HDMI adapter vs Retrotink Question

[Nidstang]

I'm looking for a solution to play PS2 and Gamecube on a modern TV, buying as a birthday gift. So opinions on:

PS2 - Retrotink 2X Pro w/ component cables vs Hyperkin PS2/PS1 HDMI adapter

Gamecube - Retrotink 2X Pro w/ component cables vs Carby

Or if there's another recommended solution. This person is not overly picky about scanlines and things like that. Just looking for something that will look good on modern displays with no/minimal input lag.
Thanks!

 

[Baldwookiee]

https://electron-shepherd.com/ Electron Pulse for PS2 and carby for gamecube

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

For PS2:
- The hyperkin adapter is bad
- The 2X pro is a great device but doesn't handle interlaced signals the best. It uses the bob deinterlacing method.
- I like to use the GBS-Control for PS2 because it's the cheapest device that has motion adaptive deinterlacing. The higher end Retrotinks have it but are much more expensive.

idk about Gamecube but I've heard good things about the Carby, but keep in mind that all these direct HDMI adapters don't do any upscaling. 480p looks fine on modern displays but most don't handle 480i well. fyi most PS2 games only run in 480i, a lot of Gamecube games support 480p but not all.

 

[Nidstang]

For PS2:
- The hyperkin adapter is bad
- The 2X pro is a great device but doesn't handle interlaced signals the best. It uses the bob deinterlacing method.
- I like to use the GBS-Control for PS2 because it's the cheapest device that has motion adaptive deinterlacing. The higher end Retrotinks have it but are much more expensive.

idk about Gamecube but I've heard good things about the Carby, but keep in mind that all these direct HDMI adapters don't do any upscaling. 480p looks fine on modern displays but most don't handle 480i well. fyi most PS2 games only run in 480i, a lot of Gamecube games support 480p but not all.

Would you say the 2X Pro is BAD for PS2? Or just that there's better options?

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

Would you say the 2X Pro is BAD for PS2? Or just that there's better options?

It's not bad, it was actually what I was using before getting the GBS-Control. It's just that bob deinterlacing causes this slight "jitter" effect that bothers some people. The image ever so slightly bobs up and down.

Post automatically merged: Oct 8, 2025

 

[Nidstang]

It's not bad, it was actually what I was using before getting the GBS-Control. It's just that bob deinterlacing causes this slight "jitter" effect that bothers some people. The image ever so slightly bobs up and down.

Got it.
Is the GBS-Control fairly plug and play? I'm buying for my brother and he's not really much of a tinkerer when it comes to visual settings and things. So I'm looking for things fairly plug and play, which is why I thought the Carby would be good (there isn't really anything like that for PS2), and if he wanted he could get himself like a MClassic down the line if he wanted... but I wasn't sure about PS2, and the 2X Pro seemed like an affordable starter scarler. But now I'm second guessing that.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

Got it.
Is the GBS-Control fairly plug and play? I'm buying for my brother and he's not really much of a tinkerer when it comes to visual settings and things. So I'm looking for things fairly plug and play, which is why I thought the Carby would be good (there isn't really anything like that for PS2), and if he wanted he could get himself like a MClassic down the line if he wanted... but I wasn't sure about PS2, and the 2X Pro seemed like an affordable starter scarler. But now I'm second guessing that.

GBS-Control is a little dui, so for someone who doesn't like to tinker I'd say Retrotink 2x pro is the better option. It's much more plug and play. Motion adaptive does look nicer than bob but it's not like the difference in quality is huge.

 

[Nidstang]

GBS-Control is a little dui, so for someone who doesn't like to tinker I'd say Retrotink 2x pro is the better option. It's much more plug and play. Motion adaptive does look nicer than bob but it's not like the difference in quality is huge.

Cool. I appreciate the insight!

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

https://electron-shepherd.com/ Electron Pulse for PS2 and carby for gamecube

Electron Shepherd's stuff is good, I actually just ordered they're OG Xbox adapter not to long ago.
But like I said before they don't do any upscaling themselves so for something like the PS2 it's not a great option.

