Component Video

Component Video sends a video signal split into three separate channels, one for Red, Green, and Blue. The green line also contains the synch information for the display. Component video can support standard definition and HD videos although it sends video signals only. Can also be called RGB, Sync-on-Green, YPbPr, or YCrCb (YCrCb is now generally considered a misnomer for component video, however it still appears on some devices).

Quality

Since component separates the video into three lines, it can carry much more information than a standard video signals. It is the most basic video connection that can support progressive displays (available on many DVD players) and is the most popular analog HDTV connection supporting up to 1008p.

Better than

Composite, S-Video

Not as good as

VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort

Applications

• Televisions (SDTV, EDTV, HDTV)
• DVD players
• Set top Boxes (Satellite, Cable)
• DVRs
• Game Consoles

Conversions

Simple conversions require only a passive adapter or cable, there is no active conversion simply different pinouts of the same signals.

Complex conversions require active circuitry to convert the signal, to change it to the new signal. These often only work one-way.

Simple

• Component to VGA In home theater the VGA or RGB signals are largely interchangeable with the Component RCA connections, so for instance some VGA ports on big screen TVs can be connected to the Component RCA ports of a DVD player. Computer graphics cards in some instances, can work with VGA to component cables to use a TV as a monitor. For this to work the computer must be sending TV compatible signals. (YPbPr, synch on green) (See Complex conversions)
• Component to DVI Some projectors are designed to receive component video signals from a component to DVI cable. Some specialized computer video cards can output TV compatible (sync-on-green) signals through a DVI to component adapter.
• Component to SCART

Complex

• Component to DVI
• Component to HDMI
• PC to component
• Component to Composite We do have a component down-scaler

See all video connections