Best A1200 video solution

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User2921

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Hey guys,

Even though I've said a million times that I'm not crazy about the a1200...I find myself wanting one anyway. As much fun as it has been with the CD32, I think in retrospect I should have just built an a1200...but I digress. :)

Anyway, some background here: I am an American, our TVs are crap with a lot of this hardware, especially when we buy stuff from overseas. I want to set up a WHDLoad machine strictly for retro gaming. I have an A4000/060/PPC for the serious stuff, I just want a WHDLoad arcade machine more or less.

So, my CD32 is hooked up to a PAL -> NTSC converter. I like PAL Amiga hardware since most of the great games are in PAL anyway, it just makes sense to run the whole machine in PAL (in my opinion). None of my TVs or monitors can display PAL, though.

Now my question...if I get an a1200, what's the best setup for video and gaming? Is it an indi aga mk1? I have tested one of these in the past and been pretty pleased with the results, but it never stayed attached. Indi aga mk2? I tested one of these on my TV when it first came out and I couldn't display any screenmodes. Newest revision of Indi aga mk2? I've never personally seen one or tested though. S-Video PAL to NTSC? I will say that the CD32 graphics...don't look perfect on my TV. :(

Suggestions? Anyone in a similar situation out there??? :)

Thanks!
 
Stay away from the MkII as it is not good for gaming, at least not yet. Not sure how good the MkI is for it, but don't think your TV will take a 50 Hz VGA signal which is what you need for smooth action.

If PAL S-Video to your TV doesn't look great, then there's the option to use a SCART RGB->HDMI converter which should give a decent image on your TV if it has HDMI. I think all modern TVs can take 50 Hz from HDMI as it is a part of the standard. There's also some RGB->Component converters out there if your TV has that, like the popular GBS. Picture quality isn't top notch but several people seem to like it, so can't be that bad.

Edit: I was assuming your TV was LCD/Plasma and not CRT. With a CRT, I think you only have the GBS option.
 
if your only playing games on a1200 then get a pal lcd tv and a good scart lead for amiga 1200. then use 120 > 240 transformer for TV. should work out cheaper than indi that you don't like and you will get solid smooth picture.
 
The best quality/price choice for video gaming in an A1200 is the Scart to Amiga Rgb cable with separate phono connectors. I use it in an 32' LCD TV and it looks very nice.
If you search the net, you can easily find it on sale.
 
Being in Japan we are also NTSC only, I would say your best best is to go for the SCART RGB - HDMI adapter, they are quite cheap around $35.00 and they produce a pretty decent quality image, then you can use an HDMI - DVI cable and use it on pretty much any modern monitor.
 
Is getting a 1084 monitor out of the question? I'd say that would be a great option if you're only going to do gaming.
 
A 1084s has a nice image with Amiga games, but it is kinda small for today's standards. :)

@Nick1977: American TVs do not have SCART connectors, and it's probably not easy finding a European TV in US, and quite expensive to ship it there.
 
I would say the best option, if you have the space, would be a big CRT television with an RGB SCART connection. Something like a Sony Super Trinitron would give you quality picture as almost as good as a monitor as well as being a decent size and having good sound as well. All of the TVs i've had over the last 20 years have been happy to do either NTSC or PAL. and even my VCR deck will happily playback PAL or NTSC tapes so i'm surprised that your TV won't accept PAL. Is it an LCD panel you're using?

If that's not an option then I would agree in saying that something like a 1084 CRT based monitor would be the next best thing for you.

SJ
 
The problem is that US TVs don't have SCART connections, so even if they'll take a PAL signal, you'll either have to knock up an S-Video interface, or make do with lousy composite, or even worse RF.

Questions for the OP:
1. What display do you want to use the A1200 with? Or are you flexible on that?
2. Are you looking for a budget solution, a best value-for-money one, or a no-expense-spared top end solution?

:thumbsup:
 
Thanks for all the replies guys! :)

I'm seeing a lot of SCART to HDMI. I think the small investment makes this a good candidate for at least trying out.

AndyLandy said:
Questions for the OP:
1. What display do you want to use the A1200 with? Or are you flexible on that?
2. Are you looking for a budget solution, a best value-for-money one, or a no-expense-spared top end solution?
Click to expand...

Andy,

1. I'd prefer getting some use out of this 19" TV with VGA/S-Video/HDMI ports, but that's not 100% necessary.
2. I'd consider any of the three, would really prefer to maximize my gaming enjoyment and would easily consider spending if it guaranteed success :)
 
AndyLandy said:
The problem is that US TVs don't have SCART connections, so even if they'll take a PAL signal, you'll either have to knock up an S-Video interface, or make do with lousy composite, or even worse RF.
Click to expand...

I'd have never thought that would be the case. So is SCART only on Euro tellys then? It seems pretty daft, if that is the case. Given that it's the best way to hook stuff up.

SJ
 
Another consideration would be one of these: (RGB-SVideo)

images


You'd have to find one used though as I don't think Amigamanic is trading anymore.

I have one for testing systems and it's a god send :thumbsup:
 
Those S-Video adapters are great however I had some problems with NTSC TVs in Japan, for those of us in NTSC areas I would highly recommend the SCART to HDMI adapters, I have had the best experience with those in Japan.
 
demolition said:
A 1084s has a nice image with Amiga games, but it is kinda small for today's standards. :)

@Nick1977: American TVs do not have SCART connectors, and it's probably not easy finding a European TV in US, and quite expensive to ship it there.
Click to expand...

Wow, i did not know that.I thought it was a universal standard.:nuts:
 
Zoltar said:
I'd have never thought that would be the case. So is SCART only on Euro tellys then? It seems pretty daft, if that is the case. Given that it's the best way to hook stuff up.
Click to expand...

Nick1977 said:
Wow, i did not know that.I thought it was a universal standard.:nuts:
Click to expand...

Nope, it's a European thing. That's why you'll sometimes see it referred to as the Euroconnector.

From the Wikipedia article:
SCART (from Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs, - Radio and Television Receiver Manufacturers' Association) is a French-originated standard and associated 21-pin connector, for connecting audio-visual (AV) equipment together.
It is also known as Péritel (especially in France), 21-pin EuroSCART (Sharp's marketing term for the connector in the Asian region), Euroconector[1] or EuroAV. In America, another name for SCART is EIA Multiport (an EIA interface).

So, it appears that maybe some American TVs have an 'EIA interface', so it may not be completely non-existant Stateside, but it's certainly not common.
 
Jimbob, thanks, I will do that :) I think in the meantime I'll try my luck with the scart to hdmi solution. Either way I'll re-engage this thread when I try any of the above solutions, for all the fellow Yankees to benefit :)
 
I´m happy with indi aga mk1.
I just had to install a wooden ice cream stick under the right edge of the indi to make sure that that edge of it doesnt get pushed down by the keyboard cause that seemed to cause the contact on the left edge to get loose resulting in weird colors :whistle:
 
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