Best Video Connections

[thelolotov]

Just wanted to offer some updates:

ColecoVision
Best modded solution: VGA
Second best modded solution: Component

Mattel Intellivision/Intellivision II
PAL best modded solution: RGB

Sega SG-1000/SG-1000 II
Best modded solution: VGA
Second best modded solution: RGB (later SG-1000 IIs only)

Famicom
Best modded solution: RGB
Second best modded solution: S-video

Nintendo Entertainment System
Best modded solution: RGB
Second best modded solution: S-video

Sega Master System
Best non-modded solution: RGB (this applies to both NTSC and PAL consoles)

Sega Master System II
Best modded solution: RGB (this applies to both NTSC and PAL consoles)

Nintendo Entertainment System 2
Best modded solution: RGB
Second best modded solution: S-video

Much obliged, I'll try to update the guide soon, but it might have to wait until I get back from my vacation.

[BitFaced]

ColecoVision
Best modded solution: VGA
Second best modded solution: Component

How does such an early console have access to such superior video connections compared to the others at the time?

[thelolotov]

ColecoVision
Best modded solution: VGA
Second best modded solution: Component

How does such an early console have access to such superior video connections compared to the others at the time?

It didn't, these are mods.

[BitFaced]

It didn't, these are mods.

Just the fact it could be modded at all...

[thelolotov]

It didn't, these are mods.

Just the fact it could be modded at all...

The thing about superior video connections is that they're usually not all that complicated. It makes sense to output video the way these consoles did. Superior video connections were just rare and costly back then, I think. It's a wouldn't, not a couldn't.

[BitFaced]

And for all of you interested in HDMI GameCube progressive scan, N64 and possibly in the future Dreamcast, Xbox and Wii...
http://gc-forever.com/forums/viewtopic. ... 5&start=72

[Mad_Hatter]

I'm having trouble understanding the differences between these 4:

Component
RGB
SCART/RGB
RGB/Component Sync Methods

I'm on the internet researching but it seems they use these terms interchangeably.

"Component" would be the Red, Green, Blue Video cables with Red & White Audio I use for my PS2?

SCART is the European/French one.

[Ziggy]

I'm on the internet researching but it seems they use these terms interchangeably.

You can make basic bullet points for each, but there's always small little exceptions here and there.

"Component" would be the Red, Green, Blue Video cables with Red & White Audio I use for my PS2?

Yes, that's component. Also known as YPbPr and probably other names as well. It's all all the color info minus green. Apparently green is the most used color, so taking it out saves a lot of space. This is why DVDs are stored like this (digitally, YCbCr).

The "Y" in YPbPr is the same exact Y you'll find in S-Video. S-video is Y/C, where the Y is luma (the brightness, more or less) and C is chroma, all the color info. But instead of just having one color channel, component breaks it up into two, Pb (blue difference) and Pr (red difference). The "difference" is because it's missing green entirely. When YPbPr hits your TV or monitor, the green is added back into the picture. Whether or not green is added back correctly is what I argue, and why I question if component video is as good as real RGB. It's equivalent, but only if your TV doesn't fuck it up. You can Google laserdisc versus DVD debates to see how much different the greens look. It's also why I question if YPbPr is an actual upgrade to S-Video for retro consoles. People go out of their way to convert RGB to YPbPr, but I feel like it's not a big enough improvement over S-Video.

SCART is the European/French one.

SCART can be tricky. There's PAL SCART and well as JPN SCART (21-pin). SCART can carry RGB, but it can also carry other signals like composite.

Sync is another thing that can be tricky. Some monitors and devices can use composite video for sync, while others need a dedicated sync. You can also have sync of green. Then there's different types of sync (15kHz, 30kHz). VGA uses separate horizontal and vertical sync signals.

More info: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 52&t=37931

[theclaw]

Basically when you see SCART used without qualifiers expect RGB, between 240p to 576i, using joined H/V sync and European type wiring.

If looking for info from Japan, note their different-wired RGB cables are not named SCART in Japanese.

It's also why I question if YPbPr is an actual upgrade to S-Video for retro consoles. People go out of their way to convert RGB to YPbPr, but I feel like it's not a big enough improvement over S-Video.

Component has a significant technical benefit. Like RGB it doesn't involve NTSC/PAL color encoding.

[Ziggy]

I'm not gonna pretend like I know the full science behind YPbPr versus other video standards, I just know what I know from my own personal findings. I've found that, for retro consoles at least, that component video doesn't offer any real visual improvement over S-Video. You go from RF to composite and there's a clear improvement in video and audio. You go from composite to S-Video and there's a clear improvement in video. You go from S-Video to component and the difference is small, if noticeable at all.

I know that YPbPr is technically better than S-Video. I know that YPbPr can carry HD video while S-Video cannot. Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that it isn't better. I'm just saying that you don't see much, if any, benefits with retro game consoles. I certainly wouldn't recommend going out of your way or spending good money on it.

The only benefit I find with component video and retro game consoles is that newer TVs and AVRs don't have S-Video anymore (and if any still do - it's super rare). Component is MUCH better than composite, so if those are your options, than component becomes a great choice. Otherwise, don't fall down the rabbit hole (coming from a guy that fell down and had to climb back out).