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Posted: Sep 07 2010 07:47 pm

I recently hooked my NES up to an HD TV and I noticed it looks like crap. All fuzzy and shit, like I'm playing it on a dying CRT. Is there any way to fix this?

Posted: Sep 07 2010 08:15 pm

you have a few options

- sit further away from the TV

- you could try investing money in an HD Upconverter but those are pricey

- try adjusting the image quality on the TV itself like play around with the sharpness and the contrast and set the TV to DVD viewing

hrmmm otherwise if your computer can plug into your TV you could always just use an emulator since the computer sends a digital signal the quality of the image wont be reduced on an HD TV... at least I think it should work, I havent tried it... hrmmm perhaps I shall

Posted: Sep 07 2010 08:28 pm

bassguy252 wrote:

sit further away from the TV

That doesn't change the fact that the quality is shit. Standing 10 feet away from an ugly girl at all times doesn't make her any less ugly or any easier to date.

Quote:

you could try investing money in an HD Upconverter but those are pricey

Explain further, as this is the only good option you've offered.

Quote:

try adjusting the image quality on the TV itself like play around with the sharpness and the contrast and set the TV to DVD viewing

Tried that.

Quote:

hrmmm otherwise if your computer can plug into your TV you could always just use an emulator since the computer sends a digital signal the quality of the image wont be reduced on an HD TV

Except for a couple things:

1. I have an actual NES
2. My computer isn't right next to me TV, because that's a stupid place to put a computer, and I don't want wires everywhere.

I think I'm going to wait until GPF, Douche, or Knyte replies. Your first suggestion was so incredibly stupid that I am doubtful you know what you're talking about.

Posted: Sep 07 2010 08:35 pm

That's weird. When I played my NES on an HDTV, the graphics went to 16-bit

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Sep 07 2010 09:10 pm

I'd like to say I knew that was going on, but I don't. I have heard this can be an issue, though.

How are you connecting it? RF or AV cables? If the former, I'd try the latter out, it may work better (if you can -find- Monaural AV cables...)

Posted: Sep 07 2010 09:18 pm

Definitely use AV cables if your not already. I had my NES hooked up to my HDTV and I noticed no loss in quality compared to my roommates CRT. Other than that maybe you need glasses? I haven't encountered this problem since getting a tv with AV inputs in the late 90's.

Posted: Sep 07 2010 09:33 pm

I'm using the white and red AV cables. No RF switch. I'll take a picture later.

Posted: Sep 07 2010 10:13 pm

No need to be rude Razz

this is a major problem for many people, the fact is, old technology and new technology arent very compatible, there is no grand solution to your problem.

It would be like getting a brand new computer to run Commander Keen... hell my computer wont even run diablo 1

But here I found this for you on what an Upconverter does

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/hd-upconverter.htm

An HD upconverter is a device that solves two problems, both of which are due to the collision of old technology with new technology. The analog signal still present in a lot of our electronics is colliding with the all-digital developments that now control the electronics industry.

An upconverter allows the digital information stored on a DVD to be transmitted directly to a hi-definition TV without ever having to be converted to an analog signal. An upconverter also takes the lower screen resolution on most DVDs and "upconverts" it to the higher resolutions offered by HDTVs.

They are kinda pricey, if you dont mind shelling out a few hundred bucks to play your Nes on an HD TV thats probably the easiest option

but then if your spending that much money you might as well just buy a Wii and get all the classic games off of their network.

Posted: Sep 07 2010 11:33 pm

The future is so brutal!!!

Posted: Sep 08 2010 12:55 am

I bet there's a mod for connecting a component output on actual NES hardware.

Posted: Sep 08 2010 01:03 am

The-Excel wrote:

I bet there's a mod for connecting a component output on actual NES hardware.

I am sure, there is pretty much a mod for everything these days.

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Sep 08 2010 01:38 am

bassguy252 wrote:

It would be like getting a brand new computer to run Commander Keen... hell my computer wont even run diablo 1

My computer runs Commander Keen just fine.

DosBox. Learn it, live it, love it.

Anyways, this is one of those "is it turned on" questions, but are sure you're plugged into the right inputs?

Posted: Sep 08 2010 01:42 am

UsaSatsui wrote:

...but are sure you're plugged into the right inputs?

That's what she said??

Posted: Sep 08 2010 05:39 am

Isn't this why most collectors keep old TV sets around to hook up to the older consoles?

