Is it possible to build a GC component cable?

Discussion in 'Modding and Hacking - Consoles and Electronics' started by C-Kronos, Jun 25, 2011.

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  1. C-Kronos

    C-Kronos Intrepid Member

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    Well, I'm looking to build a component cable, I'm sure it's possible, but I don't know what components I'll need for it.

    Is the male connector for it standard at all? Anywhere I can find it? Tips and help would be much appreciated, and if I could get a couple built, I wouldn't mind building one for those who helped me out.

    AV looks fine on my TV for my GC, I'm just OCD and want a component cable, and they're a bit hard to come by in the states.

    -- CK
     
    C-Kronos, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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  2. Alchy

    Alchy Illustrious Member

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    It's not the connector you need to be worried about, it's the DAC chip inside which isn't available anywhere else (as far as I'm aware, anyway - possibly the Japanese D-Terminal cable but I don't know about that one). There was almost no demand for component when the Cube shipped so Nintendo saved a little per unit and passed on the cost to people who actually cared about it. I think Nintendo said that less than 1% of people bothered buying them, so it was probably the smart move for them at the time. Unfortunately that leads to the current situation where those cables are now very much in demand.
     
    Alchy, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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  3. ASSEMbler

    ASSEMbler Administrator Staff Member

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    It uses a special chip, I know someone made a homebrew that come close to it.

    supposedly you can mod the cable to vga somehow as well.
     
    ASSEMbler, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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  4. l_oliveira

    l_oliveira Officer at Arms

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    I can attest that works. I modded mine for VGA., added plugs to the connector and have a mode detect pin on the VGA connector which changes it back to component when I plug the special component cable in...
     
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  5. Alchy

    Alchy Illustrious Member

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    More info please!
     
    Alchy, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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  6. C-Kronos

    C-Kronos Intrepid Member

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    Not really interested in VGA, I'd rather display it on my TV via component, lol.
     
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  7. kendrick

    kendrick Enthusiastic Member

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    kendrick, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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  8. APE

    APE Site Supporter 2015

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    Be nice to decap the sucker and reverse engineer it. Lot of time, energy and probably money to save $50-80 on a cable though. Particularly given the Wii does 480p output for Cube games (with more or less the same video quality).

    Probably make for a good project to get one's MS in EE though.
     
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  9. Alchy

    Alchy Illustrious Member

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    Cool enough, I was just curious whether it was the Component or D-Terminal cable used, really. Pretty sure the latter is cheaper.
     
    Alchy, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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  10. Annoying_one

    Annoying_one Peppy Member

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    just finished building one building another. DO NOT remove the metal sheilding on the connetor. its impossible to get that back on.

    so i have a spare that works as vga but no connector sheliding. probly good for a intenal vga mod. ill need another cable for my bro soon
     
    Annoying_one, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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  11. derekb

    derekb Well Known Member

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    wonder if you could use the d-term cable, probably if pinned out?
     
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  12. Annoying_one

    Annoying_one Peppy Member

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    i used d terminal cable its the same directions
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2011
    Annoying_one, Jun 25, 2011 Report
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