Retro Duo Portable - RDP 2 in 1 Portable System

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Old_Skool_Fool, I regret if I came across as disrespectful. That was not my intention - I like what you do and want to see more of it. Thank you for answering most of my questions to the best of your ability.

The question remaining you didn't address is the LCD video feed itself. To your eye, how good is it? The FC-16 Go uses composite feed, the Hyperkin Supaboy uses what looks like S-video. Does the RDP output S-video or true RGB or what?

Also I can understand you won't be able to answer about Retrozone's NES Powerpak, but please please try Castlevania III. It's an awesome game you should own anyway, but if all else fails, please try asking a Retrobit representative about Castlevania 3. It does work on the console version of the the Retro Duo and most modern clones accept it, but it's still a concern. Thanks.

[Cryog]

Thank you for answering our questions. Now it is confirmed, the RDP is based on the pokeFAMI DX. The only difference is that the NOAC is in the console.

[Tupin]

So, the adapters that work on the SNES actually have the hardware in them, but the one with the RDP doesn't?

Does the RDP have the video cable plug into the cartridge or the machine itself?

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Thank you for answering our questions. Now it is confirmed, the RDP is based on the pokeFAMI DX. The only difference is that the NOAC is in the console.

I wouldn't go that far. Even if they're similar *captain obvious could've told you that* it doesn't mean there aren't going to be performance or compatibility differences between the two. All that we know for sure at this point (at least based on what oldskoolfool says) is that the Pokefami DX and the RDP aren't exactly the same hardware.

So, the adapters that work on the SNES actually have the hardware in them, but the one with the RDP doesn't?

Does the RDP have the video cable plug into the cartridge or the machine itself?

You know, this is exactly what I said before, if you care to read back. The NES adapter that is going to come with the RDP is a simple pin connector designed specifically for the RDP. Since the NOAC is internal to the RDP, the adapter itself doesn't need to have external composite jacks.

[Cryog]

I wouldn't go that far. Even if they're similar *captain obvious could've told you that* it doesn't mean there aren't going to be performance or compatibility differences between the two. All that we know for sure at this point (at least based on what oldskoolfool says) is that the Pokefami DX and the RDP aren't exactly the same hardware.

But he said exactly that ...

Now mind you, that this is coming from the makers of the Retro Duo, so the chipset is similar but NOT IDENTICAL.


Is it similar to the Poke FAmi DX = YES it is.

The word on the street is that the technology in the "PokeFamiDX" was Retrobits' and it was engineered for the Japanese market. So the RDP is everything that the DX is plus more.

Well, how much more?? ANSWER = I don't know...because once again, my NES/SNES/GEN Collection is not that of this forum owners'. (Although I wish it was!!

In other words ... are almost identical. When it hits the market then test the compatibility between them.

[Taiyaki]

The FC-16 Go uses composite feed, the Hyperkin Supaboy uses what looks like S-video. Does the RDP output S-video or true RGB or what?

I hate to be turning around the bush here but I felt a little ignored last time around. I'm totally with you that the Supaboy picture is terrible but does RGB over Composite make any apparent difference with new LCD displays at 3.5 inch? How could the Supaboy deliver S-video when it looks like an RF unit connection. Are you sure that the problem isn't their board or the screen? Again the Nomad mod uses the Composite out and it looks clean. Is this (what video source) really what we should be investigating is my question.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

I'm totally with you that the Supaboy picture is terrible

Uh, nope. Never once said that. That's also completely untrue. The LCD screen quality of the Supaboy is in fact quite good. All I've ever been saying is that it just simply isn't as good as the maximum quality possible from the original hardware. it seems to be using S-video instead of true RGB.

How could the Supaboy deliver S-video when it looks like an RF unit connection.

Again, what're you talking about? S-video does not equal RF. Look again or maybe have your eyes examined? The Supaboy video output to either the LCD or to an exterior tv via composite doesn't even remotely resemble RF. This isn't even the case with the FC-16 Go, which has a far worse screen quality than the Supaboy.

[Ace]

it seems to be using S-video instead of true RGB.

I'm not too sure about this. I remember reading somewhere(maybe the BenHeck forums) that the SupaBoy uses Composite on the internal LCD. You even mentioned the Composite in the TV out being quite dark. Considering the system's LCD never shuts off, if it were to use Composite, the signal would obviously weaken because it's being output to two different places, and from what I've read and from what you said in your SupaBoy review, it sounds like the LCD uses Composite.

[kedawa]

It seems kind of stupid and wasteful to convert from RGB to composite inside the clone chip, and then back to RGB within the display itself.

[Ace]

It seems kind of stupid and wasteful to convert from RGB to composite inside the clone chip, and then back to RGB within the display itself.

The conversion is done using an external video encoder, usually a Sony CXA1645, but in some cases, might be either a Sony CXA1145 or Samsung KA2198BD. The only clones which convert RGB to Composite inside the clone chip are Geniclones. Super NES clones all use discrete components, not a system-on-a-chip design like NES and Genesis clones.

Still, I can't help but wonder... are there ANY 3.5-inch LCD screens with an RGB input?

[Taiyaki]

The Nomad has RGB, doesn't the DS too?

[Cryog]

2012 new ces releases


CES 2012: Retro duo portable


CES 2012: Supa Boy


The image on the RDP is much sharper than the Supaboy.

[Taiyaki]

Uh, nope. Never once said that. That's also completely untrue. The LCD screen quality of the Supaboy is in fact quite good. All I've ever been saying is that it just simply isn't as good as the maximum quality possible from the original hardware. it seems to be using S-video instead of true RGB.

Again, what're you talking about? S-video does not equal RF. Look again or maybe have your eyes examined? The Supaboy video output to either the LCD or to an exterior tv via composite doesn't even remotely resemble RF. This isn't even the case with the FC-16 Go, which has a far worse screen quality than the Supaboy.

Of course the Supaboy doesn't use RF, ever heard of sarcasm? ...

Composite doesn't equal insane flickering, barely legible texts and blurry textures on a small screen, all of which the Supaboy has (I haven't tried the tv out but I'm talking about the screen of the system itself). I mistook you from someone else since apparently your unit (or your attention to minute details) clearly differs from mine. In all fairness the Supaboy's screen's brightness and contrast are very good but the good ends there, it's an all round terrible screen. I would rather have bad brightness and not have the crawling, flickering and blurry texts but that's just me.

I never played the FC-16 system so I wouldn't know how that compares. Then again this is my first time playing clones, if this is common with clones I'm not going to be hooked for long. I hope this RDP has warmer colors like the Pokefami DX seems to have, because from the video i can't tell and it looks sort of going towards cold temperatures.

Again my point is (for the third time) that composite on a 3.5 inch shouldn't be distinguishable from RGB (unless you take out a magnifying glass). On the Sega Nomad the composite gives out a very sharp and clear image so why can't the Supaboy do the same? You keep talking about composite, s-video or rgb as if somehow this is the sole determining factor for the picture quality (putting video out aside). There's apparently some other reason why the Supaboy doesn't look good. EDIT: doesn't look good "enough" (since you say it's quite good).