Hey, What's the best option to get highest quality video output on old PS2 FAT (TEST to be exact)? Are the component cables best, or these fancy chinese HDMI dongles? Maybe something else?
The best would be a VGA cable. However if we're taking affordability into account - Component. Those HDMI dongles tap into the output that component uses but could also be a bit touch and go.
Didn't even knew there are VGA cables, but holy shit, the prices - ~$150 is way too much I was planning to spend on it. Maybe there are cheaper variants or some scheme to build one myself?
I've done some research into this but some of my info may be wrong. If it is, feel free to correct me politely. Without an HDMI mod, your best bet is RGB. Also you don't need that expensive VGA cable when you can do everythin Spoiler for the wall of text explaining everything: Spoiler: READ ME FOR INFO! If you have a monitor that accepts both 15KHz RGBHV and 31KHz RGsB (sync on green) along with its normal modes, you could use a simple RCA to 15 pin D-Sub adapter and a component cable with a composite plug for RGB, which I noticed provides a better image in my tests. Component gives off a lot of noise from what I've seen and read. I know for a fact my cables are good because RGB doesn't have this noise. My display doesn't have this noise issue with other component devices either so I know for a fact it's the console. Only problem with the PS2 VGA mode is it uses sync on green instead of the normal RGBHV. You can get around this by using appropriately connected Sync Strike or a monitor with sync on green support (such as a PVM; I've noticed some PC LCDs support it). You could also do the RGBHV mod and disable sync on green so it outputs RGBHV instead. Nice thing about a PVM with RGB and 480p support is that you can simply connect a component cable with a composite jack to its RGBS inputs (may require a sync stripper) and that's all you need to enjoy both RGBS and RGsB. LCDs can be a bit more tricky. My Dell ST2210 accepts RGBHV and RGsB over its D-Sub. Unfortunately, it doesn't accept RGBS so I need to use a Sync Strike. I don't have a PS2 RGB SCART cable but I do have a Component cable with a Composite video plug so I did the more complicated way. I took a SCART to Component/ S-Video adapter and rewired the Luma pin so it goes in reverse. I then put a S-Video to RCA breakout adapter on that SCART adapter. From there, I plugged the Component cable into its corresponding colors (Y to Green, Pb to Blue, and Pr to Red) and plugged the Component plug into the Luma jack for sync. If your monitor accepts sync on green and 15KHz, you could just simply make an adapter that combines RGBS into RGsB using a sync stripper and some resistors iirc. That way you can avoid the Sync Strike and save the extra money. That's how I get RGB out of my PS2 and it looks better than component. The image isn't noisy. If the monitor I use doesn't support RGsB (like my NEC MultiSync A700), I simply put an RCA Y adapter on the Green line and send that to both Green and Luma. You could also do an HDMI mod which bypasses analog entirely, providing the best possible picture. Although that may be a bit from now unless you know how to work with FPGAs and video signals.... In short, if you don't want to do direct digital HDMI, you have 3 options: 1) Use a Sync Strike and a PS2 RGB SCART cable (or the alternative as explained in the spoiler) with a monitor that accepts 15KHz RGBHV and 31KHz RGBHV or RGsB. 2) Make a RGBS to RGsB adapter for a PS2 component cable with a composite plug or PS2 RGB SCART cable and use a RGsB monitor that accepts 15KHz and 31KHz. 3) Mod the PS2 for RGBHV, which would be cheaper. One more thing: I highly recommend using GS Mode Selector for forcing games into 480p. Some games look amazing while other's don't work at all.
Those HDMI dongles probably won't magically improve the quality of the video output from the AV Multi Out port because it will be converting from analog to digital (which the PS2 converted from digital to analog). I would say that it was a marketing gimmick.
Best way is to use RGB cable, preferably with CRT PVM/BVM. HDMI dongles are needed only when you want to use monitor or TV which only have HDMI/DVI.
For the U.S., the easiest would be Component. Some games can be set to 480p thru combo button presses at bootup; a few games can go all the way up to 1080i.
Thanks lads, didn't expect that big response, thank you again I guess I'll just go with component cable, do you have any 'brand' you'd recommend or just cheapest cable from China will be sufficient?
You don't have to buy the Monster Platinum cables, but don't buy the cheapest trash either. Make sure they're properly shielded. retrogamingcables.co.uk is a good option. Afaik you can't do that with RGB, right?
Component is by far the best option for a PS2. It's compatible with all games, the dvd player & it's possible to run all the higher resolutions (like 1080i) using it. RGB is best for a PS1 and HDMI is best for a PS3.
i used to run my v5 with component but now use s-video because my hdtv cant handle 240p (for psx backups). doesnt look that bad imo
