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[Laurent]

I know, I know, it's been asked 890,784,798 times before, but the only thread I found about it didn't quite answer what I was looking for (and is 4 months old). I want a VGA box with Component input, on which I will plug my PlayStation 2 and my GameCube (one at the time) in the hope of playing games on higher resolution (480p or 480i). Here what I found out...

PS2 Hi-Resolution VGA Adaptor (USA Version)
Blaze

• Play your PS2 games on VGA monitor.
• Enclosed hardware allows your PS2 Linux development kit to work on VGA monitor.
• Support REAL High-Resolution with supported games.
• True 640 x 400 resolution.
• Does not use the double scan method.
• Compatible with USA versions of the Playstation 2 only
• Requires the included CD to load each game.

Description: PlayStation 2 Hi-Resolution VGA Adaptor (USA Version)! The Blaze VGA Adapter actually uses software to UNLOCK the true high resolution of the PS2 console. The PS2 console is capable of running in a resolution of 640 x 400 but the more common 320 x 200 is always used. With his unique VGA adaptor games will come alive with clarity and crisp graphics. Play your PS2 games in stunning high resolution on any VGA monitor. Play your next-generation games the way they were meant to be played, in stunning high resolution.

Source:http://www.gocybershop.ca/customer/product.php?productid=668&cat=47&page=1

Comments: It works exclusively with PS2, and requires a booth disc.

Multi Purpose XGA Box (VGA Box)

• Connect any video source to your PC VGA monitor
• First VGA box supporting the higher output resolutions for LCD monitors
• Works with both, CRT and LCD monitors
• Inputs: Video-In (RCA) and S-Video in
• Automatic formats: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768
• Double scan conversion, from 15.75KHz to 48.63KHz.
• Adaptive non-linear noise reduction
• 3D motion adaptive de-interlacing
• Non-linear programmable 16:9 expansion
• Supports PAL and NTSC (works with all consoles worldwide)

Description: Connect your favorite videogame console (or any other video source) to your XGA monitor with the Multi-Purpose XGA Box. The XGA Box accepts video signals from any video source through the standard AV port (RCA IN) and the S-Video port. It also has a pass through port for your VGA cable (VGA in & VGA out), so that you don’t need to unplug your PC whenever you are about to use it. This product is recommended for users of LCD monitors, as it supports higher output resolutions.

Source: http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=219&products_id=3235&

Comments: Seems to be the only viable option. Positives comments concerning PS2 uses, but none concerning GameCube...

Multi Purpose VGA Box (with Component-In)

• Connect any video source to your PC VGA monitor
• Works with normal (CRT) and also LCD monitors
• Input: AV, S-Video, VGA or Component (YUV)
• Output: VGA
• Automatic video source mode detection (film/graphics)
• Motion-adaptive interfiled de-interlacing
• On Screen Display: 50/60Hz frame rate conversion, Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Hue control, video standard
• Double scan conversion (15.75KHz to 31.5KHz for NTSC, 15.625KHz to 31.25KHz for PAL/SEAM)
• Supports PAL, NTSC 4.43(50Hz), Combination-PAL N(3.58MHz), NTSC N(3.58MHz) & SECAM
• Supports NTSC, PAL 4.43 (60Hz), NTSC 4.43(60Hz), PAL M (3.58MHz), NTSC-JAPAN
• 50Hz/60Hz auto-detection
• 50Hz mode resolution: 720 x 576 pixel
• 60Hz mode resolution: 720 x 480 pixel
• Universal Power Supply (100V - 240V) included, works worldwide

Description: Connect your favorite videogame console (or any other video source) to your VGA monitor with the Multi-Purpose VGA Box. The VGA Box accepts video signals from any video source through the standard AV port, the S-Video port, or through the component ports. It also has a pass through port for your VGA cable (VGA in & VGA out), so that you don’t need to unplug your PC whenever you are about to use it.

Source: http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=219&products_id=3166&

Comments: Good comments and bad comments, but with Brightness, Contrast, Saturation and Hue control is interesting.

What do you think? Did I miss something else that could do better than those mentionned above?

 

[MegaByte]

I use

but it only works for Progressive Scan GameCube games. I use a capture card for other games, though they don't look terribly great (newer cards are far better than older ones, though). I don't think you're going to get true 480p out of the component outputs.

 

[OG_Original Gamer]

I use

but it only works for Progressive Scan GameCube games. I use a capture card for other games, though they don't look terribly great (newer cards are far better than older ones, though). I don't think you're going to get true 480p out of the component outputs.

I have that aswell, I love the image quality. I have bought old games just to see them in pro scan.

 

[ImNotLikeThem]

is that website the only place to get the GC vga cable, and if so, how are they on shipping and quality?

 

[scarybore]

I bought this a week or so before Halo 2 came out;

Progressive Scan 480p, 720p, 540p / 1080i
2 In 1 Out (YrPrPb In & VGA In; VGA Out) with switching
XBOX, GC, PS2 HDTV Output Supported, P.Scan DVD player, & HDTV cable receiver.
High compatibility for CRT, LCD monitors
Auto signal detection.
Easy configuration
Brightness adjustment

http://www.vdigi.com/

Use my Xbox and GC on it and works perfectly so far, im very happy with it.

