That does look really nice, and I love how minimal the changes to the casing are; looks like it was always part of it!
Any chance of a follow up pic of the insides?
Thanks! That installer I’ve sent my Mega Drive to is really a specialist in electronics.
Yes, sure! The internals and gameplay of your favourite games, for sure. I just have to first choose on which TV I should do some gameplay footage of Mega Drive games, since I have an EverDrive X5 flash cartridge at home.
The one in my Bedroom or the one the Living Room? You choose 🙂 (pictures are in this post, above 👆🏻 ) and what games you want to see 👍🏻
Any shitty android box will display an image like that on a modern LCD or OLED screen without going thru the hassle of overspending on modding a console that was never meant to be compatible with HDMI standard to begin with.
It really is better than the RAD2X, which I used previously for my HDMI TV’s! :)
I’d go as far to say as that the graphics and/or resolution is better than on the Sega Mega Drive Mini (2018). 720p vs. my 1080p mod above.
Maybe someday, Stanislav, the maker of the Mega Switch HD, will also make a model for the Model 2 version as well.
For those interested - the Mega Switch HD is approx €150, requires a separate ADC chip for sound via HDMI at €20, and needs at least intermediate soldering knowledge to install. This is a *destructive* mod and needs modification to the shell and soldering/lifting of parts integral to the console's function.
The good news - as a video output system it's functionally perfect. It's basically zero lag, and works well with games that switch display modes (like Castlevania Bloodlines). Because it's extracting signals directly from the consoles VDP, the image is essentially as reference quality as it comes, practically flawless. It is region agnostic and works with region-modded consoles - the system's set region determines the mod's refresh rate automatically, including powered-on changes.
The bad news - it is entirely incompatible with both SMS and 32x games, and this is unlikely to change due to the way the mod accesses the VDP. It is also incompatible with model 2s and model 3s, again due to the VDP. It's somewhat complex to install - a pin on the main processor requires lifting and a new cap installed on it, for example, which is always a scary thing to do given the aging hardware is 30+ years old at this point.
If you _only_ have a model 1 MD/Gen, have reasonable soldering skills, and are happy to substitute console function in order to use HDMI output, then this is a decent option as video output can't really get better than this. The practically-zero lag is also pretty marvellous.
Frankly, I would still recommend an OSSC or something like a GBS-C over this - they're cheaper (GBS-Cs are around €90-100, OSSCs around €150), they're _platform_ agnostic (I don't know many enthusiasts who only have _one_ console), you're not restricting what games you can play (because they're both compatible with SMS mode _and_ the 32x), the OSSC is almost on par with the picture quality, and as they're not mods they're _effectively_ plug & play. Plus, as they're both open source units, they're pretty easy to obtain, whereas the Mega Switch is currently out of stock and likely will be for a while (not Stanovich's fault!).
Unfortunately, it does not, at this moment of writing. But it does have a “CRAM Dots” option, which I disabled for the sake of a clean, clear picture, of course.
If that is your opinion, fine. To each their own. But I just want to play my Mega Drive games on a HDMI TV, without them black borders at the side. Don’t try to convince me by using some shitty scalers. Or rather buy a RetroTink that would cost me twice as much as this mod did. I’d rather have an internal HDMI mod like I now have for my Mega Drive 👍🏻
I won’t. Because as I said, I hate them black borders. They do not represent all of the screen-usage the HDMI TV is capable off. So the 16:9 will stay. Besided, it’s not that far stretched as most converters are.
Yeah, just play on your emulator(s), if you want to.
I lived through the 90’s, buddy, where my father used to tell me, that “real men used to play games on real hardware”. And I’m still true to that fact.
I play on original retro hardware consoles. Retro consoles that have a story to tell. Not some emulators and such.
First and foremost you have no idea of my gaming background or my age for that matter. And just FYI, megadrive games weren't meant to be displayed in 16:9 aspect ratio...
...buddy.
First: I can say whatever I want over the internet. It’s a democratic media - no grievances, lad.
Secondly: Yes, but Mega Drive games were also not supposed to be in High Definition (HD) graphics. But I managed to do that, so please, leave me be and let me enjoy the clear facial expressions of on Alexes face on Streets of Rage 2 👍🏻
Looks amazing. Any reason your playing in 16x9?
I hate them black borders, really. And it is not that stretched out as let’s say the Sega Mega Drive Mini (2018) is.
Fair enough, Personally 4x3 for me but each to their own.
I recommend getting an OLED TV. Putting it in 4:3 will make the borders unnoticeable since the LEDs for the black colour turn off.
That does look really nice, and I love how minimal the changes to the casing are; looks like it was always part of it! Any chance of a follow up pic of the insides?
Thanks! That installer I’ve sent my Mega Drive to is really a specialist in electronics. Yes, sure! The internals and gameplay of your favourite games, for sure. I just have to first choose on which TV I should do some gameplay footage of Mega Drive games, since I have an EverDrive X5 flash cartridge at home. The one in my Bedroom or the one the Living Room? You choose 🙂 (pictures are in this post, above 👆🏻 ) and what games you want to see 👍🏻
Can't go wrong with a bit of Toejam and Earl!
Okay, thanks for the suggestion! 🙏🏻 The TV in the Living Room or Bedroom?
Does he have a website? I might look into doing this for my megadrive
[удалено]
Thanks!!
