lostinblue
Banned
SD consoles can be separated in two different groups.
240p and 480i/p ones.
For the 240p ones it'll be hard because no modern TV processes 240p as 240p, results will vary of course, depending on how many 240p effects it's pulling, but it's nevertheless never desirable, not even for games that pan out (good old parallax)
For 480i/p you'll be fine and just dislike the pixely 3D without AA combined with a filter that's a tad too soft.
Both can be improved upon, but I can't possibly stand 240p being treated as 480i on some games, as for 480i/p on a HDTV... I can't say it sucks out of the box on most sets albeit it can get better.
Anyway for processing that the cheapest route you have is the DIY cheap scaler kit route, which is not stellar but will behave like this:
-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSQ3lmE6UuY#t=18m37s (PC Engine @ 240p, linked because you talked about said platform)
-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSQ3lmE6UuY#t=22m53s (Genesis/Mega Drive @ 240p/288p, linked because it's processing PAL signal there, something a lot of scalers can't pull)
-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSQ3lmE6UuY#t=26m14s (Wii @ 480p)
I don't recommend that chain for people in US, because it's a premium prebuilt pack costing the about same as some more expensive solutions, same retailer sells a cheaper scaler kit with the same bits but assembled by separate modules (SLG300+GBS8220+Sync Strike) but that's also expensive because they charge premium for the scaler board which can be purchased from ebay anyway. In fact they charge premium for everything there.
But you can build a scaler chain like that with:
1. GBS8220 (33 USD delivered on ebay)
2. 5V 2A Power Supply (5 USD at most, on ebay)
3a. Mini SLG (32 USD delivered in US - cheapest scanline solution)
3b. RetroVGA (50 USD delivered - scanline generator device equivalent to SLG3000)
3c. SLG3000 (65 USD delivered)
4a. Sync Strike (46 USD delivered - 103 dollars if bundled/shipped with SLG3000 which is cheaper than ordering them separate but not cheaper than just ordering a retroVGA and this)
4b. This or this. (10 USD in materials)
4c. Scart RGB to component transcoder (I won't list prices, the transcoder can't upscale and this method makes it so that the scaler geometry controls can't be accessed on the scaler)
Minimum price should be roughly 110 USD with a little bit of tinkering on the sync stripper side and with the plus that you don't have to purchase everything in the same month (spending $350 at once being my biggest problem with XRGB mini), you don't need a sync stripper for DC, PS2, GC, Xbox 1 and Gamecube if using the right cables so you can fully well go by a few months without the capability to plug scart rgb in. Or, if you needed to plug a console to a regular PC monitor without component or scart RGB you could go by a few months too without adding anything on top too. be advised though that this combo only manages to shine a bit from the moment you have scanlines and the scaler board; scaler board alone is only as good as the money it costs.
It outputs in VGA though, so most newer TV's will need yet another adapter thingy (VGA to component or VGA to HDMI transcoders, not scalers) to pull through, still cheaper than other solutions and lagging at 33 ms if done right. 33 ms is absolutely not a problem for your Sony TV set to gaming mode.
Scaler board brings a RGBS cable meant for scart (just lacking the scart), so you just need to add a sync stripper and the female scart end itself to it.
It's definitely not hard and even if it is, try on a local electronic components shop, I never requested their services but the ones where I live are open to doing services and they don't charge much.
Also note Mini SLG is the simplest SLG device that means it just does them, can't regulate scanline width, I recommend RetroVGA instead.
I do toggle between them.
