Custom Video Modes Test Thread

[BahnYuki]

It will require more complicated scaler which is already at the edge of timing violations. Also MiSTer is about supporting of modern devices, not obsolete ones. 1080i is in the past, so leave it there.

Understood. I am of the opinion that 1080i can still have a place, as a lot of HD broadcast and bluray content is in 1080i. I also feel that very few people have actually ever seen 1080i displayed pure without processing or de-interlacing. I have seen it both on an HD CRT, a multisyinc BVM, and a BVM OLED. It is actually a very special picture that as a video aficionado I can really appreciate. I personally prefer it to the look of 1080p.

But if supporting 1080i goes against the capabilities and philosophy of MiSTer then it can't be helped An alternative is to use a good external HDMI scaler to go from 1080p to 1080i, at the cost of a frame or so of added lag.

I have 3 SONY 34XBR960s and would love native 1080i output from MiSTer, but Sorgelig is correct in stating that 1080i is an antique resolution. I do have a PS4 and Xbox 360 connected to the screens since they support 1080i. However the Nintendo Switch doesn't have it as an option. I expect more devices to forego any support for 1080i.

[Peredonov]

I have 3 SONY 34XBR960s and would love native 1080i output from MiSTer, but Sorgelig is correct in stating that 1080i is an antique resolution. I do have a PS4 and Xbox 360 connected to the screens since they support 1080i. However the Nintendo Switch doesn't have it as an option. I expect more devices to forego any support for 1080i.

Well, I'd say that a resolution being antiquated is enough to dismiss support for it, since after all we continue to chase after low res 15khz even though that is much more antiquated

As a matter of fact, I believe 1080i is still the most common HD broadcast standard globally, it has been ever since Japan introduced an early approximation to 1080i with "Hi-Vision" broadcasts. Now they are at the edge again with 4K broadcasts (though those may actually just be streaming casts), and even 8k now (the Olympics was supposed to be offered in 8k in parts of Europe too I believe), but elsewhere outside of internet streaming 1080i is still the standard and the monitors used to master such HD material support it, it's just that basically no one uses displays that can present it natively.

Anyway, technical limitations on the scaler are enough of a reason to not support it, though it is a shame. It would be great to also support output scaled to 480i for SD CRTs to also be able to display cores that output more than 240 horizontal lines, or even for displaying rotated vertical 240p arcade cores on SD CRTs!

[Sorgelig]

I tried vscale=0 as well and both had the same results--it displays on screen and is technically playable, but is ugly just like you said. Ah well, it was worth a shot anyway.

probably Vectrex has to be implemented on arcade version of framework with rotation, then it should be better in 15KHz vertical mode.

[LamerDeluxe]

It would be fantastic if the output of vector games could be connected to an oscilloscope somehow. I have a CRT scope, which it would look great on.
I have a Vectrex as well and the display looks so much more impressive than on a non-vector display.

[Sorgelig]

It would be fantastic if the output of vector games could be connected to an oscilloscope somehow. I have a CRT scope, which it would look great on.
I have a Vectrex as well and the display looks so much more impressive than on a non-vector display.

MiSTer is targeted for common devices. But it's open source. So it can be tweaked for specific devices.

[Sigismond0]

This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I figured I'd throw it in here anyway. I see people asking about fullscreen GB/GBA every now and then, so hopefully this helps someone.

On my display, the following ini file entries give me perfect fullscreen with no edge clipping. You will want to tweak the vscale_border values to match your display's specific overscan. You'll also want to be sure to use a bilinear scale filter, because the default scaler is very "crunchy". This will be a bit blurry sort of like you'd get on a real Gameboy player.

Now that we have the option of alternate ini files we can toggle from the main menu, it might be worth leaving these in an alt ini for playing around with. I have my default ini file set for HDMI, MB+Left just turns on vga_scaler for the menu so that I can run scripts on CRT, and MB+Down sets the scalers below. The SMS one is for Game Gear, and I don't recommend using this menu for actual SMS games.

Ultimately, I'll almost always be playing these portables over HDMI for the LCD shaders, and will almost certainly use the native resolution if for some reason I want to play on CRT. But options are nice to have.

Code: Select all

[Gameboy]
video_mode=320,8,32,24,240,4,3,16,6048
vga_scaler=1
vsync_adjust=2
vscale_mode=0
vscale_border=12

[GBA]
video_mode=320,8,32,24,240,4,3,16,6048
vga_scaler=1
vsync_adjust=2
vscale_mode=0
vscale_border=26

[SMS]
video_mode=320,8,32,24,240,4,3,16,6048
vga_scaler=1
vsync_adjust=2
vscale_mode=0
vscale_border=12

Sort of a side question here--it doesn't seem like the menu core respects the vscale_border parameter on a CRT. I've tried setting it everywhere from 0 to 80 and get the exact same overscan. Not a big deal by any means, but I'm curious as to why.

