New Computer Monitor and Dreamcast VGA

[Beak]

Howdy Racketeers,

So my girlfriend is takin' her nice flatscreen TV back from me, and I need a replacement for my Dreamcast! 'Cept, I plan on building a new desktop computer this next semester, so I was going to replace my TV with a monitor. I know I can hook up my VGA cable to a computer monitor.. but I also know that it doesn't always work.

So my question is: what kind of monitor should I be hunting for? Any personal suggestions, first off? Is there something I should avoid? Is there a way to tell if my Dreamcast will work with a certain monitor before I buy it? Or is it just buy it and pray?

Thanks!

[Citizin]

A CRT would be perfect if you are okay with it taking up a lot of energy and space. If you get an LCD, you might want to get a 4:3 in case the DC decides to scale all through out the screen rather than leaving black borders. I'm not sure if it does this so if anyone does please let us know.

I'd say just try to avoid fancy, just released widescreen monitors that might not support 640 x 480(DC's resolution)

[aw93053]

you might want to take the DC/VGA adapter to the store with you and test the monitors as it (unfortunately) does not work with all TFT monitors. CRT Monitors seem to all work (have tested it on 3 different types / manufacturers).

[Niode]

Yes, it all comes down to the lowest supported resolution of the monitor. 640 x 480 is the resolution it supports AKA VGA. A lot of modern monitors only support upwards of 800 x 600 AKA SVGA. My Samsung Syncmaster 15" only supports SVGA and XGA so I can't use my DC on it .

The best way is to just check with a laptop or anything portable that can output VGA resolution over a VGA cable. They might get a bit pissy with you if you take a DC or something that has to be plugged into the mains. I don't know how it is in your country but when I was purchasing my Viera they wouldn't let me plug my own equipment into their plug sockets because it wasn't PAT tested. They happy to demonstrate with similar equipment they had in store though.

With it being a relatively small purchase they may be a bit arsy about the extra work but at the end of the day a sale is a sale so you might luck out and get somebody who will do anything for you (the way it should be in my opinion, it's their job to sell after all).

Personally, if it HAS to be TFT then I'd try and get an old native SVGA monitor, chances are it will support VGA as well but it's worth checking all the same. I'd personally get a CRT as it will give you the best quality picture regardless of resolution. The only problem is the sheer size of the damn things, plus they eat electricity if used for long periods of time.

[newt42]

you might want to take the DC/VGA adapter to the store with you and test the monitors as it (unfortunately) does not work with all TFT monitors. CRT Monitors seem to all work (have tested it on 3 different types / manufacturers).

What other consoles are capable of hooking up to VGA ports?

[Citizin]

you might want to take the DC/VGA adapter to the store with you and test the monitors as it (unfortunately) does not work with all TFT monitors. CRT Monitors seem to all work (have tested it on 3 different types / manufacturers).

What other consoles are capable of hooking up to VGA ports?

Xbox 360

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

PS2 (with compatible software) & PS3 (natively in any HD mode) if you can find the ulra rare PS2 VGA cable that came with Linux for PS2.

[marurun]

Some monitors won't let you switch below 800 x 600 in Display Properties but will list 640 x 480 as a supported mode if you "List All Modes" for the monitor. In those cases Windows is likely the problem and not the monitor itself.

[skate323k137]

PS2 (with compatible software) & PS3 (natively in any HD mode) if you can find the ulra rare PS2 VGA cable that came with Linux for PS2.

(on the PS2) you can use a component cable, db25 and some rca jacks, assuming your monitor supports sync on green.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

PS2 (with compatible software) & PS3 (natively in any HD mode) if you can find the ulra rare PS2 VGA cable that came with Linux for PS2.

(on the PS2) you can use a component cable, db25 and some rca jacks, assuming your monitor supports sync on green.

This 'Sync on Green' crap from Sony is really starting to piss me off. My HDTV (JVC) supports RGB from all my consoles (including my PS3) except from my PS2. Tge fact that pretty much only Sony's own TV sets (I don't know if this is different for PC monitors) support 'Sync on Green' makes me even more furious.