Play GameCube via Plug & Play HDMI! Should You Buy the Eon Gaming GCHD MkII HDMI Gamecube Adapter

In this video, we unbox and test out the Eon Gaming GCHD MkII Plug & Play HDMI Adapter for the Nintendo Gamecube.

Curious to see more about Eon Gaming? Check out our playlist with videos from the original GCHD here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLKUBYLFqP2sTADqpXaTLM2y0TXJYAop

Shortly after the 2018 Portland Retro Gaming Expo, Eon announced a follow-up to the original GCHD, designed to address concerns some had over the original while maintaining what made the original so amazing. Additionally, they collaborated with Dan Kunz, aka Citrus3000PSI, one of the best when it comes to HDMI Mods. The result is the GCHD MKII, featuring three different colors, a component video output that utilizes the much cheaper Wii component video cables, an analog audio output, and all the same killer features of the original, and more.

The unit we are reviewing here was provided for us by Ryan at CastlemaniaGames. One of the cool things is that if you use Promo Code RoX10 you can save 10% off the cost of the MkII if you order through CastlemaniaGames! How cool is that? Ryan sent us an indigo GCHD MkII, to match the color of our NTSC System. I've petitioned Eon Gaming for a Spice Orange version for my Japanese GameCube, but I don't think that'll be coming anytime soon.

Removing the MkII from the box, and I love that it is the same box as the original, I plugged it right into my GameCube with a resounding "Snap". With the HDMI cable connected to my EZ Cap 284, I took a few moments to pair my OSSC Remote to the unit, go through the settings menu, and get things ready to play.
First up was a pair of Game Boy Advanced games, using my Hori Pad. I actually don't play my GBA Games often so I just use the standard Game Boy Player disc for the GameCube. I thought that the picture looked really good, although I thought Donkey Kong Country actually looked a little sharper and less blurry.

Next up was actual GameCube games, and man, this thing looks AMAZEBAWLS! From Star Wars: Rogue Squadron to Mario Kart: Double Dash, and of course Smash Bros Melee, everything looked fantastic. The controls felt spot-on, without any lag or latency introduced. One thing I am really interested in trying, and this will be featured in a future video, is using my Wii Component Cables with my OSSC to try some 2x, 3x, 4x, and even 5x line multiplying!

Why it RoX:
-Plug & Play Simplicity
- Looks amazing
- Best way to play Game Boy, GBA and GBC games on your TV
- Zero Lag
- 3 different color options
- Simple programming with remote
- Analog AV Output options
- Compatible with much less expensive Wii Component video cables

What could be improved?
- Only compatible with GameCubes with Digital output
- At $150 it is still a significant financial investment
- No way to update firmware
- Molded composite connectors
- Some force used to plug into the ports
- Not available in Spice Orange

Should You Buy One?
If you have a GameCube with the Digital Video Output and you want the best quality you can get, the GCHD MkII ticks all the boxes in the right way. The quality of the audio and video is amazing, it's wild to see how well the GameCube graphics have aged when passed through the GCHD MkII. Yes, it is an investment, and yes, there are cheaper options out there. But there's a reason why major Smash Brothers and Mario Kart Tournaments have chosen Eon Gaming as their solution of choice. This just works, and it works tremendously well on a variety of displays.

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)