AV:RetroTINK-5X Pro: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 06:27, 19 July 2022

RetroTink 5X Pro as shown at www.retrotink.com

The RetroTINK-5X Pro is an advanced video upscaler designed by Mike Chi. It is the latest offering from the RetroTink line of graphics upscalers and line-doublers.

How to Use the RetroTINK-5X Pro - A Beginner’s Guide

The RetroTINK-5X Pro is a product designed to solve the problem of using retro video game consoles with modern flat panel displays. If you’ve arrived at this guide, you’re probably aware of some problems when trying to play older video game systems on a newer TV's.

HDMI vs Analog

In many situations, the cables that came with your game system will not be compatible with the modern digital HDMI inputs on your TV. One of the main features of the RetroTINK-5X Pro is to convert these signals into an HDMI format your modern display can understand.

Correct Image Processing

In the cases that your display does have the correct hookups to connect your console, there’s still a good chance that the resulting output will be blurry, distorted and laggy. This is because most displays are designed with Movie or TV Show content in mind, and the video processing typically used to handle that isn’t a good fit for retro consoles. Features like minimal and consistent latency, integer scaling and proper handling of 240p are almost always missing when using a flat panel’s included analog inputs.

Lag

The RetroTINK-5X Pro by design is an extremely low lag device, and includes advanced modes to operate even more quickly (see Triple Buffer vs Frame Lock And Gen Lock and 1080p (Min-Lag) for more info).

Lag (aka latency) is the measurement of the time between a controller button input to when the action is shown on screen. Every electronic device takes a little bit of time to do its job. In the context of gaming, this includes the controller itself, the video game console, any upscalers or splitters in the signal chain, and the display. Having too much lag in a setup can make gameplay feel sluggish, unresponsive, and in extreme cases unplayable. This is why enthusiasts seek devices (controllers, displays, upscalers, etc.) that minimize latency. Devices that do their job as quickly as possible are often referred to as "low lag" or "virtually no lag".

When seeking products that are low latency, it's helpful to know that anything less than a frame in a 60 FPS signal is colloquially considered very low lag. Often milliseconds (ms) are used to measure lag. One frame of a standard 60 FPS signal is equal to approximately 16.7ms.

Just Play the Damn Game™

Thanks to Mike Chi’s research and engineering, the RetroTINK-5X Pro is one of the best products on the market specifically built to address the peculiarities of retro video game analog signals. While a complex engine of tweakability lies under the hood for enthusiasts, the RetroTINK-5X Pro prioritizes ease of use so anyone can get their console up in running.

Here are the basic steps anyone can take to get a great experience with their retro video game console:

  1. Connect the RetroTINK-5X Pro to your display using an HDMI cable.
  2. Connect your video game console’s video and audio to the RetroTINK-5X Pro using a supported cable.
  3. Power on the RetroTINK-5X Pro using the included micro USB cable - many TVs will have a USB hookup on the back or side that will work as a power source.
  4. Using the included remote, select the appropriate input from the "Input Source" menu (this choice depends on the cable you are using to connect your video game console to the RetroTINK-5X Pro, see the Supported Inputs section for more information).
  5. Using the included remote, select the appropriate output from the "Output Res." menu. For most TVs, 1080p (Fill) is a great “all around” choice.

And that’s it! You don’t have to be an A/V engineer to get remarkable results from the RetroTINK-5X Pro, all the hard work is done behind the scenes. Understanding jargon such as automatic phase detection, polyphase scaling or motion adaptive deinterlacing isn’t required for you to gain the benefits and enjoy your retro consoles on a flat panel with great results.

Supported Inputs

The TINK-5X supports nearly every major analog video format used by retro video game consoles. Please see the Inputs Source and Determining Video Modes sections for more information about supported resolutions and modes.

When selecting a cable, note that the original manufacturer's cables (Nintendo, Sega, Sony, etc.) are typically high quality options. When available, trusted third-party cables that meet or exceed the quality of OEM cables are noted in the following sections.

Composite

Composite Video with Audio RCA Connectors This is the “standard yellow video cable” most people are familiar with. Composite video cables were found on consoles ranging from the NES all the way through the Xbox 360/PS3 era of gaming.

To use composite video: plug your cable’s video RCA plug (typically yellow in color) into the TINK-5x’s “Y” labeled input, and your left and right audio into the “L” and “R” inputs respectively. Then, select Composite from the TINK-5X’s "Input Source" menu.

SCART-CV

SCART Connector The TINK-5x supports composite video over the SCART connector input. SCART was common in Europe but not widely used outside that region, and video game consoles sometimes featured composite video and audio connections over SCART. Note that S-Video (Y/C) is not accepted through the SCART connector input.

To use SCART-CV, plug in an appropriately wired SCART cable or use RCA cables for video/audio with a compatible SCART breakout adapter, and select SCART-CV from the TINK-5x’s "Input Source" menu.

