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Yes—but not with a passive cable. A Raspberry Pi can produce native-resolution analog RGB for a CRT through its 40-pin GPIO Display Parallel Interface (DPI). You need a compatible HAT or adapter to convert the Pi’s digital GPIO pixel data into analog RGB, then configure timings and sync for the exact display.
The correct setup depends first on the CRT: an RGB SCART television generally expects 15 kHz RGBS, a VGA monitor usually expects 31 kHz RGBHV, and arcade monitors, PVMs, BVMs, and component televisions each have their own requirements.
Start with the CRT, not the Raspberry Pi
Before buying hardware, identify what the display actually accepts:
- Input type: RGB SCART, VGA, component (YPbPr), composite, or an arcade connector.
- Scan rate: 15 kHz, 31 kHz, or multisync operation.
- Sync format: RGBS (composite sync) or RGBHV (separate horizontal and vertical sync).
- Video standard: PAL, NTSC, or a display that accepts both.
- Display category: consumer television, VGA computer monitor, PVM/BVM, arcade chassis, or multisync monitor.
A SCART socket does not automatically mean RGB is available. Some televisions use SCART for composite video only, while others require a switching voltage or a menu setting to select RGB. Likewise, a VGA connector does not guarantee 15 kHz support: many VGA monitors require approximately 31 kHz or higher.
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| Display | Typical signal | Typical scan rate | Suitable route |
|---|---|---|---|
| RGB SCART television | RGBS | 15 kHz | RGB-Pi or Recalbox RGB Dual hardware |
| VGA CRT monitor | RGBHV | 31 kHz or higher | RGB Dual VGA output or VGA666 |
| Arcade monitor | RGBS or RGBHV | Often 15 kHz | Dedicated arcade/RGB hardware |
| Component CRT | YPbPr | Varies | RGB output followed by an RGB-to-component transcoder |
| Composite-only television | Composite | 15 kHz | Separate composite-video solution, not SCART RGB |
What the Pi needs to generate CRT RGB
The Pi does not expose SCART or VGA as a normal built-in video output. Its GPIO header can carry DPI pixel data using RGB565, RGB666, or RGB888 formats, but that digital data must be mapped to analog RGB by a suitable HAT, adapter, or external circuit. Raspberry Pi documents the DPI interface and its available formats in its video configuration documentation.
The hardware must also handle the details that a connector alone cannot solve:
- Analog RGB conversion and signal levels
- Color ordering and GPIO pin assignment
- Composite or separate sync
- Sync polarity
- 15 kHz or 31 kHz timings
- SCART RGB switching and blanking behavior
- Audio routing
This is why a regular HDMI-to-VGA adapter is not equivalent. Such an adapter normally converts HDMI into standard computer VGA. It does not automatically create the 15 kHz RGBS signal expected by a European CRT television or arcade monitor.
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Best hardware choices by Raspberry Pi model
Pi 5: Recalbox RGB Dual 2
For a Raspberry Pi 5 owner who wants both SCART and VGA from one board, the Recalbox RGB Dual 2 is the most direct current option identified here. Its product page describes SCART, VGA, composite, and audio outputs, with 15 kHz television and 31 kHz monitor RGB modes plus progressive and interlaced operation.
The page showed a PCB-only price of €59.00 and was marked sold out when checked. Stock can change, so verify the current listing before planning a build. The board does not include the Raspberry Pi. The vendor also calls out a shielded SCART connector and Pi 5 cooling considerations.
Those specifications describe the board’s capabilities, not guaranteed compatibility with every CRT, emulator, cable, or third-party operating system. Use the software image and configuration recommended by the hardware vendor.
Pi 3, Pi 4, Pi 400, and Zero 2 W: original Recalbox RGB Dual
The original Recalbox RGB Dual is intended for Raspberry Pi 3, Pi 4, Pi 400, and Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. It adds SCART and VGA-oriented output for a Recalbox-centered CRT setup.
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Do not treat the original RGB Dual and RGB Dual 2 as interchangeable. The former targets the listed older Pi models; RGB Dual 2 is the Pi 5-oriented board.
