S-Video

[CD AGES]

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.

I suppose, but there appear to be more advantages towards VGA than Component which suit my way of gaming. VGA is the highest and purest form of analog video output (i think lol!) and more importantly (and especially to me) input lag between user input and game is none over component when used on LCD, LED, Plasma type TV's... but i hear ya.

[Redifer]

Contrary to popular belief, stepping up your video connection quality doesn't actually do much to increase the overall picture resolution. What it is doing is increasing the color bandwidth and therefore the color space. Colors won't smear as much, colors will be closer to the actual colors they are supposed to be, etc. It's the color crammed into the composite signal that gives composite its awful quality. If you were sending a true black and white picture over composite (no color information), it'd look every bit as good (and "sharp") as the same black and white picture going over s-video or component. That said, I like my colors defined and bold, thus I cannot stand composite.

Also, the sharpness on TVs really does nothing but increase contrast on edges. This can give images halos and whatnot. I usually leave my sharpness set all the way down as I do not like the TV introducing stuff that isn't in the picture. Some TVs, however, will actually attempt to blur the image once the sharpness setting goes below a certain point. I can't give you makes or models that do this, but I have seen it. In these cases, the sharpness shouldn't be all the way down.

[Hobie-wan]

and more importantly (and especially to me) input lag between user input and game is none over component when used on LCD, LED, Plasma type TV's... but i hear ya.

That's more dependent on the TV and its hardware though. Some TVs are terrible at dealing with old input. If it is simply video being watched and the sound and picture are delayed the same amount it doesn't matter. It is just a problem with video games when there is the terrible timing between controls and seeing the reaction.

[crux]

Here's one of the best guides I've seen comparing the differences between RF, composite, S-Video, and component (not RGB, but close), complete with plenty of images:

Seeing is Believing: Video Connections

The first time I tried S-Video (on a CRT, long, long before LCD or Plasma had hit the mainstream television market), I was floored by the difference compared to composite. There are the occasional systems and games, however, where the difference isn't so pronounced. I was hard pressed to spot the difference between Tempest 2000 for Jaguar on composite and S-Video, though the monitor was suffering from decades of use with a lot of brightness and color saturation lost.

Similarly, the difference between S-Video and RGB is even more astounding. Takes quite a bit of extra effort to get to that stage in the U.S. except for some VGA capable systems, however.

As for lag, it does vary by the system, but any game is going to see some lag when the resolution is scaled large amounts, which is an issue with high native resolutions of LCD and Plasma televisions. Some better televisions have gamer modes that will greatly help, but it still doesn't compare to a HD CRT with multiple native resolutions, or better yet a SD CRT with no real native resolution at all. Mostly fighting gamers and rhythm gamers would care to that degree, however, and products like XRGB help a great amount.

[alienjesus]

Is there any chance we could put together some kind of list for which models of which consoles support which cables? I'm looking to get upgrading my video signals, and it'd really help to know which consoles support S video, Component, RGB Scart or HDMI without any sort of modding.

[Inazuma]

Is there any chance we could put together some kind of list for which models of which consoles support which cables? I'm looking to get upgrading my video signals, and it'd really help to know which consoles support S video, Component, RGB Scart or HDMI without any sort of modding.

I dunno about a list but if you name some consoles, I can tell you what I know.

[alienjesus]

Is there any chance we could put together some kind of list for which models of which consoles support which cables? I'm looking to get upgrading my video signals, and it'd really help to know which consoles support S video, Component, RGB Scart or HDMI without any sort of modding.

I dunno about a list but if you name some consoles, I can tell you what I know.

Well, I'm basically looking to upgrade everything, because up to now I've just been sticking with the default RF or composite provided. So:

All PAL-
Master System (model 2)
Mega Drive (model 2)
Saturn
Dreamcast
NES
SNES
N64
PS2 (fat)
3DO
Turbografx

There's also the Wii, but I already know I can get Component and RGB Scart for that one.

[Inazuma]

Well, I'm basically looking to upgrade everything, because up to now I've just been sticking with the default RF or composite provided. So:

All PAL-
Master System (model 2)
I know the model 1 Master System can do RGB normally. Not sure about model 2.
Mega Drive (model 2)
RGB capable
Saturn
RGB capable
Dreamcast
Get a VGA/S-Video switch box from Racketboy. Most games support VGA, switch to S-Video for those that don't.
NES
Model 1 (toaster) can do composite. The top loader can only do RF. The Top loader for the Famicom can do composite, and the Famicom Titler can do s-video.
SNES
RGB capable
N64
S-Video is best. (some early models can be modded for RGB)
PS2 (fat)
Component is best. It can do RGB but it won't let you watch DVD movies or do progressive scan.
3DO
S-Video
Turbografx
No idea. I've only used RGB modded ones.
There's also the Wii, but I already know I can get Component and RGB Scart for that one.

[Hobie-wan]

TG is RF out of the box, composite with a Turbo Booster, TB+, or the CD attachment.

[Redifer]

Here's one of the best guides I've seen comparing the differences between RF, composite, S-Video, and component (not RGB, but close), complete with plenty of images:

Seeing is Believing: Video Connections

Gah! My article! Anyway I will say that the pictures in this article that I took do not do the differences justice. They were taken on an older, smaller TV which is good, but not fantastic. The Midnight Resistance weapon screen (after you beat stage 1) is a great place to look at the quality of your connection due to the lettering above each weapon/item. No comb filter in the world can make that stuff clear in composite.