Connecting a C64 to a modern Monitor - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TinkeringSteve
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2017, 06:33:38 pm
content: Greetings,I haven't been up to date with this stuff for ages.Are there sanely priced & quality products out there that would help me connect 80's computers to a modern screen? Like DVI or HDMI, if it's cheaper, maybe even VGA.Like a C64. I also have a C128, but I guess for games etc, the "sorta EGA" output that thing also has is not so relevant.IIRC, the C64 has 2 outputs, one with TV RF signal, worse quality, and another one that's not as crappy, which would be preferrable as input for the X-device you might tell me the name of, I guess.I don't think I'd put much effort into that, that'd only be for some fun here and there. So something that works out of the box would be nice

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2017, 06:56:14 pm
content: s-video or SCART to HDMI e.g -https://www.amazon.co.uk/Composite-S-Video-converter-Supports-1080p/dp/B008X59IMKand a suitable cable from the A/V socket on the C64

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2017, 08:05:05 pm
content: Many TVs still have a S-Video Input. This could be part of the SCART connector. So it would be just a cable. AFAIR I used this years ago. A few monitors might also still offer S-video in.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2017, 08:06:22 pm
content: You might be disappointed how flat and blocky the C64 signal looks on the unforgiving modern flatscreen...Those old CRTs with their slight blurring, scanlines and local haze are more flattering for vintage low-res images, I think.

author: frozenfrogz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2017, 09:24:29 pm
content: As far as I remember, the C64 and C128 featured a 5-pin or 8-pin DIN 41524 socket with audio out, audio in, composite video and y/c (S-Video) video. It would be easy to build a suitable cable as both DIN plugs should still be obtainable. I would consider ebastlers advice and look for an old CRT TV as substitute for the original monitor unless you want to do screen capture.The TV set will have composite and S-Video in (at least via scart).Composite/S-Video to DVI converters are very pricey nowadays. A cheaper solution would be a USB A/V capture device.

author: TinkeringSteve
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2017, 10:33:23 pm
content: QuoteYeah. Well. I don't have a TV and that will stay that way ;-)QuoteI found an incredibly (oh yeah!) cheap one "AV to HDMI mini converter" at fasttech, under 10 bucks even with up-scaling.https://www.fasttech.com/p/8457500I doubt the thing reckons with such low res material, heh. Probably won't look as nice as some of those filters VICE has.But given that price and cheap shipping, I said to myself: what the heck.Will be a couple weeks. *If* that thing really delivers*, I'll hopefully remember this thread and report back ;-)Or, if anyone cares enough, nag in this thread in 3 weeks if I haven't been back.---* assuming my C64 won't explode after almost 20 years no power.It's no bread bin, but the newer one. Does that one also have a PSU which gets too high voltage after years, or is that only a problem with the bread bin one?

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2017, 02:09:49 am
content: Quote from: TinkeringSteve on August 11, 2017, 10:33:23 pmI think I'd still check the output with a meter first before plugging the ps into the c64.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2017, 07:55:48 am
content: AFAIK the supply is still an old style linear one with a normal transformer. So one could first operate the supply with a reduced voltage to allow for slower reforming of the filter caps. As least something like a lower power lamp in series would be a good idea to power up only the supply.

author: TinkeringSteve
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2017, 09:57:32 am
content: Quote from: Kleinstein on August 12, 2017, 07:55:48 amAh. Reduced voltage, you say. I have 230V PSUs, and happen to have a 110V AC adaptor lying around. I could plug the C64 PSU into that for... how long would you think?