PS2 component cable - worth the effort?

Man of Honour
Man of Honour
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I've just bought myself a PS2, mainly as it was pretty much free. Never owned a console before, but am rather enjoying GranTurismo4.

I couldn't help but notice that there is an optional component cable.
Have to say that it sounds like an interesting option as it would probably improve the picture quality on my Panasonic LCD projector.
Has anyone any experience with these cables and whether they're worth the effort?
 
It gives a marked improvement in sharpness and colour depth on my LCD TV over standard composite, not sure how much better it is than full RGB scart though.
 
I spent about £30 on one, Ixos I think it was.

There is really no improvement over RGB scart other than for DVD's, most RGB scart cables have a composite/RGB switch and you have to switch to composite for DVD's (rubbish quality) in order to avoid the green screen anti-piracy thing.
 
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I found there was a MASSIVE difference between on PS2 between RGB and composite, and now i can tell instantly when my system has been left on DVD instead of Game option on the cable switch.

I still dont like it that i can't watch DVDs through RGB on the PS2.

does anyone know if thats possible yet?
 
Hi i have component for my PS2, it does improve the graphics over RGB SCART. Previously i used a Blaze gold plated RGB.. (on ym 26" Sammy LCD).

GT4 sees a benefit if you can get hold of the US version of the game, as it has 720p and 1080i modes (internal upscale) which look markedly different to the SCART or Component version of the UK game.

edit i always watched DVD over RGB no probs? it had a flick switch built in to avoid greenscreen
 
Yes, get one!!! ... seriously I recommend it more than DrinkAware recommend you don't drink and drive!!

What you get with the PS2 are composite cables, which are freakin' awful I would rather jump out of a moving truck than stick with composite. What I did was I went one the Fleebay and picked up a PS3 Component cable (PS2 & PS3 backwards compatible) and not only can I see the game, I can enjoy it more ... it looks a damn site better.

I got gold plated ones (they look the same as the 360 ones) for about £6 or something crazy.

A good SCART cable will probably be as good but wont support progressive scanning or 720p/1080i.

.... and GT4 in 1080i looks amazing ... I didn't know the PS2 had it in it!!!
 
ya but dont spend too much on a component cable as the PS3 cannot upscale DVD or play Blu-Ray in highest res via component needs HDMI so save the cash if you were thnking of upgrading,

i think my PS3 component cost me like £6.99 and lets u have Prog scan on Resi4, 1080i on GT4 (US only), and i think maybe prog on FFXII!
 
I bought the £8 component cable from GAME and it wasn't really worth the money. Outrun 2006 looked a lot better in progressive scan mode but interlaced games looked the same as RGB. There was also a problem with the picture having black bars down either side.
 
Hi i have component for my PS2, it does improve the graphics over RGB SCART. Previously i used a Blaze gold plated RGB.. (on ym 26" Sammy LCD).

GT4 sees a benefit if you can get hold of the US version of the game, as it has 720p and 1080i modes (internal upscale) which look markedly different to the SCART or Component version of the UK game.

edit i always watched DVD over RGB no probs? it had a flick switch built in to avoid greenscreen
Sorry to disappoint you, but that switch you flicked changed your cable from RGB to composite, thats how it works :(

I've yet to hear of a true RGB cable that allows true RGB DVD playback from the PS2
 
I started off with the included composite cable which I would rate 5/10, I then moved to a budget component cable from a game shop which was a lot better in my opinion but not perfect so I would rate 7/10. I then picked up a official Sony PS3 component cable (same as PS2) and it was slightly crisper and sharper but probably not worth twice the price of the budget one so I would rate it 8/10.
 
Sorry to disappoint you, but that switch you flicked changed your cable from RGB to composite, thats how it works :(

I've yet to hear of a true RGB cable that allows true RGB DVD playback from the PS2

I presume you mean true RGB scart cable? like I said the component cable allows it but for games it was really no improvement over RGB scart for me, infact I also recall being stuck with the problem punky_munky mentions, black borders a coupel of inches thick all around the image as it didn't seem to stretch to fullscreen like RGB scart did.
 
I presume you mean true RGB scart cable? like I said the component cable allows it but for games it was really no improvement over RGB scart for me, infact I also recall being stuck with the problem punky_munky mentions, black borders a coupel of inches thick all around the image as it didn't seem to stretch to fullscreen like RGB scart did.
As far as i know there is no cable for the PS2 that allows DVD playback through RGB/component out of the box.

the only way i've heard is to modify the PS2. But i hope you can prove me wrong
 
Sorry for the hijack, but I have a question regarding the PS2 component cable and thought it might not be worth a new post.

I have given my PS2 to my Father-In-Law but couldn't find my old AV cable. So I bought a Component Video cable and gave him that.
The strange thing is it doesn't seem to work, when you have it plugged in and turn on the PS2, you get a few coloured lines appear and occasional flickering colours, but no picture as such.
As an experiment I put a DVD in and it played that fine, so I can't see that it is the cable at fault.
Could it be that it is trying to display the Menu/Games at 60Hz but displays DVD at 50Hz (Which I think is all that the TV accepts through component).
Is there a way to change this (hard reset) or is it a case of buying another composite cable (I know it used to work fine with one of these).

Any help would be appreciated.
 
I'm confused, i thought component and RGB were different names for the same thing?

No. RGB is RGB scart or "full scart" whereas most scart cables are crappy composite scart (the same quality as using the crappy yellow video connection). Component are the Red/Green/Blue plugs that provide a far superior picture to RGB scart.

RGB scart = 576i iirc while component allow high definition progressive signals.
 
Sorry for the hijack, but I have a question regarding the PS2 component cable and thought it might not be worth a new post.

I have given my PS2 to my Father-In-Law but couldn't find my old AV cable. So I bought a Component Video cable and gave him that.
The strange thing is it doesn't seem to work, when you have it plugged in and turn on the PS2, you get a few coloured lines appear and occasional flickering colours, but no picture as such.
As an experiment I put a DVD in and it played that fine, so I can't see that it is the cable at fault.
Could it be that it is trying to display the Menu/Games at 60Hz but displays DVD at 50Hz (Which I think is all that the TV accepts through component).
Is there a way to change this (hard reset) or is it a case of buying another composite cable (I know it used to work fine with one of these).

Any help would be appreciated.

When I bought my component cable I had to change the video settings with the old RGB still plugged in and then change them over.
 
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