SyntaxBomb - Indie Coders

https://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

Basically it's a retro near square aspect ratio flatscreen monitor with built-in amplified speakers that you can plug absolutely any micro computer into (I went for a black monitor). From the 1970's Atari 800, through ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Archimedes and more. The Monitor will deal with all computer frequencies.

You can also slot in various 'pods' to give extra functionality because it's modular. I went for an extra pod that allows the Mister FPGA to be integrated directly into the monitor. I wanted this because the main use was to replicate arcade machines as closely as possible without all the hassles of maintenance and the amount of space required for a full retro arcade of cabinets. I'm sure many know what a FPGA is, but it in-effect allows coding at a hardware level. The chip is able to be re-engineered to reproduce several hardware chips that run in parallel.

Plus the fact my CRT Monitors won't last forever, so I saw this as a modern solution for my collection of classic old computers.

A picture tells a thousand words...

Chop chop

Haha, I've waited ages for this thing and when it arrives I have zero time to have a play!   I will though. First impressions are very good. The double box protection and thick polystyrene meant it arrived in great condition, plus it's a solid good looking and well built monitor. 

I'll be adding my thoughts here...

Thanks for sharing this Steve! This checkmate looks really awesome! Put it on my shopping list.

Glad you went for the Black one! It stil amazes me that pi 400/500 is white!? Beggers believe really!

Baggey

Oh definitely, in white it makes the pi 400/500 look like a toy lol. 

Im enjoying my twin monitor setup at the moment! i have one screen horizontal and the other vertical to reference from!

Wish id done it years ago!? Working on many emulators at the mo! Tweeking and 'n' pushing for functionality and life in them!

Love to see some demo picks of your monitor in action!

Kind Regards Baggey

I'm holding off on adding more information at the moment because it doesn't come with batteries for the remote control and no kettle style plug. I have both lying around, but I wish they'd added them. That's not a problem for me, but something for anybody thinking of buying to consider.

But mainly I seem to be missing a Pod. I don't know if this is an error or they are currently out of stock and will pass that onto me when they can (I have no scart connector).

Anyway, it looks great and the build quality is good. When I have more information I'll post here in this thread. 

Oo, very fancy What's the image quality / motion / ghosting like? I assume it's better than your bog standard LCD screen?

Quote from: Steve Elliott on February 27, 2025, 13:50:12But mainly I seem to be missing a Pod. I don't know if this is an error or they are currently out of stock and will pass that onto me when they can (I have no scart connector).

I would have thought that they would have sent an email to let you know. If you've ordered and paid for one, I would be getting on their case over it if they haven't sent any message about the order.

Just got an email from Steve, it looks like there was a side menu of extras (which I missed). So I didn't quite get the full set of Pods.

@Qube I'm just seeing if I can get the full spec before testing. Also, they were looking to get the ultra low latency screens made. Steve has put out a ton of videos but I've been too busy to watch them all, so I'm a bit in the dark regards weither they were produced or not.

I've had meself a little retro jig as well... 

My retro CRT in the man cave upstairs decided it didnt want to output colour anymore and, the last time I went for a retro sesh, I switched it on and... Black and white display... Booooooooooooo!!!

I was just browsing eBay the other day, had a check for CRT TV's, and, well, they are quite a bit now, most are collection only, the others, usually delivered by the worst of the worst... Evri!

So, it was nice when I discovered this little fella:

Retro Bush 14 inch Colour TV No Remote Control Ideal for Retro Gaming / Video | eBay

For the grand sum of just shy of £32... Yep, THIRTY TWO ENGLISH SNOTS... And it was just down the road in Darlington.

Wow wow wee wow, oh la la larrrrrr!

So one has picked it up, dragged a couple of consoles and some of my fave games and set a little retro station up down stairs, see attachment, but aye... She looks grand there, and I had myself a good few hours today having a good old fashioned blast!

Dabz

Much jealousy. Wipeout 2097 is one of my all-time favourite PS and Windows games. The fifth track - one of the two hard ones - is my favourite. I played that so often that I got really good at it. Scared to try it again now - I'm around 30 years older, so probably would fail miserably now.

I had quite a few retro consoles up until one of my (several) moves in 2021. I gave a lot of it, including many games, away as I would be staying at a friends for a while and only had limited storage space until I got a new house. Madness, really. I should have dumped it off at my mothers or somewhere until I had space for it again. 

Cool Dabz, and congrats on the bargain tv. 

Most of my retro is computer based with 4 CRTs, but yes I've had a couple of CRTs damaged in the post. The only console I've got is more modern (Nintendo Switch) connected to a flat screen. I'll get the Switch 2 when it comes out. But I do play a few Megadrive games on that.

@Xerra aw yes, that's a real shame you lost all that lovely retro tech.

Yep Wipeout 2097 is a great game, the nearest I have to that on Switch is 'FAST rmx':

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/FAST-RMX-1174333.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqdSjZhxtx-CDT4pM6M4qFcUYpXu-e5E-7axvY4LPRb4zs7ZV4X

Cheers peeps!

The thing I like about using proper hardware is it's not just the games, yeah, you can now get any game, there's an emulator for everything, which is good. 

But I like other aspects of retro gaming... The clicks of the buttons, the clunks of cartridges going in, regarding my PS1 there, popping the lid, plonking a CD in, and then listening to it spin up, then the churning and grunting noises of the laser mechanism seeking data through "Loading" screens!

It just all rolls back the years, and I love it!

Dabz