S-Video

S-Video Connector S-Video is an iteration of composite video that splits the two parts of the composite signal (luma/brightness with sync and chroma/color) across two separate wires. S-Video is typically regarded as a visual improvement over composite video. Examples of consoles that supported S-Video output include (but not limited to) the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Saturn and Dreamcast. To use S-Video with the TINK-5x, plug the S-Video cable into the TINK-5x’s “Y/C” input, and your left and right audio into the “L” and “R” inputs respectively. Then, select S-Video from the TINK-5x’s "Input Source" menu.

YPbPr / Component

Component Cables YPbPr or "Component" video is a high quality analog standard that uses three RCA cables to carry separate parts of the video signal (brightness+sync and two color difference signals). Component video was featured on consoles such as PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Wii, and Gamecube (model # DOL-001 only).

To use YPbPr with the TINK-5X, insert the Y RCA plug (typically colored green) into the Tink 5x’s “Y” input, insert the Pb RCA plug (typically colored blue) into the Tink 5x’s “Pb” input, and insert the "Pr" RCA plug (typically colored red) into the Tink 5x’s “Pr” input. For audio, insert your left and right audio into the “L” and “R” inputs respectively.

Then, select YPbPr or YPbPr (SDP) for from the Tink 5x’s Input Source menu.

Review the Input Source section of the guide for more information concerning differences between YPbPr and YPbPr (SDP) modes.

Recommended YPbPr / Component Cables

HD Retrovision

SCART-RGB

SCART Connector The TINK-5x supports RGB input through the SCART connector input. SCART was not widely used in the United States but was common in Europe, and video game consoles often featured RGB video and audio connections over SCART. To find out if your console supports RGB over SCART, go back to the check out the Main Page, choose your console, and see if there are any RGB mods listed OR check RetroRGB's website.
Compatibility

The TINK-5x is designed to accept RGB over SCART in the "EuroSCART" variant and NOT JP21. Though JP21 uses the same style connector, it is not compatible with the TINK-5x and may damage your hardware.

Sync

The TINK-5x accepts sync on luma, sync on composite and c-sync RGB over SCART configurations. Check with your SCART cable manufacturer to ensure compatibility with the RetroTINK-5x Pro.

Note that TTL sync is not supported by the TINK-5x and may damage your hardware. Note that RGsB (such as the PlayStation 2's RGB output) is not supported.

31 kHz Signals

The TINK-5x can accept 31 kHz RGB signals with the use of a compatible sync combiner device. This allows for "VGA" input from compatible sources and resolutions. Sync combiner products include the HD15-2-SCART and VGA2SCART. A common implementation of this option is accepting Dreamcast "VGA" output using a compatible VGA cable. Other options include building a sync combiner directly into the SCART cable, such as the Retro Access Dreamcast 15khz/31khz SCART cable.

Recommended SCART-RGB Cables

Retro Access Cables

Retro Gaming Cables

Insurrection Industries

Cable Comparisons

Console Composite S-Video RGB Component
Nintendo 64 Examples #1
(Examples captured with NTSC N64 with Voultar's N64 RGB Kit installed)
N64 Generic Composite Example 1
N64 Insurrection Industries S-Video Cable Example 1
N64 Insurrection Industries RGB Cable Example 1
N64 HD Retrovision Component Cable Example 1
Nintendo 64 Examples #2
(Examples captured with NTSC N64 with Voultar's N64 RGB Kit installed)
N64 Generic Composite Example 2
N64 Insurrection Industries S-Video Cable Example 2
N64 Insurrection Industries RGB Cable Example 2
N64 HD Retrovision Component Cable Example 2
PlayStation 2 Example 1
Official Sony Composite Cable
Official Sony S-Video Cable
HD Retrovision PS2/3 Component Cable
SNES Example 1 - Voultar SNES Jr
SNES Example: Composite - SNES Jr - Voultar's RGB Bypass
SNES Example: S-Video - SNES Jr - Voultar's RGB Bypass
SNES Example: RGB - SNES Jr - Voultar's RGB Bypass using Insurrection's RGB Cable
SNES Example: Component - SNES Jr - Voultar's RGB Bypass using HD Retrovision Cable
SNES Example 2 - Stock "2-Chip" (SNS-CPU-GPM-02)
SNES Example: Composite - "2-Chip" SNES
SNES Example: S-Video - "2-Chip" SNES
SNES Example: RGB - "2-Chip" SNES using Insurrection's RGB Cable
SNES Example: Component - "2-Chip" SNES - Using HD Retrovision Cable

Audio

Mono Consoles

Advanced Features

Video Modes

An important element to unlocking the advanced features of the RetroTINK-5X Pro is knowing the specific video mode your console is outputting. This isn't always easy - video modes can change depending on your cable type, game selection, console menu options or even settings within the game. In some cases, video modes will change in-game, often between in-game menus and gameplay (see Triple Buffer vs Frame Lock And Gen Lock for more information on the 'Chrono Cross' problem). Thankfully, the RetroTINK-5X Pro handles the hard work and adjusts seamlessly behind the scenes to process nearly anything your video game console can throw at it. However, understanding your console's video modes can open up advanced tuning options to dial in your console and video preferences.

