Video Enhancements

Most retro consoles were built for the televisions of their day, and their standard video output — RF or composite — looks soft, smeared and noisy on a modern screen. A video enhancement upgrade replaces or adds to that output inside the console, so the picture the hardware is actually producing reaches your display intact.

We offer two kinds of upgrade. Which one suits you depends mostly on what you plan to plug the console into.

RGB Upgrade

An RGB upgrade adds a clean analogue RGB video output — the sharpest, most colour-accurate signal a retro console can produce. Instead of the colour information being squeezed into a single composite signal, red, green and blue each travel on their own line, so the picture is crisp and free of colour bleed and dot crawl.

RGB is the choice for anyone using:

  • A CRT television or monitor with an RGB-capable input, such as SCART or a professional monitor
  • A dedicated upscaler such as a RetroTINK or OSSC, which converts RGB into a sharp picture on a modern TV

You will need an RGB-capable cable for your console and display.

HDMI Upgrade

An HDMI upgrade builds a digital video output into the console itself. It plugs straight into any modern television with a standard HDMI lead — no upscaler, no adaptors — and delivers a sharp, lag-free picture, typically with options for scaling and display style.

HDMI is the simplest route to a great picture on a modern TV, and the natural choice if you do not already own a CRT or an upscaler.

PlayStation 2: HDMI Compatibility

PS2 HDMI kits only suit certain models, so check yours before buying a kit. The model number (SCPH) is printed on the console's label; the board revision (GH) is printed on the motherboard.

  • SCPH-3000X / 3500X — GH-015
  • SCPH-3900X — GH-017, GH-019, GH-022 1
  • SCPH-5000X — GH-023, GH-026
  • SCPH-7000X — GH-032, GH-035
  • SCPH-7500X — GH-036, GH-037, GH-040
  • SCPH-7700X — GH-041, GH-051, GH-052
  • SCPH-7900X — GH-061, GH-062 2

1 SCPH-3900X also needs a USB-C PD power supply — such as our PlayStation 2 (Fat) USB-C Power Supply Board — or an SCPH-5000X power supply together with an SCPH-5000X metal shield.

2 SCPH-7900X also needs the extra HDMI output connector included in the 79K kit from PixelFX.

Models SCPH-3000X to SCPH-55XXX are the original PS2 Fat; SCPH-7000X and later are the PS2 Slim. Not sure which you have? Send us a photo and we will check it for you.

RGB Bypass

Some consoles, such as the Mega Drive, already output RGB — but through their original video circuitry, which can leave the picture soft or noisy. An RGB bypass routes the picture around that circuitry through a modern, cleaner path, for a sharper and more stable RGB image.

It suits the same setups as an RGB upgrade: a CRT with an RGB input, or an upscaler. On the Mega Drive, the bypass is supplied and installed by us.

SNES Picture Upgrades

The SNES already outputs RGB, but the picture varies a lot between board revisions, so there are two upgrades depending on which one you have. Both are supplied and installed by us.

  • 1CHIP RGB Amp — later 1CHIP boards produce the sharpest SNES picture, but their stock amplifier can leave it noisy or dim. A replacement amplifier gives a cleaner, brighter image. For 1CHIP consoles only.
  • Edge Enhancer — earlier SNES boards produce a noticeably softer picture. The edge enhancer sharpens it. Not compatible with 1CHIP, Mini or Jr models.

Not sure which board your SNES has? Get in touch and we will help you check.

Which Should I Choose?

  • Playing on a modern TV, with no other equipment? HDMI is the most straightforward option.
  • Playing on a CRT, or already own an upscaler? RGB gives you the best signal for that setup.

Not sure? Get in touch and tell us how you play — we are happy to recommend the right option for your console and display.

About Kits

Video enhancement prices cover installation only. The upgrade kit itself is supplied by you, so you can choose the specific kit you prefer. If you are unsure which kit to buy for your console, ask us first and we will point you in the right direction.

Some installations need a small, permanent modification to the console's shell to fit the new video connector. We will let you know if yours does before any work begins.

Suggested Kit Suppliers

If you are not sure where to buy a kit, these are the suppliers we recommend:

  • NES and Famicom RGB upgrade — etim.net.au. Fits every NES and Famicom model, including the top-loader NES, AV Famicom, original Famicom and Sharp Famicom Twin.
  • Master System RGB upgrade — consolesunleashed.com.
  • PlayStation HDMI upgrade — Hispeedido via AliExpress, or the RetroGEM from PixelFX. Fits PU-18 (SCPH-550X) and PU-20 (SCPH-700X) boards only.
  • Dreamcast HDMI upgrade — AliExpress or PixelFX.
  • PlayStation 2 HDMI upgrade — AliExpress or PixelFX. Check the board compatibility list above first.
  • GameCube HDMI upgrade — AliExpress or PixelFX.
  • Original Xbox HDMI upgrade (HD+ kit) — AliExpress or makemhz.
  • Wii HDMI upgrade — AliExpress or PixelFX. Fits every Wii model.

Return Postage

Return postage is invoiced once the work is complete. By default, your console is returned the same way it was sent to us — if it arrived by express, it goes back by express.