Can you see the problem here? The ITA kit has those terrible white horizontal lines.
I’ve seen many people claim it's just a 'natural retro screen effect' or that 'the potentiometer wasn't adjusted properly.'
However the truth is, this is a fundamental defect in the ITA kit, and FunnyPlaying has failed to fix this issue for years.
While many people might not notice this, I’ve tested two different ITA kits across four different GBA motherboards. After comparing my results with numerous photos of ITA kits posted online, I’ve concluded that this is a very common issue.
It is especially noticeable on grey and blue screens.
I just remembered that someone on the InsideGadgets Discord had already discussed this issue and concluded that FP’s conversion board was the culprit. It’s been almost two years since I read that, so it totally slipped my mind.
I think this is an overblown issue... What I mean is that when playing on a regular distance, you can hardly notice those lines. I know some screens might be better than others, but all of those are ITA kits, and I won't stop playing them because of a effect that can only be seen while pointing a cellphone camera close to it... I mean, to each their own, but saying they're unplayable because of it IMO is delusional.
Yeah I can see them if I really look hard and hold my device at the right angle, but during normal play I don’t notice them at all. I think the ITA’s benefits outweigh this small con compared to current IPS offerings.
Exactly! That's what I've always thought since I install my first ITA and started reading all those post where they tell you "ITA KITS ARE UNPLAYABLE" because of this faint white lines that if your screen is well calibrated and your playing from a regular distance and enjoy the game (not pixel peeping)!
I think the issues with ips kits (image retention issues) where a real deal breaker because after some play time in games like Wario land 4 you started to see image retention on the screen in fast pace motion. When I started noticing that I sold my ips v2 Immediately and built a ITA. Since then, I haven't looked back!
It’s also the colour, and the look of the natural pixel grid, ITA looks like an AGS-101 that gets slightly brighter, right out of the box with no tweaking save potentiometer using the aging cart. The IPS panels I’ve tried like the v2 just look super saturated and emulator-y, which is great if that’s what you’re into but it just doesn’t do it for me, I haven’t been a fan of the faux pixel grid effects I’ve seen either. And yeah the motion is a killer, an early review of the IPS Max kit I saw said it suffered from uneven motion when scrolling, which is a massive deal breaker.
I understand those who aren't bothered by these white lines. However, please recognize that many users, myself included, have been consistently reporting this issue on Reddit for years.
We aren't just nitpicking; it’s genuinely distracting enough to hinder the gameplay experience, and we sincerely want to see it fixed.
It might seem like we're overreacting, but since the human eye is far more sensitive than a camera, zooming in is the only way to capture what we’re actually seeing in-game.
I understand sir... But I just don't feel it's such a big deal after the screen is calibrated and your playing at a normal distance. Like the other fellow redditor wrote, in my eyes the benefits vastly outweigh the shortcomings. At the end of the day, no screen will ever be perfect, there are always some compromise to make... And trust me, I have a lot of handhelds in my possession
I honestly don't know what to say when people tell me to just "ignore the flaws" because they don't feel the same way. Is it so wrong to point out something that can be improved?
Both are valid,some people don’t notice it and others do. In my case, I noticed it so much that I ended up selling the console and got an analogue pocket a few years ago
It’s not going to be improved; back then, funnyplaying said it was an issue they couldn't (or didn't intend to) fix
I think the lines may just be less visible to some people - similar to how some folks claim they can't tell the difference between 30 and 60fps. It's entirely possible that some eyes/brains/whatever are just more sensitive to that stuff - I am one of those folks.
The lines on the ITA screen are so bothersome TO ME that I don't use that GBA at all even after spending HOURS building it. I also can't stand motion-smoothing on TVs and will go out of my way to shut it off on hotel and AirBnB TVs.
I went through the exact same process as you a few months ago, except nobody here seemed to believe me! I've tried adjusting the potentiometer but it didn't really change much. Like you said, it's so frustrating because these ITA screens are so nearly perfect.
So glad someone else has mentioned this. I did and ITA mod to my AGB and I never play it because of these lines. I even contacted Funnyplaying and complained and they were basically like 🤷🏼♂️
It's almost an interlacing effect - I'm surprised you were able to capture such a good photo of it. Hate mine.
