CaptainBreakout Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 Hiya, I was looking at this converter for the Dreamcast. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SK85NGH/ This Kaico one looks like pretty respectable quality, and I like that it's based on VGA output. There's also dirt cheap ones on AliExpress, such as this... https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806154649156.html All the AliExpress ones don't specifically say if it's based on the VGA Dreamcast output or the composite. I'm guessing one gets what one pays for here, but I thought I'd ask the community for any thoughts or experiences with these devices, since I'm not in a hurry. Id appreciate hearing about Dreamcast converters/upscalers, especially something like these two. Also looking for a similar solution for my Saturn. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RARusk Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 The problem with the DreamCast is that the video output is 4:3 and most TVs and monitors do not support it. If you give them a 4:3 signal then the monitor will stretch the image to fit the screen creating distortions. Some converter devices do have a switch that will allow you to go between 4:3 and 16:9 to allow for proper scaling but the device you listed does not have such a switch. Therefore, you need to ensure that your TV can support proper 4:3 before pulling the trigger on such devices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M-S Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 I'd say that neither is an ideal solution, but the one from Kaico probably is identical to the Chinese one, just more expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Black_Tiger Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 You best off buying one decent upscaler and feeding it the highest quality output any given console can output. The upscaler will have less lag and display 4:3 games properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBreakout Posted April 28 Author Share Posted April 28 (edited) I have a retrotink. But I want to get the output from the VGA of the Dreamcast (which is unique for the console). That's why Im leaning towards the Kaico. Edited April 28 by CaptainBreakout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted April 28 Share Posted April 28 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09YBZ8YJR/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=2b9ec80f61f37ac247cf7f4dd4c54b78&hsa_cr_id=0&qid=1714339481&sr=1-1-3c6b3b04-89d4-46ee-857c-1e2f0de6a70e&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_scm_asin_0_img&pd_rd_w=9iKfO&content-id=amzn1.sym.4870a952-0dfa-4beb-9d2a-7a52537f019d%3Aamzn1.sym.4870a952-0dfa-4beb-9d2a-7a52537f019d&pf_rd_p=4870a952-0dfa-4beb-9d2a-7a52537f019d&pf_rd_r=P3KK21F59GCT595E26H6&pd_rd_wg=uKYj3&pd_rd_r=d842c15d-a940-4987-925e-3d23755dbd81 I've used composite converters like this one (I'm sure component versions exist too) they just convert the signal straight across, so still the same issues as other things with 4/3 v 16/9 compatibility, but are compatible with any system with that type of output. Not this exact one, but I've used them for PlayStation and 64 stuff before, and it worked great for my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 18 hours ago, CaptainBreakout said: I have a retrotink. But I want to get the output from the VGA of the Dreamcast (which is unique for the console). That's why Im leaning towards the Kaico. This was one of the reasons I ended up going with an OSSC setup in my game room. The OSSC has a dedicated VGA input and I initially had the DC connected to this. Eventually, I moved my Extron to that VGA input on the OSSC for all the other consoles that don't have RGB and then ended up installing a DCDigital to get a true HDMI output from my Dreamcast. It is no contest with how crystal clear the DC is through the DCDigital. Even the VGA while looking really good, was never as sharp and clear as the HDMI output from it now. But the DCDigital isn't a cheap solution plus you need to find someone you trust to install it for you. But I'm very glad I invested in mine! BTW the original output is still active and works as it always did. So the HDMI upgrade on the console didn't alter that in any way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBreakout Posted April 29 Author Share Posted April 29 Wow! Nice to know the high end option. Very tempting but time-consuming and pricy. Considering it tho. Thank you CrossBow Awhile ago I encountered a YPrPb solution. I know this connection is almost obsolete, but that WOULD let me hook this up to a switch matrix and run it into my RetroTink. The line-doubling looks beautiful for the Genesis that way. Here's the link for the DC YPrPb cable, but I never found a way to buy it... https://www.hdretrovision.com/dreamcast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 1 hour ago, CaptainBreakout said: Wow! Nice to know the high end option. Very tempting but time-consuming and pricy. Considering it tho. Thank you CrossBow Awhile ago I encountered a YPrPb solution. I know this connection is almost obsolete, but that WOULD let me hook this up to a switch matrix and run it into my RetroTink. The line-doubling looks beautiful for the Genesis that way. Here's the link for the DC YPrPb cable, but I never found a way to buy it... https://www.hdretrovision.com/dreamcast You never found a way to buy it because as far as I know HDRetrovision have still not released if officially. But yes, that would be a good option to try for sure. Also I installed my DCDigital myself so I only had the cost of the kit in my case but again, not cheap and it isn't a mod for beginners to tackle due to the pretty fine pitch soldering required on the flex cable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 (edited) I'm pretty happy with my Behar Bros Gekko for DC I got it with some expiring points from stoneagegamer. It's a little less at the first link, and a lot more local in the second. Not hugely more than the Kaico. There are lots of youtube reviews showing where it's strong and where it's less so, and the gekko seems to be more of a known quantity. Edited April 30 by Reaperman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Pendleton Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 I would advise against the Gekko and Akura. Reasons: 1. the image probably won't be centered properly 2. the cable is fragile and prone to erratic functionality 3. it doesn't scale anything, so your display will do the scaling, which may be good or may be terrible 4. it doesn't do anything with the Dreamcast's DTV signal, so if your display also does not, you'll end up with weird vertical lines on your screen where video information is missing Get DCDigital or VGA box + OSSC or Retrotink, as those fix all of the above problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbit Posted May 2 Share Posted May 2 (edited) I gotta agree that getting an OSSC is the way to go. Here are some options: KO OSSC (its just as good as the VGP version really, its on Amazon and you'll get it quickly): https://www.amazon.com/Mcbazel-Component-Converter-Nintendo-Super-NES/dp/B083FG6PXH Or, the official one (which is like $10 more, you have to import it, but it IS the official version): https://videogameperfection.com/products/open-source-scan-converter/ And one of these (I have one, works great): https://www.amazon.com/eJiasu-SEGA-Cable-Dreamcast-Adapter/dp/B01N67GOSS $140 for the OSSC and $15 for the cable....so $155 all in...or $165 ish if you opt for the official OSSC unit versus the knock off. Might sound like a lot to spend but trust me, you will have a very fantastic picture. AND, the OSSC is so useful for so many things and not just the DC. You can connect PAL stuff, old computers, consoles via RGB SCART...right to a modern HDMI TV. It's pretty amazing. If I know you Dan it will not go to waste Edited May 2 by eightbit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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