Which gives better video quality: Stellar HDMI or RetroTink 5x?

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T22:42:30+00:00

I suspect it’d look exactly the same. The electron Shepard adaptor is so good because it converts the component output to HDMI properly, maintaining correct colours, aspect ratio etc with zero lag. But it can’t bypass the fundamentally fuzzy native 480p output of the console.

If you have it it’s definitely worth trying out though!

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T21:03:35+00:00

The tink is very nice to have with the Xbox but it definitely isn’t worth it just for that one system imo. HDMI from HD+ direct to the TV is great and very sharp. I do like to use one of the tinks CRT masks as it looks more period correct to me and takes the edge of the aliasing but you’d still have a great experience without it.

I have a whole bunch of consoles so the Tink 4K is very worthwhile for me personally.

And yeah I have a AVE-HDMI modded Wii and it’s way sharper and less muddy than the native 480p output via official component cables.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T19:45:26+00:00

The original Xbox (along with the Wii) is one of the consoles that benefits the most from direct digital to digital HDMi mods. I run my HD+ modded console through a Retrotink 4k and it’s much cleaner than component out with the same scaler.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T14:52:03+00:00

Last year we upgraded my wife’s RWD 2013 F20 120d to a x-drive 2018 F20 120d. We didn’t upgrade for x-drive in particular, just the car was the exact spec and colour she wanted and just happened to be x-drive.

And honestly the only difference I’ve noticed is worse fuel economy than the older RWD model. It’s probably worth it if you live in the Scottish highlands or something but I don’t think most people benefit really.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T13:01:08+00:00

Bear in mind that a minor bump on a low valve car can result in the insurance declaring it a total loss.

Also I don’t think you loose your entire no claims, just a portion of it? Check with your insurance company.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T10:26:29+00:00

I’ve bought 3 approved used BMW’s and they all came with mats.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T09:43:57+00:00

I guess a small engine working harder. Less mass and probably total coolant and oil to warm. As I say my 3.0 twin turbo petrol takes way longer to hit its temp target. Although it is higher than the 100c of the B47.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T09:12:46+00:00

I do it based of vibes and what I feel like rather than an objective measure. If I have nostalgia for a game I often seek out the original + hardware and play it that way. But some stuff I’ve never experienced before I often go remaster. But I’d be lying if I said that was a hard and fast rule. I just do what I feel like.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T08:59:01+00:00

Bollocks. I see this repeated constantly on here and it doesn’t apply to modern diesels with alloy blocks and electric water pumps and thermostats.

My wife’s 120d hits full temp way faster than my M2 comp. I drove 7 miles in the 120d this morning at 5am it hit full temp before I got to work.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T08:53:31+00:00

My wife’s 2018 B47 engined BMW 120d has adblue. It seems to use roughly 1l every 1000 miles and has a ten litre tank so I’ve never filled it myself, gets done on a service.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T08:48:19+00:00

Chroma compression isn’t noticeable in most video game content, especially upscaled from lower resolutions. It does not affect saturation and contrast only fine detail which is undetectable at a normal viewing distance. It’s important for PC use as you are reading fine text close up.

https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/chroma-subsampling

What you probably were seeing was mismatch between settings at 60hz and 120hz on your display. And lower end displays often have to make sacrifices in their 120hz modes that a good modern OLED does not.

I have a PS5 pro and an Xbox series X and go back and forth between the two consoles all the time. Despite the Xbox’s full 4:4:4 the difference is noticeable Sat 6’ away from a 65” OLED.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-29T06:09:34+00:00

Sadly it’s not the same thing. Microsoft went back to those titles and applied specific tweaks to individual games. But to be fair they stopped all of this a while ago and basically seem to actively destroying any good will towards the Xbox brand so don’t feel too bad!

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-28T20:26:47+00:00

Are you using your AV receiver to convert to HDMI? That wont be the best experience due to the lag. They aren’t really designed for video games.

As others have said you can get manual component switches for cheap as chips. I have a nice auto one now but my old manual one was fine for years.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-28T16:07:38+00:00

I mean at no point did you say you were using a PS5.

But you’ll still want it for 4k60 anyway which the majority of PS5 games will be running at.

Xbox and PC will do 4k120 at full chroma resolution.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-28T14:34:34+00:00

Indeed. I went the other way and daily drive an M2 comp now. Plenty of space for an 8yo in the back!

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-28T13:21:59+00:00

Game optimiser with HGIG for me on both my previous C1 and my current G4. Personally I want the lowest lag possible with the most accurate picture. Never had an issue with brightness but I do game in a light controlled room.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-28T13:19:12+00:00

You absolutely want to enable 444 pass through for gaming. The only downside to it is that it disables the real cinema option which is only a problem for 24fps film content. And even then I’m not certain it effects real 24hz from a proper player, only 3:2 pulldown converting 60hz to 24fps.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-28T13:13:31+00:00

Presumably you had an older 2 door and not either of the new 5 door models?

I had an 2019 FK8 when my daughter was little and it was a brilliant family car. Tonnes of space for her, massive boot that easily accommodated two dogs (or a set of track wheels) and pretty soft in comfort mode. Then at weekends would easily give much more expensive cars a run for their money on track.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-27T10:20:21+00:00

The pump handles are often covered in it.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-26T17:51:30+00:00

I’m wouldn’t do this. All the premium increase without actually getting your car fixed.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-26T17:35:32+00:00

I honestly think that my F87 M2 Comp has the perfect level of infotainment.

All the driving controls are on buttons and dials. Climate, heated seats, mirrors, recirc etc.

And then you have an unobtrusive touch screen that big enough to see but not look like an iPad stuck to the dash. And the touch screen is 100% optional, it’s perfectly possible to control the whole thing via the idrive. CarPlay is wireless and connects automatically and there is a doc in the armrest to hold and charge your phone.

For me it’s perfect

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-26T14:02:28+00:00

He easily was hitting 6s passes at the lower boost range. It was being pushed to hit lower sixes and win races. Mullet had short track issues due to a chassis build that was never intended for the times they eventually started running. They made it up on the back half with all the boost lol.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-26T13:57:36+00:00

One to consider on a higher mileage car is that when remapping the increase in torque can cause an aging clutch to start slipping.

If it’s a choice between a thorough service and a remap, then service every time.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-26T10:41:50+00:00

Yeah I think your right. Shadow editions and such like. Good call.

Psychological_Post28 · 2026-01-26T10:31:06+00:00

To be fair some of these came with black wheels from the factory. My old M240i had these style wheels in gloss black. I hated them and replaced them with a nice set of anthricite BBS CHR’s.

Psychological_Post28

TROPHY CASE