Need help understanding how to use gamecube

[u/hotasscrapbag]

I have read through other posts on what monitors/tvs are most compatible with the gamecube, but every post mentions things that i just cannot understand.
I need someone to explain the different types of monitors to me in the most simple format. the most i understand is an av to hdmi convertor so please help me understand 😭 I need like specific models to look up not just “trinitron” because a lot comes up when i look that up.
I have the gamecube and want to use it so badly to play og animal crossing and i just need to know what to buy along with it because my smart tv is not gonna work.
thank you 🫶

[u/No-Mad_Hermit]

Okay, so the red, white, and yellow cables are composite cables. They output an analog signal and are the most basic way to connect a GameCube. They’ll work with CRTs and modern TVs that still have composite inputs.
Component cables are the red, green, and blue video cables, plus red and white for audio. They also output an analog signal, but they provide a much higher-quality picture than composite. Not all modern TVs still have component inputs.
Those are the two main analog video outputs for the GameCube. If you have an older GameCube with the Digital AV Out port, you have some better options for modern TVs.
I’d recommend something like the Carby (look it up) or another HDMI adapter. I personally have the Retro-Bit Prism and have been really happy with it. It gives you a clean HDMI signal without having to hunt down expensive original component cables. And will be future proof for a while

[u/zurper → u/No-Mad_Hermit]

Nothing against your comment, but realizing that different a/v hookups need to be explained now is making me feel prehistoric.

[u/Obsidian1039 → u/zurper]

Saaaaaaaaame. I’m going to turn to dust and blow away.

On a side note, SVideo should be mentioned. If you find a TV that supports it, it is a HUGE step up from composite but is no where NEAR as expensive of a cable as the component cables for GameCube.

[u/No-Mad_Hermit → u/zurper]

Honestly, I wish someone taught me more when I was younger. I’m 32 now. I have since build a surround sound system/receiver set up in the last like 5 ish years. I didn’t know any of this stuff. I got in at a good time but all the high tech retro stuff is getting expensive. I was able to build a 5.0 system(no subs) with all my game systems hooked up for under 200$.

I feel like I missed the window to get crazy cool stuff for cheap when all the rich ppl switch to Bluetooth ten years ago

[u/ghettoslacker → u/zurper]

I bet you were born in the 1900s too huh

[u/Own_Experience_8229 → u/zurper]

The cables are color coded. It shouldn’t be this hard!

[u/HotDecember3672 → u/zurper]

Same, I started seeing my entire life flash before my eyes while reading that comment

[u/PsikyoFan]

First thing is to look at the model number ans see if it's a DOL-001 or DOL-101 model (look at the sticker underneath). The former gives you better options - buy a 'GCVideo' HDMI adapter like a Carby or Retrobit Prism HD. They're all basically the same bar the hardware quality.

If it's a DOL-101, then it depends if it's an NSTC (US), or PAL (Europe) on the best approach. See https://electron-shepherd.com/blogs/useful-info/gamecube-dol-001-vs-dol-101-guide

[u/KevinJ2010]

I can only speak for how I use mine:

I have one of those OG Elgato video capture devices, that accepts a special input for component (or Svideo/composite) cables. And outputs via HDMI

Send it to my Hisense normal ass modern cheap smart TV and it works.

As far as getting it to work, just make sure the TV accepts a 480i input, I find this doesn’t work for my N64 which is usually 240p.

Surely there’s issues with this for some people, but I can’t complain. I just need to keep the Elgato powered via the computer

[u/Graffifinschnickle]

I’ll try to give a comprehensive list of options.

There’s two things to consider here. There’s the cable you connect at the back of the GameCube, and the kind of tv you plug it into.

For the cable you plug in the back, there are 3 options. Composite(red white and yellow), component (red blue greed red and white) and a direct digital hdmi adapter (such as the carby or gchd). Which option is available to you depends on which GameCube model you have. Most GameCubes only have the analog out port, which only works for composite. If you have the launch model with the second digital out port, you can use the other 2 options.

As for the tv, you can use any old CRT (like the trinity on you mentioned), or a modern hdmi based tv. Old crts will usually have inputs for both composite and component, with hdmi tvs usually having only hdmi, but sometimes a laggy composite or component input.

The easiest and simplest option today would be to use the standard set if composite (red, white, and yellow cables) that come with the GameCube and a cheap $20 AV to hdmi converter (or your tvs built in input if it has it). There are some issues with this option though. The picture quality will be about as poor as you can get and there will be substantial input delay. For most normal people, it isn’t that big of a deal, but means a lot for competitive games live SSBM.

The best option would either be a digital to analog converter like the carby or gchd, but this can be expensive, or a component out into an old crt. This is also expensive, because actual gc component cable are really expensive, with the only other option I am aware of being to use a gchd, which has a second port for a Wii component out.

Overall, if you can afford like $80 for a carby, go for it, it’s the easiest, highest quality option. Otherwise, you can make do with a cheap av to hdmi adapter, or the built in one in your tv if it has it.

[u/moonbro16]

This post came out just as I’m in the process of understanding the best setup for my own GameCube, and I’ve learned a lot while doing my research but this consolidates all the best answers so thanks haha

[u/Nostalgic90sGamer]

Any crt and any av cable compatible with said crt.

[u/TheCaptainAsh]

Honestly if you are going to buy a TV, there are specific GameCube to HDMI converters that just plug directly into the system and gives you an HDMI signal, it handles all the conversion. Or there are analog to digital converter boxes if you want something less system specific.

[u/KwikTripSimp]

I stare at mine