A Video Mode, simplified, is the number of vertical picture lines a console is generating, followed by either a p or an i, or Progressive and Interlaced respectively - e.g., 480p. For this section, the differences between Interlaced and Progressive will be the focus. (For a complete list of compatible input video modes, see the Input Source section of the wiki.)

Interlaced Signals

Interlaced video is a video standard that dates back to the dawn of broadcast television, and was mainly a technology used on standard definition CRT displays. With interlaced video, the image is drawn on the screen from top to bottom in two consecutive passes. The first pass draws the image in the even spaces, and the second pass fills the image in the odd spaces. This process happens quickly to create a smooth persistence of motion. This "tik-tok" method of filling in the screen allowed early engineers to get more out of the limited bandwidth of TV broadcast signals.

While interlaced video is still used in certain situations, modern display technology doesn't process video in the same way, and interlaced video has to be converted into a progressive image before it can be drawn. The process of turning an interlaced video signal into a progressive one is known as deinterlacing. While Motion Adaptive Deinterlacing is the most sophisticated and is the default deinterlacer on the RetroTINK-5X Pro, there are situations where other deinterlacing methods can create desirable effects, such as Bob and the corrisponding Bob Scanline Modes. More about the The RetroTINK-5X Pro's deinterlacing options and examples are outlined in the Interpolation/De-interlacing section of the wiki.

Progressive Signals

Unlike interlaced video, progressive video modes are drawn to the screen in one pass, and thus do not require deinterlacing to be drawn on modern displays. Common progressive modes found in retro consoles include 240p, 480p, and 720p. Because they do not require additional processing, they are typically seen as a higher quality signal (often described as sharper or cleaner) and in most cases are preferred over interlaced options. Progressive video modes can also be processed using the RetroTINK-5X Pro's Pre-Scaling functions for additional resolution-dividing and scanline effects.

NTSC and PAL

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Determining Video Modes

Below is a table of common consoles and their supported video modes. Note that some consoles can be modified or use software to support video modes beyond what is shown here. However, this should serve as a good "rule of thumb" for what video modes and cables are required to get a good experience using them with the RetroTINK-5X Pro. More information for specific consoles can be found in the Console Specific Configurations section.

Video Modes Table
Console Video Modes (Without Modification) 240p (NTSC) / 288p (PAL) 480i (NTSC) / 576i (PAL) 480p HD(720p+) Notes/Other
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Composite - - - Mono audio output.
Sega Master System Composite*, RGB* - - - *Multi-Out only available on Model 1, Mono audio on multi-out.
Sega Genesis / Megadrive Composite, RGB Composite, RGB - - Model 1 has mono audio (use headphone output for stereo), Model 3 has mono audio.
TurboGrafix-16 / PC Engine Composite*, RGB* - - - *1st model PC Engines are RF only
Neo Geo AES Composite, RGB - - - Mono output on DIN
Super Nintendo / Super Famicom Composite, S-Video*, RGB Composite, S-Video*, RGB* - - *S-Video and RGB are not available on "SNES Jr" models without modding.
Phillips CDi Composite, S-Video* Composite, S-Video* *S-Video only available on certain models.
3DO Interactive Multiplayer Composite, S-Video Composite, S-Video - - -
Atari Jaguar Composite, S-Video, RGB Composite, S-Video, RGB - - -
Pioneer LaserActive Composite Composite - - -
Sony PlayStation 1 Composite, S-Video, RGB Composite, S-Video, RGB - - -
Sega Saturn Composite, S-Video, RGB Composite, S-Video, RGB - -
Nintendo 64 Composite, S-Video* Composite, S-Video* - - *Not Supported on all PAL Models.
Sega Dreamcast Composite, S-Video, RGB Composite, S-Video, RGB VGA* - *Not all games support VGA output.
Sony PlayStation 2 Composite, S-Video, RGB, Component Composite, S-Video, RGB, Component RGsB, Component RGsB, Component -
Microsoft Xbox Composite, S-Video Composite, S-Video, RGsB Component Component -
Nintendo Gamecube Composite, S-Video*, RGB*² Composite, S-Video*, RGB*², Component Component, RGB*² Component *S-Video only available on NTSC consoles, *²PAL Models Only
Microsoft Xbox 360 - Composite, S-Video, RGB, Component Component, VGA, HDMI Component, VGA, HDMI -
Sony PSP Composite, S-Video, Component Composite, S-Video, Component Component - PSP 1000 models do not support video output.
Nintendo Wii Composite, S-Video, RGB* Composite, S-Video, RGB*, Component Component,RGB* - *PAL Software Only
Sony PlayStation 3 - Composite, S-Video Component, VGA, HDMI Component, VGA, HDMI -
Nintendo Wii U - Composite, S-Video, RGB*, Component Component, HDMI Component, HDMI *PAL Software Only
Connecting RF Consoles

Triple Buffer vs Frame Lock And Gen Lock

Older video game consoles didn't always have perfect video timings. CRTs typically had no problems working with these variances, but these "imprecise" consoles can sometimes have trouble working with modern TVs and capture devices that conform to a more rigid standard. Some games, such as Silent Hill or Chrono Cross on the PlayStation 1, will alternate between 240p or 480i video modes if you are in-game or in the items/pause menu respectively. On many displays, upscalers and capture devices, this can often create a long delay and a "no input detected" screen while the device reorients to the new video mode. The issue of a device taking a gameplay-harming amount of time to change between video modes has been colloquially called the "Chrono Cross" problem.

