Hey all had a question. I have several consoles but no digital outs for the gamecube, nor a VGA cable for the dreamcast. I remember they used to make VGA boxes for the dreamcast that allowed you to hook up composite connection to it, then run it to a monitor through VGA.

Do these things actually improve the picture over normal? or simply allow you to play through that medium?

Some yes and some no. I have the Dreamcast Actual VGA (the Dreamcast makes a VGA signal) box and it is unbelievable, easily the best looking console connection ever.

That said, there are a million of the "simply allow you to play through that medium" on ebay, I have a JAM! and it just sucks, I tried the Dreamcast on it and then the real VGA cable and you just couldn't believe it.

Digital outs?? You are aware that the VGA is an ANALOG signal, correct?

The only digital consoles are the new Xbox360 with an HDMI (newly realeased, none of the original Xbox 360's had it) and the PS3 with an HDMI.

If you are looking for VGA, I would get the Microsoft VGA Xbox360 cable, I hear that it is awesome, native PC resolutions and everything!

Will it work on the dreamcast?

No, they are passive cables with proprietary console connectors, meaning that all they do is connect the wires to the VGA plug and switch the console into VGA mode by connecting some of the pins in the cable. Also the plugs are vastly different, they won't plug in.

The dreamcast has some vertical and horizontal sync chips in it, so it is easier just to buy pre-built:

http://www.racketboy.com/store/dreamcast-vga-cable-box.htm

The Xbox is just straight wires, and all the Microsoft brand cables come with all of the contacts in them, pretty big contacts suitable for soldering, if you have the skill and a spare VGA socket:

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/14/how-to-...a-vga-cable-fo/


These are not VGA boxes, they are VGA cables. The console is making the pure VGA signal that enters the display device.

If you aren't so hot with a soldering iron, don't worry, ebay has them for $10-20 ($5-10 + shipping, they are pretty cheap)

http://cgi.ebay.com/xbox-360-xbox360-High-...1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Xbox-360-VGA-HD-High-D...1QQcmdZViewItem

These are better than a "VGA box", and less than $40 for a pair.

There are Gefen home scalers that might be able to compete (in fact they would improve the quality from the Dreamcast on LCDs that are higher res than 640x480, since that is the only resolution it has), but the one you need would be over $400. I want one anyway.

Ya nubie I know BUT on a gamecube anyways to hook up component cables to it have to have the Digital AV out on it which didn't come on newer models.

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-24-49-en-70-14s.html

There's an example.