Man you’re a life saver. Was researching how to connect my Commodore 64 to VGA and it seemed like a ton of jumping through hoops till I found this video. Thank you so much and I can’t wait for my proper cords to arrive
@@FloppyDeepDive seems I just need a modern power supply now. I feel dirty I was trying to power it on the last hour with the original till I heard what you said. Hopefully with a new one I won’t just have a blank black screen
@@dungeonmastertyler A blank black screen sounds like a chip issues. You can check out my 1st Commodore repair video, that's the issue I had and see if it's similar.
Works great. Thanks! But beware of knock-offs. Buy the video converter in the link. I bought another one that looked just like it, but it didn't work at all. I returned it and got the exact product at the link in the description, and that one the picture looks great with the 8bitClassics cable (with resistor). I realized the first gadget was a knock-off when I re-watched this video, and another one, and noticed the in and out VGA ports were swapped on the first unit. Not that attaching any different fixed the problem. The darn thing just didn't work no matter what I did, even trying composite instead of S-video. The video converter in the link works great. Get that one. Thanks again.
Unfortunately, the adapter in the link is no longer available. I bought one which unfortunately did not display a C64 picture. It looks the same except the VGA IN and Out are reversed.
I look for commercial grade displays (LCD or CRT) when I am hunting 2nd hand market; NEC and Planar units in particular. These unit have an on-board scaler and will typically accept composite, s-video, component, RGB, RGBs, and RGBi over the 15- pin port. You will need a VGA to RGBHV cable to do the breakouts.
Thank you FDD and William Campbell for your video and comment which solved my problem! I bought a unit which looks like the one in the video, but it was a knock off. The bad unit had a velvety soft rubber casing, the VGA IN and OUT were reversed and it came in a bag. The correct unit linked above has a hard case, screws on the bottom, VGA IN on the same side as AV IN and SVIDEO IN, a nice swipe effect when changing modes, and it came in a box. The correct unit works great for my Apple IIe, my Atari 800XL, and my Plus/4.
I can't believe I hadn't watched this video all the way through. Thank you for doing all the hard work of finding out what works well with what. Seems like a lot of folks dig SCART connections, which are like unicorns here in the states. I had been hooking my 64 up to my LCD TV via RF (yes, I have an LCD TV with an RF connection). I'd much rather use an old 4x3 Dell monitor that I've been saving. Thanks!
It's a good idea - my only comments would be that you can probably pick up old CRT monitors that are cheaper than old LCD monitors and the C64 was designed to work with CRT not LCD, so you get a better picture. Some of the "converters" can also have lag issues with them.
Well for me LCD are like $4.00 at Goodwill vs people wanting $100 or more for a CRT. Trust me I would love a good 1702 CRT monitor over LCD but they are much harder to find cheap. Thanks for watching!
Nice. Now I wish they made a (cheap) device like this for Commodore 128's 80-column output mode to VGA monitor... The ones I've seen look complicated and rare and expensive.
That the original power brick can have a defect 5v regulator was not known by a certain eBay seller. He used a working c64 to test other bricks. It was until he had a defect one killing the working one. If that one is sold, than maybe not easy to repair. Electrocuted parts.
Thanks for this video! I also bought one and I was BLOWN AWAY by the crazy bang I got for the buck. The composite is... Quite bad but svideo is just shiny. Thanks!
For an old recycled lcd monitor you got a super sharp 0% artifact-interference picture with that converter! I have noted the model to get one myself, thanks!
Now you can also use an VGA to HDMI adapter additionally. So you can connect it to every new TV set. An advantage are the calibration switches on the back of the video converter to resize the picture.
Good informative video but unfortunately as per other comments here - the device linked in this video does NOT work on UK PAL Commodore 64 computers, just a blue screen, the device only gives options and resolutions between 60-75hz. I tested it on a vintage 15 year old VGA Monitor+TV and a modern 3 year old VGA LCD Monitor and no C64 screen to be seen.
Did the easy way with the Turbo Chameleon 64 V1 for VGA on my C64. Have sell the biggest part of my C64 collection. Use the money for my AMIGA 1200 projects. Seek now the SIDFX for the C64 Reloaded MK1. I’m always busy with the C64, AMIGA 500 and the AMIGA 1200. There is always things to experience and to collect.
