Why can't I run GameCube games in progressive scan mode?

[Max M]

I put my TV in progressive scan, hold down B at the start of Zelda, it asks if I want to run it in progressive mode, I press yes, but then the screen just flickers like mad and goes crazy (I can't really see anything, just colours).

Any idea what's going on? I'm using one of Saurian's great RPG cables.

[Super Stu]

Progressive scan only works via component cables (for consoles, anyway).

[Max M]

Progressive scan only works via component cables (for consoles, anyway).

Damn.

[Super Stu]

It's something to do (apparently) with the SCART plug not having enough bandwidth for progressive scan, or something. I've always found that a bit odd, as PC VGA connectors need a ****e side more bandwidth that anything progressive scan related, yet they're considerably more cramped than SCART.

I'm sure someone here will tell you the whos, whens and whys.

[Papercut]

Loewe Tv sets supposedly support component over scart. There isn't really a technical reason why it shouldn't work, perhaps www.avforums.com would have a better idea...

* edit * Max M - does your tv actually support progressive scan?

[trickytree]

Any idea what's going on? I'm using one of Saurian's great RPG cables.

Maybe you need to level up your cable? 8) (sorry)

I'll try to be helpful now...
I guess it's because the RGB cable has had the sync feeds connected together? So when progressive scan is set the double frequency vertical-sync signal screws up the horizontal-sync too, giving you a scrambled picture? Something like that anyway...

VGA connectors have separate vertical and horizontal sync pins, so a change to the vertical sync won't affect the horizontal sync frequency.

[MD]

Most TVs won't support anything greater then 15Khz sync rate anyway, hence the weird mess on the screen. If the TV did then it would probably work.... VGA monitors need slightly different phospher on the screen to deal with the higher scan rates, most TVs just couldnt cope.

Not sure why people say SCART doesn't have the band width, I assume it's because of the low quality of cables and connectors. Also there are TVs that will suppurt component video via SCART.

It's nothing to do with VGA having seperate H and V syncs, as Composite sync is either Composite Video or H and V sync tied to each other (ie twist H and V sync wires together and you have unbuffered C Sync) and monitors that support Sync on Green (for example PS2 linux kit VGA cable) have both H and V sync tied together and this is tied to Green Video, so you have 4 pins, Red, Green (+sync), Blue and Ground....

I'm sure if you split C Sync to H Sync and V sync and wired the cable to a VGA monitor it would work.

[trickytree]

Most TVs won't support anything greater then 15Khz sync rate anyway, hence the weird mess on the screen.

Err... didn't Max M already say that he had a progressive scan TV? So his TV supports more than 15Khz?

Fair enough on the VGA point, I was making a particularly bad comparison there...

[Super Stu]

MD said most, not Max M's.

Was hoping someone might have the information as to why SCART is unable (apparently) to take a PS signal. I'll keep an eye out.

[Papercut]

Was hoping someone might have the information as to why SCART is unable (apparently) to take a PS signal. I'll keep an eye out.

scart can take progressive scan, Loewe sells tvs that do just that.

Most tvs that support progressive scan do so only through the component video connection and not scart. The type of connector itself makes no real difference, bar improved shielding etc.

component cables are higher quality though, and have much better shielding.

[npg]

Max M, I'm not sure if you have a PAL or NTSC GC but if it's the latter and you don't mind playing progressive scan games on your monitor (if you have one) then I can point you out to a company that modifies third party Nintendo VGA cables so that the games will run on your monitor in 640x480.

I bought one recently and and I can tell you that the games look much better than they do on your T.V. There's minor jaggies and I mean barely visibly which you only notice because your so close to the screen (i.e don't think Tekken 4).

The cable's well worth the $50 U.S (?33) that you pay for it and they deliver it to you in about a week.

Again, only if you have an NTSC machine.

Link;

http://www.goldenshop.com.hk/AI-trad/gc/vgacable.htm

[trickytree]

Max M, I'm not sure if you have a PAL or NTSC GC but if it's the latter and you don't mind playing progressive scan games on your monitor (if you have one) then I can point you out to a company that modifies third party Nintendo VGA cables so that the games will run on your monitor in 640x480.

I bought one recently and and I can tell you that the games look much better than they do on your T.V. There's minor jaggies and I mean barely visibly which you only notice because your so close to the screen (i.e don't think Tekken 4).

The cable's well worth the $50 U.S (?33) that you pay for it and they deliver it to you in about a week.

Again, only if you have an NTSC machine.

Link;

http://www.goldenshop.com.hk/AI-trad/gc/vgacable.htm

yep, me got one of these too from the same place - very nice