Modless RGB and A/V Upgrade for TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine

db-electronics · 10/25/2014, 01:29 PM

Hi guys, here's my latest creation - a sort of TurboBooster clone focusing video output for both TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine.

To be released very soon!

wayback.db-elec.com/home/News/dbgrafxboosterttptestedandfullyoperational

QuoteThe db Grafx Booster TTP (Twin Turbo Power) is a sort of Turbo Booster clone but without the memory features; it strictly focuses on the A/V output of the TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine. The name Twin Turbo Power comes from the fact that the db Grafx Booster adds two video output capabilities to the TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine: CVBS video (i.e. the yellow cable) and RGB SCART. It also gives TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine owners the ability to hear their games in glorious stereo audio!

cjameslv · 10/25/2014, 01:34 PM

Quote from: db-electronics on 10/25/2014, 01:29 PMHi guys, here's my latest creation - a sort of TurboBooster clone focusing video output for both TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine.

To be released very soon!

That's pretty cool. Is there plans for an outer shell?

db-electronics · 10/25/2014, 01:36 PM

Quote from: cjameslv on 10/25/2014, 01:34 PMThat's pretty cool. Is there plans for an outer shell?

Yes absolutely! That's why there's four screw-holes in the board. I'm getting those in next week but I was too excited about the Booster working that I had to share right away!

cjameslv · 10/25/2014, 03:37 PM

Quote from: db-electronics on 10/25/2014, 01:36 PM
Quote from: cjameslv on 10/25/2014, 01:34 PMThat's pretty cool. Is there plans for an outer shell?
Yes absolutely! That's why there's four screw-holes in the board. I'm getting those in next week but I was too excited about the Booster working that I had to share right away!

Lol for sure. Looking forward to seeing some pics of this thing all put together.

ultrageranium · 10/26/2014, 05:32 AM

nice!

esteban · 10/26/2014, 06:43 AM

L'intriguing!!!!!!!!

esadajr · 10/26/2014, 08:01 AM

these will fly off the shelves! Thanks for the hard work!

Greg2600 · 10/26/2014, 11:53 AM

Ugh, and I just had my TG modded to use the GEN 2 SCART plug! Great work as always though db.

turbokon · 10/26/2014, 01:51 PM

Nice work! Definitely a good alternate for those who don't their system modded.

Gentlegamer · 10/26/2014, 02:18 PM

Have you guys seen this cable from retrogamecave? http://retrogamecave.com/#/shop/4577155957/turbografx-custom-cables/5907870

bancho · 10/26/2014, 05:07 PM

These should fly off the shelves!

If only these had come sooner. I just the other day did an RGB mod on a Ten-no-koe bank 2. I just need to do the cutout on the shell for the 21 Pin female scart socket.

/hive81/IMG_50692.jpg

ultrageranium · 10/27/2014, 03:57 AM

Quote from: bancho on 06/25/1974, 07:42 PMIf only these had come sooner. I just the other day did an RGB mod

Which amp are you using? Is it the one from thgill?

db-electronics · 10/27/2014, 11:33 AM

Quote from: esadajr on 10/26/2014, 08:01 AMthese will fly off the shelves! Thanks for the hard work!

Looks like I'll need to get some shelves!

gladders · 10/27/2014, 02:21 PM

Does this fit onto the Interface Unit?

hoobs88 · 10/27/2014, 02:25 PM

Quote from: db-electronics on 10/25/2014, 01:29 PMHi guys, here's my latest creation - a sort of TurboBooster clone focusing video output for both TurboGrafx-16 and PC-Engine.

To be released very soon!

http://www.db-elec.com/home/News/dbgrafxboosterttptestedandfullyoperational

What will the price be for this?

bancho · 10/27/2014, 06:28 PM

Quote from: ultrageranium on 10/27/2014, 03:57 AM
Quote from: bancho on 06/25/1974, 07:42 PMIf only these had come sooner. I just the other day did an RGB mod
Which amp are you using? Is it the one from thgill?

