
Not all retro gaming AV cables are created equal, despite what you may have read or heard. Unlike HDMI – which is a digital signal – the analogue realm is subject to wild variances when it comes to quality, and the pursuit of the perfect audio visual setup has become the lifelong objective of many a retro gamer. Some will spend a small fortune on what were top-of-the-line professional video monitors back in the day, while others are happier to settle on upscalers like the Open Source Scan Converter, but there is a more reasonable option in the form of really good RGB SCART cables.
Now, SCART may not be a format you're familiar with if you happen to live outside of Europe, but it is generally accepted to be the best option when it comes to getting a good image out of your vintage gaming tech. RGB SCART provides a sharp, colourful image on the right display, making older games look simply stunning. A sizeable market has grown as a result of the demand for good quality cables, and UK-based Retro Gaming Cables has been satisfying this demand for a good few years now.
The company prides itself on crafting excellent leads and cables for a dazzling array of classic systems, but its flagship range – dubbed "Packapunch" – takes things to the next level. These thick cables are constructed from the best components to protect against external magnetic interference and "crosstalk" between individual signals within the cable. The end result is picture and audio quality the likes of which we've personally not seen before, and believe us, we've spent a lot of cash on RGB SCART leads over the decades.
Even if you simply use the Packapunch cable on its own, you'll unquestionably notice a big difference on your flatscreen TV. Colours look sharper, but the contrast is also vastly improved; the image may appear darker initially but soon you'll be able to pick out fine pixel detail that simply wasn't there before. A good example is the clouds in Sonic the Hedgehog on the Mega Drive; they looked white previously but, using one of these cables, it's possible to see that they are made up of more than one colour. Combine the Packapunch cables with the aforementioned OSSC and you've basically got the ultimate setup, short of buying an expensive (and bulky) professional-grade CRT video monitor; the OSSC loves it when you fed in a really good RGB signal.
Packapunch cables are available for a wide range of systems, including the SNES, Mega Drive, Neo Geo, PC Engine, Dreamcast, Master System, Wii, PlayStation and GameCube – basically any console which is capable of outputting an RGB single. When the range was launched a few years back the prices were sky-high compared to bog-standard SCART leads, but more recently they've settled down slightly, with a typical cable costing around £30 including shipping. It should be noted that due to the highly specialised nature of these leads, they are often made to order.
While many people will be content to simply use whatever cables they have to hand in order to get their vintage systems up and running on modern TVs, it's only when you see the massive gulf in quality between cheaper leads and premium products like the Packapunch that you realise how much visual fidelity you're missing out on by pinching those pennies; sure, there are viable ways of getting retro games onto your television via HDMI (clone systems and the SNES Classic Mini, for starters) which provide excellent image quality for a reasonable price, but if you're the kind if gamer who simply has to use the original hardware, you need these cables in your life.
Comments 37
This brings up bad memories of the ps2 not allowing dvds (a main selling point) to be viewed via Scart. Cheap move by Sony.
Thankfully someone released a dvd "cheat" that sorted it.
I wish my Nintendo 64 used rgb but s video is the best we can get
@Bobbycuckoo Ah, the good old days
@1UP_MARIO That's not entirely true - You can modify an N64 for RGB (or even with a cleaner HDMI output) and it's lovely
@1UP_MARIO
At least it isn't a messed up pal version. The playstation 1 with its letterboxing and 50 frames per second.
Tho if you used Scart and a chipped console you could import.
@PugHoofGaming how. I have a pal n64
@Bobbycuckoo I think everyone had a chipped ps1. I use to buy games from the Sunday market
@1UP_MARIO There are RGB mods for PAL systems these days, I believe.
@1UP_MARIO I purchased a French PAL N64 last year from eBay that was modified for RGB. Cost about £120 so not cheap, but well worth it. I've since purchased an RGB modded NTSC N64 simply because the 60hz and full screen makes a huge difference, but if you have a large collection of PAL carts an NTSC console will hold less appeal
@PugHoofGaming only for specific (not all) french only models.
And damn they are expensive
I have RGB Scart cables from this company for all my retro consoles, from the SNES and PS1 right up to the Gamecube and PS2. I only have the standard ones, not Packapunch, but they still look great on my Sony PVM so I'm more than happy. I would like to test a Packapunch cable, just to see if I can see a difference, but not enough to actually buy one and I can't view them side by side so probably won't notice anything. I hope the My Life in Gaming channel pick some of these up and compare them, that would be good to watch
I have my SNES going through SCART and being upscaled via a Framemeister. The colors are more vivid in person but this should give you an idea of how good it looks.

@GravyThief exactly. I looked at the French rgb n64 and it's too expensive for me
@Rayquaza2510 That’s no longer the case - Tim Worthington’s RGB board works on all N64 systems.
Retrogamingcables have been my go to source for high quality cables for almost all my retro consoles (which I have almost 20 of), or at least all the ones they make them for that I needed. Coupled with my recent framemeister purchase, I've got pretty much the best setup possible until I get my hands on a few Sony PVMs, not an easy or cheap task.
