RGB Mod Experts..

[Family Computer]

I am thinking about making the jump to RGB for my retro consoles. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if it is capable to output RGB on the following consoles...

Japanese Famicom (Original)
Japanese AV Famicom (Looks like Top-Loading NES)
Japanese Super Famicom (Original not Jr.)

US Sega CDX

I know there is a Japanese RGB Cable that fits the video out port on the back of the Super Famicom & AV Famicom (Same exact port), but I am not sure if it puts out true RGB on both consoles.

[mario2butts]

Japanese Famicom (Original): No, RF only as far as I know
Japanese AV Famicom (Looks like Top-Loading NES): No, composite or RF only
Japanese Super Famicom (Original not Jr.): Yes

US Sega CDX: Yes, uses same connector as model 2 Genesis (I think)

RGB is definately the way to go if you can jump through the necessary hoops. This has been discussed a lot on the forums, use the search and I'm sure you'll find tons of info. Another good site to check out would be www.gamesx.com for cable pinouts, mod instructions, etc.

Right now I have my Genesis 2/ Sega CD 2 combo, SNES, Saturn, and Playstation running in RGB through an XRGB-3 upscan converter (outputs 480p over VGA) which I connect to either my Sony FW900 CRT monitor or Infocus 4805 DLP projector. The results are awesome.

[Family Computer]

Thanks for the info...so there is no feasible way to get RGB out of a Famicom?

Also, for the Super Famicom/CDX, all you need is the Japanese RGB Cable in order to get true RGB?

Also, there are mods to get at least composite out of an original Famicom.

[mario2butts]

Feasible, no. But there is a way. At least, it applies to the US NES, I assume a Famicom mod would be similar. It involves swapping the NES' PPU with that of a Playchoice-10 arcade board, which outputs RGB. However, the parts are expensive and hard to come by, the mod itself is very difficult, and some games may have messed up color. Not worth it IMO. With a decent composite monitor you should get a very good picture. With a lot of finagling and tweaking I got my NES running through my XRGB-3 via compisite with a very good picture. For more info:

http://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:av_mods
Click me!

Premade RGB cables do exist for the SFC/SNES, Genesis/MegaDrive2/CDX, and many other consoles. The problem is that there is no universally accepted connection standard. In Europe the SCART connector is used; its a big, weird, rectangular looking plug designed for European TVs that accept RGB. Most "RGB" cables you'll find on ebay, playasia, etc are SCART cables. The Japanese use a cable with a connector that looks like a SCART connector but is actually wired differently, this is often called JSCART or JRGB. These cables only work with Japanese TVS with the proper input or the XRGB series of upscan converters. JSCART/JRGB cables are much harder to come by.

What kind of monitor will you be using with your consoles? The old Commodore/Amiga RGB monitors and Sony PVMs use their own wacky connector so you'll have to build adapters to use SCART cables and the like. My solution was to steal this guy's idea:

Click me!

1) Buy SCART cables cheap online, cut off the SCART connector and replace with 6 RCA jacks (one each for R,G,B, Sync, Left Audio, Right Audio).
2) Plug all consoles into a common component video/composite video/LR audio switch like the Pelican System Selector Pro.
3) Build an output cable that goes from 6RCA to the connector that your monitor needs.

So in short, RGB is very possible for your SFC and CDX, the main issues are getting a proper RGB monitor if you don't have one already, and then getting the cables to connect to that monitor.

[Family Computer]

Thanks for the detailed information.

I haven't decided upon which monitor to go with, but I was thinking about a 20" Sony Broadcast monitor or similar. I wanted to do all the research beforehand. I am a little disappointed that there is no RGB for Famicom, however, because along with the Super Famicom it is my primary interest. I also plan to purchase an MSX Computer so I wanted all 3 to be hooked up to the Monitor. My guess is that the broadcast monitors can also take composite video inputs, so that would probably be my best option.

[mario2butts]

I've heard good things about the Sony PVMs. They're supposed to be very good at displaying composite, so your Fami should look great. Here's a thread on gamesx with detailed info on the Sony PVM 2030 and its RGB input:

http://nfggames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2209&hl=

I don't really know anything about the MSX so I'm not sure what kind of cables you'd use with it, but here's a SCART cable for MD2/Genesis2. I'm fairly certain this will also work with a CDX, but I don't have a CDX so I can't confirm 100%:

http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NCS-RGB05.html

And an *official* JRGB/JSCART cable for SNES/SFC:

http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/SHVC-010.html

I bought these exact cables, and after hacking them, they worked fine. Once you have the cables its a matter of hacking off the SCART end and taking it apart, using the pinout diagrams on gamesx to figure out what's what (you need R,G,B,Sync,L,R, and ground) and playing connect the dots with whatever connector the monitor uses.

[kazuo]

The AV Fami can display RGB with the proper modification. Requires you to swap out the PPU.

Basically, any console can output RGB... with the right mods. Is this what the OP is asking? Or is the OP asking what outputs RGB without a mod?

The CD-X AFAIK does not output RGB without a mod. If all it needs is a Genny 2-pinned RGB cable let me know, cause I'll be keeping my CDXif that's the case (I just picked up a RGB cable pinned for the Genny 2/32X).

SuperFamicom (NOT the revised model) will output RGB with no mods, just needs the cable.

Someone should REALLY make a definitive list of what consoles natively output RGB with no mods, which ones need a PPU change or other slight mods, etcetc

I'll start!

Native RGB Output (no mods)
----------------------------------------
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive (Model 1)
Super Nintendo / Super FamiCom (Model 1)
Sega Saturn
Sony Playstation (Non-PSOne models)
Sony Playstation 2 (Early models only)

Known Modifications for RGB
----------------------------------------
AV FamiCom - Needs a PPU swap
Nintendo64 - Needs a few points connected, and possibly an amp

As previously mentioned, http://www.gamesx.com/ is a great source for RGB info, and general tech info on consoles, esp. RGB output/mods.

Hope this helps!

Also, feeding anything other than RGB into a XRGB* is kind of a waste, imo. But to each their own.