Anyone have a Gamecube component cable?

[PizzaKat]

Was just searching to buy one since I'm about reorganize my game consoles layout. I remember seeing this on Ebay a few years back and now its even more expensive. Bids going over 100. Does anyone personally have one and is it light years beyond the composite cableS?

[Mr Mort]

On the right television, it can make a big difference. If you have a CRT that does component & 480p, games will look much better. F-Zero GX looks fantastic using them.


Then again, you can also get the same results with a backwards-compatible Wii and component cables. It may be a little cheaper that way.

[xelement5x]

Yes, if you're going to use if for Gamecube games it's a total waste as you can buy a Wii with component cables for less than the cost of GameCube component cables.

The real place it shines is if you use it with the Game Boy Player.

[BetaWolf47]

It does make a huge difference on just 480i. Say you have a very late CRT with component that can't do progressive scan... the difference is still there. But yeah, I'll echo what everyone else said on a BC Wii and component cables for that system, unless you plan on using it for Game Boy Player.

[bb_hood]

So, would using a gamecube brand component cable be better than using a scart cable going to a rgb box?

Also doing a quick google search shows you can get a madcatz universal component cable for about 20$, so why would the nintendo brand cable be so much?

[Leo_A]

Scart can't do 480p. And those generic universal component cables include composite connections which are the only part of it which will work on a GameCube. They lack the embedded encoder that's necessary and which is why the official cables were expensive and never cloned, so they don't work as component cables when plugged into a GCN.

[Niku-Sama]

Man I'd take the risk and bid on one of the 100 dollar sets on eBay but I know when I do I'm going to find a set at a thrift for a reasonable price

[theclaw]

RGB from scart needs a PAL console. Specifically what caused that, I don't know.
I've never seen technical documentation on Gamecube's internal video encoder. The component cable one appears better understood.

[Niku-Sama]

I wonder if theres a way ala A/V mod style mod to get component out on a gamecube.
it almost seems as if all the info is there in some form or another

[Mayhem]

The essential part of the component cable is the chip in the part that plugs into the GameCube. That's why it costs so much now, because there's no dupe of it. NTSC Cubes supported component, and PAL Cubes supported RGB (in fact no PAL game has 480p present). A couple of enterprising folks in the UK did hack together a component and A/V cable to allow RGB out of an NTSC Cube, but that's the only way you're getting it. I have two of those leads here along with a proper component cable (bought cheap-ish from Play Asia when they were still in stock!).

[Gamevet]

I wouldn't waste your money on it for a 480i display. It really shines with an HD-CRT. You could try out S-Video, that works just fine for 480i, and okay for a 480p CRT.

I actually prefer hooking my DC to my HD-CRT, over the VGA box connected to an LCD.

[PizzaKat]

I wouldn't waste your money on it for a 480i display. It really shines with an HD-CRT. You could try out S-Video, that works just fine for 480i, and okay for a 480p CRT.

I actually prefer hooking my DC to my HD-CRT, over the VGA box connected to an LCD.

I was looking to get that as well. Would it be better to put it on my 27 inch Panasonic CRT? Its flat screen

[Gamevet]

I was looking to get that as well. Would it be better to put it on my 27 inch Panasonic CRT? Its flat screen

Yeah, CRT doesn't have all of the crappy filters and upscaling that you have to deal with using flat-panel displays. My DC games looked great on my old VGA CRT, but look like ass on the 24" LCD I replaced it with.

I run most of my classic consoles on a (4:3) 32" Sony Hi-Scan CRT that supports 480i/480p/720p/1080i. I just got an S-Video cable for my C-64 and plugged it into this display yesterday. Everything was crisp and easy to see on the screen; it was much better than dragging out my 1084s monitor every time I wanted to mess around with my C-64.

I have a 27" Sony Wega SD display sitting right next to it for light gun games and I had my original Xbox connected to it using component, before getting the Hi-Scan display.