Triple Buffer
The RetroTINK-5X Pro uses "Triple Buffer" mode to effectively eliminate the "Chrono Cross" problem and create very high compatibility with displays and capture devices even for consoles with "imprecise" video. However, Triple Buffer mode comes at the expense of increased lag and occasional and minor judder. The lag varies between approximately 0.25 to 1.25 frames in this mode.

Frame Lock
For those looking for the lowest possible lag, the RetroTINK-5X Pro offers a "Frame Lock" mode. With Frame Lock enabled, the RetroTINK-5X Pro uses the console's video input as its base clock and offers a fixed lag of approx. 0.25 frames. The lowered lag comes at the cost of possibly lower compatibility with some TVs and capture cards, and not protecting devices from the "Chrono Cross" problem.

The RetroTINK-5X Pro defaults to Triple Buffer mode to ensure the highest compatibility for users. To toggle between Triple Buffer and Frame Lock, navigate to the HDMI settings and toggle the V. Sync (Vertical Sync) option.

Gen Lock
Note that 'Gen Lock' feature is only available with Firmware 2.73 or higher, and with units sold after July 2021. This variance is due to a part that was substituted on account of supply shortages.
Similar but unique to Frame Lock Mode, Gen Lock allows the RetroTINK-5X Pro to match the input frame rate with a regenerated clock, resulting in a signal which is more stable than Frame Lock Mode. Mainly useful for 1440p+ resolutions with SDP sources (Composite/S-Video) that previously could not sync in Frame Lock. Other benefits include removing judder and composite artifacts that show up in triple buffering, as well as dejittering the SNES for displays that may otherwise not work in Frame Lock Mode.

Horizontal Sampling Modes

The TINK-5X uses a combination of its flexible video ADC plus polyphase scaler to produce various horizontal sampling options. The Generic 4:3 and 16:9 modes interpolate the horizontal directions to produce the correct aspect ratio at the select output resolution.

The optimal modes, listed for the various consoles, sample the horizontal direction at the same rate as the original console. Here are the currently included "Optimal Timing" presets:

Preset Description
Generic 4:3 Scales the video using a 4:3 aspect ratio. Good generic choice for 4:3.
Generic 16:9 Scales the video using a 16:9 aspect ratio. Good generic choice for native 16:9 games or for stretching anamorphic 16:9 content to fill the screen.
SNES/PCE 256 For SNES or PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 games that use a 256 horizontal resolution.
Gen/Sat 320 For Genesis/Mega Drive games that use a 320 horizontal resolution.
PS1 320 For PlayStation 1 games that use a 320 horizontal resolution.
N64 320 For Nintendo 64 games that use a 320 horizontal resolution.
NEOGEO 320 For Neo Geo games that use a 320 horizontal resolution.
Saturn 352 For Sega Saturn games that use a 352 horizontal resolution.
PS1 384 For PlayStation 1 games that use a 384 horizontal resolution.
HiRes 512 An optimal sampling mode for games that use a 512 horizontal resolution, including (but not limited to) specific PlayStation 1 and SNES games.
HiRes 858 HiRes 858 is a sampling mode that is optimized for later-generation 480i and 480p analog sources, including (but not limited to) DVD playback, Dreamcast, Xbox, GameCube, Wii, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii U.
GBI Optimal An optimal sampling mode for use with GameCubes running Extrem's Game Boy Interface software. GBI Optimal is only available when a 360p input is detected
DTV-A \ DTV-B Optimal sampling mode for 480p sources. DTV-A and DTV-B are closely related, choose A or B depending on what looks best to your eyes. DTV-A \ DTV-B is only available when a 480p input is detected .
DTV 858 (3:2) A 3:2 aspect ratio variant of the DTV 858 optimal mode. Consoles that use a 3:2 aspect ratio and 480p include the Sega Dreamcast. DTV 858 (3:2) is only available when a 480p input is detected and the output resolution is set to 2560x1440p.
DTV 858 (4x) An integer 4x scaled DTV sampling mode. DTV 858 (4x) is only available when a 480p input is detected and the output resolution is set to 2560x1440p.

Post Processing Filters

The RetroTINK-5X Pro features customizable post processing filters designed to simulate the look of certain CRT and LCD displays. Below is a list of the current featured presets, as well as examples captured from the same video source for comparison and reference. To view the post-processing effects example images with the best clarity, click once to view the images enlarged, and click the enlarged image again to view them in your browser without scaling.

Preset Off Slot Mask A. Grille -1 BVM
Description
Off (No Filter)
Slot Mask Preset
A. Grille-1 Preset
BVM Preset
Preset PVM-600 FV310 Consumer-1 Consumer-2
Description
PVM-600 Preset
FV-310 Preset
Consumer-1 Preset
Consumer-2 Preset
Preset LCD
(Optimal Horizontal Sampling)		 LCD
(Generic Horizontal Sampling)
Description
LCD Preset - The LCD filter while using an optimal Horizontal Sampling preset. Creates a black border around individual pixels to simulate the look of a retro LCD screen, reminiscent of a Game Boy or Game Gear display.
LCD Preset using a generic Horizontal Sampling preset. Creates ultra-thin horizontal scanlines.