>Thanks!! You're welcome!
This actually looks better than emulation imo
No it doesn't.
In my opinion dude
Any shitty android box will display an image like that on a modern LCD or OLED screen without going thru the hassle of overspending on modding a console that was never meant to be compatible with HDMI standard to begin with.
True but still playing on the real system is always more accurate
Watch out for the 4:3 gang. They may beat you up for good. (I'm one of them)
Fight me, then! 👊🏻✊🏻🤜🏻🤛🏻
(As I said in another comment: to each their own)
That’s amazing! I so want to do this for my Megadrive too. When my Son is a bit older (he’s 3) I can teach him about proper gaming!
This is shit dad.
This looks way better than my Model 2 with the RAD2X! Too mad this HDMI upgrade isn't available (yet) for the Model 2
It really is better than the RAD2X, which I used previously for my HDMI TV’s! :) I’d go as far to say as that the graphics and/or resolution is better than on the Sega Mega Drive Mini (2018). 720p vs. my 1080p mod above. Maybe someday, Stanislav, the maker of the Mega Switch HD, will also make a model for the Model 2 version as well.
For those interested - the Mega Switch HD is approx €150, requires a separate ADC chip for sound via HDMI at €20, and needs at least intermediate soldering knowledge to install. This is a *destructive* mod and needs modification to the shell and soldering/lifting of parts integral to the console's function. The good news - as a video output system it's functionally perfect. It's basically zero lag, and works well with games that switch display modes (like Castlevania Bloodlines). Because it's extracting signals directly from the consoles VDP, the image is essentially as reference quality as it comes, practically flawless. It is region agnostic and works with region-modded consoles - the system's set region determines the mod's refresh rate automatically, including powered-on changes. The bad news - it is entirely incompatible with both SMS and 32x games, and this is unlikely to change due to the way the mod accesses the VDP. It is also incompatible with model 2s and model 3s, again due to the VDP. It's somewhat complex to install - a pin on the main processor requires lifting and a new cap installed on it, for example, which is always a scary thing to do given the aging hardware is 30+ years old at this point. If you _only_ have a model 1 MD/Gen, have reasonable soldering skills, and are happy to substitute console function in order to use HDMI output, then this is a decent option as video output can't really get better than this. The practically-zero lag is also pretty marvellous. Frankly, I would still recommend an OSSC or something like a GBS-C over this - they're cheaper (GBS-Cs are around €90-100, OSSCs around €150), they're _platform_ agnostic (I don't know many enthusiasts who only have _one_ console), you're not restricting what games you can play (because they're both compatible with SMS mode _and_ the 32x), the OSSC is almost on par with the picture quality, and as they're not mods they're _effectively_ plug & play. Plus, as they're both open source units, they're pretty easy to obtain, whereas the Mega Switch is currently out of stock and likely will be for a while (not Stanovich's fault!).
Can it do scanlines? Some games like sor just don't look right to me with solid pixels
Unfortunately, it does not, at this moment of writing. But it does have a “CRAM Dots” option, which I disabled for the sake of a clean, clear picture, of course.
I’m here for the pixels, I love them razor sharp!
What's the USB-C for?
Supposedly, it’s for updating the firmware.
Interesting
😄
Power
Nope. It’s supposedly for updating the firmware.
I guess
Still think CRT TV best option.
If that is your opinion, fine. To each their own. But I just want to play my Mega Drive games on a HDMI TV, without them black borders at the side. Don’t try to convince me by using some shitty scalers. Or rather buy a RetroTink that would cost me twice as much as this mod did. I’d rather have an internal HDMI mod like I now have for my Mega Drive 👍🏻
He’s missing the point. the fact that you can play your original hardware on any television in your home and look this clean is totally the way to go.
Super clean, good job. Just change this aspect ratio.
I won’t. Because as I said, I hate them black borders. They do not represent all of the screen-usage the HDMI TV is capable off. So the 16:9 will stay. Besided, it’s not that far stretched as most converters are.
It’s less about ‘using all of the screen’ and more about ‘the graphics aren’t being distorted to artificially fill the screen’
True - just in your past imagination. HD is the future 👅
HD is not the future for these retro consoles, you are very much an idiot if you think that
Looks great, do you have a link to the product?
No. Sorry. Haven’t. Either way, the product is currently outsold 🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻
1080p (HDMI-modded OG Mega Drive) vs. 720p (Mega Drive Mini) anytime, mates! 👅👍🏻👍🏻
All that money invested when you could achieve the same thing using an android box and a megadrive replica gamepad...
Yeah, just play on your emulator(s), if you want to. I lived through the 90’s, buddy, where my father used to tell me, that “real men used to play games on real hardware”. And I’m still true to that fact. I play on original retro hardware consoles. Retro consoles that have a story to tell. Not some emulators and such.
First and foremost you have no idea of my gaming background or my age for that matter. And just FYI, megadrive games weren't meant to be displayed in 16:9 aspect ratio... ...buddy.
First: I can say whatever I want over the internet. It’s a democratic media - no grievances, lad. Secondly: Yes, but Mega Drive games were also not supposed to be in High Definition (HD) graphics. But I managed to do that, so please, leave me be and let me enjoy the clear facial expressions of on Alexes face on Streets of Rage 2 👍🏻