UltraHDMI - Nintendo 64 HDMI kit!

I'm fortunate enough to be among the very first people to acquire MarshallH's brand new creation called the UltraHDMI! It's a device designed specifically for the Nintendo 64 console that provides digital video and sound over an HDMI connection with an output resolution up to 1080p! We finally have a "perfect" solution for connecting the N64 to HDTVs! From crystal clear integer scaling, to full blown CRT effects, there are scaling and processing options that should suit the tastes of virtually all retro gaming enthusiasts.

Here are some notes from my first installation, usage, and settings.

Installation

• Attaching the FFC ("PCB ribbon cable") with kapton tape was a little tricky as there are a number of components right near the RCP (graphics/audio chip)
• When drag soldering the FFC to the RCP you need to avoid the 3.3V pins that do not have FFC connection. The center most 3.3V pin is connected to a decent size PCB plane, so it's easy to create a solder bridge with adjacent pins that can be difficult to fix. Thankfully I was able to resolve a challenging solder bridge on my first install!
• Cutting the HDMI output opening on the bottom shell of the console wasn't too bad, but having a template to guide the depth might be worth creating for future installs

Usage

• The default hot key combination to open the OSD is pretty well thought of.  However, I did manage to accidentally open it while playing Sin & Punishment!
• When the OSD is open, controller input isn't muted, so be sure to have your current running game in a state that will not result in data loss or other shenanigans!  The D-Pad isn't used by many games and can be handy for navigating and making settings
• Changes made in the menu must be "saved" or else they will be lost when powering off the N64
• The 48kHz digital audio sounds great and haven't found anything yet to critique

Settings

• It IS possible to get pixel perfect integer scaling with 1080p output.  4x, 5x, and 6x scaling are easy with a few settings.
• 1080p 4x - Set Sharp Pixels to Integer
• 1080p 5x - Set Sharp Pixels to Integer+ (Note: Added in firmware V1.01)
• 1080p 6x - Set Sharp Pixels to Fractional, Fill Mode to Cinema, Overscan to 0
• HDMI Direct Mode vs. Processed Mode
• Direct mode provides line-doubling from 240p/480i to 480p only.
• 480i signals are never de-interlaced, just shown as fields regardless of settings
• Direct mode with V Sync lock setting did not work with either TV I tried
• The sync apparently uses the same timing as the standard output.  Most computer monitors should work fine.
• Processed Mode unlocks all of the settings and provides the excellent de-blur filter.  This is one of the most important features of this kit!

Conclusion

If you're at all interested in playing N64 games using a real console on a HDTV, there is no better solution than MarshalH's UltraHDMI!  It's not the least expensive N64 video mod out there, but it provides results that are leaps and bounds beyond what was possible before.  In that respect, the UltraHDMI is an excellent value as it is a fraction of the price of acquiring an analog RGB modded N64, quality RGB cable, and a XRGB-mini.  Highly recommended for the retro gaming enthusiast!

Here are some pictures taken off of the HDTVs I was using to test the install as well as some installation pictures.  Enjoy!