Anthony1's guide to a kick ass gaming HDTV system for under $200 out the door!!!!!
I have decided to make this guide for all the people that say that HDTV's are too damn expensive, and they would like to have a HDTV but can't afford one. This guide is meant to show the non-believer out there, that you can indeed afford a kick ass HDTV system! I have put together a system for you, that will allow you to play all your favorite games and devices on this HDTV. You can even play all your non HDTV devices on it! And the best thing, is that if you have any equipment that supports HDTV's, like a XBOX, or GameCube or PS2 or Dreamcast or Progressive scan dvd player or HDTV Satellite box or HDTV Cable box or HDTV tuner box, then you can hook that stuff up to this and experience it the way it really was meant to be experienced, on a real deal HDTV!
For under $200, out the door, you can put the whole deal together.
Now there is no excuse for you not to join the HD era!!! So Climb aboard!!!
Ok, here is the Anthony1 guide to getting a "Real Deal" Evander Hollifield HDTV experience for under $200 out the door. Now, let me first say, that what you are going to have is a 21 inch display device that can handle both 480p, 720p and 480i. You will have 2 nice quality speakers, (not the crappy ones that they put inside most stereo TV's) and a subwoofer, for a nice 2.1 sound system. And you will have all the plugs you need, to hookup every video device in your home that has a composite or better video plug. So you can use this with a Nintendo NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, Playstation, etc, etc, besides the latest high definition and higher resolution gaming systems. Plus you can also connect your DVD player to this, (especially good if you are using a progressive scan DVD player) So, we are talking the whole home theater experience. Basically look at this, as the best 21 inch HDTV money can buy. Now, I must admit that there are a few downsides. The biggest downside, is that this is not a widescreen HDTV. The second biggest downside, is that the connections are a little more complicated than a ordinary TV. But the end result, will still blow you away, and it is very much worth it to have this in your game room for only $180.33 out the door!
Here is what you end setup will look like: You will have a black 21 inch PC monitor as your main display. I recommend putting this on a TV stand meant for 27 inch TV's. You want the middle of the screen to be slightly above your eyeball level if possible. Now, connected to the back of this 21 inch Black PC monitor will be one VGA cable, that will go to a VGA Switchbox. The VGA swichbox allows 2 different VGA sources to be connected to the VGA monitor. You simply switch it to A or B, depending on what you are using. Now, on the A side, will be a Component to VGA cable that is connected to a Mad Catz Component HDTV System Selector switch box. The VGA side goes into the VGA Switchbox, and the component side goes into the Mad Catz Component HDTV System selector output connection. On the B side of the VGA Switchbox is a VGA cable that goes to the Upscan Converter Device. This is the device that you plug all your non HDTV equipment into. Like all your non 480p video game machines and your VCR and your non HDTV Cable TV box, etc, etc. It will accept composite or S-Video. So anything that has a composite plug or a S-Video plug can be connected to this. Now, you want to plug your HDTV capable items into the Mad Catz Component HDTV System selector, and your non HDTV stuff into the Upscan Converter. For sound, you will have the 2.1 gaming sound system with some nice decent quality speakers and a subwoofer. Basically plug in whatever source you are using for sound, into this device.
Here are the items you need, all currently available on Ebay:
21 inch black monitor ($65)
http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?/V...204601423&rd=1
component to VGA Adapter ($15.90)
http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?/V...sPageName=WDVW
Mad Catz HDTV component switcher ($13.99)
http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?/V...sPageName=WDVW
2.1 Gaming Speaker System ($25.49)
http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?/V...586560241&rd=1
Upscan Converter for all non High Def sources like VCR, non progressive scan DVD player, non HDTV cable TV, non HDTV Satellite TV, Camcorder, N64, PSone, Saturn, SNES, Genesis, NES, etc, etc. ($49.99)
http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...sPageName=WDVW
VGA Switch Box ($9.98)
http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...sPageName=WDVW
All these items total up to $180.33, so you actually have 19.67 left over from your $200 limit. You can use that towards a XBOX High Def A/V pack. Or a PS2 component cable, or a Dreamcast VGA Adapter (note, if you are using a Dreamcast VGA Adapter, you might want to get a VGA Switchbox with more than 2 switches, so you can plug the Dreamcast VGA box right into that) Of course you can also order a Nintendo GameCube Component cable direct from Nintendo.
Ok, Please. Somebody take this challenge and put a system together like this. You don't have to use these exact components, but these components give you a good idea. This can be done for under $200. You can get a 2.1 sound system for under $25.49, you can get a Upscan Converter for less than $49.99, you can probably get a VGA Switchbox for a buck at a flea market. You can buy your 21 inch black PC monitor locally. Get a good quality used one for $65. If you save money on getting any of the other items for dirt cheap, then add that amount to the monitor. This is totally dooable guys! Come on, if you live somewhere, where you can rent a HDTV cable box for like $5 extra a month, you could be watching HDTV on this thing!!! Watch the NBA Finals between Miami and San Antonio in High Def.
WARNING - You must use HDTV devices that can either output at 720p or 480p. This setup will "not" play 1080i material. Most HDTV devices will convert 1080i to 720p if necessary. But check with your Cable or Satellite HDTV providers first before ordering equipment.
Also, you definitely want to try Amped 2 in 720p for XBOX as soon as you get this up and running.
Mods, if you would like to make this a sticky for a little while, that would be a great idea, because I know that tons and tons of gamers can benefit from this information.