Playing consoles using a CRT monitor

[Me]

Hey, I?m confused.

With all new PC's seeming to come with flat screen monitors, 21" CRT monitors seem to be pretty cheap.

Is it possible to run my GC, xbox and future consoles though a vga box into a monitor to get a better picture than I could get through a ?normal? CRT TV.

If I was to get something like this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEC-MULTISYNC...QQcmdZViewItem
And run my consoles into it via this http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Magic-VGA-Box...QQcmdZViewItem
Would I get a better quality picture?

Do I need to get a certain type of monitor with certain inputs inthe back of it?

Obviously I would need to run audio through an amp as I already do

Thanks in advance, I'm looking for a way of getting a better picture without having to shell out much $$$

[Commander Marklar]

GC has a VGA cable and works with prog. scan games. Check Lik-Sang or somewhere like that. Xbox has X2VGA+ for its VGA signal but requires an NTSC dash (softmod or chip, NTSC console). DC has a native VGA signal which requires a VGA lead. Not all games support it though (not many but noticeable Skies of Arcadia, I think).

Newer consoles are supposed to be OK though. I know the Xbox 360 is. You won't get a very good picture utilising a VGA converter unless you pay big money. Go for the native signal using one of the leads I mentioned.

[Me]

cheers for the advice I'll let you know how I get on

[sj33]

For HDTV, you just need a Component-to-VGA transcoder such as the VD-Z3 for about ?40. www.vdigi.com

For older consoles running in standard definition, things get tricker. Those cheap VGA adaptors you see everywhere are crap, you need to lay serious money and get something like the X-RGB2. And even then, you may be limited to 60Hz.

The former, however, is a good idea. An old PC monitor is essentially a cheapo HDTV ready to use until you can get a proper one.

[vertigo]

Anyone know where I can get a GC VGA cable, as opposed to buying both a generic component to VGA box and a GC component cable which would cost me upwards of ?60?

[smouty]

An old PC monitor is essentially a cheapo HDTV ready to use until you can get a proper one.

Albeit in 4:3 rather than 16:9.
A 2nd for the Z3 though, great bit of kit.

[andrewfee]

For HDTV, you just need a Component-to-VGA transcoder such as the VD-Z3 for about ?40. www.vdigi.com

For older consoles running in standard definition, things get tricker. Those cheap VGA adaptors you see everywhere are crap, you need to lay serious money and get something like the X-RGB2. And even then, you may be limited to 60Hz.

The former, however, is a good idea. An old PC monitor is essentially a cheapo HDTV ready to use until you can get a proper one.

The VD-Z3 is a fantastic piece of kit; but as you said, it only works with progressive scan, unfortunately.

I own and use an XRGB2+ instead; works with everything I throw at it. The advantage of an XRGB2+ is that if/when you get an HDTV, it will still be of use. Most HDTV de-interlacers are not designed with gaming in mind, and I find that using the XRGB2+ to bypass this gives much better results. (especially with dark, fast-moving games like Devil May Cry 3, which I found unplayable on my LCD before)

Albeit in 4:3 rather than 16:9.
A 2nd for the Z3 though, great bit of kit.

Depends on the screen you're using really; as I've had a lot of problems with my HDTV, I'm now stuck to using a 17" CRT monitor. I've measured it, and if I adjust the vertical stretch to the minimum, it letterboxes the image perfectly, making it exactly 16:9.