Wii HDMI/DVI 1080p upscaler released

PostWii HDMI/DVI 1080p upscaler released by KK » Thu Mar 25, 2010 2:03 pm

C&VG wrote:

Wii HD will probably never happen, but one peripheral firm has released the first ever HDMI upscaller for Wii.

The VD-W3 Wii HDMI Upscaler Processor gadget is a little black box that plus into the video out port on your Wii, converting the SD Wii signal into HD up to 1080p (or 1680x1050 for PC monitors), and kicking it out via HDMI - the best video standard used by PS3 and (since the Elite SKU) the Xbox 360.

Don't expect miracles - it won't make Cooking Mana look like Uncharted 2 - but it could certainly make Wii games look a bit sharper on HDTVs (most of which don't handle Wii's SD signal too well). It costs $75 (about £50) and is out now (hit the link below for more) although, unsurprisingly, it's currently sold out. Here's the specs and screens of it working below:

* For DVI monitor users, you may need to order the optional Female DVI to Male HDMI converter, so that you can plug your monitor DVI end to the VD-W3 HDMI end for the video, and for audio, you may connect your PC speaker 3.5mm plug to the VD-W3 audio jack.

* For HDTV users (make sure you have HDMI input), what you need is a HDMI cable, you may purchase it together with VD-W3.

Specs

Input: Wii AV Connector x 1, USB Type A Plug x 1.
Output: HDMI x1 , 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack.
Video In Supported: EDTV(480i/576i), SDTV(480p/576p)
Video Out Supported : 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1650x1050 (at refresh rate 59.94Hz)
Audio Out: HDMI audio, Analog audio.

Bi-Color LED: Blue and Red.
Operating Temperature: 5C to 60C (41F to 140F)
Dimensions (approximate): 12cm (L) x 7cm (W) x 2.5cm (H)
Mass (approximate): ~180g

Powerful Video Signal conversion

Crystal shape image, Outstanding picture quality.
Full HD (1080p) output.
True 10-Bits high definition video scaler engine.
AV grade scaler engine

User Friendly

No external power required.
Easy to setup.
LED status indication.

Wide Range Video Display support

Support TV (HDMI) and PC Monitor (DVI).
HDMI-Audio and Analog audio out.
Various HDTV video out.
Native resolution for LCD monitor.

http://www.vdigi.com/index.php?page=sho ... ragment1-4
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=240378

Or you could just wait for Nintendo to get round to it. Whenever that is.

When I eventually get a Wii, I'm totally buying one of those.

Ok, I'm interested.

$75!

They're going to make a killing from these :lol:

Dual wrote:$75!

They're going to make a killing from these

If it was £20 I would get it, but $75 is a bit too steep.

Screens of it in action or no deal. I doubt it'll look anywhere near as good as those Wii emulator shots that guy on Gaf keeps posting. Those screens look strawberry floating amazing.

My TV already upscales :wub:

The price is a bit steep, but in the absence of any competition I think I'll fork out. My TV isn't exactly the best around these days, and many Wii games look absolutely terrible on it through component. Simple textures tend to look fine (SMG still looks amazing), but anything more detailed just looks hideous.

So yes. HDMI upscaler? £50. Decent Wii picture? Priceless.

Mogster wrote:The price is a bit steep, but in the absence of any competition I think I'll fork out. My TV isn't exactly the best around these days, and many Wii games look absolutely terrible on it through component. Simple textures tend to look fine (SMG still looks amazing), but anything more detailed just looks hideous.

So yes. HDMI upscaler? £50. Decent Wii picture? Priceless.

Perhaps wait for a review. The comparison shots on that page are far from mindblowing, although they stupidly didn't take any of gameplay.

Mary wrote:Screens of it in action or no deal. I doubt it'll look anywhere near as good as those Wii emulator shots that guy on Gaf keeps posting. Those screens look strawberry floating amazing.

That actually renders the image at whatever resolution you set, as I recall. Set it to a 1080p resolution, and you'll get native 1080p graphics. This just upscales the image before sending it to your TV, like the 360 does with original Xbox games. It won't look as good as the emulator, but it should look a lot better than the Wii on its own, on some TVs at least.

Last edited by chalkitdown on Thu Mar 25, 2010 2:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Okay, according to some experts at NeoGaf, this thing is a load of gooseberry fool. Avoid.

The PC Wii emulator, Dolphin, howerver...

Another Code

Red Steel 2

Monster Hunter Tri

ExiteTruck

Endless Ocean 2

Super Mario Bros Wii.

Super Mario Galaxy

Zelda Twilight Princess

A Wii emulator that makes games look better than they do on the Wii :fp:

Make a strawberry floating HD console already, Nintendo!

Everytime

PostRe: Wii HDMI/DVI 1080p upscaler released by KK » Thu Mar 25, 2010 2:37 pm

BID0 wrote:My TV already upscales

As does every 1080p television.

Mary wrote:Okay, according to some experts at NeoGaf, this thing is a load of gooseberry fool. Avoid.

Oh dear. What are they saying?

So, I 'd (ahem) already ordered this, and paid through PayPal before the naysayers turned up with their evil truths. There isn't a cancel option on the site either. :fp:

I emailed their sales address asking for a refund though, and to their credit they got back to me in less than five minutes with a proper email to say that would fine. Regardless of the quality of their products, I can't fault their sales staff!

Any video evidence to prove it's a crock?I'd be intrested by £50 is quite high. My god those emulation shots are beautiful, this makes me sad. Even Galaxy looks pretty crap on my tv :cry:

.

There's a bunch of shots at the site that sell the device.

http://www.vdigi.com/index.php?page=sho ... ragment1-4

Notice how the screens are taken with a regular camera and most of them are from static title screens or FMV. :fp:

It has scam written all over it.

The Wii emulator renders games at a higher resolution. Completely different from upscaling.

No gooseberry fool.

For what it's worth. I have the VGA cable form same company, and it has worked a treat in the past.

Wii HDMI/DVI 1080p upscaler released

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