# Console plug formats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/console-plug-formats/252600 "2004-06-28T20:13:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/console-plug-formats/252600/1 "2004-06-28T20:13:30Z")
I have a Nintendo Gamecube and a TV that supports high definition output. I’d love to get the component cables that enable my Gamecube to look so spiffy, but I can’t help feeling I’m getting ripped off: the adapters for the PS2 and XBox are each $7.00, whereas the adapter I think I need to buy is $35.00! Is there any chance that two of these three proprietary consoles have used some common interface for video-out, so that I could use one of the cheaper cables with my Gamecube? Or do I have to suck it up and pay five times as much for a minor improvement in picture quality? **Bonus Question:** Dopers who have their Gamecubes running to component output, how much is the picture improved over the S-Video version? ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/console-plug-formats/252600/2 "2004-06-28T20:43:22Z")
Unfortunately, they are all probably proprietary. For what it’s worth, I have connected my Xbox to my TV using all possible connectors at one time or the other and the difference in quality in S-video vs. component wasn’t nearly as much as standard composite vs. S-video. If it were me, I’d be OK just using S-video, but that’s just me and of course, I’m using Xbox - Gamecube might be different.