 

[Stare best girl]

For PS2:
- The hyperkin adapter is bad
- The 2X pro is a great device but doesn't handle interlaced signals the best. It uses the bob deinterlacing method.
- I like to use the GBS-Control for PS2 because it's the cheapest device that has motion adaptive deinterlacing. The higher end Retrotinks have it but are much more expensive.

idk about Gamecube but I've heard good things about the Carby, but keep in mind that all these direct HDMI adapters don't do any upscaling. 480p looks fine on modern displays but most don't handle 480i well. fyi most PS2 games only run in 480i, a lot of Gamecube games support 480p but not all.

I heard that most of Gamecube games that doesn't support 480p natively, can be forced to 480p with Swiss just like Nintendont's Force Progressive

 

[ThatOneLum ThatOneLum]

Personally I've got a lot of milage out of just using Component cables on my modern TV with my PS2. That said, It's an older TV so it's possible more modern ones don't support component directly.

If that's the case, I@ve heard that the Hyerpkin Cables/adapter boxes suck ass. If you want a really upscaled solution, RetroTink or an OSSC (Open-Source Scan Converter) are you best ways to go.

 

[nobitakun]

Cant you give as a gift a CRT TV? I don't think they cost much on second hand markets.

If the person is not demanding, the adapter could do the job I suppose.

 

[LouieBee]

I'm looking for a solution to play PS2 and Gamecube on a modern TV, buying as a birthday gift. So opinions on:

PS2 - Retrotink 2X Pro w/ component cables vs Hyperkin PS2/PS1 HDMI adapter

Gamecube - Retrotink 2X Pro w/ component cables vs Carby

Or if there's another recommended solution. This person is not overly picky about scanlines and things like that. Just looking for something that will look good on modern displays with no/minimal input lag.
Thanks!

If you want a cheaper solution, I would advise buying a Component Cable and then hooking it up to a GBS-Control.

Places like Aliexpress sell them by the dozen, they will do motion adaptive deinterlacing for your 480i games and handle progressive resolutions, such as 240p and 480p, like a champ.

You don't need to watch the whole video but my gameplay clip here should you some idea as to what to expect from it in action

 

[PhrawzT]

I have the Hyperkin PS2 HDMI cable and it works, but I have noticed that it occasionally cuts out giving me a black screen for a second before fixing itself.

 

[NeonKnights]

For the PS2 I'd recommend the GBSC with the component cables.
Not sure about the GameCube though as I just use my Picoboot modded DOL-001
with an S-Video cable plugged directly into my early 2000s LCD TV and it works great, I do the same for my N64. Just don't make the mistake I did and get the Pound cable HDMI converter. It's horrible for the PS2. The picture is blurry and the aspect ratio was all wrong if I remember correctly. It worked pretty well for the PS1 though.

 

[Nidstang]

Another thought, if his TV has a component input, what's the input lag difference in just plugging the console directly in with component cables vs having something like the Retrotink or a GBS-Control in between?

If you want a cheaper solution, I would advise buying a Component Cable and then hooking it up to a GBS-Control.

Places like Aliexpress sell them by the dozen, they will do motion adaptive deinterlacing for your 480i games and handle progressive resolutions, such as 240p and 480p, like a champ.

You don't need to watch the whole video but my gameplay clip here should you some idea as to what to expect from it in action

I'm gonna be honest, I never buy off AliExpress, quality is too all over the place. It's part of why I don't know much about many open source projects like this because I'm too stupid to build them myself, and don't know many reputable sellers.

 

[Baldwookiee]

Electron Shepherd's stuff is good, I actually just ordered they're OG Xbox adapter not to long ago.
But like I said before they don't do any upscaling themselves so for something like the PS2 it's not a great option.

I read it as he wasn't looking to upscale but just play games on a modern display. I agree with you though the GBSC is a good option for a cheap up-scaler.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

I heard that most of Gamecube games that doesn't support 480p natively, can be forced to 480p with Swiss just like Nintendont's Force Progressive

That's true, but you need a modded GameCube or Wii to do it, it's also true for the few Wii games that don't support 480p. I use a modded Wii with forced 480p plugged directly into my TV with component cables. OG Xbox can be forced into 480p mode as well. PS2 on the other hand is not so lucky so I need to run I through a scaler.

Another thought, if his TV has a component input, what's the input lag difference in just plugging the console directly in with component cables vs having something like the Retrotink or a GBS-Control in between?

If the console outputs 480p and up, input delay is fine. However when you give a modern display 480i the TV will use it's internal deinterlacer to display the image. In my experience this deinterlacer adds massive input delay, it's like a full second.

