Which inputs does each console use?

[Erik_Twice]

Help me make a list so I can choose a cool monitor to play my games in (Consoles I want to use are bolded)

Atari 2600 - RF
Colecovision - RF

NES - RF, RCA
Mega Drive - RF, A/V? (It's a circular cable)
SNES - ??

PSX - ?? (Some games don't work on the PS2)
Saturn - ??
N64 - ??

Dreamcast - ??
PS2 - Composite
Gamecube -
Xbox -

Wii - Composite
PS3 - ??
Xbox 360 -

Lend me a hand

[dunpeal2064]

Do you just want to list the best input for each console, or do you want to list all of them?

[Erik_Twice]

Do you just want to list the best input for each console, or do you want to list all of them?

We can list all of them and bold the best.

[dunpeal2064]

Alright, I can help with a couple.

Gamecube - Composite, S-Video, Component

PS2 - Composite, S-Video, Component

Wii - Composite, S-Video, Component

Xbox 360 - Composite, S-Video, Component, VGA (Support removed in later console revisions?), HDMI


Do you also want to consider inputs gained from modding? Maybe have two "best" options, one out of the box and one with modding?

[Krejlooc]

Mega Drive - RF, A/V? (It's a circular cable)
SNES - ??

both the genesis and snes have composite and rf outs - the SNES uses a proprietary nintendo port that the AV Famicom, SNES, and N64 all used that allows for multi-out, either through RF, composite, or, on some consoles, RGB. The genesis model 1 also has a phono-jack audio out on the front of the console, and certain models of the megadrive will output via VGA (like the amstrad mega-pc).

PSX - ?? (Some games don't work on the PS2)
Saturn - ??
N64 - ??

The playstation uses a multi-av out that can output in composite and RF. Older models might have RCA jacks on them for composite out.

the saturn uses a proprietary multi-av out with different pins outputting different signals. It can output RF, component, and in some cases, RGB. Certain models of saturn, like the hi-saturn navi, output to proprietary LCD screens via a special port that sends an RGB signal.

the N64 uses the same multi-av out as the SNES. An adapter came with the N64 to convert this into rf-out, and it can also output component and composite.

Dreamcast - ??
PS2 - Composite
Gamecube -
Xbox -

the dreamcast can output rf, composite, component, vga, and s-video.

the PS2 can output RF, composite, component, and s-video.

the gamecube can output RF, composite, component, and s-video. component GCN cables are difficult to find.

the xbox can output RF, composite, component, s-video, and vga (IIRC on that last one).

Wii - Composite
PS3 - ??
Xbox 360 -

the wii can also output component, although finding component wii cables is also difficult. it can output s-video and, I'd assume, RF as well.

the PS3 can output component, composite, VGA, s-video, HDMI, and presumably RF as well.

the xbox 360 can output component, composite, vga, s-video, hdmi (in some models) and presumably RF as well.

Generally, you're going to find most consoles from a specific generation can output the same way. Generally composite is assumed (except for cases such as the NES 2, aka the top-loader, or the SMS 2).

[ExedExes]

SNES outputs RF, composite and S-video.

Earlier SNES hardware also outputs RGB - this thread here does a good job as to the best connections for every console.

[ApolloBoy]

and certain models of the megadrive will output via VGA (like the amstrad mega-pc).

Nope, the Genesis/MD outputs RGB, not VGA.

The playstation uses a multi-av out that can output in composite and RF. Older models might have RCA jacks on them for composite out.

It also outputs S-video and RGB. RF requires an external modulator.

the saturn uses a proprietary multi-av out with different pins outputting different signals. It can output RF, component, and in some cases, RGB.

The Saturn doesn't output component but it does have S-video. All Saturn models also output RGB. Again, RF is external.

the N64 uses the same multi-av out as the SNES. An adapter came with the N64 to convert this into rf-out, and it can also output component and composite.

The RF modulator was actually sold separately, the N64 only came bundled with an AV cable. It also doesn't output component but S-video instead. None of them output RGB without modding, and as of now, only early N64s can be modded for RGB.

the dreamcast can output rf, composite, component, vga, and s-video.

The Dreamcast doesn't output component and can't output RF without an external modulator. It also has RGB.

the PS2 can output RF, composite, component, and s-video.

Again, the PS2 can't do RF without an external modulator and it also has RGB (which has to be selected in the main menu, since it outputs component by default).

the gamecube can output RF, composite, component, and s-video. component GCN cables are difficult to find.

Only older GameCube consoles output component though, since later consoles omitted the digital AV out that the component cable uses. PAL systems output RGB but not S-video, whereas NTSC systems have S-video but not RGB.

the xbox can output RF, composite, component, s-video, and vga (IIRC on that last one).

It doesn't output VGA but it does have RGB.

the wii can also output component, although finding component wii cables is also difficult. it can output s-video and, I'd assume, RF as well.

Wii component cables actually aren't hard to find, I've seen plenty at GameStop and you can also find multi-system component cables that are compatible with the Wii. RF you still need an external modulator for. PAL Wiis are also like the PAL GameCube in that they have RGB but not S-video.

the PS3 can output component, composite, VGA, s-video, HDMI, and presumably RF as well.

The PS3 doesn't have VGA but it can output RGB if you go into the settings (just like with the PS2).

the xbox 360 can output component, composite, vga, s-video, hdmi (in some models) and presumably RF as well.

It also outputs RGB.

[AppleQueso]

Apolloboy dropping knowledge bombs in here.

[AppleQueso]

Anyway to sum this up:

Help me make a list so I can choose a cool monitor to play my games in (Consoles I want to use are bolded)

Atari 2600 - RF
Colecovision - RF

NES - RF, Composite
Mega Drive - RF, Composite, RGB
SNES - RF, Composite, S-Video, RGB

PSX - Composite, S-Video, RGB
Saturn - Composite, S-Video, RGB
N64 - Composite, S-Video

Dreamcast - Composite, S-Video, RGB, VGA
PS2 - Composite, S-Video, Componsnet, RGB
Gamecube - Composite, S-Video (NTSC consoles only), RGB (PAL consoles only) Component (via a really expensive proprietary cable)
Xbox - Compsoite, S-Video, Component, RGB

Wii - Composite, S-Video (NTSC consoles only), RGB (PAL consoles only), Component
PS3 - Composite, S-Video, Component, HDMI
Xbox 360 - Composite, S-Video, RGB, VGA, Component, HDMI

That's as far as you can get without modding, btw. I don't know anything about the 360. Pretty much anything that can do composite can also do RF, and even if it can't, seperate RF modulators are dirt cheap.

With modding, you can get s-video out of the Genesis, RGB out of the N64, and thanks to some recent hardware you can get S-video and RGB out of the NES.

[Krejlooc]

The amstrad Mega-PC absolutely outputs in VGA, which is exactly what I stated.