component --> vga box. should i get? about to buy a ps2

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:06 am

so i'm finally breaking down and buying a ps2. yes, i'm a cheapskate and a holdout. anyway, i've already got 3 monitors on my desk and not a lot of room for a 4th (TV), plus i don't really have a spare TV laying around, so i would have to get one at goodwill anyway. my question is, instead of buying a TV, would it be a good idea to get something like this?

http://www.exportsupermart.com/componen ... rrency=USD

it converts component signal into VGA. the main thing i'm worried about is the video quality

does anybody have any experience with these? i once heard a long time ago that it was prohibitively expensive to make something like this.... so i always kind of wrote it off. but that was a long time ago, technology has changed, and i've also never needed one until now

any advice is appreciated. thanks

p.s. games i know i will be playing: all ps2 cave ports, contra: shattered soldier, klonoa 2, drakan 2

edit: i also took a closer look at this, and it looks like it uses some kind of input called "YPbPR", in which the video signal is actually on 3 cables? i have never even heard of this before. i will be buying a used old ps2, which i guess doesn't even have this kind of output

so...

this probably won't work anyway

off to goodwill to look for a good tate-able TV

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:17 am

I don't believe that the box you linked to is capable of upscanning interlaced component signals.

As far as I know, not many PS2 games (and in particular very few of the ones we actually care about) support progressive output, and thus that VGA box will be completely useless.

I am using one called "Perfect YPbPr Transcoder" which looks like this, I believe someone else is using the same one also. Result is acceptable if the main purpose is saving desk space. Best thing about this one is that there is no noticeable lag, and it supports both progressive and interlaced inputs.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:09 pm

interesting, i might get that! thanks for the advice. so the box you linked will take input from an old model ps2?

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:47 pm

oh man, i did some research, and for the price, that thing is amazing! how is the computer output video quality if you run it through the passthrough function? the main thing i'm worried about there is degradation, because if it degrades too much, i'll end up cable switching which i'd like to avoid if possible

except... i can't find anywhere to buy it

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:55 pm

I cannot notice much degradation with the passthrough, but personally I am not exceptionally picky. My only little gripe is that the unit needs to be plugged in at all times, even for using the passthrough. On the first time using the passthrough, you may need to reconfigure your monitor a bit, but as long as your monitor can recognize VGA coming from multiple devices, it's just a one-time configuration and you can switch between the transcoded and passthrough signal with no further adjustment.

Maybe someone else with sharper eyes who has this unit can comment, but for the price I think it is well worth the convenience.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:17 pm

iatneH wrote:I cannot notice much degradation with the passthrough, but personally I am not exceptionally picky. My only little gripe is that the unit needs to be plugged in at all times, even for using the passthrough. On the first time using the passthrough, you may need to reconfigure your monitor a bit, but as long as your monitor can recognize VGA coming from multiple devices, it's just a one-time configuration and you can switch between the transcoded and passthrough signal with no further adjustment.

Maybe someone else with sharper eyes who has this unit can comment, but for the price I think it is well worth the convenience.

sounds really sweet. do you know where i could buy one? all i can find is weird listnings online which don't actually sell it, other sites which sell in bulk.

the only prospect i have is this:

http://www.multigames88.com/?x=Catalogue&pid=1186803085

but the currency is something weird (RP). i tried to search for that but all i found was indonesian rupiah. when i did a currency convert, 500 indonedsian rupiah = 50 cents USD, so that's obviously not the price

d'oh

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:05 pm

would it be a completely bad idea to get something like this instead???

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-86- ... -2707.html

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:17 pm

indstr wrote:would it be a completely bad idea to get something like this instead???

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-86- ... -2707.html

Dear Lord... stay away from that one.

I know that somebody posted a link for a place to buy that YPbPr transcoder, but I can't remember who it is and I can't find the post.

