RGBHV, VGA, component cable confusion

[Asterra]

Here's my situation. I've got a pc monitor (Cornerstone p1650) which accepts only VGA hookups. I have it in mind to send a component (YPbPr) video signal to the monitor. According to this site:

http://playstation2-linux.com/sog.php

I have good reason to expect my monitor to be capable of accepting sync-on-green video. Solid information / manuals are, however, lacking.

I happen to have a cable laying around which is VGA on one end, and five BNC connectors on the other: red, green, blue, gray, black, most probably to correspond to RGBHV. Since products like this component-to-VGA cable exist:

http://www.amazon.com/6ft-component-video-cable-HD15/dp/B000FM3EQ0/

I figured that the cable I already have, with its two extra connectors, was almost certainly the same exact thing, just with a couple of pins on the VGA end which I wouldn't be using. However, once I finally got down to hooking a component (non-interlaced) video source to my cable, and hooking the cable up to the monitor, all I got out of it was no display, no signal.

Was I mistaken? Does a cable with red/green/blue/gray/black on one end send the signals to completely different pins on the VGA end? It would be foolish to order a component-to-VGA cable without determining this, and I cannot find the info anywhere online. I admit it's a bit of a specific issue.

I am aware of the possibility that my monitor may not be capable of accepting sync-on-green video. But simply jumping to that conclusion is lazy, and I frankly believe it's not true in my case. All signs point to Cornerstone CRT monitors being universally large, expensive at the time of their introduction, and loaded with bells and whistles, including universal sync-on-green support.

[jagabo]

I've got a pc monitor (Cornerstone p1650) which accepts only VGA hookups. I have it in mind to send a component (YPbPr) video signal to the monitor.

Ain't gonna happen.

Since products like this component-to-VGA cable exist:
http://www.amazon.com/6ft-component-video-cable-HD15/dp/B000FM3EQ0/

That cable is for use with some specific devices which had component video on otherwise unused pins of the VGA connector. It doesn't convert VGA signals to component signals or component signals to VGA signals. Note this from the products description:

Note: This cable is NOT designed to work in anyway with a computer's input or output.

Even if you monitor had sync on green, and it somehow worked with sync signal on Y (green colored connector but not the color green in the YCbCr singal), all your colors would be way off.

[Asterra]

I actually subsequently found the info I'd been looking for here:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10203&cs_id=1020304&p_id=...seq=1&format=2

"For RGBHV only. Will not work with 3 BNC component video (Y, Pr, Pb)"

So the issue is that a cable like my 5-bnc-to-VGA does indeed send the signal to different pins, making it distinctly different from a component-to-VGA cable.

Now I am a bit perplexed at how definite you are that even a successful hookup would result in bad colors. The fact is that people hook component video sources (game consoles, primarily) to computer monitors all the time. There are only two variables: 1) Is the video progressive? And 2) Can the monitor handle sync-on-green. There are a number of resources, like the chart I linked earlier, meant to help people determine the latter, although a good rule of thumb is that older / cheaper monitors don't, and newer / pricier ones might.

A case in point of this observation is the Vdigi Wii VGA cable, which is a somewhat overpriced cable which serves the same purpose one could achieve with a Wii component cable, a component-to-VGA cable, and a few female/female rca connectors. The Vdigi cable is manifestly not a converter, yet it works.

http://www.wiinintendo.net/2007/10/31/vdigis-wii-vga-cable-review/

[jagabo]

Now I am a bit perplexed at how definite you are that even a successful hookup would result in bad colors.

RGB is a completely different color system than Component video (YPbPr or YCbCr).

The fact is that people hook component video sources (game consoles, primarily) to computer monitors all the time.

Only if the monitors are designed to accept component video, or if the devices can output RGB.