MiSTer FPGA Forum

I recently got MiSTer Pi. I hooked it up with HDMI (to a flat panel) and analog YPbPr (to a consumer CRT).
It mostly works fine, but I can't get the picture on CRT with some cores, mainly arcade cores.

for example:

• Raizing cores (Battle Garegga)
• Toaplan cores (Out Zone)
• Nichibutsu cores (Terra Cresta)

I want to make them work with CRT too.
I want to improve the CRT compatibility in general.
below are things I can't quite get it. need help! thanks

1.
I messed with .ini file on "video_mode" settings, tried some configurations. it's something like this.

[bgaregga]
vscale_mode=1
video_mode=320,16,32,56,240,2,3,16,6640

but it didn't work, because the setting was applied to the digital output, not the analog output.

2.
Raizing cores, Nichibutsu cores, some of the Toaplan cores don't have "odd" resolutions and frame rates in the first place.
I believe my consumer CRT should be able to handle these signals, but it's not.

• Battle Garegga ... 240 * 320, 15.63kHz, 59.4Hz
• Out Zone ... 320 * 240, 15.56kHz, 55.2Hz <- odd frame rate
• Zero Wing ... 320 * 240, 15.56kHz, 57.6Hz <- odd frame rate
• Tatsujin Oh ... 240 * 320, 15.63kHz, 59.4Hz
• Terra Cresta ... 256 * 224, 15.63kHz, 59.4Hz

3.
Cave cores and Irem cores also have odd resolutions and frame rates, but they work.

• DoDonPachi ... 320 * 240, 15.63kHz, 57.4Hz <- odd frame rate
• R-Type ... 384 * 256, 15.63kHz, 55.2Hz <- odd resolution, odd frame rate

vga_scaler - Sends the scaler output to the VGA port (either Analog IO or Direct Video). This is usually used with computer CRTs and other 31kHz displays which are not compatible with 240p TV signals.

<meant to delete this part>

https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_M ... anced/ini/

To get some of the games you mentioned above to work on my CRT after using them on my Hdmi tv was to delete the cfg files but some cores like battlezone and asteroids and a few more wont sync at all..

dickhardpill wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2024 8:39 pm

vga_scaler - Sends the scaler output to the VGA port (either Analog IO or Direct Video). This is usually used with computer CRTs and other 31kHz displays which are not compatible with 240p TV signals.

<meant to delete this part>

https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_M ... anced/ini/

thanks for the reply.

you mean I should do this?

[bgaregga]
video_mode=320,16,32,56,240,2,3,16,6640

I already tried it, but the result was the same (video_mode setting is applied to digital output).
I also tried plugging out HDMI and doing analog output only, but the result was the same.

the way I understand it is that vga_scaler=1 pushes changes to the analog output.
just something I thought could be worth a try.

[bgaregga]
vga_scaler=1
video_mode=320,16,32,56,240,2,3,16,6640

Edited- asleep at the wheel again…

Epo wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2024 10:47 pm

dickhardpill wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2024 8:39 pm

vga_scaler - Sends the scaler output to the VGA port (either Analog IO or Direct Video). This is usually used with computer CRTs and other 31kHz displays which are not compatible with 240p TV signals.

<meant to delete this part>

https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_M ... anced/ini/

thanks for the reply.

you mean I should do this?

Code: Select all

[bgaregga]
video_mode=320,16,32,56,240,2,3,16,6640

I already tried it, but the result was the same (video_mode setting is applied to digital output).
I also tried plugging out HDMI and doing analog output only, but the result was the same.

I finally understand how vga_scaler works. thanks!
tried these configurations.

vga_scaler=1
video_mode=320,240,60

vga_scaler=1
video_mode=320,240,60,cvt

vga_scaler=1
video_mode=320,240,60,cvtrb

vga_scaler=1
video_mode=320,16,32,56,240,2,3,16,6640

all above DID NOT work for all not-working cores I mentioned (Battle Garegga, Out Zone, Terra Cresta)
and DID work for all the other cores I've tried (NES, Genesis, some arcade cores etc.).

You won't get them working on your mister pi as those cores haven't been updated to the latest framework. Mister Pi uses ioboard 9.2, and uses 24 bit analog video, so needs core updates in order to work. You can wait for the cores to update, buy an older analog ioboard (18 bit video) or buy a new mister add-ons Analog pro ioboard that has a switch for 18 vs 24 bit video. Or just use HDMI.