Dreamcast-Talk.com

So if it were to seamlessly work with non vga games (like they imply) that would mean that either:

A) It automatically switches between 480i and 480P, something which I have never seen before
B) It only runs in 480i mode but (being component cables) separates the RGB in a type of "higher resolution interlaced mode" An example of this would be playing a non-progressive scan compatible game on a Gamecube with component cables.
C) It actually taps into the Dreamcast's SCART leads and only outputs 240P

Unless there is something I'm missing?

I think it would be a switchless box that either taps the VGA signal for VGA games (and maybe forceable ones), or RGB for ones that won't work. Then it upscales straight to 480p for the RGB ones.
I could be wrong though.

Dang that sounds pretty advanced. If that's even remotely the case then they should build that technology into a vga box or cable. I'd happily replace my existing vga boxes for that. But I kinda have a feeling its one of those 3 cases I mentioned. Could be wrong, but we'll see once someone gets one and shares their findings.

I believe your guess A is the correct one. The cable will use 480p mode for games that support the VGA box and automatically use 480i mode for games that don't support VGA. VGA doesn't normally carry interlaced video modes, which is why VGA cables don't do that. Component cables, however, carry both interlaced and progressive video, and all TVs with component inputs will support both 480i and 480p on those inputs. The quality for 480p should be very close to using a VGA cable, as component supports resolutions well above 480p.

Need this cable now.

That's interesting. So it will sense when games that don't have the vga "flag" in the boot sector thus avoiding the "wrong av cable" message so you don't have to do the switch trick during boot up. So automatically doing the "switch trick" tricking the Dreamcast into thinking theirs just regular av cables attached. I wonder how it auto senses?

To add to that last post: Isn't the only way the Dreamcast will render any sort of 480P or "high resolution mode" is if it detects a vga box attached? I just find this really interesting.

OGDCFAN99 wrote:I wonder how it auto senses?

It will probably be able to detect the initial video signal sent by the DC and switch modes accordingly. A component cable can just send 480i/p without any sensing circuitry, but the DC cable probably needs some kind of internal switch to trick the DC into thinking that either a VGA box or composite cable is connected, depending upon what the game wants.

It's important to be clear that there are three types of DC software. The first is fully compatible with the VGA box and will use VGA mode automatically when one is connected, since the VGA flag is enabled in the game's boot sector. The second is also fully compatible with the VGA box, but because the developer incorrectly set the VGA flag in the boot sector to false, it won't accept a VGA box unless you use a boot disc to trick it into running in VGA mode. The third type is incompatible with the VGA box, because it renders its graphics in such a way that 480p output is impossible, or at least that's what I've been led to believe.

The only thing the component cable will be able to do is to switch back to 480i mode when a game says that it doesn't support VGA mode, and this will happen for both type 2 and type 3 games. You'll still need a boot disc or a hacked boot sector to boot type 2 games in VGA mode, AFAIK.

Yeah I'm aware of the 3 types.. But this is good stuff! That "internal switch" is what fascinates me if their really able to make that work. It would have to happen right after it checks the disc and quick enough to avoid the "wrong av cable" message.

Do you guys know if it will work on CRT TVs that have component inputs?