Batocera CRT 2025

Batocera CRT Jan2025
Always wanted to play all retro games and even recent games on a TV CRT without hardware limitations? Here's how.

Presentation:
00:00 Batocera CRT
00:05 What's needed
00:32 Why Batocera in a CRT

Create a new Batocera drive:
01:19 Download Batocera
01:30 Flash Batocera into a Pen-Drive with Balena Etcher
02:06 Start Batocera first boot

Install CRT Support (1st method):
02:40 How to install CRT support - 1st method (only having 1 Computer)
06:53 Plug in cables, turn on Batocera and turn the TV CRT on.
07:45 16:9 / 4:3
07:59 Geometry suggestions
08:10 Message for AMD R9 380 Graphic card users
08:23 Two personal suggestions

Install CRT Support (2nd method):
08:50 How to install CRT support - 2nd method (having 2 Computers)
09:11 Batocera CRT Script weblink
09:33 Open Terminal and connect to Batocera machine
10:11 Installing CRT Script first time and reboot
10:52 Opening CRT Script second time to configure it
12:37 SHUTDOWN Batocera and connect analog cables
13:11 Turn Batocera PC on
13:32 Message for AMD R9 380 Graphic card users
13:50 Personal suggestions

Extra stuff:
14:05 Installing BIOS
15:23 Tweaks, Emulation on Steroids
15:59 Model2 advice
16:21 Showing examples
19:33 Comparing emulators higher internal resolution VS consoles native resolution in a 240p TV CRT

Batocera:

Batocera CRT Wiki:

Batocera CRT-Script:

VideoAmp:

VideoAmp is recommended since it has a:
* EDID emulator
* 15/24/31 kHz Protection Filter
* GunCon2 Port
* VGA In
* VGA Out (RGBHV)
* Scart Out (RGBs)

But there are other options like:

-RGBHV to RGBs converters
-Arcade Forges UMSA
-VGA to Scart Cable
(MiSter VGA to Scart cables not compatible with a PC)

Then we have the Transcoders listed on the wiki page..
These converts a signal from one format to another like RGBHV to Composite, S-Video, Component and so on.

However the scope of this video was only to show my setup.

[johnA]

I used to do this back in early 2000s on our Sony TV and a video card with S-Video port.

[vasileios]

I used to do such stuff with certain Radeon cards, special vga to scart cable, windows xp and Soft15khz programm, this ofcourse is better.

[rox]

Hi friend, excellent tutorial. I wanted to know if you're still available to answer questions. Everything in the image is working correctly, but it's slightly cropped, and I need to center and adjust it.

[brandonbagsic]

Great video btw, anyways my question is do I need to run the crt script if I have batocera on for ex: raspberry pi or orange pi zero 2 using the audio jack for the video/audio(composite)?

2nd question: does a mini pc like the hp elitedesk 705 g4 have analog output(I saw vga on the back) or is just a motherboard thing

I kinda like to have an easy compact build for a CRT retro gaming not another pc and to find a gpu that can support analog.

[androidmon]

Hi, thank you for this tutorial. I have some question that I really glad if you answer

I just read about batocera crt on batocera's website, is it correct that this method is better than using converter, if it so, is it worth it to use this method instead of using converter? (is the difference of quality significant)

And my next question would be the background of my first question:
I have: old laptop with VGA Output (the blue one before HDMI was a thing), and CRT TV with composite cable output/input (the yellow cable one, and red + white for audio)
If you may know, what I else that I need in order to replicate your setups here? From what I read on Batocera's website i will need a transcoder, and it's expensive in my country (at least for me now) so I might consider to use an adapter/converter (hence I'm asking the first question). my main goal is turning my old laptop into emulation machine with batocera and playing it on my crt tv

Thanks for your time reading this hope you may anwser it

[billsamoy]

Thank you for this guide. Everything works great but when I quit a Neo Geo or MAME game, my crt displays the wrong resolution and menu is practically not accessible. Any suggestions?

[saeedalghufli]

Man you did a great job thanks alot for the tutorial..
is it possible with modern gpu like im using 3060ti its only had HDMI & DP .. I tried with my crt computer monitor its not going so well with the resolution also with pvm & sony triniton

[fabriziob]

Hi, why did you upscale to 2k resolution on a crt tv? Is it not a maximum of 720p on that screen?

[mthd]

Where do you buy the videoamp you use in the video?

[therrock]

this is only linux right ? what recent games teknoparrot does work on a CRT ? Dead Heat? all of the TP games ?

[cristianaponte]

Are the games actually displaying on 240p/480i? If not can it be done with this method?

[Жебжень]

Hi! My GPU (GT 9800 1024 MB) has a native TV Out (YPbPr) and when i use it - Batocera freezes on the gamepad screensaver, there are no any loading bars and sound. Do you know, by any chance, how this can be fixed and why does it happening?

[fabriziob]

I have done everything right but unfortunately no signal to my both crt tv