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View Full Version : Connecting Console to PC monitor.



Dirty Tiger
07-21-2003, 05:49 AM
I am a Reborn Gamer so forgive my ignorance:
Can this be done? Methinks it be so judging from some of the pics' in the game Room.

Can somebody wise me up? *_*

maxlords
07-21-2003, 08:00 AM
Get an Amiga monitor...they have AV inputs...very simple! :)

Quazick
07-21-2003, 08:15 AM
Get an Amiga monitor...they have AV inputs...very simple! :)

OR..

You can get a VGA Box that converts the AV signal to VGA...

chadtower
07-21-2003, 08:16 AM
I have been looking at these... Gamestop sells one for about $50. I started a thread asking if they're any good but no one really gave opinions. Any opinions?

Quazick
07-21-2003, 08:18 AM
If I remember correctly Lik-Sang.com sells them for a good price..

I could be wrong though..

chadtower
07-21-2003, 08:22 AM
Nope... I didn't see anything at lik-sang that was like the one at gamestop.

The one at gamestop:

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=801664

AB Positive
07-21-2003, 08:49 AM
The only thing that works properly in this situation is the Dreamcast-specific ones. Sega made VGA boxes that turn the DC's signat to a true VGA signal. Otherwise it's a messy conversion. I don't recommend them except for the DC unless you have a RGB monitor and are doing conversions, which are supposedly the best way to get a picture.

-AG

chadtower
07-21-2003, 08:51 AM
Well, I realize that you're not going to get signal improvement from one of these. An svideo converted is still only going to be svideo quality at the most. The question is, does it retain svideo quality, or is it degraded during the conversion?

AB Positive
07-21-2003, 09:01 AM
Ah, whoops. I meant to add that. I'm sure the quality does degrade, and in some cases badly.

There's more info at... crap. Anthony1 had the link in the RGB mod thread. that site is great for video for system stuff.

-AG

chadtower
07-21-2003, 09:07 AM
I'm not really interested in hardware mods. I'm just looking for the best way to display the native video outs available on each system. Since I've just found out my old Zenith isn't compatible with Genny and probably any Sony boxes anyway, guess I have to pick up a new tv for that area.

dr mario kart
07-21-2003, 08:19 PM
lots of tv cards and graphics cards will do it. I use the all-in-wonder 9700 pro.

Anthony1
07-21-2003, 09:56 PM
The best route to take, is the RGB route. Almost all of these systems output a RGB signal. RGB is the best video signal you can possibly get. I'm currently playing my Sega Saturn, Atari Jaguar, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis in beautifull RGB. There is nothing better. You really haven't fully seen what a video game system is capable of, until you've seen it on a RGB monitor in TRUE RGB.

Check this out, to find out more about what I speak....

http://atarilabs.com/meat/2000/1201_rgbprimer.shtml

Basically, you need 3 main things to experience the dream that is RGB.

1. You need a system that outputs a RGB signal. The TurboGrafx-16, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Sega CD, 32X, Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, Neo-Geo and Nintendo 64 all output a RGB signal. Although the N64 must be internally modified to output a RGB signal.

2. You need a RGB monitor. Like a Commodore 1084 that can be found at thrift stores and flea markets in the 20 buck range. Or even on Ebay.

3. You need a specialized cable that will hook the two together so that the TRUE rgb signal from the console, reaches the monitor to be displayed properly in RGB bliss.

The hardest part is definitely # 3. Getting the cables. Right now, I'm learning how to make my own cables. Although I've just started. The cables that I have for my Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn and Atari Jaguar, I all got from a company called Redmond Cable. Unfortunately, they no longer make RGB cables for game consoles.

However, if you have any technical skill, and can learn how to solder two wires together, then you can go to www.atarilabs.com or www.gamesx.com, and learn everything you need to know, to make your own cables. That's what I'm doing right now. I'm in the process of trying to make my own TG-16 RGB cable, and my own PSone RGB cable.

chadtower
07-22-2003, 08:25 AM
Hrm... I'm going to check that out. I'm not interested in modding consoles, but if you can find a way to get the rgb out without a mod... that is pretty sweet.

EDIT: I'm reading up on gamesx.com now... I can do this. Maybe I'll give this a shot some time in the future.

SoulBlazer
07-22-2003, 10:00 AM
Wht if you don't have a montior, but just want the best picture you can get on a regular TV? Oh, and mine is too old for composite scan. There's only one S-Video plug, and thats being used by a router box where I have all my systems connected to through AV cables (PS2, GC, Sega CD, 3DO, and N64).

Anthony1
07-22-2003, 12:07 PM
Wht if you don't have a montior, but just want the best picture you can get on a regular TV? Oh, and mine is too old for composite scan. There's only one S-Video plug, and thats being used by a router box where I have all my systems connected to through AV cables (PS2, GC, Sega CD, 3DO, and N64).


For less than 50 bucks, probably in the 30 buck range, you can go get a analog RGB monitor that would work with these systems. I have a Commodore 1084S-D1 RGB monitor. These are very good for playing games in RGB. You can find them at thrift stores and flea markets, or on the internet.

If you think S-Video is an improvement, just wait till you see RGB!

chadtower
07-22-2003, 12:22 PM
Maybe YOU can find them at thrifts and fleas... I've only seen one in my entire life. I'd imagine with shipping it would end up like $100 from ebay...