Nintendo 64 UltraHDMI Mod

[namarino]

Hey guys, I have an N64 that's connected to my TV with the original composite cables. I had the urge to go back and play some of those games with my dad and I was curious if I could improve the video quality at all. After looking at some comparisons between composite and the other options like S-video and the UltraHDMI mod, I honestly don't see a huge difference. Does anyone have experience with these "improvements"? Do they really make that big of a difference? I'm thinking of either going s-video with an external scaler or getting it modded. Thanks so much guys!

[spellmanuk]

unless you need hdmi i wouldnt bother

[ProjectBox153]

Unless you need HDMI, I wouldn't bother too much. If you can use it how it is, that's what matters. Or you could get an old CRT and play it!

[PlayStation 2]

If anything, I'd try getting your Nintendo 64 modded to support RGB Scart. If there isn't a real difference between S-Video and the HDMI mod, the HDMI mod might just be forcing S-Video through another format.

[Mira Yurizaki]

Looking at the website, all it does is output to HDMI and/or do some scaling magic. It might look cleaner, but that's about it.

[AshleyAshes]

43 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Looking at the website, all it does is output to HDMI and/or do some scaling magic. It might look cleaner, but that's about it.

It would also likely reduce latency.  HDTVs have some pretty terrible latency issues (Relatively speaking) on their analog inputs since the analog signal still needs to be processed into a digital signal that can drive the digital screen.  This is why for professional gaming, you'll see most games that are capable of HDMI output running on low latency digital displays but games on hardware with only analog outputs, like Melee on GameCube for example, running on CRTs.

[Mira Yurizaki]

6 minutes ago, AshleyAshes said:

It would also likely reduce latency.  HDTVs have some pretty terrible latency issues (Relatively speaking) on their analog inputs since the analog signal still needs to be processed into a digital signal that can drive the digital screen.  This is why for professional gaming, you'll see most games that are capable of HDMI output running on low latency digital displays but games on hardware with only analog outputs, like Melee on GameCube for example, running on CRTs.

I'd argue one thing though: This is the N64 we're talking about. If you could get a stable 30 FPS on a 3D game, that was considered great. 60 FPS games were rare (I think only F-Zero X and Smash Bros were 60 FPS)

 

I also don't have much reason to believe TV have an input lag that bad, considering I could play beatmania on the PS2 reasonably well.

[AshleyAshes]

2 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

I'd argue one thing though: This is the N64 we're talking about. If you could get a stable 30 FPS on a 3D game, that was considered great. 60 FPS games were rare (I think only F-Zero X and Smash Bros were 60 FPS)

 

I also don't have much reason to believe TV have an input lag that bad, considering I could play beatmania on the PS2 reasonably well.

I did say 'relatively speaking'.  It's significant enough that for professional situations, CRTs are still sought out as the only 'competition grade' displays for games played on hardware that is incapable of digital output.  It's worth noting if one wants to passionately get into some retro game.  Besides, such a hardware mod can be a fun project.

[Mira Yurizaki]

5 minutes ago, AshleyAshes said:

I did say 'relatively speaking'.  It's significant enough that for professional situations, CRTs are still sought out as the only 'competition grade' displays for games played on hardware that is incapable of digital output.  It's worth noting if one wants to passionately get into some retro game.  Besides, such a hardware mod can be a fun project.

At that point though, I'd also say find a CRT TV if you can and play those retro games the way they were meant to be played

[AshleyAshes]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

At that point though, I'd also say find a CRT TV if you can and play those retro games the way they were meant to be played

A nice Sony Trinitron WEGA preferably.  They really are the pinnacle of the CRT.