Desperately need advice for playing old consoles on an HDTV

[vicviperpilot001]

I think you meant composite. As mentioned by Valkyrie, some of your consoles certainly can gain from a better connection such as SVideo or Component. Some upscaler boxes can give poor results, maybe do the research before going that route. For instance you will not need a Component to HDMI, most HDTVs have both inputs already available. However, Component and Composite tend to be a shared input on new HDTVs, this can be fixed with external video switchboxes. No need for the VGA conversion either since the TV will already have Composite, Component and HDMI. SVideo will be the main snag if you go with a new HDTV.

Another benefit of older HD CRTs, All the different connections including SVideo!

Alright thanks for the info, sounds like I should at least be able to get the more up-do-date consoles looking semi-decent. Hope I can figure out what to do about the consoles that can use SVideo though.

[vicviperpilot001]

I was big on the RGB SCART to Component route,

used to hook up my stuff using this,



But now I've changed to RGB SCART to HDMI,

I get even "cleaner" visuals this way.

I see this reviewer on YT has followed the same path as I have,

Worth a look,

Wow, this'll really help, thanks!

[thelolotov]

I think you meant composite. As mentioned by Valkyrie, some of your consoles certainly can gain from a better connection such as SVideo or Component. Some upscaler boxes can give poor results, maybe do the research before going that route. For instance you will not need a Component to HDMI, most HDTVs have both inputs already available. However, Component and Composite tend to be a shared input on new HDTVs, this can be fixed with external video switchboxes. No need for the VGA conversion either since the TV will already have Composite, Component and HDMI. SVideo will be the main snag if you go with a new HDTV.

Another benefit of older HD CRTs, All the different connections including SVideo!

Alright thanks for the info, sounds like I should at least be able to get the more up-do-date consoles looking semi-decent. Hope I can figure out what to do about the consoles that can use SVideo though.

Shamelessly tooting my own horn here, check out this guide I made for this very question!
Best Video Connections Guide

Also, Vizio is a damn fine brand, it's what I'd suggest for your next TV, if you have to get an LCD. I have the E321ME, and while I don't use it for retro gaming anymore (since I found an HD CRT) it did a very good job while I did, and it was a bargain.

[vicviperpilot001]

Shamelessly tooting my own horn here, check out this guide I made for this very question!
Best Video Connections Guide

Also, Vizio is a damn fine brand, it's what I'd suggest for your next TV, if you have to get an LCD. I have the E321ME, and while I don't use it for retro gaming anymore (since I found an HD CRT) it did a very good job while I did, and it was a bargain.

That IS an awesome guide, too bad I broke the cardinal rule of not searching the forum before posting... I blame it on the old-school gaming nerves!

There's a Vizio TV in my living room that I'm using as a guinea pig while I get all my video hookups in line. I just tested out my PS2 with component cables and played a few PSX games on my PS3 through HDMI, and was pretty happy to see that the graphics were very passable.

Now I just gotta cross my fingers and hope the S-Video to HDMI upscaler I bought will do a half decent job at making my older consoles look passable.

[BitFaced]

Remember, they are coming out with HDMI adapters for NES & N64 (though the latter is still in a preliminary stage) and a universal PPU for NES that supports various outputs.

[SoltanGris]

XRGBmini looks awesome but I can't justify the price. I've seen a bunch of $40-$80 converters on amazon.com that convert composite/s-video to HDMI.

Are they at least decent? Basically, I'd like to bring my s-video consoles out of my game room and play them on our new TV which only does composite, component and HDMI.

Waste of money?

[ZenErik]

Be careful. I got a $40-$60 composite/s-video to HDMI box before. Much nicer still images but crazy dot crawl. Don't do it. XRGB is probably worth it. Haven't used one yet.

[Hazerd]

After reading this thread, thinking about getting:

CVID BG-460 HDMI/SCART PAL System to NTSC HDMI Digital Audio Video Converter


and

RGB Scart Cable for Sega Dreamcast Saturn Super Nintendo Gamecube DC SNES XBOX
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161034622565?ss ... 1438.l2649

Thoughts?

[SoltanGris]

Be careful. I got a $40-$60 composite/s-video to HDMI box before. Much nicer still images but crazy dot crawl. Don't do it. XRGB is probably worth it. Haven't used one yet.

That's what I expected. The big TV has composite...but then you have to unplug your component connection from the A/V receiver and plug in composite as they share sockets.

Maybe I'll give it a shot with my composite cables ... worst that can happen is my eyes bleed!

[BitFaced]

Be careful. I got a $40-$60 composite/s-video to HDMI box before. Much nicer still images but crazy dot crawl. Don't do it. XRGB is probably worth it. Haven't used one yet.

That's what I expected. The big TV has composite...but then you have to unplug your component connection from the A/V receiver and plug in composite as they share sockets.

Maybe I'll give it a shot with my composite cables ... worst that can happen is my eyes bleed!

Yeah, I've personally been told by Fudoh to stay away from anything China-related that upscales to 1080p. If you can use RGB, maybe look into getting the upcoming CGA-VGA linedoubler from Crafty Mech and a VGA-HDMI converter?