I RGB modded my Core Grafx II

gtsamour · 03/07/2011, 10:42 AM

I finally managed to mod my Core II to give RGB out signal. I have to say it was tricky and had a lot of work to it because unfortunately there was noway I could fit the amplifier inside the case of the console. Absolutely no space for that in there.
Finally I had no other choice but to install the amplifier board externally, something that I didn't particularly like but as I said, there was no other option so I tried to make it as "clean" as possible.
Here it is....

8 pin jack fitted instead of the 5 pin that was originaly there. Fresh electrolytic capacitors were fitted.
/dscn0279g.jpg

Signals were picked up from the expansion port instead of the chip's pins.
/dscn0281g.jpg

Amplifier board fitted externally on the TV cable.
/dscn0286n.jpg

Final result, perfect colors, perfect brightness and image clarity.
/dscn0285z.jpg

SuperPlay · 03/09/2011, 03:14 PM

Nice work :-)

gtsamour · 03/10/2011, 04:26 AM

I would much preffer the amplifier to be inside the console but unfortunately I can't make it any smaller and compact than it already is

and the console is very small.

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/10/2011, 09:24 AM

Not too shabby.

Platinumfungi · 03/10/2011, 10:50 AM

Good work! What monitor are you using there?

gtsamour · 03/10/2011, 11:19 AM

Its an LG 22'' TV actually. Normaly I play on a Sony CRT 21'' but since I was in the kitchen

Duo_R · 03/10/2011, 11:28 AM

What encoder are you using? What about building the amp inside the encoder?

gtsamour · 03/11/2011, 03:26 AM

Im not using any encoder, the close photo of the amplifier can be found here https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=9299.msg161486

What do you mean "building the amplifier inside the encoder"? I don't understand. The console produces RGB signals on its own, they're just too weak and need amplification.

Duo_R · 03/11/2011, 04:01 AM

an LG 22" that takes straight RGB 15khz? Where do you live? What model is it?

gtsamour · 03/11/2011, 04:47 AM

Europe, the tvs here have scart input and can take rgb directly.

Duo_R · 03/11/2011, 08:57 AM

Yup u guys are lucky

JoshTurboTrollX · 03/11/2011, 12:00 PM

Hold on a second!

/washer.jpg

You have a Cloths washer in your kitchen?

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/11/2011, 12:20 PM

Just a thought, but does a Tennokoe have enough extra room to hide your amp? It'd add bulk to the CG, but it'd look a bit cleaner and save capabilities are always nice.

Drumjay · 03/11/2011, 02:55 PM

You could always build the amp into the scart socket if your in the UK, they fit in quite nicely. Or you could have the amp at the other end so it wouldn't be near the console and intrusive. Great work!

DragonmasterDan · 03/11/2011, 02:57 PM

Quote from: JoshTurboTrollX-16 on 03/11/2011, 12:00 PMHold on a second!

/washer.jpg

You have a Cloths washer in your kitchen?

A lot of apartments and condos do.

gtsamour · 03/11/2011, 03:49 PM

Yeah actually it is a clothes washing/drying machine

Its quite common in Europe to be in the kitchen.

Actually this specific amplifier design (4 mini amplifiers on one board to be exact) doesn't really fit in the scart jack unless you build something that looks like a ball of wires maybe.
I thought that installing the amp board close to the console is better because that way you have less signal loss and less interference (that is too going to be amplified if the amp is later across the cable).Imagine 4 weak signals traveling another 3 meters of cable before they get to be amplified...
Just a thought, I'm no expert...

ps
It's a big kitchen