Mad Catz Wii Component Cable now on sale for $20

Ok, Wii fans who are still stuck without component cables, your prayers have been answered. Mad Catz is now offering a nearly 10-foot model -- which will support resolutions up to 480p -- for the low price of a Jackson. So assuming everyone doesn't slam Mad Catz all at once, this should solve the fact that getting proper Nintendo-sanctioned cables has been pretty tough, leaving folks to resort to other measures. Heck, buy two just in case there's a shortage again.

[Thanks, Mike]

Update: We've just gotten word from Mad Catz that the pic we posted previously was in error. The new version does not, sadly, come with composite video plugs. We've replaced the older pic with the new one.

[Rev. Nathan @ Dec 13th 2006 11:42PM]

Would these somehow be of an inferior quality? Or are all cables built the same (Well, except for Monster Cables: Special Cables for Special People)

[hehehhehe @ Dec 13th 2006 11:49PM]

Nintendo cables seem to be in stock just fine, people (including me) are getting them a week after they order . These MadCatz cables are about 7-8 bucks cheaper after you count shipping though.

[Reginald @ Dec 14th 2006 1:53AM]

Just to second what hehehhehe wrote, I too ordered my component cables from the Nintendo store last week and they should be arriving tomorrow. So, the Nintendo store does have them in stock now, although at a slightly more expensive price.

Not sure what the quality of the connectors are on either set but priced in the range of $20-$29 for both of the sets, they should be about the same quality. I doubt either one of them use the nice gold-plated connectors like Monster cables.

[rv65 @ Dec 13th 2006 11:55PM]

It's a combination cable. It has both component and composite plugs. Maybe this is their universal cable.

[Farris @ Dec 14th 2006 12:20AM]

What would happen if, with a component cable, you switched around where you plugged the cables into? Like, cyan to magenta, magenta to the third one, and the third one to cyan?

[Dave Parson @ Dec 14th 2006 12:22AM]

Hilarious extended Asimo Falling down the stairs video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23jdsvwk95k

[MystaPaul @ Dec 14th 2006 12:29AM]

Hilarious.

[anonymous @ Dec 14th 2006 1:06AM]

Farris, my father actually did that with our HDTV haha. He never noticed that was why red and blue were switched until I said something.

[Deathwish238 @ Dec 14th 2006 1:07AM]

MadCatz is a crappy brand. Do not support them and/or hurt your picture quality.

[jason @ Dec 14th 2006 1:33AM]

for pal users isnt going to component cables a downgrade? the three options on the wii seem to be 575i for standard cable then 480p when you add the component cable option. is this not a downgrade in resolution? love someone who knows more to explain why its better
ta
j

[Jason @ Dec 14th 2006 1:51AM]

j: yes, Google is telling me that 480p is worse that 576i.

[Evan @ Dec 14th 2006 8:08AM]

Both 575i and 480i use the same bandwidth, but 575i is only 25 frames per second (50 fields per second) while 480i is 30 frames per second (60 fields per second). 480P is 60 frames per second.

It's a trade-off between resolution and frame rate. So, which is better is subjective.

[Jason @ Dec 14th 2006 1:41AM]

hehehhehe is right.

I ordered my cables two Mondays ago w/ UPS Blue and got them 3 days later. Another friend ordered them standard and got them the next week. Nintendo.com is the place.

[Mac @ Dec 14th 2006 10:11AM]

For a still-image, 576i is, indeed, superior. However, for high-motion images, 480p is superior.

Not only do you get 20% better framerate than 576i of PAL, but the progressive scan displays motion much better than the interlaced: 576i is only 288 vertical lines at one time (alternating between odd and even lines), versus 480p displaying 480 vertical lines at one time, constantly. This is why sports games are broadcast in 720p instead of 1080i.

[Kevin @ Dec 14th 2006 1:52AM]

Is there a difference between different brand's component cables? I've seen some for $60, and some for $20.

[Reginald @ Dec 14th 2006 1:57AM]

One more thing, it looks like the Nintendo store is fulfilling backorders of the component cables as of Nov 29.

Nintendo US Store
http://store.nintendo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&langId=-1¤cy=USD&ignoreCrumbs=N&crumb1=&crumb1Ignore=&crumb2=%253CA%2BHREF%253D%2522javascript%253APassOn%2528%2527X%2527%252C%2B%2527ChooseView%2527%252C%2527%2527%252C%2B%2527%2527%2529%253B%2522%253EWii%253C%252FA%253E&crumb2Ignore=&crumb3=%253CA%2BHREF%253D%2522javascript%253APassOn%2528%2527C%2527%252C%2B%2527CategoryDisplay%2527%252C%252762707%2527%252C%2B%2527N%2527%2529%253B%2522%253EParts%2B%2526%2BAccessories%253C%252FA%253E&crumb3Ignore=&translateFrom=%C8%C9%C7&translateTo=EEC&usrSearchText=&searchText=&selSrchType=&page=&view=&productId=117711&categoryId=62707&lastAction=ProductDisplay&orderTotal=null

[Reginald @ Dec 14th 2006 2:05AM]

OK, so maybe I am just missing something here but why is the official Nintendo component cable

3 connectors for video
2 connectors for audio

while the Mad Catz cable has

4 connectors for video
2 connectors for audio

What's the extra video connector for on the Mad Catz component cable? I don't think I have ever seen a component cable with 6 connectors before. Anybody know about that?

