I've been replacing cables on newer consoles with S-Video (those that don't support HDMI anyway, I only got 1 component and it's for DVD player). Older consoles that didn't have S-Video such as TurboGrafx 16 and Atari 2600 are getting modded when I get the parts. Intellivision is one system that gets a bit of rant. It can only support composite at best with a mod, and most people have reported no change or worse quality than stock RF. I looked at schematic (Sylvania model, same as all other models except Inty 2) and it's a convoluted mess with weird data and address line. If someone could get a detailed information on AY-3-8915 maybe it'd be possible to dechiper how the video is generated. All of the IC's used in Intellivision series are long obsolete and chances are it'd require some fancy circuit such as fpga. Not to mention weird voltage too, +5, +12, +16, and -3v. Datasheet on the chip: http://www.avoidspikes.com/dsplib/chips/ay38915.pdf shows that video out are in fixed binary output through resistor ladder to raw composite video. Unfortunately I don't have the knowledge or expertise to create something that can read the signal, interpret it for color and brightness, and provide 2 analog output for S-Video (or RGB even) NES is another thorn in my side. Home version of PPU can't do anything better than composite either. There are arcade version of PPU that outputs RGB but they cost an arm and a leg and not all game works correctly due to different color palette. If the upcoming RetroN5 supports PowerPak or Everdrive NES without a problem and plays Castlevania 3, I may use that instead. For now, I got to use passive composite to S-Video converter. PS why is Intellivision power switch on secondary side of transformer and not primary? Since the transformer is inside the console, one would think having switch on primary side = never get warm while not in use.