[theclaw]

The essential part of the component cable is the chip in the part that plugs into the GameCube. That's why it costs so much now, because there's no dupe of it. NTSC Cubes supported component, and PAL Cubes supported RGB (in fact no PAL game has 480p present). A couple of enterprising folks in the UK did hack together a component and A/V cable to allow RGB out of an NTSC Cube, but that's the only way you're getting it. I have two of those leads here along with a proper component cable (bought cheap-ish from Play Asia when they were still in stock!).

NTSC cubes have s-video not component. While PAL cubes include the digital output, it's little point without at least a way to force 480p.

Another rarer need for that chip is getting color in 50hz from NTSC cubes. Standard A/V turns black and white.

[Leo_A]

NTSC cubes have s-video not component.

NTSC GameCube's outside of very late production support component which is why this thread exists in the first place.

[theclaw]

NTSC GameCube's outside of very late production support component which is why this thread exists in the first place.

In practice sure. Technically has nothing to do with NTSC or PAL, its chip bypasses that.

[Leo_A]

What are you talking about? You said that NTSC GameCube's don't do component and I corrected that since it isn't correct. The official Nintendo component cable from Nintendo's online store is how my GameCube is hooked up at this very moment.

[theclaw]

What are you talking about? You said that NTSC GameCube's don't do component and I corrected that since it isn't correct. The official Nintendo component cable from Nintendo's online store is how my GameCube is hooked up at this very moment.

That was about the analog port, the digital port was referred to in the very next sentence.
Besides PAL GameCubes can do component.

[BetaWolf47]

I wouldn't waste your money on it for a 480i display. It really shines with an HD-CRT. You could try out S-Video, that works just fine for 480i, and okay for a 480p CRT.

Problem here is that the official SNES/N64/GameCube S-Video cable is going up in price as well. You're taking a gamble in the quality of 3rd-party and aftermarket ones. Indeed, my Madcatz S-video cable produces very oversaturated colors.

[theclaw]

Problem here is that the official SNES/N64/GameCube S-Video cable is going up in price as well. You're taking a gamble in the quality of 3rd-party and aftermarket ones. Indeed, my Madcatz S-video cable produces very oversaturated colors.

Wouldn't be surprised, if they're mail order. I thought Nintendo of America never sold s-video cables at retail stores?

[Gamevet]

Problem here is that the official SNES/N64/GameCube S-Video cable is going up in price as well. You're taking a gamble in the quality of 3rd-party and aftermarket ones. Indeed, my Madcatz S-video cable produces very oversaturated colors.

I'm not quite sure who made the S-Video cable that I use with my N64 and SNES. It seems to do an okay job; it's definitely better than when I use composite.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Gotta love how anything Nintendo is gold. I love how there's about 130 sold on ebay completed auctions and there's still several that've broken the $200 mark despite the fact that you can get a Wii for less than $50 almost anywhere now. Is there really some morbid thrill about having to win an auction or something like that?

[theclaw]

Gotta love how anything Nintendo is gold. I love how there's about 130 sold on ebay completed auctions and there's still several that've broken the $200 mark despite the fact that you can get a Wii for less than $50 almost anywhere now. Is there really some morbid thrill about having to win an auction or something like that?

You never know, might be driven by some underground cult of Phantasy Star Online fanboys. LOL
Wii is incompatible with the pathetically supported GC broadband adapter.

[Gamevet]

You never know, might be driven by some underground cult of Phantasy Star Online fanboys. LOL
Wii is incompatible with the pathetically supported GC broadband adapter.

My stupid ass bought the broadband adapter and never used it. I know that you can use it to do some kind of piracy, but I've never bothered to try it.

[Mayhem]

Wouldn't be surprised, if they're mail order. I thought Nintendo of America never sold s-video cables at retail stores?
Not sure, they were sold in stores in the UK during the N64 era (as that was the best video picture you could get on an unmodified PAL N64).

[theclaw]

Not sure, they were sold in stores in the UK during the N64 era (as that was the best video picture you could get on an unmodified PAL N64).

As far as I know Nintendo didn't quite finish s-video on PAL N64. Missing resistors for acceptable brightness apparently.

[RARusk]

There are a few people out there trying to develop an adapter that connects to the digital port that will allow the GC to output HDMI. It might be best to keep an eye on that since it will probably be a better and cheaper alternative than going after the component cables.