Pre-Scaling and Bob Scanline Modes

Pre-Scaling

The RetroTINK-5X Pro includes the ability to "Pre-Scale" progressive video content, or discard scanline intervals, at one-half or one-third increments of the source input. This discards vertical lines resulting in a loss of resolution and visual information, and isn't always a desirable effect. However, this loss in resolution is useful in some circumstances, such as more accurate scanline rendering for 240p visual content output from consoles that run at higher resolutions (such as the Dreamcast or Wii). The following example is from Street Fighter 3: Third Strike for the Dreamcast. The Dreamcast is outputting 480p, but the assets of the game are 240p graphics being doubled in software. The RetroTINK-5X Pro can throw away half the redundant visual data before applying post-processing effects, resulting in a more "arcade CRT authentic" scanline size and effect.

More information can be found at the Post-Processing Filters, Post-Processing, and Interpolation/Deinterlacing sections.

No Scanline Effects Scanline Post-Processing with No Pre-Scale Scanline Post-Processing with 1/2 Pre-Scale
No-prescale-example-no-scanlines-chun-li.png No-prescale-example-scanlines-chun-li.png One-half-prescale-example-scanlines-chun-li.png
This example was achieved by setting the Scanline to Gaussian and Scanline Str. to 50 in the Post-Processing section, and setting Prescale to 1/2 in the Interpolation/Deinterlacing section.

Bob Scanline Modes

Much like pre-scaling for progressive content, Bob Scanline Modes gives you additional control for how scanlines are applied with 480i interlaced content. To use the various Bob Scanline options, the Deinterlacer must be set to "Bob" in the Interpolation / Deinterlacing menu, and scanlines should be enabled in the Post-Processing menu (any preferred combination of "+Scanline Beam" and "+Scanline Str." settings).

The "Post-Deint." or Post Deinterlace option applies scanlines after the 480i source has been deinterlaced to 480p. This gives the appearance of thinner scanlines.

"Pre-Deint. or "Pre-Deinterlace" treats the 480i source as 240p, so the applied scanlines are thicker. This is especially appropriate for situations where a 240p graphical asset game is being displayed in a 480i video mode.

The "CRT Simulate" setting functions similarly to Pre-Deinterlace, but shifts the odd and even scanlines every frame to reproduce how a CRT display would draw the image. For more context on how deinterlacing works, please see a section that has not been written yet serving as a quick primer on interlacing and deinterlacing.

Below are some examples from Mega Man Anniversary Collection on the PlayStation 2. It is an example of a game that renders 240p assets through 480i video output. This is not typically a desirable combination for the best video quality, but using Bob Scanline modes and scanline Post Processing filters can help improve the visual experience of the game.

Motion Adaptive (default) Bob + Pre-Deint. Bob + Post-Deint.
Bob + CRT Simulate Bob + Pre-Deint. + Scanlines Bob + CRT Sim. + Scanlines

Saving and Loading Profiles

The RetroTINK-5X Pro includes 10 slots to save your custom settings. To save your settings, navigate to the [Save Profile] section from the Main Menu. Selecting one of the Save Profile slots (1-10) will save any current changes made to the RetroTINK-5X Pro system into the chosen slot. The values can then be loaded from the Load Profile menu, or a slot be set to load on boot from the On-Screen Display/Startup Profile selection.

Console Specific Configurations

Wobbling Pixel's Recommended Settings

Wobbling Pixel's YouTube Video Series

YouTuber Wobbling Pixels creates excellent video guides to dial in optimal settings for various retro gaming consoles and situations. Here is a list of the console-specific video guides they have created so far:

Link to Wobbling Pixel's YouTube Channel

PlayStation 1 Game Boy Interface (GameCube + GBA Player)
Load video
YouTube

Load video
YouTube

PSP Nintendo 64
Load video
YouTube

Load video
YouTube

Dreamcast SNES
Load video
YouTube

Load video
YouTube

PlayStation 2
Load video
YouTube

Settings Transcriptions

Below are transcribed references of the settings used in Wobbling Pixel's Videos:

PlayStation 1
PlayStation 2
SNES / Super Famicom
Nintendo 64

SNES

8:7 Aspect Ratio Mode

In 1440p resolution mode set Horizontal Sampling to Gen/Sat 320, ADC Samp./Line to 2046 (multiple of 341) and lower H (Interp) Size to 2046. Center horizontally with H Position +268. This is ideal for the Super Game Boy, as it's closer to the Game Boy's 1:1 aspect ratio.

