What are your experiences with upscalers? (Retrotink, OSSC, GBS-C etc)

[Havelsaurus]

I'd be interested in hearing about people's experiences with upscalers, how they've integrated them into their setup, and which scalers they prefer.

I'll start. I started out with cheap ass component to HDMI converters as wondered why I couldn't hit bowser throws. Turns out those ones introduce an crud load of input lag, that one languishes in the drawer forever.

Then, I upgraded to the GBS-Control. Much better! RGB scart and component inputs, fairly decent deinterlacing and seemless resolution switching (fixing the Chrono Cross problem.) My gripe with it was the lack of component or S-Video input, so my N64 sat in a cupboard waiting to be played. Also the sound on component would be really quiet if the scart cable was plugged in for some reason.

Finally, the Retrotink 5x. Pricey. But so much better. All the inputs I need, scaling up to 1440p (experimentally,) decent post processing options, profiles, the works. Very happy.

The one issue with all of these, in a small space, is figuring out how to connect everything together without having to put your back out when switching consoles. I've got a scart switcher but a component switcher just seems like it would introduce even more wires. Behind the TV looks like something out of Tetsuo The Iron Man.

 

[Atma]

I only have the Retrotink 5X, but I can't really go back after it. The quality is absolutely stellar, the only gripe I have against it is the lack of HDMI input which is currently nerfing my PSTV.

Also would like to add that 1440p is no longer the highest resolution. On firmware 4.x you can get near 4K resolutions with proper 4:4:4 HDR colours. Just be mindful that this firmware is only for CRT-simulation, so optimal timings were not included. The upside is that the revamped CRT shaders are top-tier.

 

[Moldark-Wyrm]

I got 0 of experience because they cost 10 times more than the damnn console I wanna upscale.
Like I paid 30 bucks for my PS2 and now you want me to pay 300 bucks for a damn upscale.

 

[Havelsaurus]

I got 0 of experience because they cost 10 times more than the damnn console I wanna upscale.
Like I paid 30 bucks for my PS2 and now you want me to pay 300 bucks for a damn upscale.

The open source projects are getting cheaper thankfully, you can get a GBS-Control Pro for about £85 in the UK. Not sure about in other regions but they are becoming more reasonable. I've never used that one but I'm assuming its better than the GBS I had, which was decent.

 

[Phercarde]

I got 0 of experience because they cost 10 times more than the damnn console I wanna upscale.
Like I paid 30 bucks for my PS2 and now you want me to pay 300 bucks for a damn upscale.

I feel you!!! I tend to tell my friends to get (IF AVAILABLE of course ) a CRT can be 14". I mean i know we on 2026 and each house is diferent. We are use to have this large displays nowadays. But for retro gaming ( and mood ) the crt option is the best. There might be somebody in the neighborhood (maybe not ) or somewhere dumping one or selling . I know those skyrocket these las few years but is pretty good option

another thing that might help is to have a display close to the resolution of the system. I mean is better to stretch 480p to 720p than 480p to 1080p. I say this by experience with my Wii. I know that you guys are upscaling from 240 maybe from older consoles and im happy that you got the resouces to get an upscaler!!! I just wanted to share my experience with what i have at hand.


Now imagine stretching fro 480 to a 4k display i mean. why? its ridiculous get a smaller res cheap tv (if you can )

just an opinion here !!! I still want to hear your experiences with upscalers!!!!

 

[Atma]

I feel you!!! I tend to tell my friends to get (IF AVAILABLE of course ) a CRT can be 14". I mean i know we on 2026 and each house is diferent. We are use to have this large displays nowadays. But for retro gaming ( and mood ) the crt option is the best. There might be somebody in the neighborhood (maybe not ) or somewhere dumping one or selling . I know those skyrocket these las few years but is pretty good option

another thing that might help is to have a display close to the resolution of the system. I mean is better to stretch 480p to 720p than 480p to 1080p. I say this by experience with my Wii. I know that you guys are upscaling from 240 maybe from older consoles and im happy that you got the resouces to get an upscaler!!! I just wanted to share my experience with what i have at hand.


Now imagine stretching fro 480 to a 4k display i mean. why? its ridiculous get a smaller res cheap tv (if you can )

just an opinion here !!! I still want to hear your experiences with upscalers!!!!

Well, a professional scaler will net you with the CRT experience minus the drawbacks of uneven geometry or other misc. issues. That is the main point of it.

Also, the CRT market is getting obscenely price-y as of late, since a lot of sellers are catching on to the fact that the retro gaming market is a thing. If you want a decent Trinitron, best get ready to pay good dough over it. Want something even better? Can get pricier than the Retrotink.

 

[Moldark-Wyrm]

Yeah I fully agree with you sadly CRT´s are harder and harder to get your hands own at least here in Sweden I rarely see any up for sale and I don´t know any one that have one just laying around.

What I done now for my PS1 and PS2 is I use a Scart to HMDI converter and use my 1080p smart mointor yeah it does not look crisp as a CRT or as good as a upscale but it work.