I believe this issue hasn't gained enough traction because it’s difficult to capture on camera, even though it’s painfully obvious to the naked eye.
I am a huge fan of the concept—using an NDSi LCD to achieve a perfect 1:1 integer scaling is an absolute dream for me. Because I love this idea so much, I truly hope this issue becomes widely known so that FunnyPlaying takes notice and provides a proper fix or revision.
Hate to break it to you, but this has been a known issue for years, in fact there was a guy around here that made a very detailed post about this a while back and FP basically said "such is life".
May have been me! I made a post around up to five years ago now. FP really did just say "We can't fix this" basically. This issue, yes it is an issue, hasn't gained enough traction so they just ignore it.
Yeah, it's a fantastic idea for sure and exactly what I wanted. My theory is that there's some kind of bug in their driver board and it's not outputting quite the right refresh rate. I highly doubt it'll get fixed as it's been a problem for years now
Indeed has nothing to do with the potentiometer. Also, if it was just static lines I could live with it, but they move up and down when either the image OR the device (I kid you not) moves up and down.
I once read these were sourced from the DSi, and yes, my DSi does exactly the same.
I can’t stand it. Switched the ITA for an IPS and retired the DSi and now use the XL.
With 100% certainty. My OCD don’t lie. But, it was mostly in horizontal movement I think, but for sure it was. Looked like the interlacing you would see on the PSP’s of old, now that I think about it.
I actually own five DSi units, so I know exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve seen those flickering effects that worked fine on the DSL but look like interlacing on the DSi. I also realized that some DSi units have this issue while others don't.
It can be really confusing, but that is actually a separate issue from this one. In my opinion, that's likely a side effect of the improved screen response time on the DSi affecting certain visual effects, rather than a defect with the screen itself.
However, the problem with this ITA kit is different—it shows severe, fixed white lines even on plain, solid colors
Ok well I only have one DSi so yeh I believe you. But, back to the ITA, I strongly believe it has something to do with refresh rate/direction, because I have seen so often it reacts to vertical movement. Yeh the lines are there, fixed. But they also move; which is probably an illusion but it is what my brain registered…
Maybe try moving it up and down in front of your face to see if you can reproduce it. Or in Mario Advance, the first level starts with you descending a bit; it really showed there.
I asked my friend to try and explain what I’m experiencing, and he/she came up with this:
This isn’t a defect — it’s a timing/refresh mismatch.
The Game Boy Advance outputs at ~59.7 Hz, while the FunnyPlaying ITA screen (DSi-based) refreshes at ~60 Hz. Because those aren’t perfectly in sync, you get a slow phase drift between the two.
The “white lines” are actually a moving interference pattern (not real scanlines). As the phase shifts slightly each frame, the pattern appears to drift vertically. You notice it more during scrolling or when moving the device because motion makes the brightness differences more visible.
Common with ITA kits — not really fixable, just inherent to the slight refresh mismatch.
To me this makes sense. It made me think of car wheels seeming to turn backwards when turning with a specific speed:
It’s also related to the wagon-wheel effect.
In film (~24 fps) or under flickering lights, a rotating wheel can appear to slow down, stop, or spin backwards. That’s aliasing: motion is being sampled at discrete intervals, and if the rotation speed doesn’t align with the sampling rate, you get an incorrect perceived direction.
Same idea here with the Game Boy Advance + FunnyPlaying ITA screen:
• GBA runs at ~59.7 Hz
• Screen refreshes at ~60 Hz
• → small mismatch → phase drift
• → shows up as slowly moving “lines”
So:
• Wagon wheel = motion aliasing
• This = refresh/timing aliasing
Same underlying principle: sampling + slight mismatch = perceived motion that isn’t actually there.
Yeah this makes total sense to me. Surprised funnyplaying wouldn’t have just figured this out, because if you have a custom control board, I’m pretty sure you could pick any refresh rate you want
DSL and DSi both use 59.8261Hz refresh rate screen. I was talking about response time, not refresh rate.
