Dreamcast VGA disappointing? Mini review.

[Spellsong]

To start things off, my old LCD monitor does not look that good with the VGA. I use my HDTV as my current PC monitor since I will never give up CRTs since I will always play older games. (Don't ask why as I got this. It was as a bad judgment). As for the HDTV that is a PC monitor now, it looks alright. Everything is very sharp, but its nothing I would miss if I sell my VGA box which I will soon. The colors are not that great, but that is due to the 15,000 Contrast Ratio anyway.


I notice at the end, it really does not look that much better on my end anyway, but they do look good on CRT PC monitors though. Things are good enough with S-Video, and even my old TV that had everything looking nice with composite which is good enough for me comparing to the VGA box which I expected to see better visuals out of. I might as well sell it.

I don't see what the big deal is about it. I mean its good for people that are stuck with HDTVs, and need the best input to cope with 480i games not looking that good on their said TVs, but that is it it seems. No, I'm not trying to bash it, but I find it kinda nice, but at the same time, its something I can live without. I just want to know if anyone else out there had the same experience.

[Upsidedown Fuji]

To start things off, my old LCD monitor does not look that good with the VGA. I use my HDTV as my current PC monitor since I will never give up CRTs since I will always play older games. (Don't ask why as I got this. It was as a bad judgment). As for the HDTV that is a PC monitor now, it looks alright. Everything is very sharp, but its nothing I would miss if I sell my VGA box which I will soon. The colors are not that great, but that is due to the 15,000 Contrast Ratio anyway.


I notice at the end, it really does not look that much better on my end anyway, but they do look good on CRT PC monitors though. Things are good enough with S-Video, and even my old TV that had everything looking nice with composite which is good enough for me comparing to the VGA box which I expected to see better visuals out of. I might as well sell it.

I don't see what the big deal is about it. I mean its good for people that are stuck with HDTVs, and need the best input to cope with 480i games not looking that good on their said TVs, but that is it it seems. No, I'm not trying to bash it, but I find it kinda nice, but at the same time, its something I can live without. I just want to know if anyone else out there had the same experience.

You're in the minority when it comes to your opinion on VGA on the Dreamcast but your entitled to your own opinion here. As for me it looks great on my Sharp Aquos 32 inch in VGA mode. Going from VGA to S-video or even icky composite is just too many steps backward for me. The Dreamcast was designed for VGA games. Maybe ther your LCD screen's scaler is wonky and not up to the task.

[d123456]

If the vga adapter would have been 99 bucks I still would have bought it.
But that´s coming from someone who bought the GC component cable for 60 odd bucks.
Millions of people still play their systems with composite cables and are perfectly desirelessly happy with it. I am one of those people who just want the best out of everything I own.
The difference is huge. Perhaps your expectations were just too damn high.
Going back from VGA to RGB SCART (which is already better than s-video) is a HUGE setback.
But I played it on an 720P 50" projection LCD tv back then. VGA LOOKED the business.
Those that are interestered in a better picture will not be dissatisfied apart from you.

[DownSince86]

If the vga adapter would have been 99 bucks I still would have bought it.
But that´s coming from someone who bought the GC component cable for 60 odd bucks.
Millions of people still play their systems with composite cables and are perfectly desirelessly happy with it. I am one of those people who just want the best out of everything I own.
The difference is huge. Perhaps your expectations were just too damn high.
Going back from VGA to RGB SCART (which is already better than s-video) is a HUGE setback.
But I played it on an 720P 50" projection LCD tv back then. VGA LOOKED the business.
Those that are interestered in a better picture will not be dissatisfied apart from you.

I have to agree that the difference between VGA output and other options is huge. I'm personally using an old CRT monitor (21 inches) from my old gaming PC and I'm loving it. I don't know if I would have spent $99 on this thing, but I would have gone as high as $50. I thought about attempting the internal VGA mod for a long time but when I found the VGA adapter here I purchased that instead. Was afraid I'd break my US launch model Dreamcast.

I've since purchased another one in good condition. Planning on doing a few modifications to it, thinking about an overclock, internal VGA, and painting the case and adding some LEDs.

[lisalover1]

If the vga adapter would have been 99 bucks I still would have bought it.
But that´s coming from someone who bought the GC component cable for 60 odd bucks.
Millions of people still play their systems with composite cables and are perfectly desirelessly happy with it. I am one of those people who just want the best out of everything I own.
The difference is huge.

I know people who still play their PS3s with RF cables.

[Droid party]

I know people who still play their PS3s with RF cables.

No doubt they throw rocks at their own shadows and worship fire also.

VGA on the DC is a massive difference on my tv (sony lcd). It was also a big difference on my last tv (NEC LCD). I really don't know how anyone can think there is only a small difference.

[Reprise]

Haha such snobbery

Reminds me of people that laugh because I'm not watching my films on an overpriced Blu-ray player on an overpriced and oversized HD television with some ridiculous overpriced surround sound system

I've considered getting the VGA to be honest though. I'm not willing to pay the price for the moment though. I find the Scart is more than capable of displaying a crisp image to be honest. It's far greater than composite (which I used to have) and RF (which I had when I first bought it). No doubt eventually I will convert to the wonders of the VGA though. I'm just willing to bet when I do, I'll either agree with the PW or I just won't think it's as great as everyone else. No offence.

[DownSince86]

I assure you we aren't begin snobbish here, there is a big difference when you get 480p output from the console. It actually makes some games look worse, like MvC2 where the sprites show pixelation that is hidden when displaying the game in 480i.

Other games look much better with the VGA adapter, Dead or Alive 2 begin a prime example.

The only downside is some games don't support VGA/480p output so you have to swap display devices or cables to play those games. I have my VGA box hooked up to the monitor and a TV so all I have to do is reach behind the Dreamcast and flip a switch when I play those games.

[CRTGAMER]

For the VGA compatible games, its not the VGA box, its the LCD.
LCDs tend to lag resulting in a "Dot Crawl" display:
http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/lcd-response-time.html

More info at my CRT VS LCD signature link below.

[d123456]

Too hard to resist flame baits for me.
Hey why doesn´t somebody start a thread about how pc keyboards are the best controllers.
Or that the Atari Jaguar is better than ps1 because it´s 64 bit.
who can think of more irrestable flame baits?