[BetaWolf47]

Wouldn't be surprised, if they're mail order. I thought Nintendo of America never sold s-video cables at retail stores?
Picture of an SNES branded one with hangtab is in this thread:
http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=6&threadid=59001

I think they're up in price since they get the best possible video (without modding) for SNES, which is more popular than N64 or GameCube. Guess I'm lucky not to need them, with an SNES Jr. that produces good composite and owning component video cables for GameCube. Would like a set for N64 in the future though.

Also, I'd like to argue that while S-video is good, component cables do provide a sizable improvement over them even on 480i. Keep in mind that a lot of GameCube games cannot do 480p, so having a progressive scan CRT is pointless for them. The improvement is still there with component cables though. IMO, playing those games on a Sony Trinitron with VR enabled, using component cables, is the best way to play them.

[theclaw]

Picture of an SNES branded one with hangtab is in this thread:
http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=6&threadid=59001

I think they're up in price since they get the best possible video (without modding) for SNES, which is more popular than N64 or GameCube. Guess I'm lucky not to need them, with an SNES Jr. that produces good composite and owning component video cables for GameCube. Would like a set for N64 in the future though.

Also, I'd like to argue that while S-video is good, component cables do provide a sizable improvement over them even on 480i. Keep in mind that a lot of GameCube games cannot do 480p, so having a progressive scan CRT is pointless for them. The improvement is still there with component cables though. IMO, playing those games on a Sony Trinitron with VR enabled, using component cables, is the best way to play them.

Looks promising, they've been shown here before. Service center leaflet makes me curious.

US SNES has RGB, easiest to get a third-party cable. Nintendo's PAL or JPN ones aren't right for general use.

Yeah the fact is quite a few NTSC games need hacked 480p. But I haven't seen much interest in it judging by my list's responses.
To be fair I'm pretty sure I lack any way to get reliable pictures.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/qoob-us-jpn-force-480p-compatibility-list.358717/

[BetaWolf47]

US SNES has RGB, easiest to get a third-party cable. Nintendo's PAL or JPN ones aren't right for general use.

What do you mean, "Aren't right for general use"? I didn't realize there were differences between PAL and Japanese S-Video cables.

[theclaw]

What do you mean, "Aren't right for general use"? I didn't realize there were differences between PAL and Japanese S-Video cables.

RGB is not s-video. But yes it applies to both. On the SNES, NTSC or PAL consoles are supposed to use different cables. Nintendo of Europe made hardware changes.

[Mayhem]

Yeah, you need to apply or remove a resistor somewhere iirc.

[BlastProcessing402]

Wouldn't be surprised, if they're mail order. I thought Nintendo of America never sold s-video cables at retail stores?

They did during the SNES era. I bought one from Babbages (which later became GameStop).

And honestly, all the 3rd party multi system s-video cables I've used, and I've used several of them, have been just as good for the Nintendo systems as the official Nintendo one, so long as you don't do something like have it plugged into another system at the same time.

[BetaWolf47]

They did during the SNES era. I bought one from Babbages (which later became GameStop).

And honestly, all the 3rd party multi system s-video cables I've used, and I've used several of them, have been just as good for the Nintendo systems as the official Nintendo one, so long as you don't do something like have it plugged into another system at the same time.

The Madcatz one I have produces way oversaturated color, plus the pins are kind of flimsy. I had to use tweezers to bend them back into place because they bent just a few weeks after I got them.

Have you ever done a real side by side comparison of yours? Like, used a TV that has multiple s-video inputs, plugged in several N64's into it through S-Video using different cables, and compared the differences? I'd be interested in hearing which ones produce the same quality of picture as the official ones.

[LaughingMAN.S9]

On the right television, it can make a big difference. If you have a CRT that does component & 480p, games will look much better. F-Zero GX looks fantastic using them.


Then again, you can also get the same results with a backwards-compatible Wii and component cables. It may be a little cheaper that way.


I heard the gamecube component still trumps wii component due to the quality of the built in dac on the gamecube cable


Don't know if its true and definitely know its not going to be 100 dollar difference better looking, but still, thats what I heard