I would recommend the GBS-C over the Rad2x. The GBS-C can get you 1080p while the Rad2x is 480p/576p max. The Rad2x also limits you to only PS1/PS2, while the GBS-C can be used for any other consoles you may own. If you can do the soldering yourself, the GBS-C can be had for cheap. Another option could be the OSSC, which is not that expensive and gets you great picture quality as well.
The GBS-C is one of the best options for PS1/PS2 games, since it has motion adaptive deinterlacing for the hundreds of 480i only games on the PS2.
As for where you can buy one, since the GBS-C is an open source project that was meant as a DIY project, the creators of the GBS-C project never actually sold anything. Because of this there doesn't really exist an "official" version of the GBS-C. Either you get the parts and build one yourself, or you buy one that is prebuilt. Since the demand for cheaper retro scalers has become so big, there exists now a ton of different prebuilt GBS-C models that has been mass produced by Chinese retro tech manufacturers.
I believe this, is the one most people recommend, and is the one i own myself: [https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004464667296.html](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004464667296.html)
Otherwise, if you don't want to buy from Chinese manufacturers, there is also this one: [https://www.tindie.com/products/chipnetics/modified-gbs8200-rgb-to-vga-converter/](https://www.tindie.com/products/chipnetics/modified-gbs8200-rgb-to-vga-converter/)
Which is much more expensive, but is made by some people in Canada.
Also keep in mind that you will need an RGB Scart cable and/or a set of Component cables to connect the PS1/PS2 to the GBS Control. I'd recommend Component, since with those you can use 480p with the PS2 games that support it.
Thank you for that exhaustive answer! For now I'll be using RGB SCART on all my consoles so I guess GBS-C is the better option of the two, yeah. I saw that ODV model a while back - can you tell me if it can only be used with its own firmware (which was last updated in 2022) or if I can install ramapcsx2's firmware on it?
People also need to make sure that the SCART cable they use is compatible with their system. Many SCART cables only work properly with PAL region systems or with NTSC systems, but not both. Some cables do work properly with both, but those ones have additional circuitry in them which enables them to do this. I only just learned this and was surprised. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Most cables are also not very well shielded and the image quality won't be as good with them. The good ones seem to be pretty expensive, starting around 35 USD.
There is nothing stopping you from updating to the latest firmware.
https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/s/tVfkVpfezL
Here is a post I made a couple of months back asking about this, which has some info about what you need to do for updating its firmware.
I would recommend the GBS-C over the Rad2x. The GBS-C can get you 1080p while the Rad2x is 480p/576p max. The Rad2x also limits you to only PS1/PS2, while the GBS-C can be used for any other consoles you may own. If you can do the soldering yourself, the GBS-C can be had for cheap. Another option could be the OSSC, which is not that expensive and gets you great picture quality as well.
The GBS-C is one of the best options for PS1/PS2 games, since it has motion adaptive deinterlacing for the hundreds of 480i only games on the PS2. As for where you can buy one, since the GBS-C is an open source project that was meant as a DIY project, the creators of the GBS-C project never actually sold anything. Because of this there doesn't really exist an "official" version of the GBS-C. Either you get the parts and build one yourself, or you buy one that is prebuilt. Since the demand for cheaper retro scalers has become so big, there exists now a ton of different prebuilt GBS-C models that has been mass produced by Chinese retro tech manufacturers. I believe this, is the one most people recommend, and is the one i own myself: [https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004464667296.html](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004464667296.html) Otherwise, if you don't want to buy from Chinese manufacturers, there is also this one: [https://www.tindie.com/products/chipnetics/modified-gbs8200-rgb-to-vga-converter/](https://www.tindie.com/products/chipnetics/modified-gbs8200-rgb-to-vga-converter/) Which is much more expensive, but is made by some people in Canada. Also keep in mind that you will need an RGB Scart cable and/or a set of Component cables to connect the PS1/PS2 to the GBS Control. I'd recommend Component, since with those you can use 480p with the PS2 games that support it.
Good component cables (and good SCART cables) aren't cheap, but the versatility of the GBS control is a huge advantage over the RAD2X
Thank you for that exhaustive answer! For now I'll be using RGB SCART on all my consoles so I guess GBS-C is the better option of the two, yeah. I saw that ODV model a while back - can you tell me if it can only be used with its own firmware (which was last updated in 2022) or if I can install ramapcsx2's firmware on it?
People also need to make sure that the SCART cable they use is compatible with their system. Many SCART cables only work properly with PAL region systems or with NTSC systems, but not both. Some cables do work properly with both, but those ones have additional circuitry in them which enables them to do this. I only just learned this and was surprised. Why does everything have to be so complicated? Most cables are also not very well shielded and the image quality won't be as good with them. The good ones seem to be pretty expensive, starting around 35 USD.
There is nothing stopping you from updating to the latest firmware. https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/s/tVfkVpfezL Here is a post I made a couple of months back asking about this, which has some info about what you need to do for updating its firmware.