RGB-Pi 2
RGB-Pi presents RGB-Pi 2 as compatible with Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 4, and Pi 3, with different configurations involving SCART, JAMMA, and VGA-related hardware. It is best understood as an integrated hardware-and-operating-system ecosystem rather than just a cable.
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- BROAD COMPATIBILITY - The HDMI-VGA adapter is compatible with computer, pc, desktop, laptop, ultrabook, notebook, Chromebook, Raspberry Pi, Intel Nuc, Roku, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Set Top Box, TV BOX, or other devices with HDMI port; NOT compatible with Blu-ray player and devices with low-power HDMI ports such as SONY PS4, Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display, Mac mini, and Apple TV
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Check the vendor’s current compatibility table and image instructions carefully. A legacy RGB-Pi cable, RGB-Pi OS release, and RGB-Pi 2 are not automatically interchangeable, and not every configuration provides both SCART and VGA connectors.
VGA666 and similar DPI adapters
The VGA666 is a documented GPIO/DPI-to-VGA adapter. Its manual is useful for DIY users who already have a VGA CRT or an arcade display and are comfortable configuring modes themselves.
This route is flexible but less turnkey. A VGA666-style board may provide RGBHV when your television needs RGBS. A VGA-to-SCART cable does not necessarily perform sync conversion, level shifting, impedance matching, or safe wiring. Legacy configuration recipes may also assume older firmware or pre-Bookworm behavior and may not work unchanged on a Pi 5.
Component CRTs: add an RGB-to-component transcoder
If your television has component input but no RGB SCART, the signal chain can be:
Raspberry Pi → DPI RGB hardware → RGB-to-component transcoder → CRT component inputThe RetroTINK RGB2COMP accepts RGB through SCART and outputs YPbPr component video plus stereo audio. Its listed price was $79.99 when checked. It does not generate the Pi’s RGB signal, and it cannot make an incompatible scan rate or sync format compatible by itself. Confirm that the complete chain supports the selected resolution and timing.
SCART setup: RGB is not the same as composite
For an RGB SCART television, the normal target is a 15 kHz RGBS signal. The Pi’s RGB hardware must provide red, green, and blue channels plus composite sync, and the cable must be wired for the television’s SCART pinout.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSome televisions also need an appropriate switching voltage to select the RGB input. If the set remains in composite mode, the result may be a black-and-white picture, incorrect colors, or no usable image even though the SCART plug is connected.
Check all of the following:
- The television explicitly accepts RGB through SCART.
- The HAT or adapter outputs RGBS rather than only RGBHV.
- The SCART cable has the correct direction and wiring.
- The television is set to the correct AV input or RGB mode.
- The selected timing matches the television’s PAL or NTSC support.
- Audio is routed through the HAT, SCART cable, Pi audio output, USB, or an external DAC as appropriate.
A passive HDMI-to-SCART lead is not a substitute for this setup. HDMI is digital; SCART RGB is analog, and a proper conversion and timing path is required.
VGA setup: identify 15 kHz versus 31 kHz
A conventional VGA CRT monitor generally expects RGBHV at approximately 31 kHz or higher. That makes it a simpler target than a 15 kHz television in many cases, but it is still not universal. Some multisync monitors accept 15 kHz; others reject it or display an unstable image.
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- Input RGBS (SCART), VGA (RGBHV). Output component YPBPR(YUV).
- Support resolution: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p.
- Support each of three RGB single channel color adjustment. Support audio left and right channel input SCART.
- [Crucial Tip]: If you choose VGA input, you will need an extra 3.5mm video audio cable to get the sound and an exter USB-C 5V power supply.
- [NOTE]: This product does not support modified game consoles. Please check whether your TV has a color difference signal interface and whether your game console can output RGBS(Scart) or VGA signal before purchase.