[Grabulosaure]

i didn't explore DDC wiring more precise. May be it's possible to get the EDID, so at least in Menu core it can be added if possible.

I've tried to get access to display EDID through a serial port to I2C bridge added to the Menu core.

https://github.com/Grabulosaure/Menu_MiSTer

http://temlib.org/pub/mister/edid.tgz

From the console :

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edid

will display raw data

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edid a | edid-decode

will display decoded display parameters.
It could be possible to automatically configure MiSTer display settings from screen data, but the EDID format is quite complex.

[djsquare]

This is a very dumb question but does anyone know the directional buttons that correspond with the alt_1, atl_2, alt_3? Apparently this 4k tv of mine does not display the current resolution...smart TV my ass.

My current config
MiSTer C - Samsung Living room 4KTV
MiSTer.ini - 2048x1536
MiSTer_alt_1.ini 1080p
MiSTer_alt_2.ini 1200p
MiSTer_alt_3.ini 720p
Notes: Also uses component with Panasonic CRT TV

[djsquare]

MiSTER.ini = →
MiSTer_alt_1 = ←
MiSTer_alt_2 = ↑
MiSTer_alt_3 = ↓

Figured it out

[djmartins]

Apparently this 4k tv of mine does not display the current resolution...smart TV my ass.

smart ass TV?

[djsquare]

Apparently this 4k tv of mine does not display the current resolution...smart TV my ass.

smart ass TV?

Yeah I was very annoyed at my TV. I typically have "video_info" turned off in my .ini but I turned it on for 6 seconds and it shows the output resolutions, I'll probably leave it at this point

[LamerDeluxe]

Apparently this 4k tv of mine does not display the current resolution...smart TV my ass.

smart ass TV?

Yeah I was very annoyed at my TV. I typically have "video_info" turned off in my .ini but I turned it on for 6 seconds and it shows the output resolutions, I'll probably leave it at this point

I find that the video info (source resolution) is handy for deciding what output resolution would have the smallest border for that core, in combination with integer scaling (for defining a core specific video mode in the mister.ini file).

[Sigismond0]

That seems counter intuitive. If you use a non-native resolution, you're not really getting integer scaling anymore, right?

For example, a 240p system will scale 3x into 720p with basically no border or 4x into 1080p with a noticeable border. But if you're using a 1080p display, that 720p image has to be stretched by 1.5x and it's not really different from using 4.5x scale and 1080p output.

[redsteakraw]

That seems counter intuitive. If you use a non-native resolution, you're not really getting integer scaling anymore, right?

For example, a 240p system will scale 3x into 720p with basically no border or 4x into 1080p with a noticeable border. But if you're using a 1080p display, that 720p image has to be stretched by 1.5x and it's not really different from using 4.5x scale and 1080p output.

From what I have heard 1.5x scaling is the worst and has the most noticeable artifacts and quality loss 4.5 wouldn't be so bad. Personally if you want integer scaling 1440p is the holy grail of integer scaling, You have 120p,160p,240p,360p,480p(VGA)and 720p. 1440p is also the gold standard for PC gaming giving you the best resolution / refresh-rate balance. It also can be used on the Xbox One X. Mind you Xbox 360 and PS3 were also mainly 720p machines. Can you name a better resolution that hits all those major resolutions at integer scale for gaming?

[Sigismond0]

1440p is great if you have a display with that resolution. I'd wager that most of us only have 1080p or 4k.

[Sorgelig]

MiSTer.ini - 2048x1536

can you share custom video mode for 2048x1536?

[djsquare]

MiSTer.ini - 2048x1536

can you share custom video mode for 2048x1536?

video_mode=2048,26,32,48,1536,3,6,12,200000

If I remember what SmokeMonster said that's 6.4x and with vscale_mode=3 it should be 6.25x but that's not integer so scanlines suck. I still need to do my more testing but I don't think I like it. I really believe 1440p is the best for the MiSTer if you can display it. 1200p is nice too

1440p:
video_mode=1920,32,32,50,1440,4,5,26,180000 ;1920×1440 @60
video_mode_ntsc=1920,32,32,50,1440,4,5,26,180000
video_mode_pal=1920,32,32,50,1440,4,5,26,150000

1200p:
video_mode=1920,48,32,80,1200,3,6,26,154128
video_mode_ntsc=1920,48,32,80,1200,3,6,26,154128
video_mode_pal=1920,48,32,80,1200,3,6,26,128440

[Sorgelig]

I really believe 1440p is the best for the MiSTer if you can display it.

