SCART: is it worth the investment?

[GAUGE]

I'm asking a related question in the modding forum, but thought I'd ask folks about their personal experiences with SCART here.

I'm thinking about getting a SCART-modded PC Engine or CD-ROM2 system. Is the upgrade in video quality worth the cash? Do you have a SCART system? If so, how do you have it set up/connecting to your TV? Drawbacks and pluses of having a SCART system? Is it better to have a SCART PC Engine system or better to SCART-mod a CD-ROM2?

Any help, advice, ramblings, etc., would be helpful!

[Arkhan]

no, just RGB mod it for something US friendly.

[SignOfZeta]

What RGB capable displays do you have? If you live in the US the answer to that question is %99.9999 of the time, "none" so you'd need to drop a few hundred on a XRGB or something like that as well.

IMO, its absolutely worth it, but I'm a picky customer.

[Arkhan]

are we talking about modding it for the big SCART connector here?

Cause nothing in US of Gay has that .

[Joe Redifer]

That's why you take that SCART and convert it to something else, like component video.  I know, I know, component video is absolute trash compared to RGB.

[GAUGE]

I'd be converting it to component via a converter. Isn't the quality better than composite? What are other options for better quality that are possible with an NTSC HDTV?

Thanks for all the info so far. I'm just trying to figure out the best price/performance option for getting a better picture.

[Arkhan]

Cant you just RGB mod it and go straight to an RGB connector we support in MERICA?

I donno what im talking about.  I use RF and composite

[Duo_R]

Don't forget u will need to amp the RGB

[SuperDeadite]

RGB is totally worth it for the PCE.  But don't use SCART.  SCART=crappy Euro trash, use something
better.

[ccovell]

I have an RGB page here that you might be interested in: http://www.chrismcovell.com/gotRGB/index.html

Be sure to check out the screenshots and screengrabs.

[SignOfZeta]

Wow, this is a confusing thread for noobs, big time.

First to clarify some things: SCART is not a signal type, its just a form factor for the connector, SCART connectors can accommodate RGB, composite, component, s-video, RF, mono audio, stereo audio, +5V, and probably some other stuff as well from time to time. When people talk about getting RGB from a PCE it is often convenient for people in Europe to have it packaged into the SCART connector, but that's because their TVs have SCART sockets on them. American TVs don't. There is no point in going to SCART cables specifically unless you have something to plug it into.

In the US the vast majority of RGB capable displays are either inconvenient arcade monitors with no housings, or ancient 13" computer monitors from the 80s. Even then, they never have SCART sockets on them.

Secondly: if by "HDTV" you mean an LCD or plasma, you need a lot more than an RGB signal. SD game systems look like SHIT on these displays no matter what signal type you are using. A box like an XRGB, Edge, or other things is pretty much required unless you are blind or under the age of 20 (thereby, often times, not actually knowing what a good SD signal even looks like). You can convert the RGB to component, but it still going to be shit and quite possibly laggy.

So, figure $300 on this upgrade, if not more.

[SignOfZeta]

Cant you just RGB mod it and go straight to an RGB connector we support in MERICA?

Like what?

[SuperDeadite]

Actually quite a few USA HDTV's will take 15khz RGB through the VGA port.  Not all, but
quite a few will, you just have try it and you might get lucky.  Of course the TV can't display
it in true 15khz.  But the scaling will be much better then if you're using S-vid or composite.

[GAUGE]

Wow, this is a confusing thread for noobs, big time.

First to clarify some things: SCART is not a signal type, its just a form factor for the connector, SCART connectors can accommodate RGB, composite, component, s-video, RF, mono audio, stereo audio, +5V, and probably some other stuff as well from time to time. When people talk about getting RGB from a PCE it is often convenient for people in Europe to have it packaged into the SCART connector, but that's because their TVs have SCART sockets on them. American TVs don't. There is no point in going to SCART cables specifically unless you have something to plug it into.

In the US the vast majority of RGB capable displays are either inconvenient arcade monitors with no housings, or ancient 13" computer monitors from the 80s. Even then, they never have SCART sockets on them.

Secondly: if by "HDTV" you mean an LCD or plasma, you need a lot more than an RGB signal. SD game systems look like SHIT on these displays no matter what signal type you are using. A box like an XRGB, Edge, or other things is pretty much required unless you are blind or under the age of 20 (thereby, often times, not actually knowing what a good SD signal even looks like). You can convert the RGB to component, but it still going to be shit and quite possibly laggy.

So, figure $300 on this upgrade, if not more.

Hey thanks everyone for all the info. Exactly what I needed. Just wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I guess what my most probable set up would be to just have a SCART modded PCE going to a SCART -> component converter and into the HDTV. Is it worth the cost/hassle to upgrade from composite?

[Tatsujin]

RGB is totally worth it for the PCE.  But don't use SCART.  SCART=crappy Euro trash, use something
better.

Why is scart = crappy euro trash? And what is something better? It's RGB, there isn't good or bad RGB (sure it depends on the quality of the TV and used parts and everything, but that has nothing to do with scart itself, that's just a connector norm).

And at least we had a shit load of fully RGB capable TVs since mid 80s. And what did you guys had?