Best A/V Cable for consoles

[david656]

Hi 

I know this has been asked before for the Wii and 360 etc before, but i'm not sure its been asked for the consoles i have.

What are the best connections to use for these consoles, i have put what i would choose/ am using but would like to see what you would use and if the consoles should be modded to use better outputs

UPDATED:
Sega Master System II - RF Cable, Now using RGB mod thanks to the mmmonkey guide
Sega Saturn - Scart, this is a RGB scar cable, however i would still like add digital audio out.
Sega Dreamcast - VGA, in the process of doing this mod.
Sony PS1 - Scart, still looking for advice on this one
Sony PS2 - Component, i understand an RGB scart cable would be better?
Sony PS3 - HDMI, 1080i so room for improvement i supose.
Nintendo 64 - RF cable, would like to use scart, can i use a gamecube scart cable on this one? maybe a component cable?

Any input thankfully received   

[mini77]

If you're using a PAL N64 the best possible picture sadly is through composite video (the yellow phone jack).  If you really want a better picture you'll need to import a US console that will output S-Video.

Make sure you're using RGB SCART and not composite SCART for the Saturn and PS1.

Master system can be modded to output s-video - much better an RF.  Seriously, I'd never use RF for anything unless I was watching the TV through a fishtank.

Dreamcast is fine through VGA,  RGB SCART also provides a decent picture, though not as good as the VGA obviously.

Anything PS3/XBOX 360 go with HDMI.  Cheap and efficient!

[DJ_Izumi]

For those of us in North America, SCART is rarely an option.  I'd say the best solution for PS1 is a PS2 with component.  Or a PS3 with HDMI. Since all PS3's can run PS1 games and do progressive HDMI output.

[SavannahLion]

Master system can be modded to output s-video - much better an RF.

No ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---? Better not be a junk hack job. Irritates the hell out of me to see those consoles that look like someone hacked up their case with a cold butter knife and did the soldering with a lit match.

[mini77]

Actually you can mod a Master System 2 for RGB output which would be even better.  Not so sure about the first version though.

[david656]

Hi,

Trying to do the 60Hz mod to my SMS2 as i have all the bits needed but am having great difficulty following this guide, does anyone know which one is the graphics chip?

http://home.freeuk.net/markk/Consoles/SMS_50-60Hz_Switch.txt

pic of board

http://home.freeuk.net/markk/Consoles/sms2-mb.jpg

cheers

edit: figured out the graphics chip now.. but where do i get the +5v and 0v from ?

[SavannahLion]

Actually you can mod a Master System 2 for RGB output which would be even better.  Not so sure about the first version though.

Even if you could get RGB, wouldn't the sync signal be too slow for modern monitors?

Oh wait.. an SMS2? Doh! I have the SMS snail maze one. Bah.

[mini77]

Too slow for modern monitors? Yes, its a 15.6kHz signal buts its ok on TVs or older computer monitors (the old Commodore Amiga monitors are excellent for this.

I checked up on ther Master Sytem 1 too - it seems it can output RGB after all.  The MS1 uses the same AV out as the first Genesis/Megadrive so a RGB SCART / BNC lead would work with them both.  Have a look here; http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/genesisav.htm

[SavannahLion]

Too slow for modern monitors? Yes, its a 15.6kHz signal buts its ok on TVs or older computer monitors (the old Commodore Amiga monitors are excellent for this.

I know of very few TV's that accept RGB of any kind. Even the idiot LCD TVs with their VGA inputs don't seem to accept anything under 30, at least that's what it says in the manuals. And the old Amiga monitors aren't exactly falling off of the back of trucks anymore, no thanks to that bastard electronics recycling program.

[david656]

 

I'm following this mod http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/sms2-av.htm are you guys saying that if i plug this into my LCD HDTV that it won't even recognise it.. at all? 

I'm so close to finishing it too I've dremeled out the back and fitted the socket and everything!

I'm also doing a VGA mod on a dreamcast... i take it that will be ok on the HDTV to right?

