help with PS2 and LCD with no conponent in

g00gy · 15-02-2009, 12:56 AM

Can anyone offer me some advice. I brought a HDready Tv which works great with the PS3 using hdmi. But the PS2 comes out terribly with RGBScart. I was going to buy a component cable because of all the suggestions on this site, but my TV doesnt have component out it only has AV sockets. its got S-video, VGA, HDMI, Scart and CVBS(AV) but no component video out. Can someone please show me the possibilities of where i can go from here? I dont wanna lose all my classic PS2 games, because they look terriblly jagged and blurry with the rgb scart. please help.

Matt_C · 15-02-2009, 1:06 AM

Your only option then is gonna be S-Vid. Mine originally ran on composite (CVBS/AV) but looked awfull, so borrowed a component cable for it and it looked so much better. Then I ended up with an S-Vid lead, so thought I'd try that and it doesn't look TOO different than component! Not quite as vibrant in colour, but about the same smoothnessm so have stuck with that (as I wanted the DVD player to go in using component)

g00gy · 15-02-2009, 1:33 AM

Thank you for your help. I guess im gonna have to get an S-video cable.

g00gy · 04-03-2009, 10:42 PM

I finally got hold of a S-video cable and its still soooo jagged its unplayable. Please guys is there anyway to use a PS2 with a HDTV?

bonzobanana · 07-03-2009, 10:14 AM

The ps2 was designed primarily for CRT displays more specifically an interlace display. One of the most annoying things about the ps2 is it renders at quite a low resolution something like 320x200 and interpolates to 640x400 both vertically and horizontally this increases jaggies those horrible diagonally lines with stepping in them. However the thing that makes it worse is most games also render 60 or 50 frames per second. Unfortunately televisions can only accept 30 or 25 frames per second so the ps2 only renders a half frame of each (1 field). Your LCD tv will deinterlace what its given so it makes up a frame from two half frames sent from the ps2 which don't match. Anyway its long winded way of saying the ps2 is primarily a CRT based console and it doesn't deinterlace very well.

The best way of playing PS2 games with a HD display is getting a ps2 compatible ps3. However that limits you to uk only commercial games and doesn't allow you to play imports etc.

I don't know how you are doing for space but great quality CRTs sell for peanuts on ebay as people ditch them for LCD/plasmas. However for standard definition CRTs still provide the best possible display. My mother bought a 32" Sony trinitron set from ebay for about £60. It was originally about £1200 about 7 years ago. The set is fantastic for standard definition. Its got a great sound system with built in subwoofer, 100hz processing and gives a superb image. I recently went to a friends house who bought a 32" samsung LCD for £450. The set looked amazing off but as soon as you turn it on the picture is not only very weak for SD but had an annoying dead vertical line on the display which he hadn't got around to getting fixed.

The point is if your a retro gaming fan its worth having a CRT to get the best of them. I wouldn't get a 100hz set though as 50hz is ideal for lightgun games etc. 50hz sets are also more likely to have a true RGB scart connection as 100hz sets lose true RGB because of the way 100hz processing works.

What tv do you have anyway?

Generally plasmas give a better SD display than LCDs. LCDs are less forgiving of low resolution images.

Also low cost/budget LCD televisions while capable of great high definition images are truly hopeless at de-interlacing and make little attempt to upscale and improve such images.

I looked at a 15" LCD set in Currys the other day and even from about seven foot away its freeview picture was obviously terrible.

g00gy · 07-03-2009, 3:48 PM

thanks for the info. lol i guess theres simply no way, unless i get a crt. i was thinking of using a vga connection, but i guess theres no point.

bonzobanana · 07-03-2009, 7:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g00gy

thanks for the info. lol i guess theres simply no way, unless i get a crt. i was thinking of using a vga connection, but i guess theres no point.

There is a VGA lead option for the ps2 but you are limited to progressive only output which is only suitable for a handful of games plus game development.

g00gy · 21-03-2009, 9:27 PM

I dont have enough space in my room for a CRT. And seeing the PS2 game collection i have looks like quite a waste. I was thinking of getting Vga. what kind of quality does VGA produce? and which games run on it?

fallenangle · 25-03-2009, 12:06 PM

The impression seems to have been taken that there is an official PS2 VGA lead. As far as I am aware this is not correct. There is, I believe, a PS3 VGA lead but although it might well fit the PS2 it won't work.

Along with AV composite and S-Video a PAL PS2 only outputs RGB SCART ( sync on green I think) and Component (YPbPr/YCbCr/YUV). So unless the TV VGA input is Component compatible (check because it might be) what you will require is a PS2 or Universal VGA HD 'Gamers' box + appropriate lead(s) at £40+.

You'll need confirmation on this but I believe I'm right in saying that some (all?) only work with the limited number of progressive scan enabled PS2 games too.

Obviously you should do your own research but I've just been looking around some more specialist gaming forums and there are definitely some PS2/Universal VGA boxes to avoid. But one reviewed favourably by several users is supplied by hdboxpro.com. Seems to do everything you need and at a reasonable price even with shipping etc.

pw00t · 28-03-2009, 10:25 PM

Hi g00gy,

I've just ordered one of the HD Box Pro's mentioned by fallenangle above:

HD BOX PRO

It is designed to take component in from PS2, Wii etc. and transcode it for VGA. I think it will take a couple of weeks to get to me, but I'll let you know how good it is. The reviews I've read online seem favourable.

slaanesh · 07-04-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g00gy

But the PS2 comes out terribly with RGBScart.

SCART is a clever standard which can carry RGB, S-Video and Composite as well as stereo audio all in the one cable.
However, not all television units support RGB.
The first thing to check is whether your (1) TV and (2) cable supports the RGB lines. If not it may be defaulting to one of the lower standards.
The second thing to note that is using SCART will not reduce jaggies, in fact in may make them worse. The reason is that you will be getting a clearer and sharper signal.
Another issue is the LCD vs CRT tvs can exaggerate jaggies even more. CRT TVs, by the way they work, soften jaggies considerably.