Modern TVs and Commodores?

[DavidC]

Are the fancy flat screens safe for use with the C64?

 

Do they cause stress on the video chip? I am using my 64 with a composite cable into the av connectors on the back of my tv.

 

After about 10 or 15 minutes, the screen starts to flicker.

That worries me, and I shut everything off.

 

It does the same with my TI99.

 

Maybe it's just a junk TV? In general, are new TVs safe for use with classic computers?

[Keatah]

Sounds like something is warming up and going out of spec?

[Guest LiqMat]

Are the fancy flat screens safe for use with the C64?

 

Do they cause stress on the video chip? I am using my 64 with a composite cable into the av connectors on the back of my tv.

 

After about 10 or 15 minutes, the screen starts to flicker.

That worries me, and I shut everything off.

 

It does the same with my TI99.

 

Maybe it's just a junk TV? In general, are new TVs safe for use with classic computers?

 

This is one of my favorite panels for our Commodore 8-bits. Both the VIC-20 and C-64 look fantastic on this model in composite and it's cheap. I tried quite a few models before this one and this wins.

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sharp-32-class-31-5-diag--led-1080p-hdtv-black/2351018.p?id=1219539712119&skuId=2351018

Edited February 26, 2016 by LiqMat

[7800fan]

Got other system to test with? If other systems causes flicker, your TV has issues. If not, your C64 and TI may have problem.

[carlsson]

The C64, NES and supposedly many other systems of the era, output a progressive signal of entire frames rather than interlaced half frames. Modern TV's may have trouble with that. The C64 also doesn't output a whole number of frames per second, i.e. it produces 29.9nnn instead of 30.000 frames per second, which means an error margin will accumulate. If your TV expects a rock solid frame rate and tries to compensate, after a while the error may be so large that it causes flickering.

 

Indeed try to find a different TV, or if you somehow can change the settings so it accepts off sync rates.

[Bill Loguidice]

While I personally use an XRGB-mini Framemeister to ensure I get the best possible signal from my classic systems to my modern displays, going straight from a classic computer or console to a modern display shouldn't harm either. The main issue is having the modern display lock onto the "outdated" signal from the classic computer or console, which is what I think the TV you're using is having trouble with. That's not in the slightest bit uncommon.

[DavidC]

Yeah, Im leaning towards a crappy tv. I am going to take a chance and get a new one. Thanks for the replys, I'll let you know what happens.

[DavidC]

It was the TV. Picked up a new one today. I have been running a simple color pattern program for the past 45 min.

 

Everything is fine. Working great!

 

Thanks guys. I appreceate your help. Especially for the simplest of problems.

 

Dave.

[Guest LiqMat]

It was the TV. Picked up a new one today. I have been running a simple color pattern program for the past 45 min.

 

Everything is fine. Working great!

 

Thanks guys. I appreceate your help. Especially for the simplest of problems.

 

Dave.

 

Which one did you go with? Always like to know for future endeavors.

 

Other than the Sharp I mentioned there have been a few large Philips panels that look great with the Commodore 8-bits as well.

Edited February 27, 2016 by LiqMat

[DavidC]

Sweet little 24 inch RCA. It has composite, component and VGA inputs. it was on sale for $120 at the local BJs wholesale store. Works great. I'm very happy with it.

 

Part number..LED24G45RQ

Edited February 27, 2016 by DavidC

[motrucker]

I used to have trouble just connecting to the new, LCD, LED type TVs. I finally bought a device called the ViewSonic - NextVision N6 and now get a great display from my C-64, and all of the old fashioned game consoles. This isn't the cheapest solution I have found, but surely the best!

 

http://www.hk.viewsonic.com/en/products/advancedtv/nextvision_n6.php

 

I found on new on Ebay for a good price. I use a 32" LED TV.

Edited March 12, 2016 by motrucker

[Nateo]

I would use an LED TV, but I hate the lag that happens whenever I hook up old system to one. Does this happen with the C64 as well? I kinda just want to get a decent CRT, like a Commodore 1702.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

The lag is internal in the TV. So if your TV is lagging, then it will lag for a C64 too.

[Nateo]

Has anybody tried modding a computer to output component or RGB and then hook up to a CRT VGA monitor?

[carlsson]

The VIC-II video chip (if we stick with the C64) only has signals for chroma and luma. There may be circuits to split those into component video, but I don't know how well it works. The French once in the 1980's devised a RGB extension for the C64 that either split the Y/C or even the RF signal, but from what I hear the results were much below expectation.

 

In modern days, you can get a Turbo Chameleon cartridge. It is expensive, but it has a FPGA emulation of the VIC-II and outputs a VGA signal. Basically it takes over most of the C64 custom chips, so you could almost as well use some other FPGA board with a C64 core.

Edited April 6, 2016 by carlsson