Thanks.

[sgt. grumbles @ Dec 14th 2006 2:15AM]

The extra connector (yellow one) is a standard composite connector.
So i guess this cable can hook up either way.

[Irfan @ Dec 14th 2006 2:15AM]

reginald, its been answered... Red Blue Green colored cables for YPbPr (component cable), Red and White for Audio, Yellow for composite video (low grade RCA input)

[Reginald @ Dec 14th 2006 2:21AM]

Yup, it's a combo composite/component. I didn't see that in the details section of the Mad Catz site at first. Thanks.

This cable seems more versatile, and cheaper.

[TT @ Dec 14th 2006 3:31AM]

the mad catz cable includes a yellow video cable for standard composite. that way the cable can double as composite (red & white audio + yellow video) or component (red & white audio + red green blue video.)

i ordered my component cable from nintendo a week ago. via standard shipping (they used UPS for standard, not USPS) it took a week. the cable is of a very good quality and it's very sturdy. plus it comes in a very nice package.

i only have a 19" 480i (standard def) tv. but the component cable made a HUGE difference. there are all sorts of fantastic details in the interface that i could never see before. darker screens look better, everything is much sharper, colors are richer, etc. now the mii's jump off the screen with color and things in zelda are easier to discern. it's weird, but the keyboard entry screen feels much snappier and more responsive now, too. maybe it's just because it's sharper.

the overpriced "deluxe" version are just a ripoff and aren't any better. but - that doesn't mean that some of the cheaper third party ones might not be WORSE. the nintendo one is definitely great quality - so it's a no-brainer and no risk.

[aka yoda @ Dec 14th 2006 5:13AM]

wow
only 20!

[Mischa Lockton @ Dec 14th 2006 6:55AM]

never mind the cable- where the hell do I get a Wii online?

[Patrick @ Dec 14th 2006 8:16AM]

Ok, I can answer some questions/concerns. I bought these when they first came out.

1) Quality -- I was hesitant to buy a MadCatz product, but want component output ASAP. Have no fear, these are VERY nice cables. I am seriously impressed. Output looks just as good as my GC's component output with official Nintendo cables.
2) Composite connector -- I don't know why that picture has it, but there is no composite video connector on the cable. I think they either mocked up this picture for promotional purposes, or it's a prototype or OMG FALSE ADVERTISING!!!1!

That's it. They're cheap, they work, and they were shipped damn fast. I'm happy.

[Dignan17 @ Dec 14th 2006 8:34AM]

Engadget: the Nintendo cables are in stock. There is no shortage. I ordered mine right after they changed the message from "Out of stock" to the current message of something like "We are shipping all back orders..." You can order them now and they'll actually ship pretty quickly. I got them in under four days.

[FrankTheCrank @ Dec 14th 2006 9:05AM]

Let's hear it for 480P...

WOOOHOOOO!!!

480P Rules!!!

And 480P is going to rule for 5 more years!!!

WOOOHOOOO!!!

[andy @ Dec 14th 2006 11:30AM]

Can someone please explain to me why with component output you're always relagated to RCA stereo sound connections?

Doesn't it seem like all component cables would include DIGITAL coax sound instead of the 1970's stereo tech?

[James Rainey @ Dec 14th 2006 2:02PM]

We got ours directly from Nintendo.com two weeks ago. Sure, we paid an extra $9, but I had no idea everyone was struggling to get one.

[scoot241 @ Dec 14th 2006 3:16PM]

"...this should solve the fact that getting proper Nintendo-sanctioned cables has been pretty tough..."

Really? I ordered some a few days ago from Nintendo and got them today. No problems here.

[Gavin @ Dec 16th 2006 2:37PM]

Do not get the madcatz cable, I got one from my local Gamestation, it sucks. Sure, it's fine for playing Wii games in 480p, but when you try and play virtual console games using this cable, the screen goes green and flickery and makes the VC games 200% unplayable. (My Wii is not faulty, VC games work fine on my Wii when i use the shit AV Composite cable) I've tried changing Wiis settings between 50hz, 60hz, and 480p. VC games just do not work with this cable. Anyone else had this problem? Email me. Some help on sorting it out would be much appreciated.

[wthomas989 @ Dec 18th 2006 9:53AM]

$15 set

http://www.penguinunited.com/