Connecting PS2 to PC

[ajbrun]

I think that if you connect a PS2 to a PC, you get a better resolution, because the TV I'm using isn't so good.

Can someone show me how to do it please? Can you do it, just using the graphics card and some wires, because I'd rather not buy much more stuff.

I had quick look on the ATI site, and that only shows you how to connect it to a TV. It's not a TV card I need is it?

Hope that makes sense, thanks in advance .

[ajbrun]

Sorry - I just realised this should have gone into displays.

I also found out that I need a graphics card with TV in. Do you know if a 6800 has a tv-in facility?

Thanks again.

[Applecrusher]

if its got vivo (video in video out) then, yes it does have tv in...

[malfunction]

Doesn't mean you'll get better image quality though. Most VIVO cards only accept composite and s-video in - and by showing the signal on a nice crisp monitor it might actually look worse than on the TV. Does the TV have an RGB scart socket? If so - get an RGB scart lead for the PS2 - old PS1 RGB leads work fine AFAIK too - that ought to really make a difference to the image quality (most TVs that have multiple scart sockets only support RGB on the first one). Even fairly old TVs can accept RGB - had a 14" Sony Trinitron in the early 90s that had no problem doing RGB (or 60Hz).

FWIW

Composite = all image info on one pin - chrominance (colour) and luminance (brightness) = colour 'bleeding' + fuzzy image

S-Video = two pins - 1 for chrominance, 1 for luminance = colour bleed + possibly better image quality than composite

RGB = 1 pin for each colour (the luminance of each colour) so no colour bleed and best image quality

[ajbrun]

I'm not sure if you understand what I mean. What I want to do doesn't include a TV. I want to be able to play PS2 games through my PC monitor. I'm pretty sure that PC monitors have higher resolutions than my TV.

Also, I had a look at TIVO cards, and they seem pretty expensive. I'll be getting a 6800 graphics card soon, so does anyone know if that have a TIVO option? If it's too expensive though, I might just get a cheap TV card.

[malfunction]

You said your TV isn't any good so you wanted to play via the PC monitor.

I'm trying to warn you that - for 2 reasons - you might be dissappointed with the results (1 no RGB input on GFX cards, 2 monitors can make the bad signal more obvious). Just because the monitor can show higher res doesn't mean the PS2 will start looking better - it won't change res - and as such the pixels - and any noise / blur / colour bleed in the signal - will be more obvious.

If you aren't chucking the TV in the bin / loosing access to it and it has a scart socket that can accept an RGB signal you'd get the best image quality by buying an RGB scart cable for the PS2.

[malfunction]

Another option:

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?cat...ducts_id=2875&

Not cheap though

And you'd need one of these to go with it:

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?cat...ducts_id=1696&

[malfunction]

So this:

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?cat...oducts_id=266&

Would be a lot cheaper

[Capt Doufos]

PS2/Xboxs look naff on a PC screen through a TV card (So does TV TBH) You need a PS2 to VGA convertor as suggested.

http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/..._VGA_Converter

[Paul Adams]

Wouldn't this work?
http://www.success-hk.com/pp/item_de...7-C31526C19F6D

PS2 -> Monitor via D-Sub VGA connector

[Capt Doufos]

That's the sort of thing you need ^

[ajbrun]

OK, I might just get one of those PS2 leads you keep talking about. Will that be A LOT different from the composite?

Also, my brother has a PS1 with a scart lead, but when I put that into my PS2, white becomes yellow, and the sky in a game goes green. That won't happen with a moden scart lead will it?

Otherwise I might get the thing that paul adams said about.

EDIT - sorry i didn't see the cap dofus post. I'm not sure exactly how that VGA adapter gets connected. One end goes to the PS2 (obviously), but when I look at the photo, I can't see where the other end goes to. Anyone know?

Will I have to take out my monitor lead from my PC every time I want to use it?

[malfunction]

Interesting:

http://www.success-hk.com/pp/item_de...7-C31526C19F6D

Will see if I can find a better compatibility list. Generally cheap VGA converters give crap quality. But if it's a software patch (and it doesn't slow games down) then there's a chance it could work well.

As for the PS1 lead not working sounds like a dodgy connection somewhere - sounds like it's an RGB lead and the blue part is not making it from your PS2 to the TV... If the lead works on his PS1 OK then there are a few possibilities:

1) The lead is broken.

2) Your PS2 is broken.

3) Your TV is broken.

The RGB lead will also carry a composite signal so that it works on a TV that can't do RGB so it could still be the lead. So test the same lead on the same socket on the same (RGB capable) TV with the both the PS1 and the PS2 if possible to find out which is broken. Generally speaking though - apart from the fact that the blue channel is missing - what's the quality like using that lead?

[malfunction]

Oh and yes - if you don't have 2 monitors, or 1 monitor with multiple inputs or a KVM switch you'll have to unplug the PC / PS2 everytime you want to switch.

[directhex]

malfunction was spot on with the xrgb2+, it's recognised worldwide as the best vga solution, bar none, by an enormous margin.

shame about the price tag

[ajbrun]

* I'm pretty sure that lead works with the PS1.
* From what I saw using that lead on the PS2, the quality was a bit better, just the colours were wrong.
* On my graphics card I have a DVI input (i think that's what it is), does that dount for a multiple input?