I got mine from eBay, though it cost considerably more than the wholesale price you see, around $70 or so. But I am much happier with the picture quality from this than I am with the crappy cheap composite/S-video box I have, similar to the one you just linked here.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:23 pm

ok, what about something like this??

http://cgi.ebay.com/Video-to-VGA-Upscal ... dZViewItem

General Martok · Post by **General Martok** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:37 pm

That perfect transcoder looks really sweet ....it can even output such resolutions as 1680*1050 !! We should find 10 people and order from that bulk side for 30$ each

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:01 pm

let me also get your opinion on this ...

http://www.x2vga.com/

and also this

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-86- ... 0-5w4.html

i'm hoping to spend less than $50 on it, otherwise i might as well just get a TV

General Martok · Post by **General Martok** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:26 pm

the x2vga only works well for progressive sources ...it does accept interlaced but it looks very crappy -it's just intended for navigating menus and such.

the hori upscan converter works great (just like a XRGB only with less features) but it's out of print for a long time and you most likely won't find one.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:44 pm

I have the Perfect transcoder. It works pretty well, although the video quality is not phenomenal on LCD (haven't tried CRT yet). It does allow you to change the resolution to match your monitor's native res, which is nice.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:06 am

it290 wrote:I have the Perfect transcoder. It works pretty well, although the video quality is not phenomenal on LCD (haven't tried CRT yet). It does allow you to change the resolution to match your monitor's native res, which is nice.

I see, its actually called"The Perfect Transcoder".

Also, the t-coders mentioned in this thread all look like they will connect to a DC too, but will they work correctly?

.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:18 am

doodude wrote:And what transcoder would that be?

it290 wrote:Perfect transcoder

iatneH wrote:Perfect YPbPr Transcoder

Actually, now that I am home and have the unit right in front of me, what is written on the casing is "Perfect YPbPr2VGA Transcoder". I've linked to a site with a picture, and indstr also linked to a different site with the same product.

doodude wrote:Also, the t-coders mentioned in this thread all look like they will connect to a DC too, but will they work correctly?

This transcoder accepts component video as input and transcodes it to VGA as output, and also has a VGA passthrough capability. It does not convert VGA to component. The only way you can hook a Dreamcast to this is if you already have a DC VGA box and want to pass it through. Not too useful unless you want to have a dedicated gaming monitor.

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:35 am

I do have a 17" Sonicview Proview that I was going to turn into a gaming monitor. Im still trying to catch up on the diffs between VGA, components & passthru's.

Right now Im just trying to connect my Proview to my DC. All I need for this is a simple VGA box correct?

>

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:43 am

doodude wrote:Right now Im just trying to connect my Proview to my DC. All I need for this is a simple VGA box correct?

Yep, I think that should do it. Have you ever seen a (polygonal) Dreamcast game running in VGA mode? Better put on some diapers just in case you shit yourself.

So, if you have a dedicated monitor, that would be great. You can have the DC connected via VGA passthrough, and another component-capable console connected through the actual transcoding circuitry. Saves you just a tiny bit of cable swapping.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:59 am

indstr wrote:ok, what about something like this??

http://cgi.ebay.com/Video-to-VGA-Upscal ... dZViewItem

so iatneH, i never got your opinion on this box. would it be a piece of junk? if so, why? what kind of problems would it have? lag?

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:29 am

Oh, I don't have personal experience with that exact box, but in general, composite video and S-video look like crap when scaled to VGA. Much, much worse than they look when displayed on a regular tube TV.

I have a different composite/S-video VGA box and the picture looks very smeared on my monitor. Keep in mind that my box is a few years old, so maybe during this time those Chinese have come up with some better conversion and display algorithms. But I kind of doubt it.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:52 am

iatneH wrote:Oh, I don't have personal experience with that exact box, but in general, composite video and S-video look like crap when scaled to VGA. Much, much worse than they look when displayed on a regular tube TV.

I have a different composite/S-video VGA box and the picture looks very smeared on my monitor. Keep in mind that my box is a few years old, so maybe during this time those Chinese have come up with some better conversion and display algorithms. But I kind of doubt it.

i see, i see. i'm a complete video n00b so until today i didn't even know the difference between composite and component

so a ps2, the default cable that comes with it will be composite? and i will need to buy a seperate component cable?

i was looking at the HORI G-combo+ upscan converter but it looks like it just has composite/s-video inputs, so this would most likely look crappy too?

