Update: CRT modelines and EDID editing
I've released a major update to my article, "A deep dive into CRT modelines and EDID editing". I've expanded on getting a VGA output using HDMI-to-VGA adapters (DACs), reading, writing, and editing EDID data on Windows, Linux, and Mac, and tuning modelines in CRU to improve geometry and sharpness. If you're interested in using CRT monitors on computers, be sure to check it out!
A deep dive into CRT modelines and EDID editing
In the process of setting up CRT TVs and monitors, I've often worked with modelines, the cryptic strings of numbers which define how a GPU should drive a display cable with rows of pixels. Once critical to 90's Linux users trying to setup XFree86 to display on their CRT monitors, modelines have found a new life among hobbyists who tinker with resolutions and framerates to bring out the full potential from their CRT and gaming LCD monitors.
Exploring the appearance of CRT televisions and monitors
There's a recurring school of thought that the best way to experience the visuals of pre-HD console and PC games is to play them on period-accurate CRT displays. CRT images have a characteristic rich colorful look, with soft warm scanlines and crisp phosphors, as well as zero (added) latency and unmatched motion characteristics, all which make CRTs so beloved by retro gamers. Here we will explore how TV/monitor construction and operation create the various features making up the CRT look.
Playing Stray (2022) on a CRT TV in 480i
One of my recent projects was to get my PC to output 480i signals to my recently acquired Trinitron TV for running modern and historical games on a CRT TV. (I'd definitely be better served by a CRT monitor, but I didn't have one and still don't 😿.)