Posted: Sep 08 2010 05:54 am

My SNES works fine with my HDTV. I connect through the cable line too. Of course I still have to change the screen size from widescreen to...uhh...non-widescreen. Is that your problem, Syd? I don't have an NES to check with, but I'm assuming it's the same.

It might also have to do with the brand and age of your HDTV. I have a Samsung that's about two and a half years old.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

My NES works just fine on my HDTV, with 2 exceptions;

1. The light gun doesn't work on it.

2. I played North and South on it twice, and both times it blew the speakers.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd,

First, don't expect digital graphics that you see on your computer. You will never get them. You are viewing an analog video signal that is being converted into a digital one. The best you will see is going to be upconverted quality.

My television has a little bit of signal cleaning as an option. It does a fair job, but games downloaded on the Wii look much better.

Pushing the signal through my upconverting AV Receiver does help. In general the image does get cleaned a bit. If this is an option for you, definitely take advantage of it.

They sell analog video cleaning boxes, but they usually cost more than a Wii & the game you want.
$400:
http://www.amazon.com/Canopus-ADVC300-Advanced-Digital-Converter/dp/B0006UMGHE

Lastly, make sure you are viewing the image at 4:3 ratio. If you have it at 16:9/16:10 it will be further distorted.

What brand and model TV do you have?

2010 SLF Tag Champ Joined: Jun 07 2006 Posts: 12294

God DAMN, syd!

Do you want a hug?

Also, I have had this trouble as well. I was unaware of this digital upcomverter box. It sounds more reasonable than my original idea to have an HD tv wall mounted over a CRT tv. I will have to look into this.

Also, my computer is next to my tv. It's great for having friends over for mugen or watching movies that i'vs downloaded. It's also not a bad idea for LAN parties. What's so bad about that?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd seems to own one single 15 year old computer. I doubt his family would be up for him doing the entertainment system thing with it... and the VGA output would look yucky on a 1080p screen.

Posted: Sep 08 2010 12:20 pm

I have my own computer. It is on the opposite end if my room from the TV. That way, I can actually watch TV while computing. My current computer is 6 years old. I was going to buy a new over Labor Day, but I spent too much money this month.

I'll get you the make and model later. It's the Best Buy house brand. Insignia, I think?

And yes, of course I run it 4:3 mode.

And yes, I do want a hug.

Posted: Sep 08 2010 02:20 pm

Syd, I had the same problem. You will also notice that some Super Nintendo systems will flicker and jump on the screen. The best solution I can give is what I did, go pick up a newer, nice CRT (Sony WEGA is what I use) and create yourself a little retro gaming station. I have my Wii, PS2, PS3 and Gamecube hooked up to the HDTV, and the retro consoles hooked up to my CRT. You can pick up a nice one with a stand for around 75 bucks:

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ele/1942672096.html

Posted: Sep 08 2010 02:26 pm

I have a small CRT right now. Probably 12", maybe 14. Wish I had room for something bigger.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

It would be awesome if a NES could be modded for digital output. I would pay for a kit that allowed for Component/HDMI output.

Posted: Sep 08 2010 03:25 pm

Here's what it looks like on my TV:

This is pretty much exactly what I'm seeing. Notice in particular how the text looks "fuzzy".

Television is an Insiginia NS-L32Q-10A.

It has a "noise reduction" option under picture, but it doesn't seem to actually do anything. I tried turning down the sharpness and playing around with the contrast. That didn't help either.

Posted: Sep 08 2010 04:32 pm

The problem is with the NES and not the TV.

The standard display resolution of the NES is 256 horizontal pixels by 240 vertical pixels. Typically, games designed for NTSC-based systems had an effective resolution of only 256 by 224 pixels, as the top and bottom 8 scanlines are not visible on most television sets.

Your TV (Insiginia NS-L32Q-10A) has a native resolution of 1366 x 768. Which means it has to stretch the vertical pixels by 3.2X. They are going to look like crap. There is nothing you can do to change that on the NES hardware level. The only way it is going to look better is if it is run through an emulator that can enhance the graphics output using Interpolation, Eagle Engine, 2xSAI and such.

CRT TVs were not only low resolution (vertical frame resolution of 480 lines), but they also had scanlines, which skipped every other horizonal line of resolution. So earlier digital game products took this into account with their video outputs. Modern HD doesn't have scanlines and such. It pastes exactly what the console puts out. Unfortunately, this shows the nuances of the old console video tricks.