Dreamcast on LED TV's Via VGA

[mrwasi]

Hey Everyone,

I've read several suggestions in regards to hooking up a Dreamcast to HDTV's.
I have no VGA input on my TV.

I took note on a previous post on shmups that a user suggested the "Manhattan" brand VGA to HDMI converter.

Unfortunately my TV (Samsung LED 3D) cannot register the connection for VGA to HDMI.
BUT.... it can register VGA to Component.

So I was wondering what would be the best VGA to Component converter for the Dreamcast.
I also have an XRGB Mini if I can somehow connect it to that.

Thanks for all the help!

[opt2not]

This + XRGB Mini is probably your best plug-n-play solution.

Works great for me, and it's extremely simple to set up.
PM beharius, if you want more info. Or you can read more about it in this thread: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=51568

[mrwasi]

opt2not

Thanks for the quick response.
It seems as though the Toro outputs either VGA or SCART.

I should have mentioned that I have a North American system.
I've heard of complications with SCART cables and NA systems/TV's when it comes to video output, even when hooked up to the XRGB Mini.

Since it works for you, do you have a North American setup?

[tacoguy64]

Gotta go with the TORO VGA box.

I picked one up myself a few months ago and have been really pleased with it.
I mainly use it with my NEC XP37 connected through the scart port. I haven't tried using the VGA port on that tv yet. I've also tried using my plasma which has the xrgb and a vga input. Looks good with the mini, and ok with the vga. Though I haven't really fiddled with it as much. Could be that my tv doesnt really up-scale 480p signals all that well, but I remember my wii outputting at that resolution and looking great on my plasma.

Either way for your situation, since you already have the frame meister, it would probably be an easier route for you to go with the TORO or the other VGA boxes they sell on that link opt2not posted.

[opt2not]

opt2not

Thanks for the quick response.
It seems as though the Toro outputs either VGA or SCART.

I should have mentioned that I have a North American system.
I've heard of complications with SCART cables and NA systems/TV's when it comes to video output, even when hooked up to the XRGB Mini.

Since it works for you, do you have a North American setup?

Yes, I'm located in Canada and have been using the SCART setup without problems.

I have my DC connected to the TORO, connected to my XRGB-mini using a SCART-to-mini din connector. You can buy these connectors on ebay from a seller named retro_console_accessories. Or you can buy them from retrogamecables, but people say the quality isn't as good as retro_console_accessories.

What complications have you heard? I haven't had any complications at all.

[mrwasi]

The only major complications I've read on other boards is no picture being displayed.

But if you're not having any problems and you're in Canada (as am I), then I'll give the SCART route a go.
I already have the SCART adapter for the XRGB Mini, All I'll have to do is grab a Toro and SCART cable.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

[eightbitminiboss]

If those people are getting no display, then they haven't figured out their sync problems. Once you get past that, it's all gravy.

I'm also a Toro user in the NA and it works A-OK with the XRGB Mini on my HDTV.

[Josh128]

Get an Audio Authority 9A60.

[Xyga]

^ Be ready to deal with a slightly squished image though, as the AA doens't do any scaling and you will see the 'real' DC image, which is something like 512x480.

It's too bad the VGA>HDMI converter didnt work.
You could try other converters, or go for a used DVDO VP30 or VP50 if you can find one at a ridiculously low price (which is tough, as those usually go for several hundred ^^")

[Konsolkongen]

The Gefen VGA to DVI Scaler plus gives a perfect image with no moire patterns at all. It also does a really good job upscaling to 1080p. It's sharp with no visible ringing at all

It's quite expensive though. But if you can find one cheap you should pick it up.

[Josh128]

GefenTV makes quality gear-- I have a composite and S-Video to HDMI converter and it works extremely well for converting my SD DirecTV box's S-Video to HDMI. It was pricey though, I paid about $160 for it.

Before I modded all my systems to RGB, it did a decent job at converting my retro-systems composite and S-Video as well, but added too much lag for my tastes. It also has periodic annoying sync "hiccups" that happen that are more noticable on game systems than video.

[Konsolkongen]

There's very little lag (much less than the XRGB-mini) on the Gefen VGA Scaler, and it doesn't stutter because the Dreamcast runs proper 60Hz.

[Einzelherz]

If those people are getting no display, then they haven't figured out their sync problems. Once you get past that, it's all gravy.

I'm also a Toro user in the NA and it works A-OK with the XRGB Mini on my HDTV.

Unless they're running a game that purposefully disables itself in RGB mode.

[Fudoh]

You could try other converters, or go for a used DVDO VP30 or VP50 if you can find one at a ridiculously low price (which is tough, as those usually go for several hundred ^^")

VP30 doesn't like the DC's VGA signal unless you add a RGB interface in between.

The Gefen is nice, but it doesn't give you proper aspect ratio control and the AR will come out a little bit too wide - nothing serious though.

I had no troubles at all with the Manhatten branded VGA to HDMI converters. Sorry to hear that you got problems on your setup.

[BuckoA51]

There's very little lag (much less than the XRGB-mini) on the Gefen VGA Scaler, and it doesn't stutter because the Dreamcast runs proper 60Hz.

Says who? I'm sure the lag was 30ms when I measured it with Leo's tester.

[Konsolkongen]

I haven't checked for lag myself, but I've read somewhere that it was close to lagfree.

How did you measure lag on yours? Leo bodnar > HD Fury > Gefen > TV?

[BuckoA51]

Exactly that yes, the HD Fury was a HD Fury 2.

[Konsolkongen]

Okay, in that case I stand corrected

[HydrogLox]

I took note on a previous post on shmups that a user suggested the "Manhattan" brand VGA to HDMI converter.

Unfortunately my TV (Samsung LED 3D) cannot register the connection for VGA to HDMI.
BUT.... it can register VGA to Component.

This seems kind of strange unless the HDMI input doesn't support 480p. The "legacy" component input on the other hand would have to support 480i/p.

I had no troubles at all with the Manhatten branded VGA to HDMI converters.

Actually, I ran into trouble with the Toro + Manhattan-style converter combo - picture blanks out every few seconds on a Sony KDL-50EX645. At the time I thought that the converter was "on the fritz" but the problem went away as soon as I swapped in a Retrobit, Blaze, or "silver X-style" VGA box. The problem appears for the first and second batch Toro's (I own one of each). Beharius has since improved the design further so it may not be a problem anymore.