Some dream cast video output questions

Does the VGA box have it's own dac that bypasses whatever video circuitry is in the dream cast?

What precisely is it about the non-sega brand VGA boxes that makes them have bad quality? I have a dc VGA and it wasn't that good... I never got one of the official sega brand ones. I wanted to buy another dream cast because the models I have run kind of hot and they don't work with virtua tennis... however, I could never figure out why they wouldn't work with virtua tennis. They restarted at the title screen.

I hope this was the right thread. I'll be grateful for any replies.

 

Nope, it outputs straight stereo.

They were probably made from garbage parts. All it is is a handful of capacitors, resistors, a switch, connectors and a PCB. There is absolutely no circuitry in them (at least that I know of). I've internalized VGA several times and it isn't too hard to screw up but it is ridiculously easy to get it right.

 

theres a ic inside my "game" brand DC VGA box i've no complaints about the quality even via RCA. used to use it on a 21" CRT monitor till it died.

i cant read what the chip is as they've used what looks like perm marker to cover the ic details

 

Look here for the diffderent designs: http://web.vtc.edu/users/cph11120/DreamcastProject/VGAmod/vga.htm

It sure is not a DAC as Antifederalist asked. By the way I'm no federalist either!

 

Quite simply, it comes down down cutting costs! Most DC VGA peripherals that are still in production come from China. Cheap parts, dubious wiring and assembly, essentially cutting corners wherever possible to mass produce these accessories. I bought a common "Blaze" VGA cable back in 01. It's great! works well and has never given me any issue. Fast forward today and that identical cable is simply garbage! Any DC VGA accessory made today is usually of piss poor quality!

The only Cable made today that's worth your money are these bad boys!

http://www.facebook.com/Cabous.Dreamcast.VGA.cables

Best iteration of the VGA accessory I've ever owned!

 

Cabou makes really great cables. A bit expensive if you're outside of Europe, but a quality cable the lenght you want (not too long though) with the vga connectors you want!

 

That he does. True, they may be a bit pricey but you get piece of mind with a guaranteed warranty, VGA cables that are built to your needs, and unrivaled build quality with a sleek, convenient design. Considering that Dreamcast VGA peripherals are only going up in value with their current demand. It's not a bad alternative to consider.

 

do they come in green or just black?

 

To my knowledge, only black, but if you make such a request to Cabou, he may perhaps be able to oblige you. The guy is one chill dude and a real Dreamcast fan!

 

You can get high quality DC VGA boxes still;

http://www.racketboy.com/store/featured/dreamcast-vga-box-svideo-av.html

Check e-Bay for the same thing at lower prices... (IIRC its the video buffer IC - the RAMDAC is integral to the dreamcasts PowerVR chip...)

 

stay away from the racketboy vga cables. I bought one and it only lasted a couple days before it stopped working

 

also seem very overpriced. although i like the clear case.

looks like mine(game brand 3rd party) only with added s-video out so i'd assume there shouldnt really be an issue with them, unless the parts used are cheap and nasty. maybe you were unlucky?