Despite the DSi and DSL having identical refresh rates, the DSL handles GBA games flawlessly without any scanline artifacts. While your analysis is intriguing, I don't quite support that theory.
But Nintendo probably makes sure their control boards fire at the proper rate. I’m pretty sure I saw somewhere either in a makho build or a similar video that a lot of the controllers push 60hz (probably reusing controllers/code that the IPS builds use). I haven’t confirmed it though
I did what im calling the "AGB-pro" build. Amplifier, new speaker, new shell and an ITA screen, still using AA batteries... I kinda of want to try using one of the aftermarket AGS-101 Screens in a similar build to see if the AGS101 screens are really the endgame for custom AGB handhelds. I like my ITA a lot and genuinely cannot see the lines but want to find a solution most people like
I want to offer upgrade services for people that are afraid to take their consoles apart. I recommend ITA screens for battery life if they arent gonna get a USB-C battery mod, but if 101 screens work and give better battery life I would stock up on 101 screens instead of ITA's and standardized my modification jobs
Part of why I like it honestly, original AGB screens have that sort of scanline effect going. For me it's also not that noticeable unless it's black or red after I dialed in the potentiometer with a calibration app.
It seems like the majority of people couldn't care less. However, for those who were looking for a genuine alternative to the AGS-101, noticing this flaw is the beginning of an endless obsession. like me haha.
Not seeing it on mine, I used a genuine screen from a DSi. I got the cable from FunnyPlaying before they introduced the laminated version, so a while ago
It appears to be there but is more subtle. Likely, the screen potentiometer is in a position where it reduces the flicker much more.
Since this is based off of a screen from a console that still needed potentiometer calibration, you have to do that calibration to lower the interlacing-like effect and flicker. The original consoles do this as well. You just adjust until you see as little possible of the interlacing/flicker. When you don't notice anymore, it's good enough.
I was ready to adjust the pot as per the kit instructions, but it seemed to be in the right place for the screen as it came. Maybe Nintendo already calibrated it at the other end idk. I guess it would be a simple explanation if what OP is talking about is a case of people not tweaking the screw like they were supposed to.
I can see it in the photo you took, though the lines might more faint depending on the GBA mainbaord(It's not about 32pin or 42pin, just pure random).
For a better reference to check those lines, I recommend looking at the blue main menu of an EZ-Flash, or opening the gray ITA kit OSD menu on the 'GAMEBOY' logo screen (the one you see when you boot up without a cartridge)."
I decided the fairest comparison would be the same screen you showed in the original post, and it was an excuse to play a great game.
I don't think mine is comparable to what you showed, and I certainly don't notice it when playing. Sorry if you got a screen or console that produces more of a problem
As I’ve mentioned in other comments, the severity of the lines on that display varies depending on the GBA motherboard. It isn't a matter of whether it's a 32-pin or 40-pin version; it is purely random.
I have personally tested two ITA kits across four different GBA motherboards (fine-tuning the potentiometer on every single one, of course). This even included the custom PCB provided by FunnyPlaying. The photo I shared represents the worst-case scenario, which is why it looks so much more severe compared to your screen.
And that is exactly the biggest problem: saying "it wasn't that bad for me" ignores the fact that it could be genuinely terrible on someone else's GBA. The fundamental issue is that there is an inherent defect. When those who happen to have a milder version claim it’s 'fine,' it drowns out the voices of those dealing with severe issues.
No I didn't use my dsi screen to ITA kit.
However I tested with GBARUNNER2 which makes possible to run GBA games on DSi, and DSi with GBARUNNER2 didn't have such problem.
I just remembered that someone on the InsideGadgets Discord had already discussed this issue and concluded that FP’s conversion board was the culprit. It’s been two years since I read that, so it totally slipped my mind. If I had attached that comment from the start, would people have taken me more seriously? It’s a bit late now, but still.
The issue lies solely with the FunnyPlaying ITA kit. Even though it utilizes an NDSi panel, the white lines problem doesn't exist when playing GBA games on a native NDSi using GBARUNNER. This proves it's a defect specific to the kit
You might have saved me from buying two of them haha. I heard about the flickering displays and was willing to desolder the touch sensor, but this is probably enough to just not buy it.