For VGA, confirm:
- The monitor’s supported horizontal scan-rate range
- Whether it needs separate horizontal and vertical sync
- Sync polarity requirements
- The required refresh rate and resolution
- Whether the adapter’s pinout matches the monitor
Do not connect an unknown VGA-to-SCART cable simply because both connectors carry RGB. VGA normally uses separate sync, while a SCART television commonly expects composite sync. A cable cannot be assumed to convert one into the other.
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The easiest path is usually the operating system recommended by the chosen hardware:
- Recalbox: The natural choice for Recalbox RGB Dual hardware and a front-end-focused console setup.
- RGB-Pi OS or RePlayOS: A tightly integrated RGB-Pi workflow, provided the image matches the Pi model and hardware generation.
- RetroPie or another general Linux distribution: More flexible, but often requires manual modelines, emulator configuration, and sync troubleshooting.
- Other distributions: Use only when current support for the exact HAT, Pi model, and output mode is documented.
“Pixel perfect” is not automatic. Native-resolution output can be highly authentic, but results also depend on the emulator core, the game’s original video mode, refresh-rate handling, scaling policy, timing accuracy, and the CRT’s own geometry and calibration.
Current DPI configuration on Raspberry Pi OS
Older guides commonly use settings such as dpi_output_format, dpi_timings, dpi_group, and dpi_mode. Raspberry Pi’s current documentation says that, from Bookworm onward, generic DPI configuration has moved toward the vc4-kms-dpi-generic overlay. The overlay documentation lists parameters for pixel clock, active dimensions, porches, sync widths, sync inversion, interlace, and RGB formats.
A generic KMS configuration has this form:
dtoverlay=vc4-kms-dpi-generic
dtparam=clock-frequency=<pixel-clock>
dtparam=hactive=<active-width>,hfp=<front-porch>,hsync=<sync-width>,hbp=<back-porch>
dtparam=vactive=<active-lines>,vfp=<front-porch>,vsync=<sync-lines>,vbp=<back-porch>This is a template, not a universal CRT recipe. The correct values depend on the target display, PAL or NTSC timing, sync requirements, adapter wiring, and whether the output is progressive or interlaced.
Pi 5 interlaced output: the official example
Pi 5 deserves separate treatment. Raspberry Pi published a method for interlaced video using the Pi 5’s RP1 PIO-based sync correction. The official example uses the vc4-kms-dpi-generic overlay and this configuration:
dtoverlay=vc4-kms-dpi-generic
dtparam=clock-frequency=13500000
dtparam=hactive=720,hfp=12,hsync=64,hbp=68
dtparam=vactive=576,vfp=5,vsync=5,vbp=39
dtparam=vsync-invert,hsync-invert
dtparam=interlacedAccording to Raspberry Pi’s technical article, this produces a 720×576 interlaced mode and requires a current Raspberry Pi OS. It is a PAL-oriented technical example, not a universal configuration for every television or HAT. It is not automatically appropriate for NTSC displays.
The example also has GPIO implications: the article notes that GPIO0 and GPIO1 are used in a way that prevents their normal I2C/DDC use in that configuration. A vendor HAT may require its own overlay or configuration instead.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Safe installation and first boot
- Record the Raspberry Pi model and exact hardware revision.
- Confirm the CRT’s input, scan rate, sync format, and PAL/NTSC support.
- Choose a HAT or adapter documented for that Pi model.
- Install the matching vendor-recommended operating-system image.
- Power the Pi down before fitting or removing the GPIO hardware.
- Back up the boot configuration before changing display settings.
- Configure the output mode before connecting a display that may not tolerate an incorrect signal.
- Connect the correct SCART, VGA, arcade, or transcoder cable.
- Check stable sync, color, aspect ratio, refresh rate, and audio.
- Test a system with well-known video modes, such as NES, SNES, Mega Drive/Genesis, or a simple arcade title, before testing the entire library.
On current Raspberry Pi OS installations, config.txt is commonly located at:
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- COMPATIBLE OBJECTS: Converter is compatible with European and Japanese scart and RGBS input, external USB C 5V power supply is required when using VGA input.
- CONSOLE SUPPORT: Converter supports for , for , for N64, for 1 Fat, for 2 Fat, for , for , for MD, for , ect.
