Cheap option for running PS2 on LCD monitor

[Diji]

Hi all, lately I've been thinking about getting back into my PS2 but I only have an LCD monitor now. It's a Samsung 2494HS, 1920x1080 with VGA, DVI, and HDMI inputs, along with (pretty crappy) built-in speakers.
I want to connect my PS2 up to it without getting too much lag, it doesn't have to be perfect since I don't play many fighters, but a minimal amount would be best so action games aren't rendered unplayable.
I saw the XRGB mini, and $500 is just too much. Even $200 would be stretching it.
So, what's a good cheap alternative? Picture quality and stuff doesn't have to be amazing, and scanlines I don't mind. I live in Australia, so I have a PAL PS2, just with composite cables.
Also, I wouldn't mind hooking up my Wii if it's easy enough, but PS2 is my main priority.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Oh and how would audio work?

[matrigs]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CGA-EGA-YUV-VGA ... 4aae472545

this is what you want. add a slg3000 or self made scanline generator for old-school goodness.

this won't deal with audio though.

[Fudoh]

EDIT: suggested a HDBoxPro before, but since you need PAL support, you need a component to HDMI converter. VGA won't cut it. Just checked eBay Australia and I would suggest this one:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Component-Vi ... 33702a678f

This one also embeds analogue audio into the HDMI Stream. If your monitor does not have audio, you can just bypass the converter completely and connect the L/R audio from the component cable to wherever you want.

[anticipating]

For audio you could use the PS2's optical out if you have a home theater or hi fi that will take it. Otherwise pick up a optical to analogue converter I guess.

[matrigs]

suggested a HDBoxPro before, but since you need PAL support, you need a component to HDMI converter.

sorry to ask but why is that ? is the hdbox pro not suitable for pal sources ? i'm using the cheapo converter without problems with a
pal ps2 and afaik the hdbox pro uses the same components ?

[Fudoh]

With PAL sources you either end up with a framerate conversion (50 to 60Hz) or with a 50Hz VGA output which 99% of the LCDs can't handle. To chose HDMI is just safer. And I would expect the linked box to output 1080p50 for PAL sources and 1080p60 for NTSC sources.

[matrigs]

again sorry for being dense but what is drawback from a framerate conversion ?

[Fudoh]

It's not the biggest problem on anything 3D, but if you have a really smooth scrolling 2D game with 50fps this introduces visible stutter.

[matrigs]

oh wow never knew. thanks for that.

amazing how much there is about video signals.

sound is sooo simple

about the sound - using this should work. that screen has probably a female 3,5 mm jack.

[Fudoh]

Sound gets embedded in the HDMI signal, so as long as he uses the HDMI input, sound is already being handled.

[matrigs]

just in case going the ebay scaler / hdbox way

[Diji]

Wow thanks for all the help. I half expected a "just google it" response.
I only have composite cables at the moment, would any PS2 component cables from ebay work fine or would they be bad quality?

[Fudoh]

If you don't exactly buy the $2 one from HK, you should be fine. Doesn't have to original Sony or Monster - Snakebyte and all the other 3rd party cable makers should be fine and not run you more than $10-15.

[Diji]

Cheers.

[Diji]

Turned out to not have scaling.