Yeah it was the amp he sell's. Really is a nice little amp. Gives great picture quality and allows for a neat clean install.

ishiyakazuo · 10/28/2014, 09:30 AM

Quote from: gladders on 10/27/2014, 02:21 PMDoes this fit onto the Interface Unit?

Nope. Uses the same expansion port. It's an either-or, at the moment.

db-electronics · 10/28/2014, 10:27 AM

Quote from: hoobs88 on 10/27/2014, 02:25 PMWhat will the price be for this?

Still evaluating this. I'll also probably offer different versions (i.e. one without RGB) for people who don't want it in order to reduce cost for those units.

Also looking into adding S-Video support...

ctophil · 10/29/2014, 04:14 PM

Very nice, DB-Elec. Thanks for working on all these cool devices for the Turbografx-16 and PC Engine. As you know, I purchased your import game converter for TG-16 and a happy customer. I'll definitely get your new Grafx Booster as well. :-)

esteban · 10/29/2014, 06:10 PM

I still think this is awesome. Opinion has not changed.

db-electronics · 11/14/2014, 03:28 PM

I've decided to go for a second PCB spin before releasing. I'm adding S-Video support and improving a few other aspects of the current design (for instance, I've notice a slight flaw on my SYNC circuit). Anyway, nothing major...

In the meantime, I took a screenshot of CVBS and RGB for you guys. Surprisingly, the CVBS video straight from the console looks very sharp on my Trinitron - it's light-years beyond CVBS from any Nintendo or Sega console.

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/preliminarycomparisonofcvbsvsrgbondbgrafxboosterttp

graffias79 · 11/14/2014, 04:08 PM

Quote from: db-electronics on 11/14/2014, 03:28 PMIn the meantime, I took a screen of CVBS and RGB for you guys. Surprisingly, the CVBS video straight from the console looks very sharp on my Trinitron - it's light-years beyong CVBS from any Nintendo or Sega console.

I have to agree with this. The Duo and TG-16 emit about the cleanest CVBS signal I've ever seen from a game console. I had my Duo S-Video modded and the only thing it really cleaned up was the dot crawl.

db-electronics · 07/10/2015, 09:02 AM

Here it is, revision B with CXA1645 now supporting Modless S-Video and RGB on TurboGrafx...

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbgrafxbooster-redgreenbluechromaluma-ohmy

I've yet to do a comparison with a CXA2075 - that's on my list of things to do.

NecroPhile · 07/10/2015, 10:10 AM

Your link is broken.

db-electronics · 07/10/2015, 10:17 AM

Quote from: guest on 07/10/2015, 10:10 AMYour link is broken.

oops! fixed...

sirhcman · 07/10/2015, 10:32 AM

Quote from: db-electronics on 10/28/2014, 10:27 AM
Quote from: hoobs88 on 10/27/2014, 02:25 PMWhat will the price be for this?
Still evaluating this.

Still no price?

db-electronics · 07/10/2015, 10:36 AM

Quote from: guest on 07/10/2015, 10:32 AMStill no price?

I just need to plug in dollar amounts into my BOM spreadsheet, should be priced soon.

bozo55 · 07/10/2015, 11:17 AM

This looks awesome

Is adding memory a future plan or is that unfeasible?

PCEngineHell · 07/10/2015, 11:18 AM

Looks good man. Will be a nice solution for people wanting svideo on unmodded Tg, Coregrafx, and Supergrafx systems.

db-electronics · 07/10/2015, 11:28 AM

Something that could greatly reduce the price would be if I were to use two 3x3 connectors instead of 1 large EXT connector. None of the signals in the middle of the EXT port are necessary for this application so it wouldn't impact anything. The only thing is that it would look a bit weirder.

CGQuarterly · 07/10/2015, 06:31 PM

Looks good! Shame it doesn't do s-video, though.

db-electronics · 07/10/2015, 06:35 PM

Quote from: Jirbbajaba on 07/10/2015, 06:31 PMLooks good! Shame it doesn't do s-video, though.