The new V2 version is around 208 euro. Got my old V1 version secondhand with a great transparante C64C case from the kickstarter from Dallas 2015 deal.
I have two of these converters. They do not work as well with PAL C64s. S-video has quite alot of moving bands and composite has graphical corruption. My units was bought from China but looks identical to the ones you have in the video. I do not have an NTSC C64 to try out.
I greatly appreciate this video. I bought the components and hooked it to an old Viewsonic lcd square monitor, but could not get video. I will check out Goodwill of something older. Those old dell monitors seem plentiful. I am not too hopeful, but they are cheap. The C64 has been in storage for a while, so anything could be wrong at this point.
@@FloppyDeepDive Just blank. The monitor shows the blue screen it always would as though it is not connected. I know it is connected to the video converter since I can bring the converter menu up. The PS is showing 5.1 v DC and about 11v AC. It's an old microline PS I picked up with my original blew about 25 years ago. Considering replacing it anyway. I'm afraid it's a chip, perhaps the PLA. There is a large metal bracket over the board with tabs pressed against some of the chips- there is old white paste as well. I assume this was acting as a heat sync and also helping to keep the chips seated.
Good video, but I haven't seen VGA connector in monitors for the past decade or so, maybe more. They're very rare, at least in Finland. HDMI and DVI have long been the de-facto connecting standard here. My problem is exactly that that I can't find a monitor old enough to have VGA so I could attach both my C64 and retro-PC into it. But I'll keep searching :)
Hello! I Have purchased exactly what you have linked in your description. The vga converter only works with composite. Not with s video. Dont know if its a fault with the vga converter or the 8 pin cable from 8bitclassic
@@FloppyDeepDive . Hi! I havent another source i can try it with. I have return it to amazon. Iam trying to find another one. If you have any tip Where i can buy?
Nice. I thought there might be issues because of the interlace, since it any many old systems like original nintendo doesn't really do proper interlacing which ruins when using most HDMI adapters. Or is that just a PAL issue?
Really appreciate this video! Box linked here is now available again on Amazon. I had ordered a "velvet soft / no screws on bottom" knock-off apparently that does not work, so returning that for the one you link. Expecting that to work great. Hoping! a Question: your c64 video image is so pure / clean. No jail bars. Have there been other video enhancements to your c64, or is this your "as built" c64 video image? Looks great!
I have the same adapter, only, it does not work with the C64. The signal does not come trough. I've connected with SVideo and wit AV. If i use a more modern device, like a camcorder, then the adapter works. In the past i've tried with the Vic20 also with no luck. Maybe you have a different version of the adapter.
Thought this was gonna be one of those "just snip this and solder that" videos (stuff I'm too afraid to try) but this is just "buy one of these and one of these and there you go!" and THAT I can do. The website ends in classicS not just classic as that redirects you to another retro site. Seems Bill Herd even commented on the S-video cable there in the reviews. No reason to believe it's not him.
I'm glad you found it helpful. I wanted to keep it simple. I was hoping to help the average user who wants to power up their C64 again and have some fun. The links in the description will take you right to the items.
I know its a little late to respond to the video, but does that monitor accept the native video frequency from the 64? or does that converter upscale the signal?
This is great. Question: If I hook up the Svideo to the VGA converter, I won’t have sound. Can I take the RCA white and blue and connect them to a speaker? If not, what would you do? The VGA monitor I have has no sound.
Thanks, I made a video about the sound issue. Use your PC Speakers on your Commodore 64/128 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vqrcZ3pW3Rc.html
Did you have to do a lot of adjustments on the converter to get a good picture? I have the same monitor and same converter and it’s very dim and blurry. Of course the monitor could be bad I suppose.
How do I get my old XP PC VGA to jive with a Commodore 64 monitor? I have tons of games emulated on the PC, and I’m thinking the picture may improve when using an original Commodore 64 monitor (the way the image improves on a C64 hooked up to a monitor rather than a TV. Will the picture improve?
