Video "brightening" issue with C64R MK2

jeff_d_r · Feb 12th 2023

Hi all! I've got a new Reloaded Mark II that generally works pretty well, but I'm having strange video issues when brighter colours are on the screen. When the video output first connects things are fine, but it progressively brightens/washes out. Reconnecting the output resets the colours back to normal, but the same thing just happens again. Happens with both the onboard s-video and both composite and s-video through this little A/V adapter (https://retrorewind.ca/c64-av-adapter).

https://youtu.be/VYSkRXlO4pE

I'm using a RetroTINK 5X Pro to scale the output. No such issues on any of my working original C64s. Any ideas? Bad VIC-II? Bad board?

Jens · Feb 14th 2023

Please make one more cross-test without your scaler, i.e. with a monitor that has a real S-Video or Composite input. I'd like to eliminate the av-adapter-thing as a source of the problem.

We do test each and every board before it gets it's warranty ID, and if you are suspicious about your VIC chip, you can of course just put in a different one. These chips are in sockets on every single C64 on the planet, and the MK2 has ZIF sockets for everything you supply, so you have a lot more levers to pull to pinpoint the source.

-trb- · Feb 25th 2023

Quote from Jens

Please make one more cross-test without your scaler, i.e. with a monitor that has a real S-Video or Composite input. I'd like to eliminate the av-adapter-thing as a source of the problem.

The A/V adaptor is obviously a design svenpetersen1965 created: https://github.com/svenpetersen1965/C64-A-V-Adaptor

I have several of them and they're working fine with all my C64 boards including Reloaded MK2.

Jens · Feb 26th 2023

I'm sorry, but I'd really like the customer to make a test without the AV adapter, as such DIY-projects do not guarantee any quality control. If we have a chance to take a 3rd party component out of the equation, we should just do it.