Widescreen Gaming Forum

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 10 Aug 2007, 16:21

Any tips on running a PS2 on a 22" widescreen? What if I want to use the digital input on the monitor?

Thanks.

Post by **The_cranky_hermit** » 11 Aug 2007, 00:24

If it's a regular PS2, and a 22" monitor with a standard VGA and DVI port and nothing else, then there isn't really any good way to do it. One thing for sure is that you won't be able to play any games that don't support progressive scan without an expensive de-interlacer. I have three suggestions, though I don't think any of them are what you were hoping to hear.

1: Get a monitor with component inputs.
2: Get a PS3 and use an HDMI-DVI cable.
3: Use a PS2 emulator.

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 13 Aug 2007, 18:23

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/1066/compro_videomate_v600_external_tv_tuner_hdtv_up_to_1680_x_1050/index.html

Would this thing work for PS2? Would it also support PS3 and Xbox360? Am I getting the full graphics capability of the consoles that way? Am I losing something?

I have a TripleHead2Go and three 22" widescreen 1680x1050 monitors, and this is the area I want to do all my gaming. I want to be able to play console games or watch TV on one of the side monitors by flicking a switch or whatever.

Sweetz · Post by **Sweetz** » 13 Aug 2007, 22:00

That device has only composite or s-video input, so you're going to be compromising on the video quality somewhat vs component. I mean it's not going to look great regardless, but going from a PS2 into my HDTV with s-video vs composite, there's a huge difference in quality. I'd imagine that using a tuner device like this with an LCD screen would produce similar results with s-video vs composite.

Note that you can find internal PC tuners for cheaper than that, but again most have composite/s-video input only. In fact can't think of any with composite input (though they probably do exist).

While I'm not a big fan of the PS3, I must say that you're going to be spending almost $200 on a tuner device - if just to use a PS2 on your monitor - you might as well just spend the extra for the PS3 and then you can play PS3 games and HD movies.

However, I know you want TV too and the tuner does also get you TV - but it's only if you use plain old analog cable. You can't watch HD TV through it, and if you have digital cable or satellite, then you'll still need to go through your cable box. You'll need to change channels through the box just like you do with a normal TV (and the tuner device would just be on channel 3 or whatever), so you need to have the cable box needs to be near enough to your PC. Essentially you wouldn't be using the tuner device's actual tuner capability at all, so you just paid a bunch of money for something that's only scaling video.

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 14 Aug 2007, 01:21

So I can hook up a PS3 and Xbox 360 directly to the monitor with just cables and no loss of quality?

For TV I should just get a TV In card?

packerfan · Post by **packerfan** » 14 Aug 2007, 01:31

Steve look further into the review ;)

The back of the stand up unit

The other side of the base unit

You can hook up an xbox 360 through vga and a ps3 through dvi if you want to (splitters can be expensive and challanging

And you can hook up ps2 through the component on the other side of the base

It only shows 720P thought so you dont get full xbox 360 resolution...

My suggestion would be this...

Plug this thing into one monitor and use the cable and component for ps2 and TV in one monitors input

Use another mons input for an xbox360

and use a hdmi to dvi cable for the ps3 and then a dvi to vga adapter and plug it in the 3rd monitor :D

This is provided you get all 3 setups though you will probably get rid of ps2 if you have ps3 unless

1 person plays ps2, 1 person plays 360 and 1 person plays ps3 all at once ;)

But if you use all 3 vga inputs for a different thing...

Put the most used one on the far right (so you dont get rid of your left screen (and windows tool bar) and the screen next to it) mostlikely put the TV on the far right as it will be most used when using the pc at the same time

And then put the other two on the other two screens

Sweetz · Post by **Sweetz** » 14 Aug 2007, 18:09

Steve look further into the review ;)

Whoops it's better than I thought it was. I guess that's a pretty decent option then. Stuff about digital cable/satellite still stands though.

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 14 Aug 2007, 18:25

Of course that review I found is for a product sold in Australia and not the States... it's the only one I could find that supported 1680x1050...

Here's a simple question: Can I hook up a PS3 or a Xbox360 to my monitor without buying expensive converters, and have good quality?

Post by **The_cranky_hermit** » 14 Aug 2007, 22:02

XBox 360: Yes, through VGA.
PS3: Yes, through HDMI-DVI, but only if your monitor supports HDCP.

Tanuki · Post by **Tanuki** » 15 Aug 2007, 00:16

They have DVI to VGA cables. I know. I am using one. :)

Sweetz · Post by **Sweetz** » 15 Aug 2007, 00:34

They have DVI to VGA cables. I know. I am using one. :)

That requires a DVI-I output, which outputs both analog and digital signals - most all video cards have this. You can not go from digital to analog and vice versa simply with a cable. The cable isn't doing any conversion, your video card simply outputs both formats from the same port.

HDMI is digital only so there's no way you can connect to VGA without going through some kind of converter hardware.

Tanuki · Post by **Tanuki** » 15 Aug 2007, 00:47

I am fallen. :(

I still cannot believe that Sony does not have VGA support for the PS3.

I have to use software to convert my PS2 signals to the D-sub connection on my monitor. I was hoping the PS3 would not have such a problem.

This is why I buy PC games. :D

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 15 Aug 2007, 15:57

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824252008

It doesn't have HDCP that I know of. So I can't use PS3 with this monitor?

Since I'm using the analog monitor input with the analog TripleHead2Go, I was hoping to use the digital input for a console... but the 360 would use the VGA input?

Post by **ctrlsteef** » 15 Aug 2007, 17:25

Vroshnak, read your pm's :wink:

Post by **The_cranky_hermit** » 15 Aug 2007, 22:13

It says it's Vista certified. I believe that HDCP support is one of the requirements for HDCP certifications.

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 16 Aug 2007, 18:57

http://www.chimei.com.tw/en/product_list.asp?mainclassid=4&subclassid=11&model_no=21

This is definately my monitor(s). The one on newegg is maybe slightly different?

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 20 Aug 2007, 21:42

It says it's Vista certified. I believe that HDCP support is one of the requirements for HDCP certifications.

I'm trying to confirm that a "Vista certified" monitor definately has HDCP support. So far, no luck.

It's a big deal to me because if my monitor is HDCP compliant, I'm going to buy a PS3.

Vroshnak · Post by **Vroshnak** » 23 Aug 2007, 14:28

My monitors are NOT HDCP compatible.

I purchased a KWorld TVBox1440. Cable TV looks great on my 1680x1050. PS2 is a little blurry, but playable. Picture in picture capability is nice. I may return the box for one with 1680x1050 support, but I doubt it would look much better.

Tanuki · Post by **Tanuki** » 23 Aug 2007, 19:17

http://www.xploder.net/products/148/Xploder-HDTV-Player.htm

For PS2 this works with a lot of games.

You get 480p, 720, and 1080 for tv and 640x480 up to 1280x1024 for vga resolutions.

480p usually has the least modification of the image for HDTV. Otherwise you would need scaling for best picture.

VGA works straight depending on your connection. There are component to VGA cables that can be ordered online. Monitor scaling works best but is not needed. No widescreen.

I would give you screenshots but it is on the second monitor input with no video card. Sorry :(