Do upscalers suffer lag on LCD televisions?

I have a Sega Saturn and was thinking about using a video upscaler. I live in the USA and here we have composite and s-video for the Saturn, well my TV/monitor has DVI, HDMI, composite, RF, component and VGA. I have seen what a Saturn looks like when it gets upscaled and it looks really nice. But I have heard that it also introduces input lag especially on an LCD screen. Is this true? And is it really that noticeable? What are my best options?

 

Personally I think the lag talk is overblown. Most professional upscalers, even used, will be over $150.

This guy is THE BEST RGB/SCART/UPSCALING reviewer on the planet, bar none. Given his website a proper read through, and you will have all your answers.

http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/

 

I use upscalers on my Saturn consoles using SCART. I've never noticed any issues with lag.

You don't have to spend a lot to enjoy a better picture.

For the Saturn; I would recommend you use a Sync Strike and a GBS-8220 scaler, I have a similar setup for this and other retro consoles that are connected by SCART.

Another option would be a SCART to HDMI scaler; I use this one as well - Panlong PAL/ NTSC SCART/ HDMI to HDMI Video Converter Box.

Either one of these will work nicely.

 

I'm pretty sure the title is saying completely the opposite of what you're trying to say. Firstly, the console will OUTPUT an RGB signal. The upscaler will output via HDMI. So there's no RGB SCART input at all. Secondly, any lag experienced will have nothing to do with the RGB section of the chain - it will be somewhere between the upscaler and the television's panel. Don't blame your console - it's what you're trying to do with it.

If you want the title changed to something more appropriate, such as "Do upscalers suffer lag on LCD televisions?", just let me know.

 

Yes retro, would you change that for me? That's what I meant to say. I have not done much retro gaming on a newer television, I'm learning here. Thanks for catching that.

 

A scaler such as the XRGB may add~ 1-2 frames (every frame at 60Hz is ~16.66ms) of latency, scart won't produce any more latency on a CRT than any other method.
Most LCDs have latency on their own as it is, this can vary from as little as ~1 Frame to 5 or more.

So there will be some latency compounding. (On top of if the game has any of it's own.). Some CRTs even have latency, but generally much less so.

The effect on gameplay will vary game to game.

 

All inputs on newer LCD TVs are not created equal, especially in terms of lag. Your LCD TV may lag more by using it's composite input directly than it would if it was receiving an upscaled HDMI signal. In my case, I noticed an overall decrease in lag by switching my Saturn from a direct composite input to an upscaler setup (XRGB Mini). I realize that the XRGB Mini probably does introduce some lag, but it appears that the analog processor in my TV lags more than the XRGB Mini and so it is still an overall reduction in lag to have an external upscaler.

tl;dr - Buy an XRGB Mini and feed it RGB SCART. You won't regret spending the cash.