Analogue video output options for OSSC
Contents
Getting analogue video 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 to this page as other converters are tested.
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
- Female VGA/D-Sub15 output
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, this adapter appears to add a slight ringing/halo effect to the image, as can be seen in the screenshots below.
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.
MECO female HDMI to male VGA
- Cost around £9.60/$12.40/€11.37 as of April 2017
- Audio out
- Male VGA/D-Sub15 output
- 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
- Cost around £13/$16.80/€15.40 as of April 2017
- Audio out
- Male VGA/D-Sub15 output
- No external power supply required
Does not crush black detail, readily available, affordable and comes with a manufacturer warranty. Build quality is acceptable, the case is plastic and it feels fairly light. Overall this adapter is recommended.
No crush on the grey ramp test:
Unbranded DVI to VGA
- Cost around £3.36/$4.34/€3.98 as of April 2017
- No external power supply required
Crushes blacks, as shown in the pictures below. Avoid these type of adapters.
Unbranded female HDMI to female VGA
(Branded version shown)
- Cost around £5/$6.50/€5.92 as of April 2017
- Audio out
- No external power supply required
Quality of these adapters tends to vary. Some crush blacks while others work perfectly. Not recommended since you cannot be sure of the quality of the unit you're getting.
Black detail comparison
The gif below shows the differences in quality between the adapters. As you can see, the amount of black crush on some adapters is significant.
