Sega Saturn & Dreamcast to HDTV

[Eleven19]

Just moved out of my house, finally got some open space to set up all my old shit. Dug out my Sega Saturn, finally ordered a memory card 15 years later, and hooked up my beloved Dreamcast right beside it.

Been doing some research about connection to HDTV for both of them. Dreamcast seems to favor VGA cable, apparently allows it to display somewhat like the Wii's "HD" settings; SD 480p. Apparently VGA is the only way to make that work. Two options for this include a VGA conversion box (129 dollars on Amazon) and then there's a straight VGA cable (~50 on eBay, Amazon doesn't seem to have it listed). My concern is simply.. why is the box so much more expensive? Would the output be better with the box?

Saturn is a wash. I figure I'd hook up an SVideo and call it a day, unless somehow a component cable would be better.. if that even exists without a conversion. I don't think my TV will handle 240p over a component cable, either. (I happened to pick up Mega Man collection for gamecube and popped it in my Wii, hooked up over a component cable.. shit freaked out. Had to play it on Gamecube with a composite cable hookup.)

So I'm just wondering if any of you have had experience with this. Trying to figure out my most cost effective means to make my old shit look nice.

[Tajin]

Running them in an emulator is the best way for shit to look nice. VGA where avaliable svideo otherwise.

[Viq]

The only problem with Dreamcast VGA is that not all games support it. Most do, but I've run into quite a few that simply won't output any video with a VGA set up. Fortunately, this is one of those things that they list on the back of each game's box along with number of players, supported peripherals, etc.

[Isiolia]

VGA box usually just has a toggle to do regular AV connections too, in the event that the game doesn't support VGA output. The one on Amazon is just overpriced. There were a number of them produced. Similar looking one on Racketboy's store for $44 (and a near 60 page thread related to VGA boxes in general in the Sega section of the forums).
Not all games support VGA, though you can force most of them with a boot disc like Utopia.

Worth getting the box anyway, since they should have S-Video and stuff too. Lets you use basic cables for most any connection you'd want.

Unless you can work with SCART, I don't think the Saturn has options available for anything past S-Video unless you mod it or use other conversion. You can definitely get RGB out of the thing, but you'd need to feed it into something else to convert it I think.

[Callisto]

The box is likely powered, which shouldn't be an issue if you're not splitting the signal at all.

[Eleven19]

Yeah I've heard some DC games don't support. Can just swap back to composite if I need to for those.

VGA box usually just has a toggle to do regular AV connections too, in the event that the game doesn't support VGA output. The one on Amazon is just overpriced. There were a number of them produced. Similar looking one on Racketboy's store for $44 (and a near 60 page thread related to VGA boxes in general in the Sega section of the forums).
Not all games support VGA, though you can force most of them with a boot disc like Utopia.

Worth getting the box anyway, since they should have S-Video and stuff too. Lets you use basic cables for most any connection you'd want.

Unless you can work with SCART, I don't think the Saturn has options available for anything past S-Video unless you mod it or use other conversion. You can definitely get RGB out of the thing, but you'd need to feed it into something else to convert it I think.

Wow.. Wish I knew that site existed lol. Lifesaver, thanks so much. Probably order this within the week.

[Omniyoji]

If it's an option the cheapest, best, and heaviest solution is to just go to a thrift shop and pickup an old CRT. All your problems are solved. Only problem now is loss of significant space and having to carry that thing into house/apt/stairs.

[Pikarya]

Use an up-converter box. I have like 6. Each for different applications. Or if you're good with DIY just mod each console to support component

[Eleven19]

I decided to purchase the VGA box from Racketboy, seemed like the easiest method of going about it.

Came today. Popped in Sonic Adventure 2 to test it out. Shit has never looked so incredible lol. I remember playing it on composite months ago and it looked like hell.. Difference is really noticeable, thanks a lot guys.

Time to relive some Air Force Delta.

[Roranora]

If it's an option the cheapest, best, and heaviest solution is to just go to a thrift shop and pickup an old CRT. All your problems are solved. Only problem now is loss of significant space and having to carry that thing into house/apt/stairs.

haha, I bought a KV-40XBR800 for this exact purpose. I think the TV came out in 2003 for like $2500 and I snagged it (pick-up only obv @ 300+ lb) off ebay for like $190 back in 2008. Super Mario World is pretty gnarly on it, I must admit.

I also dread moving it.