AV Mods

Most pre-NES consoles offered only RF output, and can be difficult to modify. Almost every post-NES system had a wealth of video options, most offering at least composite video output, and many easily hacked to allow RGB output, and sometimes S-video. On this page you'll find the GameSX library of video hacks - some useful, some trivial, and some downright evil. All, however, will grant you better quality images than you're seeing now.

When Lawrence started GameSX.com back in ~1996 there were no sources for this information online. Gopher was still vying with the infant WWW as the most useful resource, and GameSX.com - originally intended to be a website for Game Station X (Lawrence's store) was instead a repository of knowledge gleaned from obscure sources and trial and error (mostly the latter).

• Video Primer (mostly NTSC)
• Video Primer (older version)
• RGB Primer
• How to Solder

• SCART <=> J-RGB-21 (and vice-versa)
• LM1881 Sync Seperator - Create composite sync from composite video
• LM1881 Video Sync Separator with Sync Buffer - Create a clean composite sync from composite sync or video signal containing sync.
• AV Converters
• Adding +5v to SCART lead - not all devices provide SCART/RGB switching power.

• AV Mod / Console cross reference

• 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
  • RGB Mod

• Atari 2600
  • 2600RGB board - Provides RGB, S-video, composite video, and audio output. Component video output via NESRGB-Component add-on.
  • S-video Mod
• Atari 5200
  • S-video Mod

• Colecovision
  • CBS PAL version A/V output
• Mattel Intellivision
  • PAL Version A/V and RGB output

• NEC TurboGrafx/PC-Engine family
  • TG/PCE RGB output

• Nintendo GameCube
  • GameCube RGB - How to modify a Nintendo GameCube component video cable to make it output RGB.
  • GameCube Digital Audio - Untested by GameSX
• Nintendo 64
  • RGB Video Driver (IC Based) - For early NTSC versions only (without the need for SMD component removal)
  • RGB Video Driver - For early NTSC versions only.
• Nintendo NES
  • NESRGB board - Provides RGB, S-video and composite video output using the original PPU
  • Universal PPU - An FPGA-based replacement for the PPU that outputs VGA, RGB, component, S-video and composite (in-progress)
  • NES RGB++ - NES RGB amplifier with external LPF
  • RGB Output for NES/FC (Useful Forum Topics: First, Second, Third)
  • Stereo Sound for NES
• Philips G7000 Videopac
  • A/V and RGB
• Nintendo SNES
  • SNES mini RGB - the newer, smaller SNES did not include RGB (or S-video). Here's how to get your RGB back.
  • SNES sp/dif - Add an SP/DIF output to your SNES.

• Sony PlayStation
  • PlayStation 1 Sync - For those who would rather get the sync off of the motherboard than use sync chips.
• Sony PlayStation 2
  • PlayStation 2 RGB/Sync - How to find RGB video and sync signals off of some PS2 motherboards.

• Sega Saturn
  • Sega Saturn Digital Audio
• Sega Dreamcast
  • Sega Dreamcast RGB
  • Dreamcast 480i-480p scart cable
  • Sega Dreamcast Digital Audio
• Sega MegaDrive / Genesis
  • Genesis 3 Video Chip
  • Genesis 1 S-Video Mod
• Sega Mark III
  • Sega Mark III RGB Amp
• Sega Master System I + II
  • RGB, Composite, S-Video and Audio - Right off the board.

• ZX Spectrum
• Atari 8-bit
  • Alternate Power &amp; A/V connectors
• Amstrad CPC
• MSX
• Commodore 64/128
• Commodore PET
• Classic IBM PC