Component vs Composite

[Cronozilla]

Yes, there's a difference. And yes it is noticeable. When using interlaced ... half the frame is missing every single frame. This leads to a lot of the artifacts people have mentioned.

The most noticeable is the image being blurry, which is unavoidable.

But, you are losing about half of the image consistently by using Interlaced over Progressive Scan.

If you can't see a difference ... then either your eyes need to be checked, the TV produces a poor image, regardless ... or you're deluding yourself. The difference is noticeable and very apparent. Almost like, you were finally able to get some grit out of your eyes.

[ElkinFencer10]

I guess I just never really payed attention. The only really big difference I've ever noticed when changing input cables is when I went from S-video to VGA on my Dreamcast. Maybe I've just played with composite for so long that I've trained myself not to notice? Idk. The only thing I refuse to use is RF. Aside from that, I'd prefer the best input I can get, but I'm not really all that picky.

[Cronozilla]

Well not all games support progressive scan. Just because you're using component outputs doesn't mean the signal is 480P, the game usually has to explicitly support it.

The VGA output on Dreamcast is actually very similar. As that's the lowest end 480P there is. It's 640x480. And consider that composite video running at 480i looks even worse than S-Video. And most 480p games support a higher resolution than VGA (like 853x480), if they're progressive scan widescreen.

So you can imagine the difference when it's available. A lot of games on PS2 and GameCube, though, require that you explicitly turn the feature on if the game supports it at all.

I'm not sure about Xbox ... but PS2 and GCN you have to say whether you want widescreen or progressive scan ... and even then only in games that support it. On Wii, you can set it in the system ... and I imagine you can on Xbox as well. Dreamcast, it also seems, is a system setting when you use the VGA adapter. So, it's possible the games you tried didn't have the feature or it just wasn't turned on.

[ice445]

Well not all games support progressive scan. Just because you're using component outputs doesn't mean the signal is 480P, the game usually has to explicitly support it.

The VGA output on Dreamcast is actually very similar. As that's the lowest end 480P there is. It's 640x480. And consider that composite video running at 480i looks even worse than S-Video. And most 480p games support a higher resolution than VGA (like 853x480), if they're progressive scan widescreen.

So you can imagine the difference when it's available. A lot of games on PS2 and GameCube, though, require that you explicitly turn the feature on if the game supports it at all.

I'm not sure about Xbox ... but PS2 and GCN you have to say whether you want widescreen or progressive scan ... and even then only in games that support it. On Wii, you can set it in the system ... and I imagine you can on Xbox as well. Dreamcast, it also seems, is a system setting when you use the VGA adapter. So, it's possible the games you tried didn't have the feature or it just wasn't turned on.

PS2 is awful when it comes to 480P support. Simply awful. Gamecube isn't much better, given that Nintendo removed component out almost immediately to cut costs.

Also, a random question. Where can I find a S-Video to component adapter? Or does that not exist?

[Hobie-wan]

I direct people to my comparison shots of the DC for all 4 video options. This is on a plasma TV, but the difference is clear. As noted, the VGA is close enough to how component should look since it is also using 3 separated signals.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... &start=329

[Redifer]

I've known a lot of people who couldn't tell much difference between, say, a DVD and a Blu-ray. But after a year or two watching Blu-ray and then watching a DVD, the same people are like "uh... yuck!" So if you played on component exclusively for a while and then suddenly switched back to composite, you'd definitely notice and really REALLY want your component back. Some people don't notice improvements until they're in a "don't know what you've got until it's gone" type of situation.

[theclaw]

It varies by the console and TV in question. Say NES or Genesis have worse composite encoding than SNES or Saturn. Even revisions can matter, SNES2 processes video better.

Plus HDTVs often bring out finer artifacts CRTs smudge away. More likely for source image clarity differences to be immediately noticeable. Where stuff like upscaling, filtering, and avoiding lossy formats like composite come into play.

Also, when switching from 480i to 480p the interlacing effects are gone, so flicker and combing are gone. Flicker is obvious when games are paused or on menus. Thin lines in high contrast with the background will flicker. Combing is generally pretty noticeable during fast motion. Combing looks like this:


I think many people are just used to the distortions. Some TVs are also configured poorly and make everything look about equally bad.

Hmm combing might be why the last time I tried to watch DVD on PC looked odd... Oh well. Virtually never bother as I've got an HDTV.

[dogman91]

The Wii/Gamecube actually has a very good composite encoder... not every console is the same in that regard so I'm not surprised you didn't notice much of a difference. Try out the Genesis with composite and compare that with RGB or S-video... just yuck!

Some comparison shots: http://www.chrismcovell.com/gotRGB/screenshots.html

[AppleQueso]

The Wii/Gamecube actually has a very good composite encoder... not every console is the same in that regard so I'm not surprised you didn't notice much of a difference. Try out the Genesis with composite and compare that with RGB or S-video... just yuck!

Oh man I'll say. The Genesis has possibly the worst composite output of any system I own.

[elmagicochrisg]

Hmm combing might be why the last time I tried to watch DVD on PC looked odd... Oh well. Virtually never bother as I've got an HDTV.

Some players, like VLC, require you to enable interlacing manually when playing a DVD...