What's the deal with component cables!

thundr51 · Oct 1, 2003

Ok, I'm getting a new tv this weekend and I noticed that it's supposed to have component ports. Well, I started looking around to see how much the cables are and I'm like WTF?? up to 50$ for some CABLES?? Is component video that good to warrant charging that much?

Anyway, since these things are too expensive which system do you think i'll see the biggest changes with? Xbox, Cube or PS2?

Oh yeah, which is a better connection component or svideo? and which system show best in which?

Highlander67 · Oct 1, 2003

thundr51 said:
Ok, I'm getting a new tv this weekend and I noticed that it's supposed to have component ports. Well, I started looking around to see how much the cables are and I'm like WTF?? up to 50$ for some CABLES?? Is component video that good to warrant charging that much?

Anyway, since these things are too expensive which system do you think i'll see the biggest changes with? Xbox, Cube or PS2?

Oh yeah, which is a better connection component or svideo? and which system show best in which?

Okay. Component is basically the best quality signal you can get from any source. As for which are better, you see a noticeable difference with and X-Box and Gamecube. The PS2 I would not recommend Component Cables because the picture quality is actually too much when viewing games. Basically the picture quality on a PS2 is to sharp and you ending up seeing alot of jaggies and shadows that do not appear with other cable types such as S-Video.

Component is better than S-Video but it's debateable on how much of a difference you see. If I were to rate it in a percentage, I would say you notice maybe a 10 - 15 percent difference at the most.

Highlander67 · Oct 1, 2003

Also another thing to is, if you want to run anything in progressive scan with your DVD player, you need an HD tv and Component cables

Talen · Oct 1, 2003

Component cables aren't really expensive unless you buy an overhyped brand like monster. Official PS2 & xbox component leads are $20, the official gc component lead is $30.

What kind of hyper-radiated environment or super long cables do people have to deal with where standard shielding isn't enough to prevent signal degredation?

slerch666 · Oct 1, 2003

Re: Re: What's the deal with component cables!

Highlander67 said:
Okay. Component is basically the best quality signal you can get from any source.

Besides a straight RGB signal at least. Too bad we don't get that connection on our US TVs....

Nick Goracke · Oct 1, 2003

In my experience, going from RCA to S-Video made a big difference, and S-Video to Component made a marginal difference. Doesn't sound like it's worth it, does it? If this new TV you are getting is capable of Progressive Scan, however, the difference with that same component cable is huge (especially on X-Box. It's like night and day).

Here's my question - can the old-school PS2s output a progressive signal? I know on the GC you have to hold a button to go into "progressive" mode - is there a similar trick on the PS2?

Verbatum · Oct 1, 2003

Nick Goracke said:
In my experience, going from RCA to S-Video made a big difference, and S-Video to Component made a marginal difference. Doesn't sound like it's worth it, does it? If this new TV you are getting is capable of Progressive Scan, however, the difference with that same component cable is huge (especially on X-Box. It's like night and day).

Here's my question - can the old-school PS2s output a progressive signal? I know on the GC you have to hold a button to go into "progressive" mode - is there a similar trick on the PS2?

Yep, you can (On the Japanese one anyway!).

Highlander67 · Oct 1, 2003

From what I remember, the US PS2 models up until the last model (The Online Pack I think) could not do progressive scan. I could be wrong but I dont think the PS2 can.

slerch666 · Oct 1, 2003

Verbatum said:
Yep, you can (On the Japanese one anyway!).

It's my understanding that Progressive is NOT available on the "old style" PS2 (in the US at least), but was added to the new 50001 model (or whatever the fucking number is). With so few people owning the new model (everyone who has the old model and wishes to continue playing through the years will likely have their PS2 die, thus needing to rebuy the god damn thing), will game makers even waste time trying to program progressive into their games? I highly doubt it.

So progressive on the new PS2 is avaiable, but likely only when watching a DVD. Of course, if they left the turd decoder in the PS2, you'll get a nicer looking shitty picture for your DVD movies! What a bargain!

Devil_Gans · Oct 1, 2003

Component cables are pretty good.You get a sharper picture, better color, superb contrast and a more defined look that is clear.
S-video gives a sharp look but the colors are not as vibrant as in the component cables.

For those who are curious, these are the PS2 games(not too sure about the rest though) that support progressive scan:

Burnout 2
Tekken 4
Socom: US navy seals
Soul Calibur 2
Guilty Gear X2
The Getaway

thundr51 · Oct 1, 2003

Right now the TV that i'm getting doesn't have progressive scan but I figure it's good enough. If what you guys say is true, then I'm actually excited about seeing how FZeroGX will look. Right now i'm using the same monitor that I use for my MVS which is an old RGB Magnavox monitor. If anything i'll be amazed at all the detail that i'll be able to see on a bigger screen...not that it'll help my FZero driving skills :loco:

So, Anybody know where I can find a multisystem switch that uses component cables? :help:

Nick Goracke · Oct 1, 2003

Verbatum said:
Yep, you can (On the Japanese one anyway!).

What's the trick?

And do most games support it? Seems like every X-Box game I have does, but...

I've got a Japanese PS2 comin', but that won't exactly help me with my US games. I was under the impression that the 5000 models implemented progressive DVD playback, but not necessarily progressive game playback. I REALLY don't want to have to buy a new unit...

