Dreamcast VGA

The Dreamcast video game console is able to output VGA to a computer display or HDTV using a first- or third-party peripheral usually referred to as "VGA box", "VGA cable" or "VGA adapter".

Functionality

If pin 6 and pin 7 on the Dreamcast's A/V out is connected to the ground, the Dreamcast switches to VGA mode , displaying 640x480p60 (Progressive Scan, EDTV standard) at 31 kHz in RGBHV which allows it to connect to a computer monitor or EDTV/HDTV with VGA in.

The official VGA adapter itself consists of merely a plastic case providing space for the VGA port and a 3.5mm TRS connector for audio on one side, and AV out (composite, S-Video, and audio via RCA) on the other. Most third-party versions are identical to Sega's model (except for cosmetic differences), with the exception of the VGA cable by Blaze, which lacked the additional A/V out.

Compatibility

Compatible games

Most Dreamcast games are compatible with the VGA box. Incompatible games will give an error message upon boot. All Dreamcast games can use a VGA box's S-Video and composite ports, just by toggling a switch, meaning one does not have to swap cables to play VGA-incompatible games. Even S-Video, far from VGA quality, is a very noticeable improvement over composite video's notoriously bad picture.

There are a handful of European and North-American games that did not include the...
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