Play N64 on monitor via PC.

[Silver_Pharaoh]

I have my N64 equipped with an S-Video cable now, but the only place I can play it is on the living room TV since it supports S-Video. Then the issue becomes the cable lengths. Every cable is just too short to sit on the couch.

So I have this idea that I could build a retro gaming PC that will let me plug my N64 into said PC and let me play on my monitor. Essentially the PC is a converter, S-Video -> VGA.

I'd like to do another Pentium III build, but coppermine this time.. I just don't know what addon card will let me do what I want with the N64?
A TV tuner card or something?

Thanks!!

 

[bob4933]

unless youre doing speed runs, just emulate imo. That or run a capture card, I dunno

 

[Silver_Pharaoh]

unless youre doing speed runs, just emulate imo. That or run a capture card, I dunno

A capture card would let me "stream" to my monitor wouldn't it?

Not sure why i didnt think of those cards!

 

[NiHaoMike]

How about a S video to VGA converter?
http://smile.amazon.com/Composite-S-Video-Converter-Screen-Version/dp/B003NUN7DG

 

[knoober]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CQ...40_QL65&keywords=Video+capture+card+++diamond

There are definitely better solutions out there but none as cheap I used a similar card for some vhs transfers and it worked OK. By OK I mean plenty of problems that were finally solved by modern hardware (first try was on a 1ghz single core Pentium) and manually selecting the correct driver for . Mine was a different brand though so YMMV. I even had it hooked to an RCA switch for a while so I could stick the DVD player on there as well.

It all depends on your budget and patience with those things. Personally I'd say +1 to emulation, but I e of those cheapie cards should let you play at least

 

[Lochekey]

How about a S video to VGA converter?
http://smile.amazon.com/Composite-S-Video-Converter-Screen-Version/dp/B003NUN7DG

I like this option.

 

[Silver_Pharaoh]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01CQ...40_QL65&keywords=Video+capture+card+++diamond

There are definitely better solutions out there but none as cheap I used a similar card for some vhs transfers and it worked OK. By OK I mean plenty of problems that were finally solved by modern hardware (first try was on a 1ghz single core Pentium) and manually selecting the correct driver for . Mine was a different brand though so YMMV. I even had it hooked to an RCA switch for a while so I could stick the DVD player on there as well.

It all depends on your budget and patience with those things. Personally I'd say +1 to emulation, but I e of those cheapie cards should let you play at least

Hmmm that's what I'm getting by reading threads and reviews... You really do get what you pay for. A really good capture device is usually more than $100....

Of course emulation is an option, but where's the fun in that?

How about a S video to VGA converter?
http://smile.amazon.com/Composite-S-Video-Converter-Screen-Version/dp/B003NUN7DG

This would work; it's not what I was looking to do since I'd have to swap VGA cables If I wanted to use another PC with VGA, but I think a good splitter cable can get around this no?

I honestly wasn't expecting these types of cards/devices to cost this much!

 

[NiHaoMike]

The converter has VGA passthrough. I don't think the USB adapter will work well enough for gaming, since those are normally used for archival where latency doesn't matter.

 

[Silver_Pharaoh]

The converter has VGA passthrough. I don't think the USB adapter will work well enough for gaming, since those are normally used for archival where latency doesn't matter.

I read some poor reviews on 'em too.

I bought the one you linked too just a few hours ago.

The next step up from that was a Portta brand converter, but I actually found a review on Amazon from someone looking to do exactly as I want, and that Portta gave him lines all throught the picture. After that, it's $70 for a SYMBA brand one that looks nice and has audio capabilities built in.