JLukas · Oct 1, 2003

Nick Goracke said:
What's the trick? And do most games support it? Seems like every X-Box game I have does, but...

I've got a Japanese PS2 comin', but that won't exactly help me with my US games. I was under the impression that the 5000 models implemented progressive DVD playback, but not necessarily progressive game playback. I REALLY don't want to have to buy a new unit...

Any model PS2 supports pro-scan with PS2 games. Of course, component cables are required. To enable pro-scan (assuming the game has it, the PS2 has a very small list) you hold Square+Triangle or some variation on startup like with the GC.

The 50001 allows pro-scan *DVD movie* playback.

Devil_Gans · Oct 1, 2003

Component cables also have the ability to reduce noise resulting in a cleaner and a smoother picture.I tried turning the noise option on for my TV and the picture didn't get distorted.It remained the same, heh.

Shred · Oct 2, 2003

Nick Goracke said:
What's the trick? And do most games support it? Seems like every X-Box game I have does, but...

I've got a Japanese PS2 comin', but that won't exactly help me with my US games. I was under the impression that the 5000 models implemented progressive DVD playback, but not necessarily progressive game playback. I REALLY don't want to have to buy a new unit...

I believe that every XBox game has to support at least 480p. I can only think of two titles off hand that support 1080i and they are Dragons Lair 3D, & Enter the Matrix. Soul Calibur 2 supports 720p which is odd considering not much of anything else that I know off supports 720p.

Yodd · Oct 2, 2003

Shred said:
Soul Calibur 2 supports 720p which is odd considering not much of anything else that I know off supports 720p.

Even more bizarre is that fact that it only supports 720p in 4x3 format, not in 16x9. If you run it in 480p, you get the 16x9 goodness (which is really cool to see the wider view of the arenas). But, the clarity of 720p makes it easy to give up the wider view. On my Panasonic PT-50LC13 the difference in picture quality between 480p and 720p in Soul Calibur 2 is almost night and day. Its that fucking good.

Since most of the newer sets are LCD projection or DLP based, and 720p native, I really wish all XBox games supported it (hopefully in 16x9, but 4x3 will do).

Shred · Oct 2, 2003

broken said:
Even more bizarre is that fact that it only supports 720p in 4x3 format, not in 16x9. If you run it in 480p, you get the 16x9 goodness (which is really cool to see the wider view of the arenas). But, the clarity of 720p makes it easy to give up the wider view. On my Panasonic PT-50LC13 the difference in picture quality between 480p and 720p in Soul Calibur 2 is almost night and day. Its that fucking good.

Since most of the newer sets are LCD projection or DLP based, and 720p native, I really wish all XBox games supported it (hopefully in 16x9, but 4x3 will do).

I would rather see 1080i in 16x9 format myself.

Pantarou · Oct 2, 2003

Funny Idea... NGH with Component-out :rolleyes:

Yodd · Oct 2, 2003

Shred said:
I would rather see 1080i in 16x9 format myself.

Yeah, that would be nice as well. Atleast 720p 16x9 or 1080i 16x9 if possible.

Pantarou · Oct 2, 2003

Heaven!

Yodd · Oct 2, 2003

I was just reading an article on the core difference bewteen 720p and 1080i.

You can see it HERE!

After looking it over, and seeing similiar thoughts on the web, it would appear that maybe 720p would be better for fast moving scenes (such as games) due to the fact that since 720p is progressive, it gets refreshed twice as often as 1080i.

Either way, HD res games are the future for the current consoles and I really wish some of these developers would get off their duff and design these games for this environment. Since some of them are still not making their games to take advantage of HD or even Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

In a few more years it will probably be hard to buy a tv thats not HD capable (atleast in the States, that is).

Amano Jacu · Oct 2, 2003

Pantarou said:
Funny Idea... NGH with Component-out

You live in Europe, just use RGB through scart, there's no need for component. :cool:

Pantarou · Oct 2, 2003

Amano Jacu said:
You live in Europe, just use RGB through scart, there's no need for component.

And what to do with the component-in at my TV then

Yodd · Oct 2, 2003

Pantarou said:
And what to do with the component-in at my TV then

So, your tv set has component in but no Scart RGB in?

:spock:

Now that I am thinking about it, besides Scart inputs, what else are typically being provided on EU tv/monitors?

Do you guys have HD component and VGA or DVI?

Are HD broadcasts available in the EU?

Amano Jacu · Oct 3, 2003

broken said:
So, your tv set has component in but no Scart RGB in?

Now that I am thinking about it, besides Scart inputs, what else are typically being provided on EU tv/monitors?

Do you guys have HD component and VGA or DVI?

Are HD broadcasts available in the EU?

Well, all TVs have RF and a scart socket. If it's a bit good it'll also have separate composite inputs (although you can also get composite through the scart socket) and if it's better then also s-video (I don't know if you can get it through scart).

Only really good an expensive sets will have component, VGA or DVI and compatible with HD.

Pantarou, the component input of your TV is not for your Neo Geo, it wouldn't improve the RGB through scart anyway. Use it for the next-gen systems.

What's the deal with component cables!

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