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Okay, here's my problem: I need to make a standard composite video signal into a high-resolution VGA signal. I really don't need anything fancy like the XRGB2, because all I need is a composite signal to transfer.
Do any of you know about this little number? I found it on Lik-Sang.
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?cat...ducts_id=3235&
Please give me suggestions for VGA boxes or comments on the one in the link above. Thanks!
Do not bother. Upscanning from composite to VGA will destroy your image, and will make you want to kill yourself.
Seriously... DO NOT do it.
You will thank me later.
I'm sure Matt or Neogeoman can help you there.
those two are teh smart.
Edit: and listen to your elders, even Jesus comes to 88 for advice every once and awhile.
You've got some brown stuff on your nose, there.Quote:
Originally Posted by ShineAqua
The only systems that output true high-res VGA are Dreamcast, GameCube, and Xbox. So, unless you plop the $$ down for the XRGB to use on the rest of the bunch, you're out of luck.
P.S. Welcome aboard. Might as well take OSG down, this place is MUCH better.
knowledge to keep with you for life:
Things to never cheap out on- jewelry, alcohol or up-scale converters. you'll always regret it.
point out a way to make RGB show through VGA! (please? :))
A small amount of PS2 games do it as well. I stress the small amount part, but those that do look every bit as good as a DC VGA game.Quote:
Originally Posted by OmegaFlareX
You are confused. VGA is RGB. I'm going to guess that your question is how to connect low res 15 kHz RGB through VGA......and the answer is...... drop a ton of money on an XRGB2!Quote:
Originally Posted by voltz
And seriously, low res RGB looks better on a propper low res monitor rather than an XRGB anyway.
:lol: Not bad. I'm just going to slightly modify that for my own uses to "never upscan anything in the first place". :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Videodrone
uh-huh, yeah that's it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa
D'OH! :yuck:Quote:
......and the answer is...... drop a ton of money on an XRGB2!
He already asked me a couple of days ago, but I told him the same thing that everybody else has.Quote:
Originally Posted by ShineAqua
There is no cheap solution unless you're willing to settle for a picture that looks like junk.
You know, I used to think that too, but a little while ago I got to try out an XRGB-2 Plus, and was pleasantly surprised. The extra scanline options really do help out, and the picture you get is a lot better than the old XRGB-2.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa
I really don't know why everybody rags on the 2+ so much - it is a lot better in some ways, and the bad VGA passthrough problem can easily be avoided by buying a $10 switchbox.
If Mr. Sephiroth only needs to convert composite to VGA he might as well get a cheap $40 convertor, since there's nothing going to make that signal look good.
Yes, the XRGB-2(+) is the king of upscan, but that's only because it can accomodate you when you make the move to RGB. If your system only outputs composite the XRGB-2 is overkill.
The difference between these cheap boxes and the XRB-2 when converting composite is likely to be minimal. No matter which you use it'll still look like crap.
There's no point in telling him to get hardware he doesn't need. ;)
Define "look like crap." As in, worse than an S-Video signal (S-Video is what I meant, not composite, :P)? Two times worse? Three times? Four?
I really just want to be able to play PS2 in my room, but I don't have space for a TV. I'm not picky. Just as long as it doesn't look like a botched monkey shit, I couldn't really give a fawk.
S-video will look a LOT better than composite would, but of course still won't look half as good as converting RGB. Svideo allows for a 50% increase in colour resolution over composite, but you're still going to be at the mercy of the convertor's quality.
There are a few things to keep in mind:
All TVs are basically RGB displays with hardware to decode the composite video (or S) to RGB for display. The unit you're looking to purchase basically has to act as this convertor AND upscan the signal. As you know the quality of one TV can differ greatly from the next, and this is almost always because of the quality of the electrical components, not the actual tube.
By the same token therefor one upscan convertor can be very poor quality compared to the next. Everyone recommends the XRGB because we've all used it and are satisfied with it. The rest are 25-35% of the XRGB's price because they're less capable and built to be cheap rather than good.
Also, you get what you pay for. =)
Lawrence.
lol
Let me get this straight (based on the research I've done thus far on the subject). I find it easier to get stuff after I've regurgitated the info.
All TVs are RGB. The electronics inside the TV decipher the video from composite/s-video signals to RGB so that it can be displayed on the TV's tube. What an upscan converter does is deciphers the signal given by a composite or s-video line to RGB so that it can be displayed on a monitor's tube, and then (somehow) boosts the video's signal from 15Hz to 30Hz, since a VGA monitor can only display video that is at least that much.
