Dreamcast VGA Box? Wassat?

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deactivated-64b7010800769

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#1 deactivated-64b7010800769
Member since 2007 • 2011 Posts

In another thread, I was asking for games that are good for the DC, since my brother just got one. Somebody was kind enough to also mention useful accessories. One of them was the "VGA Box," and I have no idea what that is.

If someone could explain, I'd be grateful. Thanks!

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xXDrPainXx

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#2 xXDrPainXx
Member since 2008 • 4001 Posts
It's a device that allows the dreamcast to hook up to monitors or HD TV's via a VGA connection it really makes games look more crisp and does a nice job.
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deactivated-64b7010800769

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#3 deactivated-64b7010800769
Member since 2007 • 2011 Posts
It's a device that allows the dreamcast to hook up to monitors or HD TV's via a VGA connection it really makes games look more crisp and does a nice job.xXDrPainXx
Is the picture better than if I stuck with composite? And if so, where can I get it?
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silent_bomber

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#4 silent_bomber
Member since 2009 • 767 Posts

Composite sucks, and anyone still using it has no idea what their consoles true graphics actually look like.

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codezer0

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#5 codezer0
Member since 2004 • 15898 Posts
Is the picture better than if I stuck with composite? And if so, where can I get it?athenian29
VGA is even better than component with the 360. But basically, the Dreamcast was the first console that was capable of 480p... but unfortunately at the time of release, component video games simply did not exist. S-Video improves things, but so does the VGA box, because sadly the only way to get 480p (EDTV) out of the Dreamcast, it has to be via VGA. The nice thing is that even games that don't explicitly state support for the VGA box usually supported the progressive scan mode enabled by the VGA box/cable. However, a small (less than 2%) amount of games in the Dreamcast library, are incompatible. And thus, will not even boot with a VGA box in VGA mode. This is where a "VGA Box" is superior to a "VGA cable." With a VGA Box, there is a toggle switch to switch over to standard A/V, which usually gives you composite or S-Video output. VGA Cables would have to be physically unplugged to switch to another set of cables.
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Giancarlo

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#6 Giancarlo
Member since 2002 • 859 Posts

Definitely worth it if you can track one down.

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deactivated-64b7010800769

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#7 deactivated-64b7010800769
Member since 2007 • 2011 Posts

Composite sucks, and anyone still using it has no idea what their consoles true graphics actually look like.

Domino_slayer

Woah-key, relax. I didn't even know my PS2 and Wii even had alternate cables available for video-out until a few months ago. I definitely didn't know the Dreamcast did too.

Thanks for the info, though.

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deactivated-64b7010800769

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#8 deactivated-64b7010800769
Member since 2007 • 2011 Posts

[QUOTE="athenian29"]Is the picture better than if I stuck with composite? And if so, where can I get it?codezer0
VGA is even better than component with the 360. But basically, the Dreamcast was the first console that was capable of 480p... but unfortunately at the time of release, component video games simply did not exist. S-Video improves things, but so does the VGA box, because sadly the only way to get 480p (EDTV) out of the Dreamcast, it has to be via VGA. The nice thing is that even games that don't explicitly state support for the VGA box usually supported the progressive scan mode enabled by the VGA box/cable. However, a small (less than 2%) amount of games in the Dreamcast library, are incompatible. And thus, will not even boot with a VGA box in VGA mode. This is where a "VGA Box" is superior to a "VGA cable." With a VGA Box, there is a toggle switch to switch over to standard A/V, which usually gives you composite or S-Video output. VGA Cables would have to be physically unplugged to switch to another set of cables.

Great summary. Thanks a bunch.

One last question - where can I get one of these babies? :D

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deactivated-64b7010800769

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#9 deactivated-64b7010800769
Member since 2007 • 2011 Posts

Never mind, I found it on Amazon. I'll definitely point this out to my brother. Thanks again for all your help!

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JuanGrande386

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#10 JuanGrande386
Member since 2003 • 1116 Posts

would this work just the same as a vga box http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330345574835&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=%3F*F%3F&GUID=95db77bb1260a0e20536adc6fff5f926&itemid=330345574835&ff4=263602_263622. i already have a universal svideo cable that that has the nintendo plug, playstation plug, dreamcast plug, and xbox1 plug. would i see much of a diff in video with this?

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#11 codezer0
Member since 2004 • 15898 Posts
would this work just the same as a vga box http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330345574835&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=%3F*F%3F&GUID=95db77bb1260a0e20536adc6fff5f926&itemid=330345574835&ff4=263602_263622. i already have a universal svideo cable that that has the nintendo plug, playstation plug, dreamcast plug, and xbox1 plug. would i see much of a diff in video with this?JuanGrande386
That wouldn't be as helpful, because what that looks like is that it allows you to plug in a composite or S-Video source and output it through to a VGA supporting unit. And it would probably only work on an old CRT nowadays, because last I understood it, LCD monitors didn't support interlaced feeds. And both composite and S-Video are limited to 480i (or 576i for PAL).
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AcidSoldner

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#12 AcidSoldner
Member since 2007 • 7051 Posts
I still need to find me one of these bad boys.