My aim was/is to get my dreamcast, SMSII and sega saturn running the best output possible, and then I might look into seeing what modifications are available on the PS1 and N64. All are PAL 50hz models so where available I will eventually do a speed mod too. Is the speed mod required on the SMSII for RGB to work too ?

cheers for your input

[SavannahLion]

I'm following this mod http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/sms2-av.htm are you guys saying that if i plug this into my LCD HDTV that it won't even recognise it.. at all? 

According to the manual for my yank LCD TV, the frequency chart for the RGB/PC port (exactly how it's labeled  ) doesn't give any rating below ~31KHz. That's not to say it won't work but given previous attempts to find "hidden" scan resolutions on other monitors, I wouldn't hold out any hope.

However, you're not a yank, your TVs have SCART. Don't they accept RGB signals as low as ~15 or do you have the same ---smurf-poop--- nonsense we do with our crap? Monitors are the same deal here, so... 

I didn't realize you weren't in the States so I kind of assumed (until just now) you were working with U.S. stuff.

[david656]

to SavannahLion,

yes we do have scart.. and yes i'm pretty sure (about 51%) my tv has RGB input 

Nope I am not a fellow American... but similarly I always assume people are British.

Where as you have radioshack we have Maplin... which are actually awful! my mod has 2 out of for capacitors because Maplin only had 2 left and didn't bother to re-order any .. because they had 2 left! BUT I've very gingerly with wires hanging out everywhere connected up the audio line to my TV's SCART socket and the audio is clean and crisp so hoping the rest will turn out ok.

If people are interested i will post part lists for bits bought from maplin for the brit's out there also tackling the mods i copy from that great mmmonkey.
 

[SavannahLion]

Where as you have radioshack we have Maplin... which are actually awful!

Don't feel bad. I used to work for Rat Shack and they suck ass now.

[david656]

I'm now following this guide http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/ms-md-scart.htm to make the scart cable and it was all going swimmingly.. i even found an old 100ohm resistor on some junk pcb but for the life of me cannot find some 75ohm resistors anywhere ! even maplins don't sell them.

can someone please advise me on what i could use as substitute or where to get some 75 ohm resistors 

thanks again for your on going help

[SavannahLion]

can someone please advise me on what i could use as substitute or where to get some 75 ohm resistors 

It's ugly, but if mail order doesn't work, what about adding values? A 25 and 50 ohm resistor will get you what you want.

[david656]

can someone please advise me on what i could use as substitute or where to get some 75 ohm resistors 

It's ugly, but if mail order doesn't work, what about adding values? A 25 and 50 ohm resistor will get you what you want.

Oddly i just happened to ask the guy i always ask at maplins if they had any and he sold me 4 75 ohm 1/2 watt resistors... i couldn't see them on the website at all though.

I have done the rgb mod and very pleased with the sharpness of it and have now moved the console to my LCD SDTV to be able to still get a retro feel rather than a pin sharp feel.

I am currently following the vga dreamcast mod... but would also be interested in any good guides on adding 'digital audio' out via coaxial from all the different consoles.

thanks again to savannahlion and all those who have helped

[danny_galaga]

I'm a heathen and actually prefer composite for everything so i can just run them all through one switching box thing. Seems to be the common factor for all the consoles i have and am interested in. I'm going to mod my SMS to composite for this reason (and the fact that as everyone mentions, RF really sucks). Hope your mod is working out David (",)

[Nipedley]

The S-video cable from a dreamcast is very nice quality (obviously not as good as VGA, but then not all games support the vga adapter for dreamcast anyway!) I have it running through s-video on my lcd hdtv. Though to be fair, when I moved the dreamcast over to my little 14" crt (for lightgun games.... I so wish there was a LCD compatible dreamcast gun ) the RF looked just fine, guess it must be because its quite small :-)

[david656]

finished the VGA mod on my dreamcast.. and it works REALLY well.. but... i cannot get the top on theres a good half centimeter gap all the way around where either the ports or the cuircit is getting in the way

any idea's about how to get it all fitting