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Comment on What is the cheapest console to get and collect for that still holds up?

paultimate14@lemmy.world ⁨19⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

It’s also possible to just buy android TV boxes that are pre-configured to do this.

I used to closely follow the retro handheld scene. So if OP wants to go down that route, they should check out the RetroGameCorps YouTube channel to get a feel for what kind of devices are available today. But he has occasionally covered those TV boxes too, and being android there’s often a lot of software and hardware overlap with those handhelds. It’s sketchy for sure, but for like $90 you can get a device when all those benefits you mentioned but already pre-configured to work as a console, with minimal mouse/keyboard input required. And tens of thousands of roms without needing to worry about where or how to get them, viruses (as long as you don’t cross with any other devices lol), or getting letters from your ISP for pirating.

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korendian@lemmy.zip ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
I have seen people scammed from preloaded boxes. I recommend just DIYing it, it’s not too difficult to do.

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Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com ⁨18⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
All the emulation boxes with included games that I’ve seen have been terrible with inaccurate audio, bad controllers, frame drops

I think you’re better off getting a cheap mini PC and putting Batocera on it

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- paultimate14@lemmy.world ⁨18⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I’ve heard people make those complaints in comments on the internet, but I got my Powkidsu RGB10MAX and never had any issues. I mean, some demanding Saturn/Dreamcast/N64 games drop the occasional frame but that’s just from pushing the hardware to its limit, nothing to do with the roms.
  
  I would recommend finding YouTube reviews for a specific device. There’s a whole community of people out there who can set the expectations for performance of different emulators, often picking out some of the harder games to emulate for each system. Eventually you will get to a point where there are trade-offs: do I want to upscale the resolution at 30FPS or drop the resolution and get a solid 60FPS?
  
  Even a cheap mini PC is going to be much more expensive. Still a great option, especially if you also want to do PC things, but not what OP is looking for. For just having a TV box that plays games, ARM is hard to beat. And most of those YouTubers also can tell you how to put a variety of other operating systems and your own roms on if you prefer, but I’m not assuming OP has the skill or will to do so.
  
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