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:27 am

alright, i'm totally overwhelmed here, but it looks like on multigames88, the perfect transcoder is actually 500,000 indonesian rupiah which ends up at about $54 USD.

would i be better off just getting a TV tuner card if i can't find a transcoder?

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:05 am

Problem with TV tuner cards is that they are frequently very laggy, and you need to have your computer booted up and running whenever you want to use it. It could be problematic as well on a weaker machine that might not be able to handle the video input/conversion/display concurrently with any other processing you are doing with your computer at the same time. I think most people here with tuner cards use them more for capture rather than gameplay, and that's only after they have split the signal to the capture card and a separate game display.

I bought my transcoder off eBay, from a seller depot4u. I've bought from him 4 times over the last couple of years, but he seems to jump back and forth between being a registered member and not. I don't think he's shady but I just think it's kind of weird that I cannot find him sometimes.

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:29 am

alright, i've stopped freaking out now, i think i've got it figured out. thank you for all your help. i'll keep you updated in a couple days

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:26 pm

to be honest, i have the playasia adapter... http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-86- ... -2707.html ... posted earlier and its pretty damn good.....and compatible with anything...i run my ps2, DC and saturn on it....

only thing i will say is that it is made for CRT screens running 640X480.....it works with LCD....im running it o throgh a 19in LG LCD, and the picture isnt totally full screen....there is like 3/4 inch of dead space at the bottom

but the image quality is great and considering i got it for 10 bux off ebay i cant really complain.....

and with the audio out i can just line it right into my soundcard and run it through the 5.1 surround system.....major plus

i actually have this one coming on monday.....birthday present

http://www.divineo.com/cgi-bin/div-us/zz-xgabox1

mainly wanted it for the 1280X1024 res support.....

will post review and pics once its here

doodude · Post by **doodude** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:10 pm

So with this Super XGA I could:

Use the AV cables from my DC &/or Saturn to connect to the Super XGA,
then connect directly from my Flat Panel monitor using its own built in VGA cable to the Super XGA out & this is all thats needed to complete the setup?

I could also connect my satellite receiver for TV viewing & use the remote to switch from game to TV?

Can you piggyback several game systems ( whats compatible? ) to run thru this Super VGA box?

.

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:48 pm

im not sure about piggybacking....you mean to hook up several sets of cables for multiple consoles through an adapter so they are all hooked up at the same time??

i dunno.....but the ports are right on the front of the box.....its a 5 second job to switch the cables when you wanna switch consoles.....

and it should be compatible with any system...cuz it has AV input, HDMI input and s-video input.....so technically everything should work fine

and yes....you simply hook up the monitor to the box....connect the consoles...and it then runs through the monitor....it has more features but until i have it 2moro and i test it 2moro night i cant say too much on them....

it also has audio out so you can either line it into your stereo receiver or soundcard

and it even has speakers on it.....kinda silly but hey.....

im excited tho.....

i will post some pics and reviews 2moro night once i have it up and running

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:43 pm

oh yeah baby!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0208637830

i didn't want to post the link earlier so nobody would snipe it. strangely enough, i'm the only one who bid. soooo... pretty good deal i think, even though it looks a bit dusty

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:22 am

so ya....

super XGA box......super waste of money.....

the picture was horrible, the res settings were fucked....

very fuzzy picture with lines all over the screen.....

so ya dont waste your money....my playasia one is way better

and the 1/2 inch of dead space along the bottom with my current one is fine, considering the xga box was worse

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:46 am

righto. i'll also be testing the quality difference between the direct/component connect and the composite connection on the hori upscan converter

indstr · Post by **indstr** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:22 am

indstr wrote:righto. i'll also be testing the quality difference between the direct/component connect and the composite connection on the hori upscan converter

so my hori upscan converter came in the mail today. my son is actually watching a sesame street DVD on it right now.. i tested both the composite and component inputs, while i can tell a little difference, it's not night & day like some people have implied it would be.

i think it was still worth it though considering it was only $40