RGB vs. Composite: screencaps (14400 baud warning ;-P)

[Digi.k]

I did some pics of this with the Sega saturn too.

composite


RGB

[termis]

RGB shots look awesome.  (Though with the RGB goodness, it definitely helps to have the scanlines in there!)

[RaZiel]

With TG-16/PC Engine composite, the picture isn't just blurrier, it's washed out. If you like the way that blurriness blends pixels together, you can have the best of both by outputing an RGB mod through composite

So once you do a RGB mod the composite video will get better or are you saying going from say a scart 2 composite adapter.

[Duo_R]

If I understand he is taking svideo and using adapter to composite although I think that is pointless.

[Black Tiger]

If I understand he is taking svideo and using adapter to composite although I think that is pointless.

Other than demonstrating that the S-Video mod isn't displaying an unnatural image, it's a huge improvement in accurately displaying the true colors of the TG-/PCE for all those (many more than I would've guessed) people who strongly believe that pre-32-bit games should only be played with composite. Even more so with the Genesis, anyone who insists on only playing under composite should still get some sort of RGB conversion/mod or XMD-3 or whatever and then hook it up to your TV via composite.

[ccovell]

A long-delayed update: I've made a new page combining these screencaps and a few more for an easier, clearer comparison.  I also explain how I captured the RGB images.  See the page below:

http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/gotRGB/rgb_compare.html

[Mathius]

Chris, I wish you would set up a workshop for idiots like myself. I understand that RBG > S-Video > Composite, but that's about it. What are scanlines? Someone said that the port on a Genesis can technically display RGB (or scart?). Is this true, and what would I need to make that happen?

[Joe Redifer]

Do I spy Midnight Resistance?  That is indeed a great game to make a comparison with, especially the red text over the weapons.  Blue's Journey is also another good choice.

EDIT:  I'm not sure what you mean by the Neo-Geo's image being too wide.  I have never experienced this on any TV I have played it on.

[Tatsujin]

Chris, I wish you would set up a workshop for idiots like myself. I understand that RBG > S-Video > Composite, but that's about it. What are scanlines? Someone said that the port on a Genesis can technically display RGB (or scart?). Is this true, and what would I need to make that happen?

1. scanlines are the horizontal lines produced by a CRT (cathod ray tube) TV. they give you the typical oldskool game feeling. nowadays TVS do not use horizontal lines anymore, they are controlled by a dot-matrix system, therefore you will not have scanlines anymore, unless you use a scanline re-producing device between your TV and the game machine.

2. the Genesis video-port provides RGB ex-works. so you need the right cable as well a RGB-capable low-res TV/monitor.

[Mathius]

Chris, I wish you would set up a workshop for idiots like myself. I understand that RBG > S-Video > Composite, but that's about it. What are scanlines? Someone said that the port on a Genesis can technically display RGB (or scart?). Is this true, and what would I need to make that happen?

1. scanlines are the horizontal lines produced by a CRT (cathod ray tube) TV. they give you the typical oldskool game feeling. nowadays TVS do not use horizontal lines anymore, they are controlled by a dot-matrix system, therefore you will not have scanlines anymore, unless you use a scanline re-producing device between your TV and the game machine.

2. the Genesis video-port provides RGB ex-works. so you need the right cable as well a RGB-capable low-res TV/monitor.

Thanks for the answers, Tats! I have a low-res RGB capable TV, I think. That's just having component jacks right? As for the cable, is it just a cable with one end being a Genesis type video connector, and the other RGB component?

[Necromancer]

I have a low-res RGB capable TV, I think. That's just having component jacks right? As for the cable, is it just a cable with one end being a Genesis type video connector, and the other RGB component?

No on both counts.  Some goon over at sega-16 wrote a nice article that explains it rather well.

[Mathius]

I have a low-res RGB capable TV, I think. That's just having component jacks right? As for the cable, is it just a cable with one end being a Genesis type video connector, and the other RGB component?

No on both counts.  Some goon over at sega-16 wrote a nice article that explains it rather well.

Wow, thanks Necro. That was really helpful!

[ccovell]

A word to the wise: RGB =/= "component" video.  They're terms for two different video formats.

(ah, I wrote the same thing here: http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/gotRGB/index.html )

[Joe Redifer]

In a nutshell:  RGB is full bandwidth color.  Component uses evil trickery to get similar image quality with less bandwidth.

EDIT:  I explained how Component works in my Sega-16 article linked to above.  Also please note that when I wrote that article, I was using a kind of crappy, small TV so the differences in the pictures aren't as pronounced as they really are on a decent TV (which I now have).

[Mathius]

In a nutshell:  RGB is full bandwidth color.  Component uses evil trickery to get similar image quality with less bandwidth.

EDIT:  I explained how Component works in my Sega-16 article linked to above.  Also please note that when I wrote that article, I was using a kind of crappy, small TV so the differences in the pictures aren't as pronounced as they really are on a decent TV (which I now have).

That's a really great article, Joe. I will study it more thoroughly on my days off coming up, along with trying to figure out what's up with my joysticks on my Super Contra arcade.