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Details
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Specs
Digital video cable with component output option; enables high definition 480p (progressive scan)
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By
Nintendo
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Category
Cable
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Price
TBA
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Nintendo GameCube Component Video Cables
The US standard for GameCube's digital video output. Also an explanation of progressive scan benefits.
March 14, 2001
As we move into the next-generation, standards for audio and video formats are heightening. To keep up with these demands Nintendo has included a fully digital video output on GameCube. Since all GameCube software will be required to support 480p* (progressive scan), users with HDTV (or HTDV ready) sets will benefit from a more clear picture. Currently Nintendo of Japan plans to output the signal via a D Terminal cable. The cable format is not supported here in America, but it sends the same 480p signal. According to Nintendo's GameCube accessory site, though, the company plans to release a component cable in the U.S. in place of the D Terminal cable.
By utilizing a component video format, GameCube becomes instantly compatible with many of today's high definition television sets. It should be noted that the component video is only regarded as a slight improvement over normal S-video transmissions. However, as mentioned before, the component video input will be responsible for enabling progressive scan -- if your TV supports 480p. So its benefits over normal S-video will be substantial.
*As you have probably gathered by now, progressive scan is the most important factor when it comes to GameCube's digital video output. By hooking your GameCube up to a progressive scan capable TV you will be able to see 60 full frames every second as opposed to 30 full frames per second. This means every frame of a game running at 60 frames per second can be seen. This is as opposed to normal television sets, which produce a 480i (interlaced) picture. Interlaced pictures are never presented as one consistent picture (see below), but rather are broken up like window blinds.
Non-progressive scan TVs display frames in interlaced odd and even fields.
There are also only 30 full frames displayed each second as opposed to progressive scan's 60. The question then arises, if a game is running at 60 frames per second, can you see the difference (as opposed to 30) on your non-HDTV? Absolutely. A normal 480i TV will normally display one "half" (interlaced) of a frame every 1/60th of a second. Think of it this way. You have 30 different paintings and each painting is broken into two pieces (60 pieces total), so you can only show one piece at a time. You have exactly 60 seconds to show your friend all the pieces. To do this you're going to have to show one half of the painting every second. It is the same way with 480i TVs, because they can only display half (interlaced) of each "painted" game frame at a time. Conversely, a 480p HDTV can be thought of as a "full-framed" format. Going back to those 30 different paintings, you could instead show your friends the whole painting in one second
. Meaning, every 60 seconds you could have shown your friend 60 of those paintings instead.
It's a lot of information to swallow, but needless to say GameCube's component cables will allow for a clear picture and the ability to view 60 frames per second games in their full glory. The price for Nintendo's official cable set is yet unannounced, and hasn't even been displayed yet. Below is an example of what component cable inputs look like on the back of a TV.
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