NES Mini - Specs are OUT

There might be issue when trying to connect it with the RCA to 3.5mm adapter and RCA inputs. Sounds like an unusual way to hook up an old console.

I've been reading about this a bit lately and a common & not too expensive way of doing it is by using an SCART cable (compatible with your console) and upconverter (to HDMI) box.

www.amazon.com/CiBest-Converter-Adapter-Support-Set-top/dp/B06Y43RVLH/ref=pd_bxgy_23_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06Y43RVLH&pd_rd_r=73d509c3-d563-11e8-bb24-b147f0633e7b&pd_rd_w=NREYm&pd_rd_wg=RaEbq&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=6TGA2K96F2GDC3TKKBXG&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=6TGA2K96F2GDC3TKKBXG


Edit: Looking at the cable description tho, I see you wouldn't be able to connect your N64 this way without first doing an RBG mod on it or using an RGB adapter. But I'm not sure what they mean by "RGB adapter"... maybe that's the job of the upconverter box (linked above).


www.amazon.com/Mcbazel-Scart-Cable-SNES-GameCube-NTSC/dp/B01N8RCWK9/ref=pd_bxgy_23_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01N8RCWK9&pd_rd_r=9c2abd98-d565-11e8-87fb-c3725e026f8e&pd_rd_w=BWwPN&pd_rd_wg=sFKoz&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=K9H3N15WRH4KTW89XPRP&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=K9H3N15WRH4KTW89XPRP

^Oh yeah, I was gonna get one of those devices, I only found one locally but it had been opened and was missing the power adapter. They were only gonna discount it slightly so I told them no thanks. I guess it's worth a try, but like I said, I already tried connecting the N64 to an old CRT TV with RCA inputs and it wouldn't work even on that.

Now the Dell GSync monitor (same model as above) is on sale at Best Buy (probably through Saturday, since they typically reset sale prices on Sundays).
Really nice gaming monitor for the price.

www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-27-led-qhd-gsync-monitor-black/5293502.p?skuId=5293502

A few days ago, I ordered an 8BitDo N30 Wireless controller for the NES Classic from Amazon. Amazon made a mistake and sent me a slightly used NES Classic console instead. The box is kind of beat up and it's missing the wall AC adapter. Other than that, the console and controller are in like new condition. I hooked it up to test and verified it works. Only paid $27.42 for it.

Amazon will bill me the same $27.42 again, if I don't send the NES Classic back after they send me the actual controller. They're sending me the controller via next day air and $5 certificate as compensation, so Amazon has me covered.

I'm thinking of just keeping it and modding it with all the games (and leave my original NES Classic un-modded), since even a used NES Classic is hard to find for that low of price ($27.42).

If I were looking at getting another monitor, I'd probably go ahead and choose a GSync w/ TN panel monitor, because so many of the GSync ones w/ IPS panels are plagued with QC issues (major backlight bleed). It's puzzling really... Don't know why the non-GSync monitors w/ IPS can get it right and for some reason have QC to minimize backlight bleed.

"Active Matrix TFT" 
hmmm... Don't usually see Active matrix TFT on such a large monitor these days.

And it's 4k/uhd, meaning you'd need a powerful PC to push some games at that resolution.

That's why many ppl prefer the QHD (2560 x 1440 or 1440P) monitors for gaming. And faster panels (144Hz+) are available on QHD monitors, which can really help reduce stutter and/or screen tearing. 


When I was looking at tv specs, I noticed some of the Sony models are capable of outputting 1440P res, so they're pretty good gaming PC monitors and Xbox One X gaming tv's (they say the Xbox One X allows you to play games in 1440P too).

www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/sony/x720e#comparison_1799

www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/sony/x900f#comparison_1799

I went ahead and ordered this Dell GSync 27" monitor. I'm going to return the Vizio tv (still unopened, because I was on the fence about keeping or returning it). I figure a gaming monitor is a better purchase for me, since I already own a nice large tv and my current gaming monitor is kind of a gimmicky (ultra-wide) and not a true gaming monitor.

The ultra-wide is good for productivity/work. But not always so much for gaming i think, since a person can only focus on so much of the screen at a time. With some exceptions... it's good for some genres like RTS's, where you have units all over the place and you're constantly changing focus on different parts of the screen. So its usefulness definitely depends on the application or type of game.

