Author: taternews

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #507

https://retrorgb.com/week507.html

Weekly Roundup #507 – Retro Tech Treats & FPGA Feats!

This week’s RetroRGB Roundup packed more retro love than a thrift store full of arcade cabinets. Bob kicked things off with updates on Lu’s MiSTer FPGA projects, including the Tandy 1000 companion core and improved file organization—because even geniuses need a tidy workspace.

Gamers rejoice: Mega Man II gets a full SNES-style 16-bit overhaul, and there’s actual footage of Sonic Mania running on Dreamcast—thanks to a clever port demo. Yes, that’s right: two SEGA icons, one tiny console. (We’re still picking our jaws off the floor.)

Hardware lovers got fresh treats too: ShaderGlass v1.3 brings new visual flair, RePlayOS v1.6 improves retro arcade cabinet setups, and the Reflex Prism DAC is earning rave reviews for its audio fidelity. Meanwhile, the RGB-Pi 2 faces sync issues—but don’t worry, Bob’s already diving into the fix.

Don’t miss the deep-dive interview with Randy Linden (creator of Super Mario RPG and Lunar: Silver Star Story) or the wild Koryuu transcoder from Mcbazel—because sometimes, you just need to convert old video formats like a digital alchemist.

Want more? Hit up the Podcast or support the channel (and score gear via affiliate links)—all at retrorgb.com/support. 🕹️✨

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYN Thor Setup Guide

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayn-thor-setup-guide/

AYN Thor Setup Guide: Your Dual-Screen Powerhouse, Unlocked 🚀

The AYN Thor—with its sleek OLED dual screens and flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip—is everywhere right now. If you finally scored one (or are about to), this guide from Retro Handhelds is your golden ticket to turning that beautiful hardware into a gaming beast.

Let’s break it down:

🔹 Hardware Highlights

Base, Pro, and Max models (all 8 Gen 2) offer 8–16GB RAM and up to 1TB UFS 4.0 storage. The cheaper Lite model with the older 865 chip? Skip it—$50 more gets you a much better experience.

🔹 Must-Have Accessories

The official TPU grip makes holding this 380g beast way more comfortable. Bonus: JCSFY’s Etsy grips for extra flair or ergonomics.

🔹 Storage Strategy

Internal = faster & more stable. External SSD/microSD? Great for flexibility, especially if you’re playing from a portable drive—but avoid PC emulation on external storage (hello, crashes!).

🔹 Emu Setup Made Easy

Enter Obtainium: download the Emulation Pack (dual-screen version!), import it, and let it auto-install emulators like melonDS, Azahar, CemuDS—and keep them updated. No more Googling APKs manually.

🔹 Dual-Screen Gems

• melonDualDS (for DS)
• Azahar Plus/DS, CemuDS (3DS/Wii U)

All optimized to use both screens like a champ.

🔹 BIOS Files? Know the Rundown

PS2, Switch, GameCube, PS3/Vita—each has its own format. Pro tip: Use official firmware downloads where possible (e.g., PS3/PS Vita). For dumped keys/BINs? That’s your own research journey 🕵️‍♂️.

🔹 Frontends & Streaming

Skip Odin (the stock launcher). Try Cocoon FE for sleek dual-screen flair—or go with Artemis/Apollo for smooth Steam streaming from your PC.

Ready to boot up? This setup guide has you covered—from unboxing to booting Wind Waker HD via CemuDS on your Thor. 🎮✨

📰 New article from RetroRGB

RGB-Pi 2 Tested: Sync & Video Issues

https://retrorgb.com/rgb-pi-2-tested-sync-video-issues.html

RGB-Pi 2: A Tiny Device with Big Problems — For Now

The RGB-Pi 2 promised the holy grail for retro gaming tinkerers: a super compact HDMI-to-RGB-SCART converter that works with Raspberry Pi–based systems like MiSTer and RePlayOS. And it almost delivered—until reality hit.

First, signal instability plagued testing: constant sync dropouts, even across multiple displays. Initially blamed on ROM compatibility or monitor quirks, further investigation confirmed—this isn’t user error. The hardware itself is buggy. Worse? Even when sync did hold, color balance was way off: the green channel measured over 100mV dimmer than red or blue—ruining color accuracy no matter the calibration.

The reviewer (likely RetroRGB’s Bob) was clearly rooting for this device—it should’ve been ideal. Smaller than the popular HD15-2-SCART, with light gun support and RePlayOS enhancements like improved sync combining. But right now? Not recommended.

Still, hope lingers: a future revision (RGB-Pi 3?) could fix these flaws—and then, it might become the go-to for clean, compact RGB output. Until then… keep your MiSTer connected via DACs—for now.

