S-Video

[DinnerX]

The biggest advantage for me of s-video over composite is that static images look steady instead of having all that dot crawling business.

[Inazuma]

I must correct some information here:

RF - Video and audio over one wire.

Composhit - Video over a single wire, audio over separate wires.

S-video - Video separated into luminance and chroma (one wire each, the other pins are for ground). This helps eliminate crosstalk and other interference providing for a picture that isn't vomit-inducing like composhit. All consoles should be hooked up with AT LEAST s-video.

Component. - Video separated into 3 wires, luminance, red difference and blue difference. The TV figures out what is supposed to be the color green. Better than s-video.

RGB - Discrete color transmission. Usually over 5 wires as RBGHV.

HDMI - Perfect digital transfer, even over a cheap cable (stay away from Monster Cable, they are an overpriced rip off and they do not offer anything more than other HDMI cables). However if the source is shit, HDMI will not magically transform it into a perfect digital signal. It will remain perfectly shitty.

Summed it up very well.

For old consoles, you should use RGB or component if you can. Otherwise go with S-Video.

[Hobie-wan]

Have a look at my pictures showing the difference of RF/Composite/Svideo/VGA over here.

VGA is pretty close to component as far as quality goes.

[ATARI800XLfan]

I must correct some information here:

RF - Video and audio over one wire.

Composhit - Video over a single wire, audio over separate wires.

S-video - Video separated into luminance and chroma (one wire each, the other pins are for ground). This helps eliminate crosstalk and other interference providing for a picture that isn't vomit-inducing like composhit. All consoles should be hooked up with AT LEAST s-video.

Component. - Video separated into 3 wires, luminance, red difference and blue difference. The TV figures out what is supposed to be the color green. Better than s-video.

RGB - Discrete color transmission. Usually over 5 wires as RBGHV.

HDMI - Perfect digital transfer, even over a cheap cable (stay away from Monster Cable, they are an overpriced rip off and they do not offer anything more than other HDMI cables). However if the source is shit, HDMI will not magically transform it into a perfect digital signal. It will remain perfectly shitty.

So I guess the fact I am still using RF on my Sega Saturn is a bad thing, on a LCD TV too.

[BoringSupreez]

Have a look at my pictures showing the difference of RF/Composite/Svideo/VGA over here.

VGA is pretty close to component as far as quality goes.

Woah. I am suddenly no longer satisfied with S-video. That VGA looks awesome.

So I guess the fact I am still using RF on my Sega Saturn is a bad thing, on a LCD TV too.

Um, duh.

[o.pwuaioc]

Woah. I am suddenly no longer satisfied with S-video. That VGA looks awesome.

I told myself for a long time that whatever is original is best...but you're absolutely right, that VGA picture is crisp.

[CD AGES]

VGA is pretty close to component as far as quality goes.

I you mean VGA over "Composite" rite??? There is no "Component" on the comparisons examples to verify your statement. DC doesn't provided such a video output (which is fine by me as VGA looks much superior over nasty Component cables IMO)

[Zing]

Composite is preferred on my TV. It may depend on the quality of your comb filter. My set has a 3d digital comb filter. I don't get jitter or dot crawl. I do get ever so slight rainbow effects in text that is one pixel in thickness, but I have only noticed this on one game so far (Earthbound).

S-video, on the PlayStation at least, is too sharp, and this is with sharpness set to minimum. Composite, while less defined, looks good with the sharpness set a little higher.

I suppose it will come down to your comb filter, and how large your TV is. I have a 32" and sit about six feet away. S-video is too sharp at that size and I prefer the look for composite on my SNES and PlayStation. Both systems are known for excellent composite output, though.

That said, my Wii looks pretty bad with composite, and I use component cables for it.

[CD AGES]

Woah. I am suddenly no longer satisfied with S-video. That VGA looks awesome.

Woah slow down there turbo lol! Yes! VGA is wonderful but keep in mind that only two consoles to my recollection actually support true VGA 640x480 or higher output (Dreamcast being the former and Xbox 360 being the latter). Dreamcast was truly a console ahead of its time

[Hobie-wan]

VGA is pretty close to component as far as quality goes.

I you mean VGA over "Composite" rite??? There is no "Component" on the comparisons examples to verify your statement. DC doesn't provided such a video output (which is fine by me as VGA looks much superior over nasty Component cables IMO)

Component, RGB, and VGA are pretty comparable for quality, but obviously having a sync signal helps VGA be better. I said merely said 'pretty close'. Certainly closer than any of the other options from Svideo on down. Someone with an XBox could compare VGA and Component with the same picture from the same console but it shouldn't be a drastic difference like the others.