I built my GBS-Control myself, you can get pre-built ones on aliexpress but the quality is all over the place, that's why I said the RetroTink 2X pro is the easier option.

 

[Nidstang]

I'm glad I have a CRT for my own uses, and just plan to get a Retrotink 4k when my CRT eventually dies. I'm far more finnicky than my brother, and will spend a lot of time tweaking filters and shaders, and stuff and care about proper upscaling and whatnot.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I'm gonna go with the 2X Pro and a set of HDRetrovision comp cables for the PS2 and a set of Retro Bit Prism comp cables for the Gamecube to get for him.

Post automatically merged: Oct 8, 2025

Hmmm, I also forgot he has a Wii. Buying him some HD Retrovision cables for the Wii vs the Retro Bit Prism cables for the Gamecube might be the move. Need to ponder this.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin TruxtonTatsujin]

Hmmm, I also forgot he has a Wii. Buying him some HD Retrovision cables for the Wii vs the Retro Bit Prism cables for the Gamecube might be the move. Need to ponder this.

All Retrovision cables are top notch, I've heard mixed things about the Retro Bit Prism cables but they're kind of the only component option for GameCube unless you wanna spend hundreds on the og cables. The Wii is also incredibly easy to mod compared to the GameCube.

 

[Nidstang]

All Retrovision cables are top notch, I've heard mixed things about the Retro Bit Prism cables but they're kind of the only component option for GameCube unless you wanna spend hundreds on the og cables. The Wii is also incredibly easy to mod compared to the GameCube.

I have HD Retrovision cables for my PS2 and Genesis and love them (aside from the picture on the Genesis waving, but that's because for some reason the Genesis doesnt play well with my specific CRT). Great cables

 

[Nidstang]

Update:

So I ordered the Retrotink 2X Pro, but then decided to go with a GBS-C after all, I found a prebuilt one on Amazon I went with. So now I need to see if I can return the Retrotink 2X or sell it.



As for the Gamecube, Amazon sold out of the Retrobit component cables, and thinking about it, it doesn't make sense to go digital (the Gamecube component out) to analog (the GBS-C) back to digital (HDMI), so I'm just going to get the Carby or Eon Mk II, and keep it all digital. He can get a MClassic down the line if he wants to enhance the Gamecube further.

 

[NeonKnights]

Just be sure to check that his GameCube model is a DOL-001 (The model with the digital out port.) as that's the only one compatible with the Carby, as well as the Eon Mk II.

 

[Nidstang]

He has a 001.

 

[Another Iori]

I used a CRT until it gave out, so at the beginning of this year I too found myself a bit lost with my PS2, since modern televisions have no SCART socket and even after detaching the RGB cables and sticking them one by one into their respective holes, the analog signal is too weak nowadays: the image is blurry and the audio has a constant, intrusive background noise, therefore I drove myself to find an HDMI solution.

I tested several and the low-cost ones all have performance issues and even if I found one to my liking, there was the problem of it not being compatible with the PS1 or with DVDs. So, I found a mid-range solution with the Hyperkin and I have been completely satisfied with my purchase.

The resolution is output at 720p, and the video and audio quality are truly exceptional. I haven't encountered any input lag using original controllers for the PS2 or other later Sony or Hori brand controllers with a Wingman adapter.

[Image taken from an Amazon customer who shared it].

To function the cable requires a USB port, but the one natively on the PS2 can be used.

It also has a small button that when pressed gives you the choice to see things in the correct 4:3 aspect ratio or to unleash the mental illness by forcibly stretching the proportions to 16/9.

If I really have to strain myself to find the Cindy Crawford's mole, the cable lacks a scanline filter and I haven't figured out if such an option exists via a hidden PopStarter command, however, the other DKWDRV in development definitely has them (judging from the screenshots I've seen).

Anyway, I don't know why, but when I use the FreeMcBoot command-line interface, the image is slightly off-center, but then when the game starts everything snaps into place.

DVDs don't work with this adapter either, but honestly who still uses a PS2 as their main DVD player? There are so many other options that sticking with the PS2's player is just therapeutic obstinacy.

On Amazon it has over 80% satisfied customers, but if you're worried about the dissatisfied minority, on A. you can always add a fee for insurance.

The merchandise is located in Hong Kong, so once ordered the item will take months to arrive at your home.