8:7 Aspect Ratio Examples
240p Test Suite Monoscope Screenshot SGB Super Mario Land
240p Test Suite Monoscope
Screenshot SGB Super Mario Land

Nintendo 64

Anti-Aliasing

The Nintendo 64 uses an anti-aliasing (AA) effect to smooth the picture and reduce the appearance of hard polygonal edges. Users that prefer a sharper look have the option to disable the N64's AA with GameShark codes or by patching the game ROM. More information regarding methods to disable AA can be found here. The RetroTINK-5X Pro's optimal Nintendo 64 sampling can greatly increase the sharpness of the image, but for the sharpest possible picture the optimal sampling mode and disable-AA can be used in conjunction.

The following example from Mario Kart 64, using S-Video cables in the Peach example and RGB cables in the Track example. The images show the RetroTINK-5X Pro's generic and N64 optimal sampling modes, as well as with and without disable-AA patches applied.

Generic Sampling Optimal Sampling
Peach-example-generic-svid.png Peach-example-optimal-svid
Generic Sampling with Disable-AA Patch Optimal Sampling with Disable-AA Patch
Peach-example-generic-svid-disable-AA Peach-example-optimal-svid-noAA


Generic Sampling Optimal Sampling
Track-example-generic.png Track-example-optimal.png
Generic Sampling with Disable-AA Patch Optimal Sampling with Disable-AA Patch
Track-example-generic-no-aa.png Track-example-optimal-no-aa.png

3DO

The 3DO renders video to a [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection [email protected]] frame buffer, then through a "corner weight color averaging interpolation" algorithm that up-converts the video to [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection [email protected]] The algorithm can be set between the "corner weight color averaging" or a simple "nearest neighbor" upscale depending on the 3DO software.

When deciding how to best handle 3DO games through the RetroTINK-5X Pro, it would be beneficial to compare the game's appearance of Motion Adaptive deinterlacing against Bob with Bob Scanline set to Pre-Deint (a process converting 480i to 240p). Games that do not use the "corner weight color averaging interpolation" feature will look almost identical between "240p" and "Motion Adaptive" modes, whereas games that do use the color interpolation effect may have a beneficial sharpened look in "240p" processing mode.

More info concerning the "corner weight color averaging interpolation" algorithm can be found at 3dodev.com

3DO Special Processing Examples
"Motion Adaptive" Mode "240p" Mode "240p" With Post-Processing
Out of This World using Motion Adaptive Deinterlacing
Out of This World using "240p" Pre-Deinterlace Mode
Out of This World using pseudo-"240p" and Post Processing Effects
Road Rash using Motion Adaptive Deinterlacing
Road Rash using "240p" Pre-Deinterlace Mode
Road Rash using pseudo-"240p" and Post Processing Effects

Upgrading Firmware

To access the latest bugfixes and upgrades with the RetroTINK-5X Pro, it is necessary to upgrade the device's firmware. Upgraded firmware files can be found from the official RetroTINK website, or by joining the Discord community to gain access to the latest experimental firmware versions.

Bob from RetroRGB has created a video tutorial giving step-by-step details on how to perform a firmware upgrade on the RetroTINK line of products.

Load video
YouTube

RetroTINK-5X Pro Firmware Notes

The current public firmware version is 2.73. For older firmware version notes, please see the RetroTINK-5X Pro firmware version history wiki page.

Version 2.73

Notice: Firmware Update 2.73 can be flashed to all RetroTINK-5X Pro units, however the additional 'Gen Lock' feature will not appear under the V-Sync menu for units with the early hardware revision (units sold before July 2021). This variance is due to a a part being swapped early in manufacturing due to supply shortages.

Originally released July 11th, 2022

Notice: Firmware updates erase saved profiles and reset the device to default settings.

Added 'Gen Lock' in addition to Triple Buffer and Frame Lock. This allows the RT5X to match the input frame rate with a regenerated clock which is more stable than Frame Lock. Mainly useful for 1440p+ resolutions with SDP sources (composite/S-video) that previously could not sync in Frame Lock.

Compatible with all units sold after July 2021 (the majority of 5X's in the field).

RetroTINK-5X Pro User Interface Map

RetroTINK-5X Pro Main Menu

RetroTINK-5X Pro Main Menu Description
[Input] Opens the Input Source Menu.
[Output Res.] Opens the Output Resolution Menu.
[Scaling/Crop] Opens the Scaling/Cropping Menu.
[Interp./Deint.] Opens the Interpolation/De-interlacing Menu.
[H. Sampling] Opens the Horizontal Sampling Menu.
[Post. Proc.] Opens the Post-Processing Menu.
[SDTV Decoder] Opens the Standard Definition Decoder Menu.
[Video ADC] Opens the Video ADC Menu.
[HDMI] Opens the HDMI Output Menu.
[OSD] Opens the On-Screen Display Menu.
[Save Profile] Opens the Save Profile Menu.
[Load Profile] Opens the Load Profile Menu.
[Status] Opens the Status Menu.
[About] Opens the About Menu.

