# Anybody use Component cables with their Wii? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743 "2007-12-30T22:49:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/1 "2007-12-30T22:49:55Z")
And if so, how much better is the picture quality than when you use Composite? I’ve got a free Component jack on my TV, but $35 seems kind of steep if it’s just a small increase in image quality. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/2 "2007-12-30T23:31:05Z")
Not worth it IMHO. I use one. I would go so far as to say that the picture is somewhat degraded with the 480p going because you can see the bad jaggies that much more clearly. ---
**Author:** ![srand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@srand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srand)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/3 "2007-12-31T02:33:55Z")
Well it may not be worth $35 but you should be able to find third party cables on ebay for under $10. On my 32" HDTV the picture quality is noticeably improved when using component cables. There are more jaggies, but I would say the trade-off for increased clarity is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/4 "2007-12-31T03:27:06Z")
The component cables are absolutely necessary for an HDTV, particularly a LCD/Plasma flat panel. If you don’t use them, the resulting picture is ugly. You don’t have to buy the official Nintendo cables, you know. I got Mad Catz or something brand cables for less than $20 and they work just fine, and won’t void your warranty or anything. I’ve seen a website comparing screenshots of Gamecube games in 480i and 480p, and the differences were striking. I’ll try to find that site now. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/5 "2007-12-31T04:18:10Z")
It’s a significant improvement for Gamecube and Wii games that support the higher resolution. However, I got my cables for just over three dollars plus shipping. Don’t play $35 for them. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/6 "2007-12-31T04:26:29Z")
I got some generic ones off of Newegg and there is a noticeable improvement. There are more jaggies (the pins in Wii Sports bowling have worse jaggies w/ component cables for example), but overall the image is better. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/7 "2007-12-31T05:25:02Z")
You know, I consider myself knowledgeable about things A/V, but what in the holy hell are ‘jaggies’? ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/8 "2007-12-31T05:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] You know, I consider myself knowledgeable about things A/V, but what in the holy hell are ‘jaggies’? [/QUOTE] Maybe pixelization? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/9 "2007-12-31T05:45:48Z")
[QUOTE=RikWriter] Maybe pixelization? [/QUOTE] [z’actly](http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=define%3A+jaggies&btnG=Google+Search). The Wii isn’t a really high resolution source, which is more evident with a higher-quality connection to your TV. With the standard cables, you kind of get [antialiasing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aliasing) for free. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-use-component-cables-with-their-wii/431743/10 "2007-12-31T06:57:24Z")
I had to make a late night run to Wal-Mart to get my dad a component cable for his DVR-to-LCD TV and I found a Phillips set for $12 (a 5-cable set with audio and everything) and so far it works great. I assume the cheapo model would be just fine for the Wii too.