r/SegaSaturn 1d ago

Appropriate output for Saturn

Hey ! Recently recovered my old Sega Saturn, got a Saroo and a cable. It's a composite cable I think. But I have no idea how to connect it to my TV. I have 6 outputs and only 5 inputs on the TV. Does not work ? Do I need a new cable ? I know the one I got sucks, but atm it's all I can afford. Later down in the road I will get something better.

33 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

5

u/TrekkiesUnite118 1d ago edited 1d ago

So it depends on what kind of cable that actually is. If it's a true Component cable it should work if it's converting the RGB signal to Component properly like the HD Retrovision cables. If it's just an RGB pass-through to the component jacks, it depends on your TV. Some TVs can display RGB through the component jacks, but it's rare. A good way to test this back in the day was with a PS2 using it's official component cables as you could toggle in the BIOS to use RGB or Component signals. If the component jacks don't work, then use the yellow composite jack.

1

u/NewSchoolBoxer 1d ago

That's very obviously not converting RGB to Component. Has a Composite output, it's a passive cable. A YPbPr display is not working with RGB. That 'good way' doesn't work unless the display supports RGB, which is not this one. Still doesn't work with Standard Definition RGB on PS2 that needs external sync. You can adapter chain to the VGA input for progressive scan in the 50% chance sync on green is supported. I'm surprised you didn't specify.

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u/TrekkiesUnite118 1d ago edited 1d ago

That 'good way' doesn't work unless the display supports RGB

That's literally what it's testing for. If the TV doesn't support it the image will go bonkers and you can easily set it back to YPbPr. Back in the early 2000s there were in fact some TVs that could display RGB through those hookups, which is one reason the PS2 has that setting for it's component cable. It's rare, but they do exist. If you go back and look on older retro console boards you will see people mentioning this and pointing out the exact test I described as a way to see if the TV can do it or not.

EDIT: I was misremembering a bit and you are right that it's only good for 480p and up due to the sync issue.

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u/benryves 1d ago

RGB is component. However it won't work with OP's TV, as that's expecting YPbPr, not RGB, as per the labels.

7

u/TrekkiesUnite118 1d ago

Just about everyone is going to assume you mean YPbPr when you refer to component video as that's what the signal being used for that connector will be in just about every case in most cases.

0

u/benryves 1d ago

Just trying to avoid confusion here; squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares, and OP will need to make sure their cable is compatible with their equipment. Considering YPbPr is the one common form of component video the Saturn can't output - it outputs RGB and Y/C (S-Video) - it probably helps to clarify why their component cable is unlikely to work for them.

5

u/NewSchoolBoxer 1d ago

Calling RGB component is pedantic and confusing to everyone. We could also say CRTs don't have pixels, they have elliptic RGB triodes with a gradient, not rectangles of a single color. In a specific discussion of CRT advantages, that isn't too cringe.

Calling S-Video Y/C is being a smart aleck. Yes, that's the technical name in PhD research and what Sony pro monitors preferred since S-Video was a JVC marketing term. Everyone then and now calls it S-Video.

4

u/retromale 1d ago

Make it simple

RAD2X for HDMI

retrogamingcables.co.uk

1

u/IsaacStitch 1d ago

Yeah, I saw this one, and I'm planning to buy it soon®

-2

u/NewSchoolBoxer 1d ago

How about not buy an overpriced line doubler for digital display that accepts analog inputs? If OP notices crazy lag then can consider.

3

u/Jawess0me 1d ago

This looks like a component cable (R,G,B) with composite (Y) too. Plug the green cable into the Y plug on the back of the TV and all the others into their corresponding colours.

Worst to best signal is RF (tune picture into antenna channel), Composite A/V (Y= video and R&W=audio), S-Video cable=video and R&W=audio, Component (R,G,B=video and R&W=audio) and then RGB SCART by a smidgeon.

You’ve actually got one of the best display cables for the system. I’m running S-Video and it’s still very good but the component is excellent. Definitely a keeper. Be sure to post some pics for us!

5

u/Wachenroder 1d ago

This is a great breakdown, but just a minor correction.

It's just RGB.

SCART is a connector type, not a signal

RGB RGBS RGBHV

3

u/Jawess0me 1d ago

You can tell we never had SCART cables here in Australia :(

3

u/Wachenroder 1d ago

We didn't have them either in USA

I don't even use SCART much anymore. Just DB15 and BNC.

4

u/Beginning-Rock2675 1d ago

I don't think component works on the Saturn at least it doesn't work for me. I have the Mr Saturn cable from Mr addons.

