Amiga to Modern Monitor
Your A500 outputs 15-kHz RGB, your new 4K monitor wants HDMI or DisplayPort. This is the household retro problem. Here are the five common solutions — from "10 euros and it works" to "500 euros and perfect".
The Problem in Brief
The Amiga outputs an analogue RGB signal with 15 kHz horizontal frequency on its DB23 port (A500/600/1200 OCS/ECS; AGA can also do 31 kHz). Modern monitors require 31 kHz upwards. Between the two lies a scaler/converter. The picture quality depends heavily on how well the scaler works.
RGB2HDMI
Sweet Spot 2026Raspberry Pi-based digital capture. Open Source. Reads the RGB signal pixel-perfect (no analogue re-sampling), outputs HDMI. Exactly what the Amiga community has established as the standard for 2024+.
- How it works: Pi Zero 2 / 3A+ + HAT board, reads the Amiga pixels directly from the colour signals (not from RGB voltage)
- Picture quality: Pixel-perfect, zero lag (under 1 frame)
- Price: DIY ~35-50 €, ready-made ~70-90 €
- Buy: IanSB/RGBtoHDMI on GitHub, retrorgb.com, AmiBay
- Pros: Digital picture, very good quality, inexpensive, Open Source
- Cons: Needs DB23 connection (external), calibration initially fiddly
OSSC (Open Source Scan Converter)
Line-DoublerFPGA-based line-doubler (not a scaler!) — multiplies the 15 kHz lines to 31/60/120 kHz, but without interpolation. Result: razor sharp, but not all TVs/monitors accept the signal. Very popular with console enthusiasts.
- Price: ~130-160 €
- Buy: videogameperfection.com (Marko Manninen, UK)
- Pros: Extremely low latency (under 0.2 ms), scanline simulation, Line5x for 4K
- Cons: Compatibility monitor-dependent, more expensive than RGB2HDMI, no real scaler with broken signals
GBS-Control (GBS-8200 modded)
BudgetThe ~20 € cheap Chinese scaler GBS-8200 + ESP8266 with GBS-Control firmware makes for a surprisingly passable RGB-to-VGA converter. No HDMI out directly — you still need a VGA-to-HDMI adapter (5-10 €) behind it.
- Price: 20-25 € GBS + 5 € ESP + 10 € VGA-HDMI = under 40 € complete
- Firmware: github.com/ramapcsx2/gbs-control
- Pros: Absolute price-breaker, web GUI via WiFi
- Cons: No clean picture quality like RGB2HDMI, flashing requires soldering, hit-or-miss
Indivision AGA MK3 / ECS MK3
InternalIndividual Computers' internal flicker fixer — plugs directly onto the Denise/Lisa chip. Outputs a DVI/HDMI signal internally from the Amiga. No external box, no cable clutter.
- Price: ~190-240 € (Indivision AGA MK3 for A1200, Indivision ECS MK3 for A500)
- Buy: icomp.de, vesalia.de, AmigaStore
- Pros: Internal, very compatible, OSD menu, good picture quality
- Cons: Installation requires opening case + chip socketing, more expensive than RGB2HDMI
Framemeister XRGB-mini (discontinued)
UsedThe legendary Micomsoft Framemeister (Japan) — was the reference for years, no longer manufactured. Used on eBay ~400-600 €. Only worth it for collectors now, RGB2HDMI has functionally surpassed it.
- Pros: Premium picture quality, many configuration options
- Cons: Only available used now, expensive, qualitatively surpassed by RGB2HDMI
Comparison Matrix
| Solution | Price | Quality | Installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RGB2HDMI | 35-90 € | Very good | External, plug and play |
| OSSC | 130-160 € | Very good (line-doubler) | External, plug and play |
| GBS-Control | ~40 € | OK | External, but soldering for ESP |
| Indivision MK3 | 190-240 € | Very good | Internal, chip socket |
| Framemeister | 400-600 € (used) | Premium | External |
Recommendations 2026
- Best all-rounder: RGB2HDMI — perfect picture, fair price, active community.
- Budget: GBS-Control — under 40 € complete, sufficient for casual retro.
- Lag-sensitive / CRT feel: OSSC — zero lag, line-doubler with scanlines.
- Clean inside the case: Indivision MK3 — one cable out, done.
- Premium collector: Framemeister — if you already have three of them anyway.