Dreamcast VGA box to HDMI?

[megasdkirby]

I don't know if this belongs in the restoration subforum (since I'm not technically repairing anything), but feel free to move this topic if need be. :)

I've recently connected my Dreamcast to my old Panasonic 26" LCD via composite connections.

The quality is much to be desired. Not that it's bad, just not what I was expecting.

So I plan on getting a Dreamcast VGA box (generic at this time, since I hear tha the official brands are very expensive). I read that it will increase the picture quality quite a bit. However, my TV does not have any VGA connectors, only composite, s-video, component, and one HDMI connector.

So I kept searching and found that, supposedly, I can use a VGA to HDMI cable to connect my Dreamcast to the HDMI port of the TV. However:

1)Will this reduce the quality or somehow hamper it?

2)Will it actually work?

3)Can I use a VGA to component cable instead?

4)Any benefits from using this setup?

A long time ago, I remember using a DVI to HDMI cable from my computer to the same TV, and it looked like shit.

Any suggestions? :)

[Kitsune Sniper]

You're still going to need some additional RCA audio cables if you go the HDMI route, just so you know.

And, some games will not work in VGA mode, even after patching. So VGA to HDMI conversion will not be possible. :(

[megasdkirby]

I read somethinga about that, supposedly games that lacked the "IP.BIN" file cannot use the VGA box.

I'm trying to find a compatibility list, to see if it's feasible.

Oh, and thanks for reminding me about the audio RCA ports. Forgot that VGA was video only. LOL

[Kitsune Sniper]

Search for VGA Box Compatibility, you'll get a link to a forum I'm not sure I can link to because I think it has roms. :p

[j_factor]

You cannot use a VGA to HDMI cable. You need an actual signal converter that will convert (analog) VGA to (digital) HDMI. Many of them also scale. Like this one (http://sewelldirect.com/Component-VGA-to-HDMI-Scaler-720p.asp). This one (http://sewelldirect.com/AITech-VGA-to-HDMI-Format-Converter.asp) does not scale, but still costs $90. There are very cheap VGA to component cables (http://www.amazon.com/6ft-component-video-cable-HD15/dp/B000FM3EQ0) available but they won't work on Dreamcast. I believe those cables are (most commonly) for connecting a component device to something with VGA input, like a projector. As the Dreamcast's VGA is RGBHV (meaning five wires for red, green, blue, horizontal sync, and vertical sync), you can't get to YPbPr (component, three wires for luma, blue minus luma, and red minus luma) without converting the signal. Something like this (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000G6Y0S6/ref=asc_df_B000G6Y0S61035257?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=googlecom09c9-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B000G6Y0S6) is required. Again, not cheap. Also if you're shopping around for these, be careful, as there are some that only support 480i, and it's easy to confuse them for converters that go in the other direction (component to VGA). There are some of these that scale, but with a quick search, I could only find one that scales to 1080i.