Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mode)

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matt
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Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mode)

Post by matt »

As I mentioned in another thread, it's not difficult to convert an Xbox 360 component cable to output 15khz RGB. As of early 2021, these cables are plentiful and cheap (my local Gamestop had a bunch of them for $3 each last time I visited) and the mod is pretty simple. Here in America where SCART cables don't exist, it's one of the more effective ways to get your 360 working on an SD RGB monitor.

As with the original Xbox, the 360 uses a set of 3 pins on the AV port to determine its video output. Depending on which pins are grounded, it can produce a wide range of signals, from composite video to high definition component and RGBHV. Conveniently, the mode select pins for SCART are very similar to what's already present on a standard US component cable. GameSX has a comprehensive table of the video modes, although their pinout is wrong (ID pins 1, 2, and 3 should be on pins 20, 24, and 28):

https://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:xbox360av

To set the cable to RGB mode, we need to ground ID pin 2 (pin 24 on the AV connector). This will mean that, when the cable is switched to HDTV mode, it will set the console to RGB SCART mode instead.

There are two different variants of this cable, which are easy to tell apart. One of them (which I assume is an earlier model) has an extra layer of shielding and all pins present on the connector. The other has less shielding; each conductor is individually wrapped but it doesn't have a second layer of braid over the whole bundle. This version also is missing a number of pins on the connector. The mod works fine on both and I haven't noticed a difference in picture quality.

One of the more annoying steps of the mod is opening up the connector, which is glued together. I use a small woodworking chisel to pop it open (usually it will split apart neatly at the seam). Then, you will see that the metal shielding is soldered together around the cable - desoldering braid works well here. You will see something like this:

Image

As noted in the photo, you have to cut the red wire from pin 24 (on the PCB side) and resolder it to ground. This will effectively change the "HDTV" position on the mode select switch to SCART mode. The AV port will now output 15khz RGB and composite video. The color of the wire and its position on the PCB can vary between different cable revisions, so it's important to check its position on the A/V connector side to and make sure you have the right one.

If you have an RGB monitor that will take composite video for sync and has BNC connectors, you can use it with RCA to BNC adaptors. Or you can cut the end off and replace it with whatever connector you want. Note that if you want to make a real SCART cable, there are no extra conductors for the blanking and switch voltages.

If you need to add a sync stripper, the blue wire on the far right of the connector (pin 30) is the +5v connector for the TOSLink port, and can used to power the chip. The connector is covered with a bunch of hot glue, which can be loosened with isopropyl alcohol. There's plenty of room inside the case for an LM1881 or equivalent:

Image

It's a good idea to test the cable before reassembling the case, since taking it apart again is difficult. Super glue gel works well to glue it back together, and the end result looks pretty nice. Here is a cable I made a while back for another member while I was figuring out the mod:

Image

One of the nice features of this mod is that the cable still works fine in SD component mode, and the TOSLink port still works, so it's a lot more versatile than a straight RGB cable.

Edit 4/25/22 - Updated to reflect potential differences in layout between cable revisions.
Last edited by matt on Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
fernan1234
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Re: Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mod

Post by fernan1234 »

This is a great guide. Thanks a lot for sharing this knowledge!

It's convenient that the "SCART" mode makes it output 15khz RGBS, in contrast to similar cable mods (actually simpler, just lifting a pin) on Dreamcast VGA cables or boxes that result in 15khz RGBHV, requiring a sync combiner in most cases.
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Lawfer
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Re: Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mod

Post by Lawfer »

There is also an official Microsoft Xbox 360 SCART cable that was released.

Image
fernan1234
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Re: Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mod

Post by fernan1234 »

Lawfer wrote:There is also an official Microsoft Xbox 360 SCART cable that was released.
TC's solution would be better for people whose RGB setups are based on DE15 or BNC rather than SCART connectors though.
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Lawfer
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Re: Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mod

Post by Lawfer »

fernan1234 wrote:
Lawfer wrote:There is also an official Microsoft Xbox 360 SCART cable that was released.
TC's solution would be better for people whose RGB setups are based on DE15 or BNC rather than SCART connectors though.
Just mentioning it since the existence of the Xbox 360 SCART cable is not very well know, but why BNC though? The connector is VGA, you will have to get an extra adapter for BNC in either case, either SCART to BNC or VGA to BNC.
fernan1234
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Re: Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mod

Post by fernan1234 »

Lawfer wrote:Just mentioning it since the existence of the Xbox 360 SCART cable is not very well know, but why BNC though? The connector is VGA, you will have to get an extra adapter for BNC in either case, either SCART to BNC or VGA to BNC.
True, but VGA to BNC in reliable quality and quantity are much more easily available than a SCART counterpart, so that's an additional advantage.

And of course for DE15 setups it's a perfect shoe-in.
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matt
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Re: Mod an Xbox 360 component cable for 15khz RGB (SCART mod

Post by matt »

fernan1234 wrote:
Lawfer wrote:There is also an official Microsoft Xbox 360 SCART cable that was released.
TC's solution would be better for people whose RGB setups are based on DE15 or BNC rather than SCART connectors though.
The main reason for this mod is because those official SCART cables are hard to find outside of Europe, while the component cables are really common and cheap. Also, you can still use YPbPr with the same cable if needed.

I agree that if you have access to a real SCART cable (and your setup actually does use SCART), you're better off using that.
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