🔗 rgb-pi.com | 🛒 mortaca.com

📺 [Test Stream 1] | 📺 [Test Stream 2 (with proof)]

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Reflex Prism Tested – Great, Full-Featured DAC

https://retrorgb.com/reflex-prism-tested-great-full-featured-dac.html

Reflex Prism DAC: A Power User’s Dream (With a Few Quirks)

If you’re feeding an HDMI signal into a CRT—especially for retro gaming or FPGA setups—the Reflex Prism is one of the most versatile DACs on the market. It converts HDMI to VGA (RGB, RGBHV, or YPbPr) and Sega Saturn-style MiniDIN (RGB/S-Video + audio) with zero lag and no scaling. That means your source must output the exact resolution and refresh rate your CRT expects—no downscaling here. Good news: devices like MiSTer, Raspberry Pi + RePlayOS, or a downscaler’s HDMI-out handle this seamlessly.

What makes the Prism stand out? Flexibility. Need RGB via VGA or S-Video over Saturn-style DIN? Done. Want to tweak sync modes or NTSC/PAL settings? Flip internal DIP switches (or edit `MiSTer.ini`). It played nice with everything tested—even niche modes like 480p72 for smooth CRT video playback.

But it’s not perfect.

• 🛠️ Hardware tweaks require opening the unit—a bit of a pain for frequent adjustments.
• 📺 Composite video over MiniDIN is unsupported (and looks awful)—though the product page clearly warns against this, it’s still a missed opportunity.

In short: If you want just HDMI→VGA, go cheaper. But if you need multi-output versatility, pro-level configurability, and rock-solid signal quality? The Reflex Prism delivers—just be ready to dig under the hood (or tweak a config file).

🔗 Buy it here

📺 Full review & testing streams

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Diium D-40MAX Review: I Wanted To Like This One

https://retrohandhelds.gg/diium-d-40max-review/

Diium D-40MAX Review: A Missed Opportunity (Again)

Diium—formerly SZDiiER, rebranded in late 2024 to shed its “e-waste” image—hoped the D-40MAX would be its redemption arc.Spoiler: It’s not.

Sure, it looks decent enough: 3.95″ 720p screen, solid analog sticks (with RGB flair), functional D-pad (yes, oversized), and a surprisingly comfortable ergonomic shape with rubberized grips. The 2GB/16GB config runs Android 10 (yep, 7 years old) and handles PSX, N64, PSP, and light Dreamcast emulation—in theory.

But those triggers. Oh boy. The L2/R2 buttons are legendarily bad: non-analog, unreliable, squeaky, mechanically broken. For a device aiming at modern retro play, that’s a hard no—especially when rivals like the AISLPC RG52 Mini or Anbernic CubeXX offer Hall-effect triggers at similar prices.

The software experience is equally rough: Mandarin-only ROMs, outdated apps, and a clunky launcher. You’ll likely swap in Daijisho or roll your own RetroArch install just to get stable performance.

Verdict? Pass. At $70, it’s just affordable—but not worth the frustration when better options like the RGB30 or XF40H are available. Diium’s rebrand means nothing if the hardware still feels like an afterthought.

TL;DR: A passable budget handheld with critical flaws. Skip it—and tell Diium to step up.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Zophar Interviews Randy Linden

https://retrorgb.com/zophar-interviews-randy-linden.html

Randy Linden Breaks Down Doom, Bleem, and the Art of Retro Magic

You know that warm, nostalgic glow when Doom finally runs smoothly on your SNES? Thank Randy Linden. The legendary developer—behind the iconic Doom SNES port and the controversial (but brilliant) PS1-to-PC emulator Bleem!—sat down with Zophar for a wide-ranging interview that’s equal parts technical deep dive and nostalgic storytelling.

Linden doesn’t just do cool tech—he explains why it matters. He dives into the hurdles of squeezing a PC FPS into 1994’s hardware, his approach to emulation (hint: it’s about fidelity and fun), and yes, even the legal drama that nearly derailed Bleem! before it launched. If you’ve ever wondered how homebrew magic happens behind the scenes—or why some ports feel just right—this is your blueprint.

A must-read for retro devs, preservation nerds, and anyone who’s ever paused mid-boss fight to appreciate how insane it is that this all worked at all.

👉 Read the full interview on Zophar

🎧 Or catch Bob’s past chats with both Randy and Zophar on RetroRGB (YouTube or your fave podcast app).

Support the deep dives? Bob’s Patreon has your back.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Is RAMageddon Almost Over?

https://retrohandhelds.gg/is-ramageddon-almost-over/

Is RAMageddon Almost Over? Maybe—But Don’t Hold Your Breath

2026 has been rough for gamers and retro enthusiasts, thanks to one villain: RAM scarcity. With AI gobbling up memory like popcorn at a movie theater, prices have skyrocketed—32GB of DDR5 RAM now costs over $350, and companies are scaling back hardware specs (or canceling devices entirely) to cope.

Enter hopium—that irrational but stubborn belief that things will get better. Google’s new TurboQuaint compression tech promises a 6x boost in AI efficiency, potentially easing RAM hunger. Sounds promising? Sure—but it’s not a magic fix. Big players like Micron have already pivoted to AI-only RAM production, and long-term contracts lock in current prices for years.

The market is shaky: AI hype is cooling, data centers are expensive, and even OpenAI’s projected $100M profits don’t erase the fact that AI infrastructure is built on speculative sand. Still, history hints at relief: after the chip shortage post-pandemic, things stabilized… eventually.