Yeah if I get a new monitor, I think I'd prefer 2560x1440. I have played games at 4K on my TV and they seem to run pretty smoothly, but there is some noticeable framerate drop here and there in the more graphically intensive games. My PC's not bad though: Ryzen 7, 16 gigs of DDR4, GTX 1070, and 2 SSD's.

I'm still considering this one:

www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-ch71-series-c27h711qen-27-led-curved-qhd-freesync-monitor-metalic-silver/6038300.p

N64 HDMI mod.

I hear ya, there's some other issue with it. Just posted that because I thought it looks great with HDMI and retro mode.

If I bought an N64 and started collecting for it, I would definitely attempt that mod, since I know how to do soldering (even though I haven't done it often).

I modded my PS1 back in the 90's (which required some soldering). My first (and only) attempt at modding a console and it works perfectly with my existing PS1 discs. I know the mod was a success because it skips the boot-up screen/logo like it's supposed to. So i have a region-free PS1 that can play imports or pirated games. But I never pirated any games for it. Already owned plenty of games and I would've felt guilty about pirating games that i wouldn't even have time to play.

Oh yeah, Amazon does make mistakes sometimes. Or rather the sellers on there make mistakes sometimes.

I bought some running boards for my truck several years ago off of Amazon and they sent me the wrong ones. UPS came to pick them up and then they sent me the correct ones, also refunded the S&H which was nice (around $40).

I think I would keep that NES Classic though, especially for being that cheap.

I've been wanting to set up a console to play Sega Genesis games on. However, I read the retro/remake versions of Genesis aren't that great.

So I'm going to set up my original Sega Genesis (model 1). Connecting it to my tv with a RGB SCART cable + SCART to HDMI adapter box.

I've thought about buying a model 2, since it's smaller and outputs stereo audio through the back port (model 1 only outputs stereo through the front 3.5mm audio out). However, only Genesis model 1 gets the sound perfect (un-modded, that is... model 2 can be modded to fix its sound issues). But I'm looking for the simplest solution with best quality, so I'm sticking with my model 1 that I already own.
retrorgb.com/genesisversions.html

SCART to HDMI converter box. I bought one that looks exactly the same from a seller on Ebay, for about $13 less.
www.amazon.com/CiBest-Converter-Adapter-Support-Set-top/dp/B06Y43RVLH/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541123169&sr=8-3&keywords=scart+to+hdmi+converter

Cheaper cables can be found, but I think this the best one available (link below). There's a similar shielded cable from U.S. seller, but it's currently sold out.
www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/packapunch-range/packapunch-cables-for-sega-consoles/sega-mega-drive-1-sega-genesis-1-stereo-rgb-av-scart-cable-tv-lead-pro-build

The Mega Everdrive X7. Rather expensive, but the cheaper models don't have save states or stereo DAC.
krikzz.com/store/home/33-mega-everdrive-v2.html

Already bought the Sega collection (over 50 games) a while ago on Steam. Reviews say that Sega gives you the ROMs with this collection, which you can play using your own Genesis emulator or load them onto the X7.
store.steampowered.com/app/34270/SEGA_Mega_Drive_and_Genesis_Classics/

Also, I bought hard copies of "Starflight" and "Master of Monsters" (2 great Sega Genesis games) from sellers on Ebay. Games so good, it'd be a sin to pirate them. lol
Anyway, most used games for Genesis are still pretty cheap (even on Ebay), so it's not too painful to purchase a few.

I wanted to buy a hard copy of "M.U.S.H.A.", but sellers want too much (literally 100's of $'s - on Ebay) even for a used copy. So I might have to download the ROM for that one.

Edit: I bought the Sega collection on Steam when it was on sale. It goes on sale at least a couple of times a year, so it can be had for somewhere between $5 - 10. 
Edit 2: Also, a micro SD card is needed for the Mega Everdrive X7. The X7 handles up to 32GB. However, the entire Genesis library is only a bit over 1GB. So I'll remove the Nintendo 3DS XL 4GB (included) and replace that with a larger card, and then use the 4GB micro SD for the X7. 
The reason they allow 32GB micro-SD cards for the X7 is that it's capable of playing 32X and Sega CD games (if you have those system add-on's attached to your Genesis). Of course, for Sega CD, one 32GB micro SD won't hold the entire library (not even close, probably due to the large sound files and the few games that incorporated FMV).