1536p is higher and close to 1440p. If you will set integer scaling, then it will be as good as 1440p just with a little border. And if some core will output like 241 or 242 lines, then it will look better on 1536 than on 1440.

[Chris23235]

I have a Full HD TV that doesn't look good in 720p, but fine in 1366x768 (HD Ready), has anybody a config for 1366x768 50Hz, the presets in the ini only have a 60Hz profile.

[rashohyo]

Hi guys..Great Thread!

I'm an happy user of the Mister with IO board and usb board. I'm also an owner of a Sony PVM 14M4E and i've always used my Mister with a cable VGA toBNC and composit_sync=1 in my mister.ini file..
I'm trying to understand wich is the best configuration video mode for my crt and i'll try to explain my problem here:
if i use just videomode=0 everything is quite good except for
1)MemeTest i have the screen doubled horizontally with a black bar in the center
2)ScummVM doesn't run because it require vga_scaler ON
3)ao486 completely out of sync
So i tried to enabled VGA_Scaler=1 and here i didn't understand why i have lots of problems:
most of preset videomode give me de screen doubled horizontally..reading the forum i tried lots of videomode and for example this one (video_mode=320,8,32,40,240,1,3,14,12380) is perfect but unfortunately i cannot run scummvm because it requires at least 640x400. Of course i tried several settings but always problem with vga_scaler on.
Do you have any other setting that i could try?

p.s. vsync_adjust=2 didn't help

Thanks everyone...

[Grabulosaure]

Hi guys..Great Thread!
Thanks everyone...

When the scaler is disabled, the cores native refresh frequency is used, e.g. 50Hz or 60Hz for game consoles.
AO486 generates signals suitable for VGA monitors, which higher refresh rate and horizontal frequency.

Most preset video modes expect high resolution displays, with higher horizontal frequency than old NTSC or PAL.

The framebuffer mode uses the scaler, and the scaler in that mode doesn't support downscaling.
It's easy to raise horizontal resolution to avoid horizontal downscaling. The problem is vertical.

Adding interlaced output to the scaler isn't simple, mainly because of the interpolation mechanism. Downscaling in framebuffer mode has similar issues.

Maybe at least some low quality (nearest neighbour) vertical downscaling in FB mode could be useful to use the console on a CRT, though.

Are you sure that "video_mode=320,8,32,40,240,1,3,14,12380" is supported by your Sony CRT ?

[LamerDeluxe]

That seems counter intuitive. If you use a non-native resolution, you're not really getting integer scaling anymore, right?

For example, a 240p system will scale 3x into 720p with basically no border or 4x into 1080p with a noticeable border. But if you're using a 1080p display, that 720p image has to be stretched by 1.5x and it's not really different from using 4.5x scale and 1080p output.

Sorry, I overlooked this reply. I only use this to decide between 1080 and 720. In 720p it is indeed non-native, but somehow my monitor/tv does a much better job of up-scaling 720p than MiSTer, scanine filters still look perfectly clean.

[rashohyo]

Hi guys..Great Thread!
Thanks everyone...

When the scaler is disabled, the cores native refresh frequency is used, e.g. 50Hz or 60Hz for game consoles.
AO486 generates signals suitable for VGA monitors, which higher refresh rate and horizontal frequency.

Most preset video modes expect high resolution displays, with higher horizontal frequency than old NTSC or PAL.

The framebuffer mode uses the scaler, and the scaler in that mode doesn't support downscaling.
It's easy to raise horizontal resolution to avoid horizontal downscaling. The problem is vertical.

Adding interlaced output to the scaler isn't simple, mainly because of the interpolation mechanism. Downscaling in framebuffer mode has similar issues.

Maybe at least some low quality (nearest neighbour) vertical downscaling in FB mode could be useful to use the console on a CRT, though.

Are you sure that "video_mode=320,8,32,40,240,1,3,14,12380" is supported by your Sony CRT ?

Yes i can assume that my sony support that resolution...the problem is the vga_scaler that for example ScummVM need to run, and ao486 maybe..
I attach some images to explain the problem...hope not to do something not allowed

[rashohyo]

MemTest always have problem still with Vga_scaler=0

[Grabulosaure]

MemTest always have problem still with Vga_scaler=0

If you set vga_scaler=0, then the video on the analog IO board is the native output of the core and videomode is used for the HDMI output only.
if you set vga_scaler=1, the scaler output is redirected to the analog IO board.

Did you try vga_scaler=1 and video_mode=320x240 ?

You should also try :

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video_mode=640,16,64,80,240,1,3,14,12380
vga_scaler=1