# Playing GameCube on my computer monitor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-gamecube-on-my-computer-monitor/221543 "2003-12-29T06:38:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Civil\_Twilight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Civil\_Twilight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Twilight)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-gamecube-on-my-computer-monitor/221543/1 "2003-12-29T06:38:52Z")
Well, I’m a college student who just bought herself her very own shiny silver GameCube, and I was wondering: Could I spare myself hauling in a TV by hooking my GC up to my computer? There are VGA adapters available, but the good ones are too expensive and the cheap ones can’t perform. Could I install a TV tuner card in my PC and connect my GC with the RF adapter? I found [this](http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/general/hook_computer.jsp) on Nintendo’s website, but I’m not sure if this is referring to what I want to do or not. Could anyone give me a hand? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-gamecube-on-my-computer-monitor/221543/2 "2003-12-29T06:53:32Z")
I could be wrong, but I think it’s saying that the Commodore Monitor has Chroma and Lumen inputs. And all that switch does is convert regular A/V inputs to Chroma and Lumen inputs, I think basically making it a TV, I guess. The TV tuner card and RF adapter idea sounds pretty good. My TV tuner card (Radeon 7500 AGP w/TV tuner 64MB) has an audio and video input, plus tuner input, never used it though so I couldn’t tell you how well it works. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![olham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@olham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olham)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-gamecube-on-my-computer-monitor/221543/3 "2003-12-29T06:58:01Z")
My friend made his own VGA adapter for his Gamecube by modifying the stock Nintendo digital adapter. He also owns one of those $99 generic TV to VGA switchbox things. The modified digital adapter is better because a) it’s cheaper (~$20 for parts) and it supports progressive scan, which is the main reason non-dormitory residents would want to run on their monitors. I believe the cheaper adapters you can buy are the modified ones, but I have heard they have quality issues. You can find the plans online. If you are not solder-ly challenged (as I am), I suggest making friends with an EE major. Most would be happy to do it for a smile and a donut. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-gamecube-on-my-computer-monitor/221543/4 "2003-12-29T07:09:58Z")
If you use a TV tuner, get one with a video input (round, probably yellow). You’ll get better quality using the GameCube’s video output than the RF adapter. I doubt the quality will be any better than a same-priced VGA adapter, though. The video signal coming from the GameCube is interlaced, and the one on your monitor is not - no matter how you have it set up, you’ll either get a chunky looking picture (each line is doubled) or “tearing” effects (the even lines move while the odd lines stay put, and vice versa). Nintendo suggests a Commodore monitor because it can display an interlaced TV signal. Commodore monitors had RCA audio/video inputs just like a TV, and the Commodore Amiga could use interlaced video modes (I don’t know why… interlacing always drove me crazy). ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-gamecube-on-my-computer-monitor/221543/5 "2003-12-29T09:26:49Z")
Now I finally understand why my friend has a gazillion of those Commodore monitors laying around to use her GameCube on. I just thought she couldn’t afford a TV in her room. :smack: I was surprised that it could show good quality, though.