Dreamcast DCDigital HW2 DIY Kit

DCDigital is now discontinued and will be replaced with RetroGEM – Click here to learn more.

Now you can upgrade your Dreamcast console to HDMI video output making it fully compatible with modern displays. Experience the entire Dreamcast software library in true, lossless digital with no cable swapping and no fuss (some titles may require you to manually toggle a menu option to force the Dreamcast into 31khz mode).

All the Dreamcast’s output resolutions are supported. 240p modes can be line-doubled with optional scanline overlays. 480i modes can be quickly de-interlaced with no input lag or, with the new HW2 edition of the upgrade, deinterlaced using a motion adaptive deinterlacer which offers the very best possible picture quality for minimal input lag.

480p or VGA games (which make up the majority of the consoles library) can be scaled into stunning 960p, 1080p or even 1440p on supported TVs/Monitors. 480p and VGA display modes are also available for TVs and monitors that support or require them.

Both audio and video are processed entirely digitally from the Dreamcast’s motherboard, ensuring the cleanest possible digital signal with no intermediate analogue conversion whatsoever. Coupled with the latest firmware, the DCDigital/RetroGEM is the only upgrade that can display the consoles entire catalogue on any display with no cable swapping.

Unlike competing solutions (apart from the OSSC when correctly configured) the DCDigital outputs the Dreamcast’s signal with the correct aspect ratio. Furthermore, DCDigital HW2 features a full polyphasic scaler with full free scaling and aspect ratio controls. Choose from a suitable preset or adjust the scaling yourself to compensate for TVs/Monitors that do not scale correctly, or scale certain modes with an incorrect aspect ratio. As always, we recommend using the 240p test suite to fully test and evaluate the suitability of any custom scaling mode on your display.

If that wasn’t enough, you can also enjoy CRT simulation filters, scanlines and PixelFX’s take on HQx-style smoothing filters. On the latest firmware you can even enjoy HDR conversion on supported television sets! No more dark image even when using scanlines, watch the colours just pop of the screen like they did on your old CRT monitor. Note that when using this mode you may need to recalibrate your TV for accurate colour conversion.

Even with this extra functionality, the DCDigital HW2 has less than 1 frame of input lag in all output modes.

Using the device is a breeze too, simply hold down Left Trigger + Right Trigger + X + A + Start on the Dreamcast’s controller to call up the DCDigital menu. From here all settings can be adjusted to taste. There’s even a quick and easy Wi-Fi setup which allows for firmware updates automatically over the internet, and remote configuration via web browser. It is hard to imagine a more feature complete upgrade than this. For a full comparison between version 1 and version 2 of the DCDigital, click here.

We can fit your DCDigital upgrade for you but if you’re confident with a soldering iron and want to fit it yourself, grab yourself one of these DIY upgrade kits.

Fitting instructions

Please note this is not an easy upgrade to fit. Do NOT order this kit until you have read ALL of the fitting instructions and feel confident with carrying out the installation. Some community based support may be available in our forums but we CANNOT offer technical support with DIY fittings nor can we give refunds on components that have been damaged or destroyed due to incorrect use or failed installation attempts.

For fitting Instructions – click here.

For a video guide to installation – click here (V1 hardware).

For the user guide instructions – click here.

If you need your DCDigital professionally installing, click here.

Note that DCDigital uses a mini HDMI output port and so a mini HDMI cable is required (not supplied).

Dreamcast and Sega are trademarks of Sega Co., Ltd. DCDigital is NOT an official Sega product.