • Female to Female gender changer may be required
  • No external power supply required

Did not work/would not send a signal through to the CRT monitor (possibly a faulty unit).

Tendak female HDMI to male VGA/DSUB

Tendak

  • Cost around £13/$16.80/€15.40 as of April 2017
  • Audio out
  • Female to Female gender changer may be required
  • No external power supply required

Does not crush black detail, easily and readily available and comes with a warranty. Build quality is acceptable, the case is plastic and it feels fairly light. Overall this adapter is recommended.

ImageImage No crush on the grey ramp test: Image

Unbranded DVI to VGA

  • Cost around £3.36/$4.34/€3.98
  • No external power supply required

Crushes blacks. Avoid these type of adapters. ImageImage

Unbranded female HDMI to female VGA

female HDMI to female VGA

(Branded version shown)
  • -£5/$6.50/€5.92
  • Audio out
  • No external power supply required

Quality varies, some crush blacks while others work perfectly. Not recommended since you cannot be sure of the quality of the unit you're getting.