Am I right in assuming that this boost degrades video quality?
Anyway, money isn't really an issue, although I was really, really hoping to save space. Should I just make room for a TV? :P
No, TVs suck. Get yourself a 13" (or is it 14?) Commodore 1084 RGB monitor off ebay (they're cheap) and have Matt make you a cable.
Boom, perfect picture, with space to spare.
Listen to Omega Flare.
RGB is your only solution.
Or, you could buy my PS2 VGA box from me... I warn you, it looks like goatse.
The line-doubling itself isn't at fault. As Lawrence has said, it's usually just cheap design standards that kill the video quality and make it look worse than a TV. Also keep in mind that your PC monitor is a lot sharper than a television, and the flaws will show up more clearly.Quote:
Originally Posted by T.S.Sephiroth
Cheap VGA converters don't really convert the composite signal back to analog RGB like a TV does and then line-double it - that'd be far too much work. Generally, they just digitize the incoming signal and spit out a VGA image based on that. You lose a lot of quality in the A/D conversion process.
In my experience, the quality you get from S-Video on one of those converters is worse than composite on a normal TV. But at least you'll be able to play the system, yes?
As others have said, if you want to save space all you need is a small 14 inch RGB 15 khz monitor, teh cable from Matt and the system. Boom you're all set. the PS2 looks amazing through direct RGB connection and if you want to watch DVDs in RGB as well, all you need is the handy Region X disk for PS2 that allows DVDs to boot into RGB as well and damn do they look good in RGB. So I would say for easily less than 100 bucks you can have a small, powerful gaming setup that is pretty much unrivaled, unless you get an even bigger RGB monitor.Quote:
Originally Posted by T.S.Sephiroth
Seriously, whether you're a nut about picture or not, once you see an RGB image in action, you'll be amazed and never go back, only HD progressive scan/VGA can rival it and that's only for 3-D stuff, the 2-D stuff was made for RGB.
Do it, and thank us later.
[says for 90,000th time]Progressive scan is for high res, not just 3D!!!!!!!!!!! 2D high res looks just fine!!!!!!!!! Does Windows look like pixel death on your VGA monitor?! Is Windows 3D?!!! AAAAARRRRRGHHHH!!! *jumps out window* [/says for 90,000th time]Quote:
Originally Posted by ssbomberman
*hasn't had caffine yet this morning*
he he, sorry to make you jump out the window, but when I think 2-D, I do not think hi-res, because well there's GGX, GGX2, and uh...uh...well there may be a couple other hi-res 2-D games out there that I missed...so add them too...Quote:
Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa
If the goopy puddle of ex-Chibi Nappa on the ground under the window could accept your appology, it would. :)
At least the goopy puddle has had its daily caffine now...
It isn't a problem of how many 2D hi-res games are there as much as how many 3D games are low-res. VGA kills them.Quote:
Originally Posted by ssbomberman
BTW, I'm still surprised. Nobody told the guy to check an emulator; it's the easiest way to know if he's going to like the simulated RGB, scanlined picture of an X-RGB2. Of course, he must disable any filter and enable simulated scanlines on it. Better if its 50%.
1084's were cheap..the price has risen..Quote:
Originally Posted by OmegaFlareX
Do you US players have too many problems on importing an RGB SCART TV from Europe? A 28" one by Sony is not too expensive...
It may not be expensinve, until shipping charges kill us.
Nobody imports them directly, then?
It is much easier to get an arcade monitor in the States I think...Quote:
Originally Posted by Recap
Yeah, after you figure you can get an old RGB tv or monitor for under 100 bucks that will work fine, it's really not worth importing. For instance I got a 25 inch Sony TV from the late 80s that has RGB inputs, so I bought it for 75 bucks and have the cleanest picture you could imagine...20 inch one I got for 60 bucks and a bunch of smaller ones for 35 bucks each, so the price, for now anyway, is too reasonable to import...Quote:
Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa
My RGB monitor was $6 from the local thrift shop. Can't beat that :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa
I wish I had a local thrift shop!
My local thrift shop has nothing but pee stained clothing.
However, I have access to a very very large number of RGB monitors, most taking Digital RGB input via "VTR".
Its up to you to do the research to see if what you have will work through that.
I can pick them up any tuesday or wednesday, I'll sell them for cost plus shipping plus a very small upcharge (enough to cover my gas, and buy me lunch at subway).
If any of you are interested let me know.