- CONVERSION FEATURES: Converter input RGBS (SCART), VGA (RGBHV), output color difference component YPBPR (YUV), support sound left and right channel input SCART.
- RGBS SCART VGA TO YPBPR: Component converter can convert the video RGBS SCART VGA output from the game console to the color difference YPBPR.
- SUPPORT : Converter supports 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p . Game screen color brightness (R G B), so that the original game picture is more clear and vivid.
/boot/firmware/config.txtThe exact location varies by operating-system image. Verify the path used by your distribution and make a backup before editing.
Troubleshooting by symptom
No picture or a black screen
- Wrong GPIO overlay or adapter configuration
- Invalid timing values
- 15 kHz sent to a 31 kHz-only monitor
- 31 kHz sent to a 15 kHz-only television
- Incorrect sync polarity or sync format
- Missing RGB SCART switching voltage
- HAT-specific configuration omitted
- Legacy settings used with a modern KMS-based image
- Cable wired for RGBHV when the display requires RGBS
Power down, reconnect HDMI or another known-good display, and undo the last configuration change. Change one setting at a time.
Rolling or vertically unstable image
Check refresh rate, interlaced/progressive selection, vertical porch and sync values, PAL versus NTSC timing, and whether the display supports the selected mode. Also confirm that the display is not interpreting separate sync as composite sync, or vice versa.
Horizontally doubled, squashed, or otherwise distorted image
This usually indicates a scan-rate or timing mismatch. Confirm the horizontal frequency first, then check active width, pixel clock, sync width, and porch values. A VGA monitor may be receiving a 15 kHz television mode, or a television may be receiving a 31 kHz computer mode.
Black-and-white or incorrect colors
- The television may be receiving composite instead of RGB.
- SCART RGB selection or switching voltage may be missing.
- The cable may be wired incorrectly.
- The color standard may not match the television.
- A component transcoder may be receiving the wrong signal type.
The front end works, but games fail to launch
The front end and emulator may use different video modes. The emulator may lack the required modeline, switch to an unsupported resolution, or use an incompatible HAT configuration. This is an operating-system and emulator compatibility problem, not necessarily a wiring failure.
Audio is missing
SCART can carry stereo audio, but the actual path depends on the hardware and cable. The RGB Dual 2 page describes I2S DAC audio and a 3.5 mm audio/composite jack; other adapters may leave audio on the Pi’s analog output, HDMI, USB, or an external DAC. Check the HAT’s documentation and the operating system’s audio selection.
Recovery from a bad display configuration
- Power down the Pi.
- Remove the microSD card.
- Mount its boot partition on another computer.
- Open the relevant
config.txtfile. - Comment out the newly added overlay and timing lines by placing
#at the start of each line. - Restore your backup if necessary.
- Reconnect HDMI or another known-good display.
- Boot and reapply only one tested change at a time.
Vendor-specific images may store display settings elsewhere or regenerate config.txt, so follow that image’s recovery instructions where applicable.
Which route should you choose?
- Pi 5 with both SCART and VGA: Choose Recalbox RGB Dual 2 if it is available and its software requirements suit your setup.
- Pi 5 in the RGB-Pi ecosystem: Choose RGB-Pi 2 after checking the current Pi, cable, connector, and OS compatibility table.
- Pi 3, Pi 4, Pi 400, or Zero 2 W with SCART: Consider the original Recalbox RGB Dual or compatible RGB-Pi hardware.
- VGA CRT and a DIY preference: Consider VGA666 or an equivalent DPI adapter, but expect to configure timings and troubleshoot sync.
- Component-only CRT: Use compatible RGB hardware followed by an RGB-to-component transcoder such as RGB2COMP.
- No RGB-capable CRT: A separate composite solution or an HDMI-based CRT filter may be simpler, but neither is the same as native 15 kHz analog RGB output.
The key decision is not whether the Pi has a SCART or VGA-shaped connector. It is whether the complete chain—GPIO DPI output, analog adapter, sync wiring, software timings, cable, and CRT—speaks the same video language.
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