# Component to VGA - possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/component-to-vga-possible/666443 "2013-08-16T19:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/component-to-vga-possible/666443/1 "2013-08-16T19:43:41Z")
I have a device which outputs a video signal via component cables - the yellow, blue, green, and red cables. I have a spare computer monitor with a VGA input. Can I jive these two? Do I need to convert the signal, or just get the appropriate cable adapters? I’ve been looking, and everything I see goes FROM VGA _to_ component. Nothing goes the other way, that I’ve seen. Is it a problem of the component not having enough information in the signal to be read by the monitor expecting the VGA input? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/component-to-vga-possible/666443/2 "2013-08-16T19:50:20Z")
[http://www.ebay.com/itm/1080P-5-RCA-RGB-YPbPr-Component-to-VGA-Audio-Video-Converter-for-PS3-2-Xbox-360-/200952569253](http://www.ebay.com/itm/1080P-5-RCA-RGB-YPbPr-Component-to-VGA-Audio-Video-Converter-for-PS3-2-Xbox-360-/200952569253) or here: [http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?seq=1&format=2&p\_id=7113&CAWELAID=1329454346&catargetid=320013720000010976&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CMP4tKXfgrkCFUSi4Aod7BUAKQ](http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?seq=1&format=2&p_id=7113&CAWELAID=1329454346&catargetid=320013720000010976&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CMP4tKXfgrkCFUSi4Aod7BUAKQ) ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/component-to-vga-possible/666443/3 "2013-08-16T19:50:33Z")
> **[Amazon.com: StarTech.com Component to VGA Video Converter with Audio :...](https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-CPNT2VGAA-Component-Video-Converter/dp/B0014BL9PO)** > > This Component to VGA Video Converter with Audio lets you convert a Component (YPbPr) video signal to be output as VGA along with two channel audio. The converter offers high quality performance and features a compact, easy to install design that... It exists, but works best if your source is always outputting a resolution common on todays monitors - generally 1080p (1920x1080). Otherwise your monitor has to scale and frankly most monitors have awful scaling on the VGA port. Some monitors probably just won’t work at all if your component is sending 480i or 1080i resolution. Edit to add, and if you have a monitor with _only_ VGA and not dvi/hdmi too, it probably doesn’t support 1080p. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/component-to-vga-possible/666443/4 "2013-08-16T20:08:03Z")
So the answer is yes, I must convert the signal. At the cost of the converters, I’ll just buy a small monitor-sized TV that accepts component cables. thanks for the responses! ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/component-to-vga-possible/666443/5 "2013-08-17T00:06:01Z")
Yes, that’s your best bet. VGA contains red, green, and blue signals, along with horizontal & vertical sync (and some device communication for plug-n-play, but that’s not part of the video). Component, in spite of having red, green, and blue ends, is actually YPbPr, where Y is luminance (this line also carries the sync signals), Pb is the difference between luminance and blue, and Pr is the difference between luminance and red. To get from YPbPr to VGA requires processing, not just a passive adapter.