Using consoles on PC monitors

Incognito2me · 19 Dec 2007 at 21:52

I wasn't sure if this would come under general hardware or console games - so if i'm in the wrong forum, apologies!

I was wondering if there was some sort of tv-card or converter that would let me play console games (*note av cable) on a DVI monitor? Preferably something that would keep the high-quality of the picture without diminishing responsiveness or gameplay.

I currently use a VGA-box, but the quality is pretty poor. Fuzzy lines everywhere e.t.c. I've put up with it for a while, but since i'm getting a new (DVI) monitor, I thought I might look and see if there was a better solution around.

Thanks for your time

(Also: I'm not Mr. Rich, so some crazy £300 gadget just for playing consoles is probably out of the question)

Ironic · 19 Dec 2007 at 22:05

Did a quick search on google, it throws up a couple of 'Game Console to PC Monitor Adaptor' for around £35. Not sure what their like, but might be worth a look. Fairly inexpensive.

Incognito2me · 19 Dec 2007 at 22:30

Ironic said:
Did a quick search on google, it throws up a couple of 'Game Console to PC Monitor Adaptor' for around £35. Not sure what their like, but might be worth a look. Fairly inexpensive.

A good range there, but i'm wary of those XGA boxes, as mine has proven to be a poor substitute for a real tv on account of the severely lost quality.

Just wondered if anyone had any testimonials for solutions they'd found to be exceptionally good (assuming someone else out there has also thought 'Hey, I want to hook up my consoles to my monitor!)

Aero · 19 Dec 2007 at 22:37

I have run my xbox through my monitor using my tv card, can't quite remember how i did it now, but the quality wasn't brilliant. Mind you I tend to play on my ps3 now so its hard to compare. But it can be done I've personally found that vga boxes can cause a bit of lag. (Not sure how but it is apparent)

Aero

Ironic · 19 Dec 2007 at 22:40

Hmmm very true, only think i could think of is seeing if you can find any converters/adaptors from VGA --> Composite ... depending what your console runs off.

Energize · 19 Dec 2007 at 22:41

If your using composite then of course you are going to get bad quality. You need to use component. The ps2, xbox and gamecube all support it, with progressive scan.

Incognito2me · 19 Dec 2007 at 23:01

Energize said:
If your using composite then of course you are going to get bad quality. You need to use component. The ps2, xbox and gamecube all support it, with progressive scan.

I'd be using a Wii actually.

Is there a tv card that supports component? I've also noticed that vga boxes do seem to 'slow down' or lag a game (it's almost inexplicable), so a tv card seem to be a better option.

Energize · 19 Dec 2007 at 23:29

Incognito2me said:
I'd be using a Wii actually.

Is there a tv card that supports component? I've also noticed that vga boxes do seem to 'slow down' or lag a game (it's almost inexplicable), so a tv card seem to be a better option.

Tv cards usually cause considerable lag, due to all the processing the signal has to go through, whereas with vga boxes, much less processing is done, so the effect is less noticeable. At least with a decent converter, there should be no noticeable difference. If your monitor is dvi-i then you can just get a vga to dvi cable from the vga box the to monitor.