Anche io sono un grandissimo appassionato dei monitor 4×3,ma i monitor CRT,si vedono alla perfezione.io sono appassionato del C64 e DELL'AMIGA,ci vado matto!.hai fatto un bel video,complimenti
Good afternoon and thanks for the video. I bought the peripheral from the link in your video and I just tested it on my C64 PAL. Unfortunately it does not work with either a VGA LCD monitor or a VGA CRT monitor. The screen remains blue. I have tried both modes, both with S-video connector and with Composite Video. I think it is related to 60Hz, which is the minimum that the video converter allows. Those of us who have a C64 PAL are outputting the signal at 50Hz. I would appreciate it if you would do the test yourself to see if I am right or what solution we can find. Thank you!
I also use it with my ZX Spectrum which is PAL and it works with my VGA monitor 50hz. Did you purchase the one directly from my link? There are different variations of it.
Just got my C64 hooked up to a Sony vga monitor with the recommended items and it looks great! But now sound!, any advice on how to get some speakers hooked up? Dan
Glad it’s working out for you. I made a video on the sound options. Use your PC Speakers on your Commodore 64/128 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vqrcZ3pW3Rc.html
Nothing special about these VGA monitors. I use them on multiple 5+ different VGA's and they work perfect on everyone. I do know there are a variety of copy cats of this converter and some don't work. Use the specific link I put in the description to get the exact one I use. Good luck!
One question about your S-Video cable - the one you are using does it have the resistor in it? If my cable doesn't have the resistor will the quality be bad? Regards
@@FloppyDeepDive Thanks. I took the chance and ordered the cable with resistor via the link you provided. So now i have to wait. I might have a 4:3 LCD screen - it's just sitting there at my job waiting for me to grab it. ;0)
@@FloppyDeepDive There is a Catholic Charity store here that sells high end monitors for like $1-$10 each. Barcos, NEC, Sony, NDS, FSN. Older models but still very very sharp pictures. Crazy thing is that dont move very fast!
Great information. I bought the fix cable with scart connector on tv, but I am not satisfied. The VGA is great but how the sound work's with your setup? I have a Monitor with speakers but a separate input for a sound cable what you plug in on the earphones output on a PC or laptop. Maybe I missed something there regarding sounds. Thanks in advance 👍.
I have another video about connecting the sound to the VGA and it's really easy with a simple adapter. You will be able to hook pc speakers up to your system.
@@FloppyDeepDive it came and i finally got it hooked up (the c64 i got came doa so i had to get another one). it works great on a dell 1704fpv upscaled to 1280x1024 but i need the lumafix board cause i have prison bars and checkerboarding on the light blue (well known on problem with svideo on newer displays) but man it looks good otherwise, im glad i found your video... Hope you see this reply
@@FloppyDeepDive oh and sorry to respond again but my 13 year old still working lg 55" lcd tv has a vga in port so when I have more room im going to see how it looks on that since everything on the 64 does look great in widescreen
No sound. See this video on how I handle that. Use your PC Speakers on your Commodore 64/128 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vqrcZ3pW3Rc.html
Thanks for watching! Did you order from the link I posted? There are a lot of different varieties of these out there. I use my SVideo to plug into the converter and seem to have the best result.
@@FloppyDeepDive in german it says total crap... i first thought this was some kind of fake video for the bad translation, then i watched it and gave thumbs up! Very nice! but disable auto translation if possible :)
@@FloppyDeepDive btw it says something like "how to put a hook far up on the vga monitor" in german, then i was like "wtf" :) :) but i can speak english so i got it
I think you are lucky that your monitor actually supports 15 khz. There are monitors that don't support that frequency and those will not work with the converter, unless it is changing the frequency to something more common currently. I doubt. That is the reason there are the retrotinks, osscs, etc
If you browse RU-vid with language set to German, the video title and description will be terribly translated. It's so wrong it's hard to even make out what it is supposed to mean, it's almost gibberish. I have no idea how that happened but I believe you can disable it.
So far that is not my experience. I am 4 for 4 with these converters. They are affordable at under $20. I’m sure there could be some bad ones but at that price it’s worth the chance. It’s not a huge investment.
@@FloppyDeepDive Then I have been unlucky. I bought 6 through the years, and none worked with PAL 50hz. It might be that they are better with 60hz NTSC.
