HDMI adapters & scalers¶
Not every console deserves (or allows) an internal mod. To hook retro up to a modern HDMI TV, two approaches: cheap passive adapters (Wii2HDMI & clones) and quality external scalers (OSSC, RetroTINK, PixelFX Morph range). Not to be confused.
Two very different worlds¶
| Approach | What it does | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Passive adapter (Wii2HDMI, €10 "AV→HDMI") | takes composite/component and puts it back into an HDMI socket, with a built-in low-end scaler | 🟧 stopgap — variable lag and artifacts |
| External scaler (OSSC / RetroTINK / PixelFX Morph) | takes RGB/component/digital and does clean scaling, low latency | 🟩 the real solution |
An adapter doesn't create quality
An "AV→HDMI box" does not transform blurry composite into a sharp image: it digitises what you give it. Garbage in, garbage out. For quality you need a good source (RGB/digital) + a good scaler.
Console-specific adapters¶
- Wii2HDMI: plugs into the Wii/GameCube multi-out, outputs HDMI. Handy, but upscaled composite/component — okay, no more. On a GameCube DOL-001, prefer a GCVideo (far better).
- Equivalents for Wii, PS2, etc.: same principle, same limit.
External scalers (recommended)¶
| Device | Inputs | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| OSSC (Open Source Scan Converter) | SCART RGB, component, VGA | near zero-lag line-doubling, fine settings |
| OSSC Pro | + digital, buffer | more versatile, capture |
| RetroTINK 4K / 5X | composite→RGB→HDMI | advanced scaling, profiles, very mainstream |
| PixelFX Morph | multi | PixelFX ecosystem |
These take the SCART RGB (see RGB & SCART) that most modded consoles provide, and convert it into clean HDMI.
How to choose¶
- The source first: get the best analog/digital signal out of the console (RGB, S-Video, or a digital mod).
- Then the scaler: OSSC (purist, settings) or RetroTINK (simplicity).
- The passive adapter is only justified for a stopgap or a console you don't want to mod.
Where to buy¶
- OSSC / OSSC Pro — https://videogameperfection.com/ (reference manufacturer/distributor)
- RetroTINK — official RetroTINK site (Mike Chi).
- PixelFX Morph — https://pixelfx.co/
- Wii2HDMI & co. adapters — general shops (variable quality).
Sources & attribution¶
- Video Game Perfection — OSSC (specs, usage) — https://videogameperfection.com/
- RetroRGB — scaler / adapter comparisons — https://www.retrorgb.com/
Review & corrections
How this space is used
Spotted a wrong value, an outdated procedure, a chip reference that does not match your board? Say so here, with what you observed (model, board revision, serial number, measurement). Every report is cross-checked against a source before anything changes — an unverifiable correction is published as “reported by …, not cross-checked” rather than silently applied.
Reading is open to everyone; posting requires signing in with Discord. Reports from the wiki's declared reviewers are handled first; anyone else's are read too, but go through a human before anything is changed.