 

[The Faceless Master]

I bought this a week or so before Halo 2 came out;

Progressive Scan 480p, 720p, 540p / 1080i
2 In 1 Out (YrPrPb In & VGA In; VGA Out) with switching
XBOX, GC, PS2 HDTV Output Supported, P.Scan DVD player, & HDTV cable receiver.
High compatibility for CRT, LCD monitors
Auto signal detection.
Easy configuration
Brightness adjustment

http://www.vdigi.com/

Use my Xbox and GC on it and works perfectly so far, im very happy with it.

i also use the VDigi VD-Z3 ... it is the real deal ... and one of these days i'll get PS2 component cables ... but for now i use it on GC/Xbox

 

[Leo the 3rd]

Yep the VD-Z3 rocks. Works great for all my consoles (Xbox, PS2, Gamecube) using component cables and the adapter.

 

[Crazymoogle]

i also use the VDigi VD-Z3 ... it is the real deal ... and one of these days i'll get PS2 component cables ... but for now i use it on GC/Xbox

Is it a pass-through type? Sounds interesting...

 

[Laurent]

VDigi VD-Z3 sounds interesting... Sorry MegaByte, but since I already bought GameCube component cables, so I rather use a universal component converter that I can use with anything else. I will probably order VD-Z3 since you sound so enthusiastic about it...

Now, where did I put my VGA to DVI adapter...

 

[MegaByte]

VDigi VD-Z3 sounds like the way to go, if you can get some sort of switcher (or just unplug/replug). By component cables I meant the RCA Video/AudioL/AudioR cables, not the RGB component cables, so you're good to go. The quality, in theory, would be the same as a direct connection with the custom GC solution.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Is it a pass-through type? Sounds interesting...

yes it does have passthru

 

[Neo_ZX]

Damn I wish I got that VDigi box instead of the super blurry adapter I got for PS2. The screenshots they had on the site weren't very convincing though.

 

[Uncle Dukey]

The Vdigi is probably the best solution for progressive sources, but I don't think PC monitors will typically display 480i. Big issue with those planning to use it with a PS2 since most games have no 480p support. Projector might work out though.

 

[mattiewheels]

Is there any way these hookups could be used with a laptop?

 

[Crazymoogle]

The Vdigi is probably the best solution for progressive sources, but I don't think PC monitors will typically display 480i. Big issue with those planning to use it with a PS2 since most games have no 480p support. Projector might work out though.

For complete console coverage, it sounds like gamers would need both a VGA Transcoder (like the Vdigi) for progressive signals, and a VGA Upscan Converter (like the XRGB-2plus, although it has some obvious problems) for interlaced signals. I think there are probably some upscan converters that can handle both, but I have no idea what the hardware of choice would be in that (mostly likely expensive) category. The KeyDigital KD-CTCA2 maybe? I noticed London Drugs selling some two thousand dollar variety upscan converter, too...

EDIT: Now what I've really been meaning to ask, doesn't the Blaze adapter have a disc to force some games into 480p? The thought of a progressive ZOE2....

 

[ImNotLikeThem]

Is there any way these hookups could be used with a laptop?

if you can find a laptop with video IN, you can. but almost literally no laptops have video input built in.

 

[Uncle Dukey]

Right now I'm using a video capture card and DScaler to display PS2 games and have a VD-Z3 on order for progressive stuff. Perhaps a USB 2.0 TV tuner could be used for a laptop? I'm not really familiar with them though.

 

[PC Gaijin]

XRGB-2plus is a decent (if pricey) solution for PS2. I use a transcoder for GC and Xbox, but the XRGB-2plus for PS2 because most PS2 games are interlaced. If you do get an XRGB-2, try to find a Japanese PS2 RGB cable. I wasn't impressed with the component to D1 adapter included with the unit.

 

[mrklaw]

does the xrgb2-plus convert everything, or does it pass through proper progressive component? So for progressive games you'd get proper VGA 640x480, and just for the interlaced ones it'd fudge the output.

I want good quality component, but my TV only takes progressive (doesn't accept interlaced component at all).

 

[PC Gaijin]

No, the XRGB-2 is useless for progressive scan games unfortunately. Hoping Micomsoft will fix that in the next version (if they ever do another XRGB).

 

[Dujour]

I want to know what I need to buy so I can play games on my mac, but I have an iMac G5. but it's 20 inches, so I'm dying to get my systems connected to it. Would I be able to play with progressive scan if I do?

 

[Laurent]

EDIT: Now what I've really been meaning to ask, doesn't the Blaze adapter have a disc to force some games into 480p? The thought of a progressive ZOE2....

This also concerns me... If this booth disc can "force" high resolution on everygame, that could be a very usefull solution also...

 

[Laurent]

I want to know what I need to buy so I can play games on my mac, but I have an iMac G5. but it's 20 inches, so I'm dying to get my systems connected to it. Would I be able to play with progressive scan if I do?

You need to find a FireWire converter, althought the new iMac supports USB 2.0, so maybe a USB converter could do the trick. Basicly, it needsd to converts Component RGB to USB - Forget about using RCA cables!

 

[iapetus]

Comments: Good comments and bad comments, but with Brightness, Contrast, Saturation and Hue control is interesting.

I picked this one up, and so far the results are largely dismal. There's a lot of shake on the output image, and while US GC output was not-too-bad, US PS2 has terrible colour problems and PAL XBox just plain didn't work (got a horribly flattened picture with nasty white bars at the top and chunks of the screen area at top and bottom missing entirely).

Where can I get hold of an XRGB-2, and what sort of price is it going for?

Also, would the VD-Z3 work with a projector that supports 480i display through a composite input? I don't know that it's worth my while getting one just for the GC (the only progressive-capable machine I've got other than the handful of PS2 games that support it), but if it could pass through 480i for other consoles it might just be worth it.

 

[Oh! My Car!]

No, the XRGB-2 is useless for progressive scan games unfortunately. Hoping Micomsoft will fix that in the next version (if they ever do another XRGB).

Clickity click!