• Retrotink 2X PRO

    From j0hnny a1pha@21:4/158 to All on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 08:00:00
    Anyone using a Retrotink for line doubling on a C64? I've got a cheap
    upscaler now and it's pretty blurry. But some of the reviews I've read
    (and retro YT'rs) swear by them for their crispness. I think a lot of
    people use them with retro game consoles for zero-lag as well. But at
    $139 USD it's a pretty steep investment.

    |07 .'|08.
    |07 ||15o|08| |03J0hnny A1pha
    |07 .'|15o|08'. |06gOLD mINE HQ
    |07 |.-.|08| |08---------------------
    |07 '|14( |12)|08' |05SpaceJunkBBS.com|13:|052323
    |07 |12)

    --- Talisman v0.54-dev (Linux/x86_64)
    * Origin: Space Junk! BBS :: SpaceJunkBBS.com:2323 (21:4/158)
  • From Bf2K+@21:3/171 to j0hnny a1pha on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 22:02:48
    On 11 Sep 24 08:00:00 j0hnny a1pha wrote...

    Anyone using a Retrotink for line doubling on a C64? I've got a cheap upscaler now and it's pretty blurry. But some of the reviews I've
    read (and retro YT'rs) swear by them for their crispness. I think a
    lot of people use them with retro game consoles for zero-lag as well.
    But at $139 USD it's a pretty steep investment.

    |07 .'|08. |07 ||15o|08| |03J0hnny A1pha |07 .'|15o|08'. |06gOLD mINE HQ |07 |.-.|08| |08--------------------- |07
    '|14( |12)|08' |05SpaceJunkBBS.com|13:|052323 |07 |12)


    --- Talisman v0.54-dev (Linux/x86_64) * Origin: Space Junk! BBS :: SpaceJunkBBS.com:2323 (21:4/158)

    To which Bf2K+ replies...

    I use a RTink with my Atari 8-bit systems to hook via HDMI to my Dell 27" monitor. I have 2 other cheaper u-scalers but the RTink blows them both
    away.

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From dingo@21:1/121 to j0hnny a1pha on Saturday, September 14, 2024 16:14:52

    On Wednesday, September 11th j0hnny a1pha muttered...
    Anyone using a Retrotink for line doubling on a C64? I've got a cheap upscaler now and it's pretty blurry. But some of the reviews I've read

    I just buy old CRT's on facebook marketplace. I scored three Sony Triniton VGA CRT's this past week for $100 total. Retrotink's are great and all but they're still more expensive than a CRT.

    I almost bought one for my Amiga 500, but I read that they don't do a very good job 15Khz computer systems like Amiga or the Apple IIgs. For $140 I can buy four different CRT's and pick the one I like best.

    Frankly I think HDMI output looks like shit on any ~pre-2005's system.

    Retrotink helps by adding faux interlacing etc., its *almost* as good, but why pay so much for something *almost* as good when you can have the real thing for less? The only problem with buying used CRT's on FB Marketplace is that only the big ones are free. a 13" monitor that would be a good fit for a system like a C64 can go for $100, but once you reach 19" or larger UPS and others outright refuse to ship it, exceeding weight limits. Once you reach 27" they become some burdensome that people start to give them away for free, especially because in many places it actually costs money to throw them out.

    I can buy an TV Logic board on Aliexpress for ~$40 making any television Composite and S-Video capable. I am hopeful in the future there will be logic boards with RGB/SCART inputs.

    Once the retrotink is under $40 and HDMI 4K monitors are at local thrift shops for the same, then I will reconsider whether CRT's are worth keeping around!

    --- ENiGMA 1/2 v0.0.14-beta (linux; x64; 18.18.2)
    * Origin: Xibalba -+- xibalba.l33t.codes:44510 (21:1/121)