Input Source

Input Source Description
YPbPr Selects YPbPr input for “component” input. Supports 240p-1080i video sources.
SCART-RGB Selects SCART-RGB input. Supports 240p/480i RGB inputs, as well as “VGA”/”858” inputs using supported sync-combining cables and hardware (see HD15-2-SCART for more info).
Composite Selects composite input. Supports standard definition 240p / 480i video sources.
S-Video Selects S-Video input. Supports standard definition 240p / 480i video sources.
SCART-CV Selects composite video via the SCART connector. Composite over SCART cable or compatible RCA to SCART adapter is required. Supports standard definition 240p / 480i video sources.
YPbPr (SDP) Selects YPbPr input using the standard definition processor (SDP). Not as sharp as the normal YPbPr input but supports better error tolerance and color adjustments. Only accepts standard definition 240p or 480i sources.

Output Resolution

Output Resolution Description
1080p (Fill) Selects 1080p (Fill) output mode. In this mode, the video source will be stretched vertically to fit the screen. Pros: None of the video information is cropped, all of the vertical screen space is used. Cons: Somewhat softer image due to the non-integer scaling.
1080p (Over) Selects 1080p (Over) output mode. In this mode, a 240p signal will be multiplied five times and 480i / 480p are multiplied 2.5 (2.5x) times. The output will slightly exceed the vertical edges of the 1080p frame and be cropped at the top and bottom. Many retro games accommodate this cropping as they were intended to be played on CRT’s that typically cropped this area as well. Pros: Larger playfield due to the 5x scale and sharp image thanks to integer scaling. Cons: Vertically cropped image.
1080p (Under) Selects 1080p (Under) output mode. In this mode, a 240p signal will be multiplied four times and 480i / 480p are multiplied twice. The video output will be centered on the screen with a black border. Pros: Sharp integer scaled output. Cons: Smaller image / unused 1080p screen space.
1080p (Min-Lag) Selects 1080p (Min-Lag) output mode. In this mode, 240p, 480i and 480p sources are scaled in approximately 1 millisecond to achieve the absolute lowest possible latency.
1200p Selects 1200p output mode.
720p Selects 720p output mode.
480p Selects 480p output mode.

Output Resolution (Advanced Res)

The following outputs are disabled by default and can be enabled by setting “Advanced Res” to “On” in the [OSD] (On-Screen Display) menu.

Output Resolution (Advanced Res) Description
1920x1440p Selects 1920x1440p output mode.
2560x1440p Selects 2560x1440p output mode.
4K (24/25Hz) Selects 4K (24/25Hz) output mode.
1536p (iPad) Selects 1536p (iPad) output mode.

Scaling/Cropping

Scaling/Cropping Description
H Position Adjusts the horizontal position of the video output.
V Position Adjusts the vertical position of the video output.
H (Interp) Size Adjusts the horizontal size of the video output. When in a generic h. sampling mode, the adjustment will be represented in a percentage value. In an optimal sampling mode, the adjustment is a pixel incremental value.
V Size Adjusts the vertical size of the video output, adjustment represented in a percentage value.
H Crop Start Sets the cropping position for the left side of the screen. Masked off areas will be shown in pink.
H Crop End Sets the cropping position for the right side of the screen. Masked off areas will be shown in pink.
V Crop Start Sets the cropping position for the top of the screen. Masked off areas will be shown in pink.
V Crop End Sets the cropping position for the bottom of the screen. Masked off areas will be shown in pink.

Interpolation/De-interlacing

Interpolation/De-interlacing Description
Vertical Filter
Sharp: Uses a sharp interpolation method to generate the sharpest possible pixel edges.
Medium: A somewhat softer option for less hard edges from pixel to pixel, akin to a "bilinear filtering" mode.
Soft: Set to choose soft edges around the pixels, akin to a "bilinear filtering" mode.
Smooth: A custom smoothing algorithm akin to a classic emulator "Super Eagle" mode.
Deinterlace Method Motion Adaptive Weave Blend Bob Smooth-Bob

Motion Adaptive: A high-quality method of deinterlacing that dynamically chooses between of 'Bob' and 'Weave' based on how much movement it detects in a given part of the screen.
Weave: Missing scanlines are filled in with the previous field’s scanlines.
Blend: A and B fields are averaged.
Bob: Missing scanlines are filled in with duplicates of the current scanline.
Smooth-Bob: Bob deinterlacing with a vertical smoothing applied.

Interpolation/De-interlacing Description
Bob Offset -4 to +4
Bob Scanline Post-Deint.: "Post-Deinterlace" Applies scanlines to the image as 480p. The 480i is deinterlaced to 480p and the scanlines are applied.
Pre-Deint.: "Pre-Deinterlace" treats the 480i source as 240p so the applied scanlines are thicker.
CRT Simulate: "CRT Simulate" is the same as Pre-Deinterlace, but shifts the odd and even scanlines every frame to reproduce how a CRT display would draw the image.
Field Order Normal, Invert
Pre-scaler Off: No line skipping.
1/2: Skips every other vertical line, e.g. 480p becomes 240p.
1/3: Skips 2 out of 3 lines, e.g. 720p becomes 240p.

See the Pre-Scaling section above for more info.

Horizontal Sampling

Note for further explanation - The H. Interp takes the horizontal resolution produced by the ADC sample rate and the further interpolates it to the final display resolution.

