We’re excited to unveil the RetroTINK-4K CE (RT4KCE), an affordable addition to the RetroTINK-4K family. Designed as a cost-effective alternative to the RetroTINK-4K Pro (RT4KPRO), the RT4KCE delivers the same outstanding quality and performance you’ve come to expect—now at a more accessible price point.
Here’s what you need to know:
Same Core Platform: Built on the same hardware and firmware framework as the RT4KPRO, with a smaller FPGA that significantly reduces manufacturing costs.
Production Status: Manufacturing of the units is complete, and we are awaiting delivery of final accessories, the like SD cards, remote control and outer packaging.
Immediate Fulfillment: Once inventory arrives at our 3PL, we will announce a sale date and orders will ship immediately.
Pricing: $475 USD MSRP.
Stay tuned for the official launch date. Due to the slowdown of the holidays plus the Chinese New Years festival, it is likely that the earliest possible sale date will be late February or March.
Check out the video by RetroRGB
But Mike Said no New Hardware!
Correct! The RT4KCE shares the same platform as the RT4KPRO meaning it launches on Day 1 with a mature, polished firmware that ensures full compatibility with the profiles made by FireBrandX, Wobbling Pixels and many other amazing community members.
Thanks to the shared firmware base, both the RT4KCE and RT4KPRO will continue to receive the same updates, fixes, and improvements over time.
Just like the Pro model, the RT4KCE is equipped with the same comprehensive set of input ports, covering virtually every retro video source imaginable:
SCART Port (side): RGBS, RGsB, YPbPr, S-video, and composite.
RCA Jacks (rear): YPbPr, RGsB, and composite.
HD15 VGA Port: RGBHV, RGBS, RGsB, YPbPr, S-video, composite plus communication for peripherals like the SVS switch.
Composite and S-video (front): RCA and DIN-4 jacks hidden behind a sliding door.
Digital Video Input: Accepts both standard sources up to 1080p and off-spec sources like MiSTer DV1.
TOSLINK Audio Input: Allows digital audio to be injected into any source.
Despite utilizing a smaller FPGA, the RT4KCE retains all the key features you expect, including:
CRT Simulation: Multiple beam types, adjustable strength plus support for all existing RT4K masks.
HDR: Full linear light HDR10 and HLG processing plus support for all existing RT4K color profiles.
Scaling/Cropping: Multiple interpolation filters, plus precision scaling and crop controls with support for auto-crop.
In short, the RT4KCE delivers power performance at a lower price point, making it an all-in-one solution for users seeking high-quality 4K upscaling for their retro video sources.
Okay, so What’s the Catch?
While the RT4KCE is a highly capable solution for 4K upscaling, some features from the Pro model were unable to fit within the smaller FPGA. Here’s a list of current differences:
No Rotation Support
Input Width Limitations: Maximum input source horizontal width is limited to 2048 pixels. (This does not affect MiSTer or other super-resolution sources decimated to a lower effective resolution).
De-Interlacing: Linear motion-adaptive de-interlacing only without advanced sensitivity controls; no bob field offset adjustments, no edge-adaptive interpolation. First order field differences only, enhanced motion detection using second order field differences not possible.
Inverse Telecine: No support for inverse 3:2 to de-interlace telecine content or to reconstruct 24 fps sources from 60i and 60p. No support for inverse 2:2 for PAL content and reconstructing 30 fps games output in 480i.
No IIR Blur Support: Horizontal softening can still be accomplished by using cubic, Lanczos or bilinear soft interpolation filters.
BFI: Basic BFI insertion of black whole frames only. No alpha bending or colored insertion.
S-Video: No enhanced S-video support. Regular SDP decoder only.
XBR Smoothing: Not included.
NTSC Composite Video: No 3D comb filtering. Notch and 2D modes only.
Auto-Phase Adjustment: Continuous background auto-phase is not available (auto console sample rate detection is still included, but users will need to calibrate and save the phase to their profile during first use). On demand auto phase (by pressing the button) is still supported.
OSD Color Depth: Reduced color depth for the banner image from 11 to 6 bits.
(*List subject to change)
Some of these features may return in the future through firmware updates due to system level optimizations, but as always, we encourage purchasing the RT4KCE based on its current capabilities. The CE does not, and never will have, any extra features with respect to the Pro (aside from the snazzy light colored case and red PCB).
Hardware Differences
FPGA: Uses a smaller A5-series Cyclone V with less Logic Elements and Memory. Future expansion may be more limited compared to the Pro. Some future features may be Pro exclusive due to the larger remaining free space on the Pro FPGA.
Heatsink: Uses an off-the-shelf heatsink instead of the custom-machined aluminum heat spreader found in the Pro model.
Remote Control: Features a different design but shares the same codes as the Pro remote.
Accessories: A USB SD card reader is not included in the package.
Enclosure Color: The RT4KCE comes in a Cool Grey 2C injection molded shell with a polished plastic logo plate.
PCB Color: The RT4KCE features a red PCB.
We believe the RT4KCE offers a fantastic option for users who don’t require the advanced feature set of the Pro model but still want a high-quality 4K upscaling solution. As always, thank you for your incredible support and for making this project a reality—we couldn’t have done it without you!
Dongles, Dongles, Dongles
Over the past few months, we've been working on a series of high quality HD15 to console AV adapters. The dongles will be mass produced at a professional contract manufacturer experienced in cable construction with a custom molded enclosure.
An active circuit inside the dongle buffers the console's RGB signal and provides DC-coupled 75 ohm RGB video output. TTL 5V CSYNC is output (taken from the console's composite video) on pin 13 of the HD15 to maximize compatibility with VGA equipment, such as switches, that only accept logic sync levels and to conform with general VGA specifications. Stereo audio is output over a 3.5 mm jack.
As a companion to the dongles, we are also working a series of custom HD15 cables. The RGB video lines on all cables are 75 ohm impedance controlled mini-coax along with shielded sync and audio for maximum quality. Current variants are:
HD15 to SCART: HSYNC on the VGA is routed to sync on the SCART end with a 470 ohm resistor to bring 5V TTL sync down to 75 ohm video levels.
HD15 to 5 BNC + 2 RCA: This is similar to other VGA to BNC options, but we added the 2 RCA connectors for audio.
HD15 to HD15 + 3.5mm Audio: Simple pass-through if you wanted to connect the output of the dongle directly to the VGA port on the RT4K.
We hope to launch the initial versions for SNES (all region compatible), PS1 and Genesis 2 dongles early 2025 along with HD15 cables.
RT2X-MINI Returns
Due to high demand, the RetroTINK-2X Minis will be back in stock and ready for sale the week of January 5th. Please check the product page: https://www.retrotink.com/product-page/2x-mini for the latest information!
That wraps it up for this long overdue update. Wishing everything the best going into 2025, and once again, thank you so much for your support! Feel free to drop by the RetroTINK Discord: www.retrotink.com/discord to say hi.