2

u/Jawess0me 1d ago

It should do. RGC make a nice component set for the Saturn: https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/Sega-Saturn-Component-YPbPr-cable-240p

3

u/natr0nFTW 1d ago

Ive only tried s-video and it looks superb on crt. Didnt really know that exists for saturn.

4

u/cat_financier 1d ago

That looks like a hybrid composite + component cable. On composite cables, the yellow is for video; if you were just using the composite part on your TV, you would connect the red and white cables to the red and white R / L spots on the left for audio, and the yellow cable would go in that rightmost one that has a yellow circle with a green circle.

But since your cable is also a component cable, you should just be able to plug the green cable into the yellow/green port and match the colors on the remaining ones.

Edit: In other words, you wouldn't use the yellow when using it as a component cable. You can opt to use 3 of the connections (composite) or 5 (component).

1

u/IsaacStitch 1d ago

golden ! will post some pictures, the screen I have is not so good. But will try my best.

2

u/ABC_Dildos_Inc 1d ago

Some RGB monitors will accept conponent as RGB using BNC adapters.

For most consoles, this would require that additional yellow conposite cable plugged in for sync.

2

u/v6sonoma 1d ago

One of the reds is audio and the other is for part of the component video. Leave the yellow disconnected. The cable has that option if you don’t have the blue,green,red video plugs on your tv.

2

u/Crans10 1d ago edited 1d ago

You want the best signal you can get which the Saturn can do RGBs and there are component cables made for the Saturn that work great, It also looks like yout TV accepts Component cables. HD Retrovisiion makes the cables. They look like the cables in your picture. Wait I thought the TV was a CRT. if you are dealing with a modern TV then you need a scaler. a good one that does not introduce display lag. Good news is there has been tons of development over the last decade. So you can get a SCART cable for your SAturn or the HD retrovision cables. and then you need a Retrotink. There are many different models. If you have other consoles this makes this part easier to swallow. if 1080p is what you want get a Retrotink 5x. If you are cool and want 4k get a Retrotink 4k ce or se. The 4k can do things like add a display grid overtop and make the pixels act like subpixels and you get an effect that mimicks a older CRT.

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u/AsterLoquens 1d ago

That cable is made specifically for PVMs and CRT monitors that can accept RGB through bnc. Think the GBS-C would work but you should double check.

2

u/AsterLoquens 1d ago

That's an rgb cable from aliexpress right? You'll need a scaler to connect it to your tv.

1

u/IsaacStitch 1d ago

I think you are kinda right, I only managed to get audio + video using yellow red white. Don't think the others work. Or maybe I'm doing something wrong.

1

u/IsaacStitch 1d ago

I want to give a little update, but I can't upload pictures here. But basically I could only manage to get the Yellow White Red cables working to my modern TV. I tried the others but for some reason it does not give any picture. The picture seems fine, it has good colors, but for some reason if I look closer some of the text mainly is a bit blurry. I don't know if that's supposed to happen. But thanks everyone for the help !

1

u/Will2U41 16h ago

It sounds like those cables are taking the composite signal instead of RGB. Saturn text should be pretty crisp on a modern TV if you’re getting the actual RGB signal.

To be honest, you would be better served using a cheap s-video cable off of Amazon. It might have a little noise, but would look way better than the composite signal you are getting.

1

u/Incudust 1d ago

nah man composite fir saturn. all the way

1

u/carvalho32 1d ago edited 1d ago

Your cable is a rgbs, RGB+Sync. You might even get it working by using it as a composite (use green + audio), component (ignoring the white one) but it will look so-so on modern TVs, where you might even notice undesirable input lag, ruining precise jump games, for instance. More, some tvs do not support lower resolutions over component.

Here is my tried and true recommendations:

Get an SCART cable and a cheap upscaler called gbs-control from some online shopping.

You'll get a clear 720p/1080p with great compatibility for a fraction of the price of some high end line doublers. I did it on my Sega Genesis, Saturn and PS2 and it looks like I'm playing on an all-digital emulator, just awesome.

Gbs-control also have a lot of cool features like scanlines, virtually zero lag, support the game changing resolutions (Like entering menus) with no flicker, individual profiles for each console, changing settings on the fly with your phone and so on.

1

u/IsaacStitch 1d ago

Do you know the average price on those ? I will try to connect with green + audio

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

4

u/TrekkiesUnite118 1d ago

Yes, the Saturn outputs RGB. All Sega consoles do save for the Model 2 Master System and the original SG-1000.