So should you wait? Yes.

Should you pay $900 for a PS5 Pro? Absolutely not.

Will RAM prices drop soon? Maybe. But until then—keep an eye on Discord. 🎮🚀

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Game Pirates Beat Denuvo with Hypervisor Bypasses — Irdeto Promises Countermeasure

https://torrentfreak.com/game-pirates-beat-denuvo-with-hypervisor-bypasses-irdeto-promises-countermeasure/

Game Pirates Just Broke Denuvo—Again, and Faster Than Ever

Remember when Day-0 cracks were a myth? Not anymore. A new wave of hypervisor-based Denuvo bypasses has shattered the industry’s longest-standing DRM shield—often within hours of a game’s release.

### How It Works (and Why It’s Scary)

Instead of cracking the game directly, these bypasses operate at Ring -1—a level below the operating system’s security layer. By installing a custom hypervisor (and disabling key protections like VBS/HVCI), crackers intercept Denuvo’s checks and feed it fake data, tricking the game into thinking it’s still protected.

The catch? You have to sacrifice critical security features—leaving your PC vulnerable to malware, rootkits, and ransomware. AMD systems work better; Intel users often face crashes or performance hits.

### The Piracy Ecosystem Adapts

Pirate hubs like CS.RIN.RU are now sharing not just cracked games—but technical guides on the risks. Repacker FitGirl, initially hesitant, now releases hypervisor-enabled packs (clearly labeled), betting that the tech will mature soon.

### Denuvo’s Countermove

Irdeto (Denuvo’s parent) says it’s already developing fixes—without moving into Ring -1, contrary to speculation. Expect performance to remain unaffected for legit players… if the arms race doesn’t escalate further.

### The Bottom Line

This isn’t just about faster piracy—it’s a paradigm shift. DRM is adapting, crackers are innovating, and end users are caught in the crossfire: Do you risk your system for early access?

The cat-and-mouse game just got a lot more dangerous—and a lot more interesting. 🐱🐭

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO Pocket Air Mini B. Duck Review: The (Un)Ugly Duckling

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneo-pocket-air-mini-b-duck-review/

AYANEO Pocket Air Mini B. Duck Review: The (Un)Ugly Duckling — A Golden Egg in a Yellow Shell

Let’s cut to the chase: the B. Duck edition of the AYANEO Pocket Air Mini isn’t a different device—it’s the same stellar handheld, just dressed up like it ran through a glitter factory. And honestly? It’s worth the hype—and maybe even the slight premium.

If you’re new to this little beast, the Pocket Air Mini delivers exceptional value: solid build quality, responsive controls, and performance that effortlessly handles everything from NES to PSP—and with tweaking, even GameCube and PS2. The MediaTek Helio G90T may not be a flagship chip, but it’s perfectly tuned for retro emulation.

So what makes the B. Duck special? Think vibrant Sunny Pop gradient yellow, playful embossed graphics (yes, you can faintly feel them), and a box that looks like it was designed by a street artist with ADHD. Inside? Just the essentials: device, cable, QR code—no stickers or gimmicks.

But here’s the real tea: the screen still ghosts—especially in menus. Gaming? Mostly fine. Light bleed and warm color tone are present but not dealbreakers.

Verdict? If you love the standard Pocket Air Mini and want to flex a little personality, the B. Duck is a joy. At ~$110–$130 (depending on where you buy), it’s still one of the best deals in retro handhelds. Just don’t expect magic—expect excellence, with extra ducks.

Pro tip: The 3GB/64GB config (which the B. Duck uses) is the sweet spot—skip the 2GB version unless you enjoy constant crashes and lag.

Grab it before AYANEO hikes prices again. 🦆💥

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Game Over: Amstrad GX4000

https://retrohandhelds.gg/game-over-amstrad-gx4000/

Game Over: The Amstrad GX4000 — A Space Ship That Never Took Off

Launched in 1990 amid the 16-bit wars, the Amstrad GX4000 looked like it belonged on a sci-fi movie set—clean white casing, futuristic lines, and a bold ambition to go head-to-head with the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. But behind its sleek exterior? A computer in disguise.

Built on the aging CPC Plus platform, the GX4000 shared its graphics chip, sound hardware, and soul with Amstrad’s existing PCs. That made it cheap to build—and catastrophically unoriginal in software. Instead of fresh games, Amstrad slapped CPC titles into cartridges and called it a launch lineup. The result? One of the smallest, most recycled libraries in console history: roughly 25–30 titles, many bit-for-bit identical to their computer versions.

A few genuine (if minor) exclusives emerged—like Blue Angel 69 and the upgraded Dick Tracy cartridge—but they were rare needles in a haystack of ports. Even its so-called “mascot” game, Burnin’ Rubber, was just a repackaged CPC title with extra flair.

In the end, hardware couldn’t save it. By 1991, shelves were cleared, prices slashed, and Amstrad slipped away—leaving behind a curious footnote: a console that looked like the future, but shipped with yesterday’s software.