Optimum Dreamcast video hook up

[The Adventurer]

Since this thread's original purpose is kinda stupid, I have another question. I have a Dreamcast currently with no AV cable. I'm on the hunt. There are apparently a couple of options. AV, S-Video, VGA, etc... which produces the best picture quality? I think I might hook it up to my HD TV if I can swing an S-Video or VGA hook up. Though I'm curious how the TV gets sound though the VGA cable.

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Original Post
I picked up a spare Genesis model 2 today with a power adapter, I wanted to swap out my Model 1's power adapter because I think something's wrong with it (it buzzes). But I noticed the Input and Output information is different between the two adapters, so I didn't want to risk plugging in the wrong one.

Is there a problem swapping them anyway?

[sloan]

The plugs are not even the same size, so you should not be able to plug model 1 transformer into a model 2 console if you wanted to. Now, if you wanted to change out the tips...

[The Adventurer]

The plugs are not even the same size, so you should not be able to plug model 1 transformer into a model 2 console if you wanted to.

Oh. I probably should have tried that first.

[Gameguy]

They're different specs, they're not compatible with each other. You'll need to find a proper Model 1 adapter.

[j_factor]

You should really make a new thread if you're going to completely change the topic.

[Nz17]

For the Dreamcast, VGA is the nearly optimal choice. It is not completely optimal as some games don't support VGA mode, and while some of them can be tricked and will work anyway, some absolutely refuse. Therefore you might find yourself having to switch from VGA to S-video for some games. Thus the best path would be to find an A/V solution which outputs to both formats to ensure you never have to swap cables.

As for the audio, though it is strangely rarely stated in the listings for the VGA adapters, they have audio out as either a port requiring an audio cable or as a cable attached as part of the unit itself. If I remember correctly, the audio output is in the form of a pair of RCA cables (composite red and white).

[sheath]

Since this thread's original purpose is kinda stupid, I have another question. I have a Dreamcast currently with no AV cable. I'm on the hunt. There are apparently a couple of options. AV, S-Video, VGA, etc... which produces the best picture quality? I think I might hook it up to my HD TV if I can swing an S-Video or VGA hook up. Though I'm curious how the TV gets sound though the VGA cable.

I have a 3rd party VGA adapter that looks just like this. Wow, even the 3rd party ones seem to have bloated in price. It is important to note that every other 3rd party VGA cable I have tested for the Dreamcast has horrible upconverted Composite for the S-Video Output. The Official and the one I linked should have the same quality S-Video output as the standard Dreamcast cable.

In addition, I bought an Impact Acoustics VGA to Component converter that upscales to 720p or 1080i. At either of these resolutions I would rather play my Dreamcast games on my 40" LCD HDTV than any of the HD remakes with all of their controller lagged glory.

[BlastProcessing402]

I've got this one

though someone added in an extra switch on the right side of the one in the pic, it's just the best pic I could find.

Anyway, it's got a VGA port as well as an S-Video port, a composite video port, L-R audio ports and two headphone jacks (w/a volume control). Finally there's a switch to change between S-Video/Composite or VGA mode.

To get sound to the TV when using VGA, you just use either the L-R ports or one of the headphone jacks.

Of course it depends how the TV takes in audio for the VGA input. On my TV it's the same sort of jack as a headphone jack, so you could either just use a patch cable with that connector on both sides and plug it into the headphone jack on the box, or a headphone to RCA adapter and connect the headphone connector to the TV and the RCA ends to the L-R audio ports on the box. Given the choice, I'd go with the L-R ports, but either will work.

[Black_Tiger]

I've been using a clear orange third party VGA box for many years. The picture looks amazing on any monitor, even digital hdtvs. The s-video seemed fine the few times I tried it on a crt. I normally just use a dedicated s-video cable on a crt TV.

[theclaw]

It'd be neat to have a way to switch between SCART and VGA. I might look into that for curiosity.

[jimmy45]

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[theclaw]

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*chews carrot* Sorry doc. We don't speak tasmanian devil.

[Greg2600]

Newer tv's with VGA input have a stereo mini-jack as well. My issue (peeve) is that I have my PC hooked up in this way and don't feel like disconnecting it. Those annoying VGA screws! Now there are VGA to HDMI adapters, too. I wonder if there's a converter that can do both VGA and SCART to HDMI? ! That would be perfect as I am considering shifting my old Genesis/SMS/SNES/N64 stuff to SCART, and then to HDMI or component.

[kedawa]

A lot of TVs nowadays either don't have VGA, or they have lousy support for different sync timings, so we really do need an alternative.

[BlastProcessing402]

My issue (peeve) is that I have my PC hooked up in this way and don't feel like disconnecting it. Those annoying VGA screws!

Some of the VGA boxes have a pass through feature just for such occasions (though not all of them, mine doesn't). You hook it up to your TV, your Dreamcast, and your PC. Back when they were first making these things, VGA was still mostly for desktop monitors, so it was even more hassle than just screws, you'd be crawling under a desk to swap things, not just reaching behind a flatscreen!

[alec006]

VGA or SCART will yield excellent results, VGA being the best and easiest since its full 640x480 at 31hz which most monitors will recognize with no problems. And yes TV's are starting to pull the VGA port but, there's always the upscaling option VGA to HDMI adapters.

[RCM]

I have a VGA box and S-video cables for Dreamcast. VGA straight to my TV looks nice, but S-video into my XRGB Framemeister and out to my TV at 1080P is even better. Put simply, Dreamcast looks gorgeous on my plasma. It's an expensive solution for sure, but well worth it in my eyes.

[theclaw]

I have a VGA box and S-video cables for Dreamcast. VGA straight to my TV looks nice, but S-video into my XRGB Framemeister and out to my TV at 1080P is even better. Put simply, Dreamcast looks gorgeous on my plasma. It's an expensive solution for sure, but well worth it in my eyes.

VGA to component (with d terminal adapter) should go past even that. No de-interlacing by the XRGB.

[RCM]

VGA to component (with d terminal adapter) should go past even that. No de-interlacing by the XRGB.

If I'm ever bored I'll have to try that.