I suppose that some (higher end?) modern monitors can take inputs as if they were TVs, which would allow to connect a Saturn or a N64 - e.g. do some monitors have SCART connections?
I'm still a bit sad that I can't play my classic consoles for lack of TV. I don't outright go get a TV because in the U.K. you have to pay tax on having a TV* which is actually a bit expensive and I can't justify paying it just for retro playing, particularly considering I'm probably only here for one more year and then I'd probably either have to sell the TV or transport it elsewhere.
On the other hand, if one of those nice flat screen monitors would also allow me to enjoy my consoles, I might be willing to go for it.
On a related note, I assume one can, with proper cables and/or eventual tinkering, connect the consoles to older monitors with just the typical RGB input. Is that correct? (if so I can just try to get the proper cable to hook up on the screen I have at home)
Ivo.
*I strongly disagree with having to pay just for having a TV. I think the reason it was instituted was to fund the BBC, if I use just a TV without a receiver, just for playing or watching DVDs I should be exempt of paying the tax. I guess enforceability issues are related to this, but it still sucks.
Connecting consoles to monitor (instead of TV sets)- how to?
-
lordofduct
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 2907
- Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 12:57 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach
It all depends on the console. All your old consoles can 'usually' hook to old school RGB monitors.
As for your new VGA monitors... NO! Your newer monitors don't support the very low refresh rates of most of your consoles. For instance: The Sega Genesis puts out 15hz signal where as your computer monitor probably accepts a minimum of like 50 or maybe 45hz. You'll just fry your monitor doing that.
I don't know a lot about the PS2 or the XBOX... They have peripherals for VGA I know so I am suspecting it is a no unless you get the peripheral. I know for a fact the Dreamcast and lower will NOT do it though (DC does have a VGA peripheral as well... but is only supported by certain games).
You can get a 'doubler' for your old systems that will up the refresh rate for you so your monitor accepts it (always check the manual of your monitor before using these to make sure it will accept the refresh rate and how to put it in that mode if it might have to be forced). 'Doublers' are very expensive though... around 200 bucks and with the loss of video quality from them you are better off buying a RGB monitor OR just using the svid on it to a nice monitor that accepts it or to a nice TV.
As for the SCART thing... again the SCART connections are just basically RGB with a different connector. So make sure the monitor you hook it to supports the signal. Most of your old systems are around 15hz... check the specs on the internet for exact amounts depending the console.
As for getting the RGB signal from a console... the signal is 'usually' given to you in the video out port on the back of it. The SMS, Genny, 32X, Saturn, PSX, DC, PC-Engine, have it right in the port and you can easily just make a cable for it just grabbing the: Red, Green, Blue, sync and ground pins. (If I recall correctly most of the Nintendo consoles below Gamecube don't have it... maybe the SNES model 1... they all can be modified for RGB though by cracking the lil' bugger open and pulling it off the composite encoder chip)
Check out www.Gamesx.com for really good tutorials on MOST consoles and a great tutorial of understanding what RGB and composite video is and its quality differences between all the different types... (i.e. RF, composite, svid, RGB...) RGB is the BEST video quality you can ever get out of a console (and is highly debated to be better then digital outputs like HDMI when used on Analog Monitors like CRT HDTVs).
As for your new VGA monitors... NO! Your newer monitors don't support the very low refresh rates of most of your consoles. For instance: The Sega Genesis puts out 15hz signal where as your computer monitor probably accepts a minimum of like 50 or maybe 45hz. You'll just fry your monitor doing that.
I don't know a lot about the PS2 or the XBOX... They have peripherals for VGA I know so I am suspecting it is a no unless you get the peripheral. I know for a fact the Dreamcast and lower will NOT do it though (DC does have a VGA peripheral as well... but is only supported by certain games).
You can get a 'doubler' for your old systems that will up the refresh rate for you so your monitor accepts it (always check the manual of your monitor before using these to make sure it will accept the refresh rate and how to put it in that mode if it might have to be forced). 'Doublers' are very expensive though... around 200 bucks and with the loss of video quality from them you are better off buying a RGB monitor OR just using the svid on it to a nice monitor that accepts it or to a nice TV.
As for the SCART thing... again the SCART connections are just basically RGB with a different connector. So make sure the monitor you hook it to supports the signal. Most of your old systems are around 15hz... check the specs on the internet for exact amounts depending the console.
As for getting the RGB signal from a console... the signal is 'usually' given to you in the video out port on the back of it. The SMS, Genny, 32X, Saturn, PSX, DC, PC-Engine, have it right in the port and you can easily just make a cable for it just grabbing the: Red, Green, Blue, sync and ground pins. (If I recall correctly most of the Nintendo consoles below Gamecube don't have it... maybe the SNES model 1... they all can be modified for RGB though by cracking the lil' bugger open and pulling it off the composite encoder chip)
Check out www.Gamesx.com for really good tutorials on MOST consoles and a great tutorial of understanding what RGB and composite video is and its quality differences between all the different types... (i.e. RF, composite, svid, RGB...) RGB is the BEST video quality you can ever get out of a console (and is highly debated to be better then digital outputs like HDMI when used on Analog Monitors like CRT HDTVs).
The best solution for the least cash is a pci card with S-video inputs for a PC. If you don't have a PC, the next best thing is this http://search.ebay.com/viewsonic-n6_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8
The XRGB2 would be the best quality, but you'll have a hell of a time finding one and the cables to go with it.
The XRGB2 would be the best quality, but you'll have a hell of a time finding one and the cables to go with it.
Seems that the DC connects easily by VGA?
From another thread in the forum it seems that at least some DCs connect straightforwardly to monitors. Comments?
Maybe I should just hasten my DC acquisition if that is the case, and get a VGA cable.
What monitors support this, any regular VGA one?
Maybe I should just hasten my DC acquisition if that is the case, and get a VGA cable.
What monitors support this, any regular VGA one?
Re: Seems that the DC connects easily by VGA?
As far as I know, yesIvo wrote:From another thread in the forum it seems that at least some DCs connect straightforwardly to monitors. Comments?
Maybe I should just hasten my DC acquisition if that is the case, and get a VGA cable.
What monitors support this, any regular VGA one?
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