Good RGB to HDMI or Component converter?

[BEERS AND VIDEOS]

Anyone have any experience using an RGB converter in the US? Are there certain brands, features to look out for? Any info would be great!

[SuperDeadite]

They all suck IMO.  Get an XRGB 2 or 2+.

[BEERS AND VIDEOS]

So, something more like this? You just hook up the RGB on one end and an HDMI LCD TV on the other? 

[SuperDeadite]

The XRGB-3 outputs in VGA or DVI.  Though DVI mode is useless for gaming, as it gives 2 frames of lag.  VGA mode is 0 lag. 
Personally I hate the XRGB-3 though.

I much prefer the older 2 and 2+ models.

[BEERS AND VIDEOS]

All great info. Thanks! I may throw some questions your way while I'm shopping around.

[SignOfZeta]

A guy at the Neo-Geo.com forums just started selling a new design of his on on eBay. It might be really great. Given the ever increasing scarcity/price of XRGBs (I swear to God, the f*cking things are more expensive every day) it might be worth a shot, assuming your TV itself won't ruin the signal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=190509882797&si=7UPsojxrCsuKttmkY7aXVtQQknU%253D&viewitem=#ht_2374wt_1141

[SuperDeadite]

Like any transcoder, those are really dependent on your TV though.  Those things are 240p RGB in,
240p Component out.  But a lot of modern TVs can not recognize 240p over component.  They will see it
as 480i and then will attempt to deinterlace it.  Meaning you'll get weird graphic shaking.

Sure you can try all sorts of cheap stuff, or just spend a bit on an XRGB-2/2+ and be done with it.

[SignOfZeta]

Like any transcoder, those are really dependent on your TV though.  Those things are 240p RGB in,
240p Component out.  But a lot of modern TVs can not recognize 240p over component.  They will see it
as 480i and then will attempt to deinterlace it.  Meaning you'll get weird graphic shaking.

Sure you can try all sorts of cheap stuff, or just spend a bit on an XRGB-2/2+ and be done with it.

And by "a bit" you mean "$300 and up".

[Joe Redifer]

Too bad that thing doesn't also have s-video in addition to component.  I guess for that you'd need to go with JROK.

I'm not EXACTLY sure what an XRGB-2 is, but I don't think it'd work for me.  The outputs look all wrong for what I need.  No component out, no digital out, no s-video out.  Useless.  I have yet to meet a TV that won't accept 240p component in.  Also, I do not game on HDTVs, only standard definition CRTs.


edit: Fixed stupid typo.

[ccovell]

Plus the X-RGB 2+ is quite disappointing.  Image waviness and instability.  I'd go with an analogue conversion solution (RGB->Component) as far along the chain as you can.

[Joe Redifer]

The Micomsoft XMD RGB-to-whatever converters for the Mega Drive also have noisy images.  I have diagonal lines moving through the s-video picture in my XMD-3.

I have an RGB-to-S-video/composite converter made for the Neo Geo which works well.  It also works perfectly on the Master System.  Plug that bastard into the Genesis and it screws all of the colors up or just goes to black and white.  Some Genesis games look perfect, though.  It must be something about the signal in each game.

[BEERS AND VIDEOS]

I've got a headache. 

Is there anyone on here in the forums that's done a PC Engine Component or S-Video out mod?

[SuperDeadite]

Joe is using a CRT though, which is totally different.  S-Video looks wonderful on a CRT.
For people that insist on using an HD set, VGA always works better.

The XRGB-2+ generally works quite well, the only waviness I've noticed is when the
on screen menu up is up, which you'll turn off when actually playing.  But the 2+ pcb
compatibility sucks, so I prefer the 2.

$300?  What?  I haven't spent anywhere near that amount, even on my 3 which was purchased
brand new.  These days prices have gone up, but it's mainly cause the US dollar is almost
worthless.  IMO, it's the long term that matters.  Sure you can order all the cheap transcoders
and china-made boards for $50 or so.  But that money adds up rather quickly.

Myself, I use straight up RGB in my CRT, as it is the best way.  I use XRGBs with an old CRT
computer monitor for vertical games as my main TV weighs over 100 pounds. XRGB+CRT is
a beautiful sight.

[SignOfZeta]

I've been looking at XRGBs for months now and I can't find one for a reasonable price. I did get one for $90 from a form member...but it didn't work. I had a deal set up with another forum member for a decent price...but he ended up reneging when he found out what he could get from someone else. Obviously all the shops have been out of stock for years so eBay is pretty much it. The 3s are $500 now and even 2s and 2+s are selling for over $300.

I haven't had a chance to fix my broken 2+ but I think I eventually will. I hope so because during the short periods where I could get it to work I was extremely impressed with the image quality.

[Tatsujin]

I've got a headache. 

Is there anyone on here in the forums that's done a PC Engine Component or S-Video out mod?

Chop5 does