@Menchi187 I'm in the exact same boat as you. I'll make due with quality cables, RGB mods, and my Framemeister for now - it looks great compared to anything else on an HDTV. But man I'd love to have a PVM/BVM, but just can't justify the cost. Especially since I would most likely need it shipped to me.
Had my jap N64 modded for RGB and the picture through these scart is amazing.
@roadrunner343 The cost of the PVM itself wouldn't put me off, it's just the shipping cost since trying to find one in Ireland is like finding a unicorn. We both know how big and heavy those are, so the shipping would be outrageous. Not to mention it could be damaged in transit.
I have a Trinitron for that used to be for almost everything, but now it's only for certain things (like certain fighting games, F-zero, etc) but space and convenience is finally taking a toll on me. Hence the framemeister. I'm also toying with the idea of getting an AVS and Analogue Super NT next year.
I need a bigger place to live lol
I always played my old consoles in the UK with RGB SCART leads, which is why it really just boggles my mind when I see how bad these games apparently looked in the US on their old TVs and connectors (in YouTube videos where they try to show the difference between how the games used to look and how they now look on some HDMI out or whatever for example). I genuinely feel sorry for my American cousins that all their old games apparently looked so terribly **** for all those years.
PS. A few comparison images between the old RGB SCART cables and the newest RGB SCART cables, as well as the various cables Americans typically use too, would have been nice.
@Menchi187 I hear you on shipping costs, I'm in a very rural area of USA. So shipping kills me. I'd settle for a quality ~24ish inch Trinitron, but even those are hard to find.
I have an Analogue NT mini and I did pre-order the Super NT, so my reliance on SCART is slowly dwindling... but I still need something for my for my N64, GameCube, Wii, MegaDrive, PC and PC Engine, so I don't think I'll get away from SCART/original hardware anytime soon.
EDIT: Guess I should have added, the Analogue NT mini (Also an FPGA unit) is just absolutely outstanding. Stupid overpriced though. So while I have no experience with the Super NT, if it's anything like the NT Mini, I would say go for it. It's such an incredibly flawless unit, and the Super NT is priced much better.
@roadrunner343 The Analogue NT was always too rich for my blood, but I hear it's a fantastic unit. Which is why when I heard they were doing FPGA for the Super NT, I wanted in. So many cables, so many systems, so many screens. I even have a 19" CRT VGA monitor just for Dreamcast stuff that supports VGA, but again space is becoming an issue with 700+ games, 20+ systems, an arcade jamma cab and all these damn monitors.
I also just looked at PVM prices again and apparently they have DOUBLED in the last month @_@ fml
Think you should've mentioned that some consoles require modification to output RGB.
@1UP_MARIO you can go to a either videogameperfection.com or oldskoolgaming.com both of them will be able to mod a PAL N64 to output RGB.
@Menchi187 Yeah - as much as I'd love one, especially given I'm already pretty heavily invested in SCART/original consoles, I've been so happy with my Analogue NT Mini (That's the FPGA one, not the original) that I doubt I ever get a PVM. Framemeister is good enough for now for my SCART needs, and the recent FPGA consoles have been great. Still, maybe someday. Probably the same day I finally convince my wife to let me build an arcade cabinet =)
I think the only N64 model you can modify to have RGB is the NUS-001(FRA) because the EUR doesn't have the RGB circuit and there is very few FRA model as all europe consoles including France was the EUR model after some time.
@Pudjay1 thanks. I'll look into that
@Pudjay1 quite expensive if you add shipping.
Where are you based?
@Pudjay1 uk
@1UP_MARIO the issue you have is that as you have a PAL N64 so you have to get the Tim Worthington mod to get RGB out of your N64, which adds extra cost. You'd probably be better off buying a RGB modded N64 off eBay and selling your N64 to cover some of the costs.
@1UP_MARIO I also got the name of that other company that does mods mixed up. They're called oldskoolcondoles.com check them out maybe. But what ever way you do it, it will cost you
@Pudjay1 thanks anyway
All my RGB starts come from Retro Gaming Cables. Couldn’t recommend them enough.
@Pudjay1 thanks. Oldskoolconsole.com is cheaper. Good stuff
@PugHoofGaming I don't count those, image quality is good but having a regular N64 with RGB chip is better.
Just my opinion
So what do I plug this into?
@Rayquaza2510 From everything I've seen of the HDMI mod, that's not the case. I don't have one mind you, I run my N64 via SCART RGB through a FrameMeister, and the image quality is great, but from what I've seen and read, the HDMI mod is cleaner. It's also a lot less hassle. But there is something about running RGB, especially if you plan on running through a CRT.
@JayJ You have several option. There are cheap SCART to HDMI converters, which I can't discourage enough, as they tend to suck pretty badly. You have the more expensive upscalers, like the FrameMeister XRGB mini and OSSC, which does an amazing job. And you also have certain CRTs (Mainly for our European brethren) that accept SCART natively.
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