Horizontal Sampling Description
Preset See the Horizontal Sampling Modes section above.
Phase Detect N/A (In Generic 16:9 and Generic 4:3 Presets), Auto, 1 of 5, 2 of 5, 3 of 5, 4 of 5, 5 of 5.
Lock Speed Slow, Medium, Fast
ADC Samp./Line
H (Interp) Size Adjusts the horizontal size of the video output. When in a generic h. sampling mode, the adjustment will be represented in a percentage value. In an optimal sampling mode, the adjustment is a pixel incremental value.
Allow Interlace Disabled (default), Enabled.

Post-Processing

Post-Processing Description
Load Preset See Post Processing Filters section above.
+Scanline Beam Off, Exponential, Gaussian, S. Gaussian, LCD.
+Scanline Str. 0-50.
+Intensity Mod. 0-50.
+Mask Slot, Grille-Med., Grille-Bright, Grille-Coarse, Shadow-1, Shadow-2, Shadow-3, Off.
+Gamma Boost -10 to +10.
+Color Boost -10 to +10.
+Pre-emph -5 to +3. Negative values apply a blurring effect, positive values apply a sharpening effect.

Standard Definition Decoder

Standard Definition Decoder Description
Brightness -128 to +127. 0 is Default.
Chroma -128 to +127. 0 is Default.
Phase -128 to +127. 0 is Default.
Contrast -128 to +127. 0 is Default.
Y/C Filter 4L Adaptive (default), 4L Fixed, Notch.
Aperture 0 to 15, 1 is default.
CTIE 0 to 3, 1 is default.
Black Level 0 IRE (default), 7.5 IRE.

Video ADC

Video ADC Description
SDTV LPF Off, Light, Medium (default), Strong.
EDTV LPF Off (default), On.
SoG Thresh 20mV - 300mV. 120mV is Default.
LLPLL Gain 0 to 7. 2 is Default.
LLPLL BW 0 to 7. 7 is Default.
Pre-Coast 0 to 32. 1 is Default.
Post-Coast 0 to 32. 6 is Default.
ADC Phase 0.00 Deg, 11.25 Deg, 22.50 Deg, 33.75 Deg, 45.00 Deg, 56.25 Deg, 67.50 Deg, 78.75 Deg. 90.00 Deg, 101.25 Deg, 112.50 Deg, 123.75 Deg, 135.00 Deg, 146.25 Deg, 157.50 Deg, 168.75 Deg, 180.00 Deg, 191.25 Deg, 202.50 Deg, 213.75 Deg, 225.00 Deg, 236.25 Deg, 247.50 Deg, 258.75 Deg, 270.00 Deg, 281.25 Deg, 292.50 Deg, 303.75 Deg, 315.00 Deg, 326.25 Deg, 337.50 Deg, 348.75 Deg. 180.00 Deg. is Default.

HDMI Output

HDMI Output Description
V-Sync Triple Buffer, Frame Lock. See Triple Buffer vs Frame Lock And Gen Lock for more information.
Lock to 60 Hz Off (default), On.
Colorspace RGB Full (default), RGB Limited.
Chroma Mode Auto (default), FIRST/POINT, FIRST/LINEAR, ZERO/POINT, ZERO/LINEAR.
Blue Only Off (default), On.
Disable CSC Off (default), On.
AVINFO AR 16:9 (default), 4:3.
TMDS Clock: Fix it note- Mine shows 148.50 MHz, not sure what changes this value.

On-Screen Display

On-Screen Display Description
Size Small (default), Tiny, Normal.
Blanking Color Blue (default), Green, Red, Gray, Black.
Lightgun Border Off (default), On.
Startup Profile Default (default), 1 to 10.
Advanced Res No (default), Yes.

Save Profile

Save Profile Description
Slot 1 - Slot 10 Selecting one of the Save Profile slots (1-10) will save any current changes made to the RetroTINK-5X Pro system into the chosen slot. The values can be loaded from the Load Profile menu, or be set to load on boot from the On-Screen Display/Startup Profile selection.

Load Profile

Load Profile Description
Slot 1 - Slot 10 Any profile previously saved from the Save Profile menu can be loaded here. Profiles can also be set to load on boot from the On-Screen Display/Startup Profile selection.
Default Selecting default will restore the RetroTINK-5X Pro to the initial default settings.

Status

Status Description
Source: Shows the currently selected input source.
Output Res: Shows the currently selected output resolution.
No Signal The information in the rows below will only be displayed if a source is detected. Else, "No Signal" will be displayed.
Input Lines: Displays the current input's horizontal resolution.
Input H-Freq: Displays the current input's horizontal timing frequency.
Input V-Freq: Displays the current input's vertical timing frequency.
Samples/Line: Displays how many samples per scanline the RetroTINK-5X Pro is processing.
ADC Clock: The clock value of the Analog to Digital Converter.
Ticks/Frame:

About:

The about page will display the following information as of the current firmware update: 

RETROTINK-5X Pro
© 2021-2-22 RetroTINK LLC
All Rights Reserved
Need Help? Join the RetroTINK Discord!

Official User's Manual v1

A Wiki version of the official RetroTINK-5X Pro user's manual can be found here.

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