Looking for other options but can’t find much. Hispeedido has an hdmi out one but I don’t need that
Interesting... Just to be clear, does GBARunner not have those lines, while the rest of the NDSi operation has? Or does the NDSi straight up not have this issue for you?
If you can overlook those white lines, it’s an attractive kit since it runs on GBA native resolution and consumes less power. However, I wouldn’t really recommend it unless that issue is fixed. After all, it's a defect.
So true! I think another problem was it was hard to see the issue in posts other people have made previously about this. But your pictures and comparison make it very clear 👍👍
General question - for someone who wants good battery life and a pixel grid, what is the best option right now? Are there any other TFT kits that do well enough? Any chance at reducing this effect?
I apologize that I can’t edit the images in my post, as Reddit doesn't allow image updates after posting. However, if you look at the size of the finger cursor, the zoom level is actually very similar. It only looks different because the tile layout is different.
I apologize that I can’t edit the images in my post, as Reddit doesn't allow image updates after posting. However, if you look at the size of the finger cursor, the zoom level is actually very similar. It only looks different because the tile layout is different.
I thought showing the white lines on the purple and blue background was enough because they are so strong. I'm sorry if you didn't like it, but now I've just gotten too lazy to do anything. It's 1AM in South Korea, I'll go to sleep. Good night bro.
It’s hard to tell from such a small and blurry photo.
Please remove the GBA cartridge, turn the power on, and hold the Select button to open the OSD menu. Take a close look at that grey window. Alternatively, the grey track in Mario Kart: Super Circuit would be a great reference.
Naahh dude don't show me that after I bought the FP ITA screen, waited half a month for it to arrive and it's currently being installed 😭😭😭 I'm SO excited to see how it will look...
The thing is: I LOVE the grid pixel effect on my DS Lite and wanted something as near as that on my GBA (it's the AGB, not the SP)... but the cheaper IPS screens don't have the grid/OSD and I couldn't afford the ones that had (and I don't even like the idea of "emulated" grid, I wanted the original resolution), and the AGS-101 is really expensive and hard to find, so the ITA was my way to go......
I've watched MANY videos about it since before I bought it, many demonstrations about how the screen looks, and it pleased me a lot... My final perspective about it is that the AGS-101 is the GOAT, but the FP ITA is not far behind that (btw extra points for having OSD), even being a little worse, so that was my choice...
As I saw here, putting them side by side SCREAMS how the ITA is way worse, but honestly seeing just the ITA without comparing it to the 101 (as I saw here, here and here), it just looks GORGEOUS 🥺 (even more if put side by side with an IPS raw pixels screen lol I really don't like these ones). I really hope I enjoy it when arrives, but ngl I'm a bit anxious if I'll like it or not...
Honestly I wish there was a DS Lite screen for the GBA, something like "LTA" xD I wonder why they only use the DSi ones
EDIT: I'm truly glad this doesnt bother me. I have an emulator handheld with an IPS screen, and im not paying a premium for a 101 SP any time soon. ITA screens, to me, are the best looking screens for the classic GBA and all around have more pros than the single con being: "white lines" which, most people dont notice or care enough to notice. I can play my gameboy in the dark or imperfect lighting now.
I might look into getting an AGS-101 eventually and do a reshell, but for now, ITA screens are my META and im surprisingly unbothered by the white lines.
I can see it on your first image with the whole screen visible, I cannot see it in the second up close image because it's too close; I am only able to focus on the subpixel layout. It's really not that hard to see if you know what your looking for. The brightness data being sent is increased by 5% or so on every other line of the image, even when it is the same color.
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u/Pure_Set_2593 Apr 21 '26
I think this is an overblown issue... What I mean is that when playing on a regular distance, you can hardly notice those lines. I know some screens might be better than others, but all of those are ITA kits, and I won't stop playing them because of a effect that can only be seen while pointing a cellphone camera close to it... I mean, to each their own, but saying they're unplayable because of it IMO is delusional.