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Geek Culture / Using computer monitor with consoles?

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Chris K
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 00:32
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What's the cheapest way to hook up a computer monitor (nothing fancy- standard monitor), to a console (Gamecube)?

My video card doesn't do it, what's the cheapest thing to buy that can convert the cables?

-= Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals =-
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Agent Dink
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 05:30
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They make things called VGA boxes. They are different (I think) for every console, google those. Otherwise, a TV tuner card with the proper hookups should do the trick. I have played my Gamecube on my PC in Windows through the TV tuner's window. It's pretty cool!

Sometimes the only way over a wall is to pile up enough bodies to climb over - Dave W.
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Jess T
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 08:34 Edited at: 3rd Nov 2006 08:36
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VGA boxes, definatly.

I've got one called an XGA box - has a handy little switch to quickly flick from PC input to RCA input, and also has sound input/output (that I don't use).

Make sure when you buy it, though, that you get the right power adapter (bought mine from England, and had to find another adapter to work in Aussie plugs).

It's cheap, but works a treat with (limited) customization switches.

You'll find that on a monitor (LCD/Plasma especially) that you get a somewhat blurred image. That's because most old consoles only run at 640x480 resolution (max) and it has to be deinterlaced, then scaled up by your monitor. Sit back about 4ft (normal console-play distance, no?) and you don't notice a thing

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Van B
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 08:48
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Yeah, that's what I've done with my gamecube, got it rigged so it plays through my TV card on my 2nd display - has to be said that it's a little ropey, the xbox gives a much better result (actually played a lot of Farcry this way, it's not too shabby), but it really depends on the game your playing. Personally I plan to go and grab screenies of RE4 on the gamecube for reference, there's some insane design in that game so it's nice to be able to easily snapshot and record video.

For your 20 bucks or whatever you pay for the TV card, you get a lot - even the software is great, because you tend to get a free AVI to MPG converter, which is damn handy, basic video editing stuff - they might be more usefull if you fancy recording videos and stuff (maybe to keep the cube alive on youtube ).

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Chris K
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 12:18 Edited at: 3rd Nov 2006 19:54
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So where should I buy?

I've found this

Is it any good? It'll be a bit more than $20 with VAT and p&p.

-= Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals =-
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indi
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 12:36
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there are tuner cards that will also read HD and Digital channels, if you need that look elsewhere.
pinnacle do make a range of products that ive used and had no real issues with them.


The last budget video card i messed with was the voodoo 3500




its ancient nowadays.

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Chris K
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 14:46
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Yeah I don't want the actual TV tuner, just the ability to play Gamecube through my monitor.

-= Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals =-
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indi
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 15:02
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then it should be fine if its a one use item

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Raven
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 15:38
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The newer X1K Series Radeons come with the leads to convert HDCP or RGB Component to DVI connections. As do most newer TFT monitors from Samsung as they can be used as both HD-TVs and Monitors.

I currently have my Xbox 360 hooked up in this method.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400, 512MB DDR2 667MHz, ATi Radeon X1900 XT 256MB PCI-E, Windows Vista Business / XP Professional SP2
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Bizar Guy
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 17:11
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Yeah, I'm going to be doing this for the Wii...


Please don't post in the thread my sig leads to.
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Chris K
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 18:09
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A computer screen could well muck up the Wii's position sensing.

-= Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals =-
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David R
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 18:24 Edited at: 3rd Nov 2006 18:24
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Quote: "A computer screen could well muck up the Wii's position sensing."


You have to place little sensor thingies round the screen, so technically its adaptable to any screen

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Chris K
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 19:39
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No the remote picks up computer screens as the ends of the sensor bar, and goes haywire.

-= Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals =-
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David R
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 20:47
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It only uses a couple of IR LED's to pick up the controller, so the main thing it would be affected by (if anything) is very bright light/fluorescent objects for the optical portion

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Jeku
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 21:12
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Well, Chris has played a Wii so he should know how it reacts with a computer screen.

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Chris K
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Posted: 3rd Nov 2006 21:27
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Yeah, as Jeku said, I've played one. I don't think it was a final build, but the one before that.

There's a demo that shows 'what the controller sees'.

Normally there are two dots, but if there's a computer screen in view, that will come up as a dot as well.

If you point it at the sun, it gets about 12 dots.

Again, not a final Wii, but I would imagine it's a hard problem to fix.

-= Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals =-
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Chris K
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Posted: 4th Nov 2006 19:17
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Ok well I got a DVB-T 100 PCI, and I'm trying to set it up with an N64, but I don't have a clue how to do it.

I've installed everything OK, and plugged the RV cable from the console into the RV in on the card, but how do I set it to pick it up?

-= Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals =-
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Dot Merix
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Posted: 5th Nov 2006 04:51
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I recommend not picking up any internal pieces(unless they're very high end) as you'll end up getting a lot of lag hooking up a game console to the computer.

What you can get, should you like is the Adaptec GameBridge 1410. Allows composite(rca) hookups to the adapter with no lag whatsoever while playing games.. You can also record movie without having it lag.. Look it up though, i found a site with a very good price on it...

http://www.pccanada.com/viewitem.asp?id=5163

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Agent Dink
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Posted: 5th Nov 2006 05:42
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Quote: "I recommend not picking up any internal pieces(unless they're very high end) as you'll end up getting a lot of lag hooking up a game console to the computer.
"


I have a cheap $40 tv tuner and there was no lag playing my game over it.

LeadTek WinFast TV2000XP tuner card

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Sometimes the only way over a wall is to pile up enough bodies to climb over - Dave W.
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alex 1337
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Posted: 5th Nov 2006 06:16
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i agree with dot metrix, thats the kind i use
only about 25 dollars on ebay and its usb!
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Dot Merix
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Posted: 5th Nov 2006 08:04
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Ahh sorry Agent, i've personally had very bad luck with internal hardware solutions for doing this type of stuff.. Gamebridge was the easiest(and an affordable) solution.

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