And if Im badly desperate to have some what better visual well just emulate the shit.

 

[Dr.Kisaragi Dr.Kisaragi]

I'm still using good old RCA Cable (well basic still the best)

 

[Nidstang]

I've used the GBS-C, which I bought for my brother. I use a CRT at home for my old consoles, but he just has HD LED options. I'm pretty impressed with the GBS-C. The CRT shaders aren't AMAZING, but they're functional and do their job. The performance of it is great. GBS-C is the only budget friendly upscaler with deinterlacing so PS2 will look good on it.

For Gamecube, I've used the Carby HD Adapter (again purchased for my brother for his set up) - also very impressive, though the CRT shaders are lacking on it, and it does have a slight picture delay when switching resolutions, so sometimes the first few seconds of a cutscene may be lost depending on what game you are playing. You can only use these on 001 Gamecubes with digital outs though (I have a 101 so I'd need an analog upscaler)

I've seen great things about the Morph 2K for a 1080p upscaler that is significantly cheaper than the Retrotink 5X, but has almost identical functionality. The CRT shader options are also pretty impressive. There's also the Morph 4K, but reviews for that are more mixed than the 2K from what I've seen.

Nothing tops the Retrotink 4K though, especially in terms of CRT shader customization. When my CRT inevitably dies on me someday, I will be buying a Retrotink 4K or a Morph 2K depending on what my living situation/TV situation looks like at that time.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 4:49 PM

Also for switcher options, look into the SVS (Scalable Video Switch). It's a modular switcher. You can include as many inputs/outputs as you need, and can even feed them all into a singular VGA output for use of the Retrotink 4K if you go that route - One out cable, and the 4K will auto detect what input is being sent, for instant preset loading.

 

[PrismRed]

I have one from bitfunx specifically for Gamecube and a retroscaler2x (retrotink clone I believe), and few cheap ones from columbus circle or something. I'm not a graphic guy so I don't really care about the quality, I mainly use those so I can connect all the consoles to a single modern tv. I was planning to just use a cheap converter/scaler at the beginning, until I hit a roadblock.

GC on cheap stuff is fine really, except all the small texts are blurry as hell and barely readable, bought the bitfunx for this one and it become much better.
Same thing with N64, except it was much, much worse, it was really straining just playing for few minutes, I used 3 different cheap upscalers and it doesn't improve at all, luckily found a used retroscaler2x, night and day difference really.

 

[WedgeX]

My experience is the price... I tried to use a cheap Amazon.com adapter for my PS1 and it was obviously garbage....I mean it was only $19 but hurt my eyes it looked so bad

was seriously considering a RetroTink but ..... the price and lucked out shortly after, somebody gave me a CRT for free (I offered money and they wouldnt take it) and then found a 2nd one at a yard sale for $10 .... gotta know some older folks who just want to get rid of them....

but at this point Im so impressed with the picture quality of both of these shitty, low quality 13ich CRT models I think if I was going to spend RetroTink money Id actually rather go on eBay and buy a large better CRT.... yes they are expensive but honestly worth it, the only issue with eBay is because of the weight they literally cost a fortune to have them shipped, sometime exceeding the cost of the TV"

 

[Phercarde]

Games look how they were intended to in a CRT
Of course RGB is crisp. But a CRT has the home nostalgia look. And yes is a real thing that not everybody has acces to one.

I have three 14" .. one like 24 and 2 thritysomething ( 1Sony trinitron 1998 and a Memorex from 2000's that has an horizontal line and i cant use it)i dont know the right number. What I mean by this is. I found every single one in front of houses getting rid of em.

And if you look in the right place ive seen "chasis boards made in 2020+" and they have the option for pal RGB and NTSC. can chek Ali express for those.

ok ok i know the post is for upscalers i'll shut up !

 

[Atma]

Games look how they were intended to in a CRT
Of course RGB is crisp. But a CRT has the home nostalgia look. And yes is a real thing that not everybody has acces to one.

I have three 14" .. one like 24 and 2 thritysomething ( 1Sony trinitron 1998 and a Memorex from 2000's that has an horizontal line and i cant use it)i dont know the right number. What I mean by this is. I found every single one in front of houses getting rid of em.

And if you look in the right place ive seen "chasis boards made in 2020+" and they have the option for pal RGB and NTSC. can chek Ali express for those.

ok ok i know the post is for upscalers i'll shut up !

Being european, it's kinda funny to me seeing people separating CRT from pure RGB output. It was incredibly rare for us to have to settle with composite cables.

It's true that some games had the poor composite signal in mind for certain effects, like Sonic 1 and its waterfall effect, but they also had elements designed for RGB output. Especially on the Mega Drive.

And to keep it on-topic, the Retrotink 5X allows you to use those crisp colours and clarity of RGB outputs, with the fuzziness of composite for certain elements. All you need to do is go on that menu and tinker with options.