Yes it does do S-Video.

NecroPhile · 07/10/2015, 06:52 PM

Hooked on phonics did not work for Jibba.

NightWolve · 07/10/2015, 09:11 PM

Quote from: db-electronics on 07/10/2015, 09:02 AMHere it is, revision B with CXA1645 now supporting Modless S-Video and RGB on TurboGrafx...

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbgrafxbooster-redgreenbluechromaluma-ohmy

I've yet to do a comparison with a CXA2075 - that's on my list of things to do.

QuoteFurthermore, after a friend of mine asked: "Where's the S-Video?" I just knew the current dbGrafx Booster design was obsolete.

But where's the YPbPr/Component video ??? ;)

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=19144.0

Sadly, it's mostly S-Video that's now gone obsolete in new TVs, so really, you'd rather have YPbPr but even then a % of them reject a 240p signal, so you gotta test the set - no guarantees.

db-electronics · 07/10/2015, 09:15 PM

Quote from: NightWolve on 07/10/2015, 09:11 PM
Quote from: db-electronics on 07/10/2015, 09:02 AMHere it is, revision B with CXA1645 now supporting Modless S-Video and RGB on TurboGrafx...

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbgrafxbooster-redgreenbluechromaluma-ohmy

I've yet to do a comparison with a CXA2075 - that's on my list of things to do.
QuoteFurthermore, after a friend of mine asked: "Where's the S-Video?" I just knew the current dbGrafx Booster design was obsolete.
But where's the YPbPr/Component video ??? ;)

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=19144.0

The RGB is output on a mini DIN9 connector (a.k.a Genesis 2 A/V connector). You can therefore use any Genesis 2 SCART cable to get the RGB signals.

NightWolve · 07/10/2015, 09:25 PM

YPbPr/Component, not RGB. ;)

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=13231.0

db-electronics · 07/10/2015, 09:27 PM

Oh sorry, I misread that. Maybe a future rev?

wilykat · 07/12/2015, 12:11 AM

Since some TV do not like 240-anything over component, maybe a way to add a simple 480i upscaler on the component converter to make it more compatible with most modern TV?

Or would one need to buy a $300 upscaler to get good component?

CGQuarterly · 07/12/2015, 02:27 AM

Quote from: guest on 07/10/2015, 06:52 PMHooked on phonics did not work for Jibba.

Lol. I clicked on the link in the OP, which didn't have s-vid support. Now I see the newer link with it added in.

I am definitely down for one of these whenever it gets released. I was going to RGB-mod my little PC Engine, but I would rather just wait for this and save the RGB amp for something else...

NightWolve · 07/12/2015, 02:59 AM

Quote from: wilykat on 07/12/2015, 12:11 AMSince some TV do not like 240-anything over component, maybe a way to add a simple 480i upscaler on the component converter to make it more compatible with most modern TV?

Or would one need to buy a $300 upscaler to get good component?

Correct, all you need is a resolution doubler/scaler to up it from 240p to 480p (or 480i) and that would guarantee more 9X% compatability with new LCD HDTVs, but that's a more complicated circuit. You don't have to go $300 bucks for that though, there are cheaper scalers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Premium-Composite-RCA-Component-YPbPr-VGA-HDMI-To-HDMI-Switcher-Scaler-/251903127544

That seems like one, but the quality, the lag and all that is gonna vary from what I hear. At $300, you're thinking of the best known ones like the Framemeister.

But yeah, I think it would be cool if someone like Steve did the simplest possible resolution doubler to go from 240p to 480p.

db-electronics · 07/13/2015, 08:05 AM

Quote from: NightWolve on 07/12/2015, 02:59 AMBut yeah, I think it would be cool if someone like Steve did the simplest possible resolution doubler to go from 240p to 480p.

Someone already made a line doubler and used it on a Neo Geo. It would be the same concept for any 15KHz video signal really. It's not a project for the faint of heart...

wayback.mikejmoffitt.com/wp/?p=270