Member Avatar for Thinka

Hi there, hope someone can help, I was just wondering WHERE it is possible to get such an adapter (i think they are VGA adapters) as I have mentioned above, one that will at least connect ur monitor to your PS2 so that you can use it as TV. I gather that there are adapters that will allow you to do this AND still have your CPU connected to your monitor at the same time, but I've only seen one online and I'm not sure as to its quality.. so is there anyone with some experience that can advise? What implications will it have (if any) on the screen quality?

Also I think the only other alternative to not getting an adapter is a TV PCI card? Is this strictly true, and can a PS2 be connected to a TV card?

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Dani AI

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Quick practical summary based on the experiences in this thread (, , , , ): there are three realistic ways to get a PS2 onto a PC monitor, and the right choice depends on what your monitor accepts and how sensitive you are to input lag.

A. Passive switch/adapter — only useful if the PS2 can output an RGB-style signal your monitor actually understands. Many cheap "VGA" boxes are just switches and will not convert composite/S‑Video to VGA. Confirm the monitor's accepted signal types (RGBHV, sync-on-green, SCART, etc.) before assuming a passive cable will work.

B. Active scan/conversion box — takes composite, S‑Video or component and outputs a progressive VGA signal. This is the most universal way to use a modern VGA-only monitor. Quality varies: look for units that explicitly state deinterlacing, PAL/NTSC support, and selectable output resolutions (for example 640x480/60Hz). Expect some scaling artifacts with inexpensive boxes, but latency is usually low enough for most uses.

C. TV-tuner / capture card — plugs the PS2 into the PC and displays in software. This is flexible (recording, overlay, streaming), but many capture setups introduce noticeable input lag while capturing/processing. For real-time gaming, prefer a hardware converter with low-latency preview or a card that offers direct hardware passthrough.

Quick checklist when shopping:

  • Match the PS2 cable you have (composite, S‑Video, component, SCART) to the converter input.
  • Ensure the converter/card explicitly supports your region's video standard.
  • Prefer devices that list deinterlacing, selectable output resolutions and low preview latency.
  • Check audio routing: some converters output audio separately, others expect PC line-in.

Troubleshooting tips:

  • If there is no image, verify input selection and PAL/NTSC setting on the converter.
  • If the picture is flickery or cropped, try changing the converter output to 640x480/60Hz or the monitor refresh rate.
  • If gameplay feels laggy with a capture card, try a direct-view converter or change the capture software to a low-latency preview mode.

This approach fills in practical tradeoffs behind the earlier posts: switching is simple but fragile, conversion gives compatibility, and capture gives flexibility at the cost of potential lag.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for Thinka

Hey Shaft thanks for that. However I also found this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tuner-Multi-Input-Adapter-PAL/dp/B0009V9DYO

and now I'm slightly confused because I can't tell if they both perform the same kind of function?? :-s Don't know if it matters that the one I found is on Amazon UK, and your link is for the US (I'm in the UK)... so yeah, anymore thoughts please?

Member Avatar for jbennet

dont buy one from the USA or abroad. Buy UK only as thier tellies are not PAL like our ones are

Member Avatar for Thinka

Good point, cheers J (Y)

Member Avatar for c_shaft05

Well, lol didn't even think to look at your location! My Bad!

Member Avatar for Thinka

Nah it's alright Shaft. Erm anyone know about the PCI Card option? I've got two PCI slots just waiting to be filled...

Member Avatar for Matt Tacular

Not sure where you could get one in the UK, but I used to do that (with an xbox instead) using an all in wonder card. I could play the game in a seperate window on my desktop.

But if you don't want to replace your graphics card, you could get a tv tuner card. Plug the ps2 into the card and you're good to go.

The problem was that it was a bit blurry though, (I had an older 9800 AIW) Dunno if the newer ones would make it look nicer or not.

Member Avatar for Thinka

Ah right K. Yea I was thinking about a TV card, but then don't they have just the one socket against the PS2's 3 plugs (red, white and yellow)? I mean in my experience you may use just two of the three and it'll work just fine, but surely using the one would just be pushing it, no?

Member Avatar for jbennet

yellow = video
red/white = audio (1=mono 2=stereo)

i have a hauppage capture card. I plug the PS2's yellow plug into it and then (using a ps2 adapter i got with an accesory kit) plug in a standard 3.5mm male-male cable and slot that into my pcs linein port

Member Avatar for Thinka

Mmm OK that sounds really good JBennet. Except now it sounds like i'll need BOTH the TV card AND an adapter (as opposed to me just thinking I could use one or the other). Neways gonna wait till I get one or the other, then I'll let u know how it goes...
Cheers tho

Member Avatar for roshansimon

yellow = video
red/white = audio (1=mono 2=stereo)

i have a hauppage capture card. I plug the PS2's yellow plug into it and then (using a ps2 adapter i got with an accesory kit) plug in a standard 3.5mm male-male cable and slot that into my pcs linein port

Hi, what software did you use to play the game. Even I have a Hauppage capture card. But the lag between the controls and display is unbearable. Im using the software given along i.e. WinTV2000. Do you have any suggestions?
Please reply to

Member Avatar for Thinka

Hi, what software did you use to play the game. Even I have a Hauppage capture card. But the lag between the controls and display is unbearable. Im using the software given along i.e. WinTV2000. Do you have any suggestions?
Please reply to

Hi Roshan, and welcome to Daniweb.

A few housekeeping points first of all

1. Do try to resist the temptation to piggy-back on another thread here, you stand a better chance of getting helped if you open up your own thread with as much info as possible. Also in this particular situation, this thread was last replied to, exactly 2.5 years ago! I've even changed computers in that time! It just makes more sense to use your own thread.

2. I doubt anyone would, and do not recommend anyone (especially Mods) to either leave personal details in forums, or email people personally, except in the forums for business purposes etc. So I doubt jbennet is going to email you if he does get to look at this thread.

Having said all that, I will say this about your problem:

Even though your TV card is old, I reckon the reason for the lag is an old motherboard and therefore an old graphics card that can't handle the PS2.
So my suggestion is upgrade your graphics card (and probably motherboard in the process), upgrade your monitor to an LCD TV/ monitor (which is what I do now, so I don't need to go through my tower), or try another TV card (though I have no suggestons in that area).

All the best.

Member Avatar for roshansimon

Hi
First of all. I was trying out everything to reduce the lag, when I popped into your message. So yeah Ill keep the rules in mind.

I just bought my pc 2 months ago. So that means I have among the latest hardware. I just went for a cheap old tv tuner card (Hauppauge). Actually, this is what I figured out. The software they provide with card is outdated, and hasnt been updated in their website.

So I am using VLC, and I get no problems now. I even get a better picture and sound quality.

Member Avatar for Thinka

Nice one for sussing that out, well done.

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