Task: Add HDMI Video Output to Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using the LumaCode GTIA-dizer and RGBtoHDMI Devices
Needed: Atari 8-bit computer with GTIA chip in a socket, GTIA-dizer board, RGBtoHDMI board, Raspberry Pi Zero, microSD card
Time: 15-30 minutes
Disclosure: Note that as an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Introduction
There are now several ways to get high-quality video out of an Atari 8-bit computer for display in HDMI on a modern LED screen. I have previously posted about HDMI upscaling from S-video using a RetroTINK and the Ultimate Atari Video (UAV) mod. There is also the Sophia 2 solution which I have not personally tried yet but is on my list of things to do.
There has been a lot of interest in the LumaCode solution developed by C0pperdragon Retro Computing that takes the native video signal produced by many retro computers and converts it to a format that can be cleanly upscaled to HDMI-quality output for display on an LED monitor. I show below how to do this for an Atari 800XL with very nice results. The installation is easy if your GTIA video chip is in a socket and only takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
Instructions
First, you need to purchase the devices you will need for this project. You will need:
- The GTIA-dizer digitizer board that plugs into the GTIA socket. I got mine for about $50 from C0pperdragon’s Tindie page for shipping in the U.S. This converts the video signal to LumaCode. His European store can be found here.
- The RGBtoHDMI board that upscales LumaCode to HDMI. I also got mine from Tindie for about $50.
- A Raspberry Pi Zero that accepts the RGBtoHDMI board as a plugin hat to generate HDMI out. I purchased a Pi Zero 2 that had the pins pre-soldered for $28 on Amazon.
- A microSD card for the Pi that is big enough to store the code for booting the Pi and communicating with the RGBtoHDMI module. Anything over 1GB will be more than enough.
Second, remove your GTIA chip and seat the GTIA-dizer board in the socket noting the notch orientation (left here). Then seat the GTIA in the socket provided by the GTIA-dizer noting the orientation.
Third, open up the RF module at the back of the board and use cutters to disconnect the RF output jack from the circuit board.
Fourth, connect the GTIA-dizer cable to the two pins on the GTIA-dizer. I connected my black wire to the ground.
Fifth, connect the black alligator clip to the metal can of the RF shield or some other ground point on the board. Connect the other alligator clip to the RF out connector that you just disconnected from the board.
Sixth, format the microSD card to Fat32 and copy the necessary files to the card. You will need the Beta 65 test release or later for Atari. Insert the microSD card into the Pi.
Seventh, connect the RGBtoHDMI and the Pi so they form one unit one on top of the other and connect the RGBtoHDMI to the RF output jack of the Atari with the provided mono cable. Connect the Pi to your LED screen using an HDMI cable with a micro-HDMI end for the Pi. I used a micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter. Also connect a micro-USB cable to power the Pi.
Eighth, once you power on the Pi with everything connected you should get a signal on the screen with some text. You can use the three buttons on the RGBtoHDMI to bring up and navigate a menu to select the Atari 800 line of computers for the correct video processing. Note the Profile and Sub-Profile options in the screen capture below.
Ninth, power on the Atari and you should have a clear and crisp video signal to your LED screen!
Optionally, you can purchase a 3D-printed case for the RGBtoHDMI and Pi module directly from C0pperdragon’s store for around $5 plus shipping. I opted to find a sturdier and better-looking option. I ended up ordering this kit for about $20. The end result is quite nice. However, I had to use a Dremel to get the parts to fit and thus I don’t recommend this option. Let me know if you find a better solution that a 3D-printed case. Not many cases for the Pi Zero are designed for a hat.
Comments
This was an easy install for me, and I am very impressed with the results! A downside of this option is that you need to purchase several different items to make this work with a total cost of nearly $150 with shipping. One thing to keep in mind is that you only need to purchase the RGBtoHDMI unit and Pi once because they can be used with multiple Ataris and other systems such as the Commodore 64. You need a GTIA-dizer for each Atari and a VIC-II-dizer for the Commodore, for example. So, the cost to do this for other computers is about $50 each.
Here is a video from FlashJazzCat on how to do this mod.
Here is the Atari Age forums thread for this.
Note that the mono cable that connects the RGBtoHDMI to the RF jack fits very snuggly in the Atari. When I removed it the plug assembly came apart. I sourced a new one from Amazon for $8. Works great!
