SLG 3000 Scanline Generator

Steve X2

What do you's think about this thing?
Might it have a place in someone's retro setup?

I like the fact that the product exists, I just don't know if I'd ever use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzPqwkREvKE

http://www.retrothing.com/2011/04/slg-3000-add-grunge-to-vintage-video.html

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/23/slg-3000-scanline-generator-brings-grimy-gaming-to-modern-displa/

http://wp1114205.wp150.webpack.hosteurope.de/wordpress/?page_id=745#case



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Optimus Prime

Its good but is it that different from using simulated scan lines in mame?

Steve X2

keithgeo wrote: »

Its good but is it that different from using simulated scan lines in mame?

Well this will give you scanlines on anything over VGA. It's not meant for emulators, seems like its really for use with older consoles on modern TV's.


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CiDeRmAn

SLG 3000 Scanline Generator, what a terrible name, unless the first three letters don't stand for "Scan Line Generator".
Otherwise it's name in full is ScanLine Generator 3000 Scanline Generator!

Steve X2

I've ordered one so will update this thread after I've tested it out.
Going to try it out on my Dreamcast that's hooked up to an LCD monitor.


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K.O.Kiki

Homepage here:
http://arcadeforge.de/?page_id=745

It´s purpose is to generate scanlines for VGA standard 640 x 480 using modern display.

Thus SLG3000 is perfect to get arcade feeling for games coming from the 15Khz times.

o1s1n

Steve SI wrote: »

I've ordered one so will update this thread after I've tested it out.
Going to try it out on my Dreamcast that's hooked up to an LCD monitor.


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Nice one! Cant wait to hear what it's like. If it's good, the CRTless future doesn't seem like such a scary place.

Pyongyang

I had to pause that video halfway through and have a lie down. I can't believe I own a Dreamcast and am going to get to play the games that lad was playing!

I actually scrambled to find my wallet, I need to buy this thing as quickly as possible. :eek:

o1s1n

Finally got a chance to give the SLG3000 a go. Wow, what a device!

So I started with the Dreamcast, straightforward enough.

Dreamcast > VGA box > SLG 3000 > LCD

Wowza, looks amazing.

Having a bit more difficulty with my laptop. If I put the res down it works (and games really look great!) , but for some reason when the SLG3000 is turned on, my PC seems to think there's no external monitor hooked up to it.

Sometimes it works, other times it completely cuts the connection to the LCD. (and I then have to open up the IKEA cab, take the laptop out to see the screen etc, bit of a pain)

Must be some workaround for it. I have it set up to show the desktop on the external monitor from boot. But if the SLG3000 is turned on, the computer just doesnt detect the monitor.

Pyongyang

o1s1n wrote: »

If I put the res down it works (and games really look great!)

You answered your own question. What are you feeding in to the monitor? Just your laptop and then the laptop to the SLG and SLG to an external monitor?

It's likely you need a scaler in the chain. Again, it depends what you are feeding the SLG and the external monitor.

o1s1n

I'll explain my laptop setup to you now.

Laptop set to 800X600 (It wont go down to 640X480 unless it's in VGA mode and then the external monitor wont work)

Laptop is then set to display on an external monitor only.

That is outputted to SLG3000 (Switched to off position) which is connected to the external monitor.

I now have the desktop displaying on the external monitor.

I switch the SLG3000 on, I now have scanlines on my external monitor (yay!)

Here's where the problem starts. Now that the SLG3000 is on, the computer has problems identifying the external monitor. It works as per above, but if I exit a game in MAME for example, the computer just cuts off the external monitor. Same, if I boot with the SLG3000 on, the external monitor wont be detected.

So basically the SLG3000 is causing issues with monitor detection. I guess the best solution here is to have a non laptop setup so it's always just booting to a monitor by default. (Doesn't seem to be an option for it in the computer bios) - unless someone can think of something else?

Pyongyang

This should help.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33454

o1s1n

Took a couple of before and after snaps. Just to note, I've the scanline effect turned up really high so you can see the lines. You can turn them down so they're not nearly as visible if you want.

You can see all the little jagged edges and pixels where scanlines should be. Little blurry, but it shows you what the SLG is doing.



SLG3000 switched to on and they're as they should be!









One thing this has really done is set my mind at ease for the future of our hobby and CRT shortage. I could see myself now happily putting an LCD panel in a cab with an SLG 3000.

80s Synth Pop

The maximum resolution of the VGA feed going into the SLG is 640x480 so set your laptop to that (But if using a laptop for emulation, why not use the built-in emulator scanlines?).
It looks great for all the consoles I've thrown at it. No way to use it on the NES though because it has no RGB.

o1s1n

The laptop won't go down as far as 640X480 unfortunately! I've tried to force it through VGA mode, but then it doesnt detect the external monitor.

The built in emulator scanlines aren't as nice and they seem to cause a bit of lag too.

I've yet to try other consoles with it, don't have any way of inputting scart yet. Not sure if I'll buy a sync strike or whatever for that seeing as I already have a CRT for scart consoles. Would love to try it out as a matter of interest though!

Steve X2

o1s1n wrote: »

The laptop won't go down as far as 640X480 unfortunately! I've tried to force it through VGA mode, but then it doesnt detect the external monitor.

The built in emulator scanlines aren't as nice and they seem to cause a bit of lag too.

I've yet to try other consoles with it, don't have any way of inputting scart yet. Not sure if I'll buy a sync strike or whatever for that seeing as I already have a CRT for scart consoles. Would love to try it out as a matter of interest though!

Windows 7??
Enable low resolution mode in msconfig??

o1s1n

Steve_SI wrote:

Windows 7??
Enable low resolution mode in msconfig??

XP, its a samsung nc10 netbook. You can do that low res mode through msconfig (its the vga mode i mentioned above) but when you pick it, the option for external monitors vanishes