RGB output

RGB output

RGB is the format in which the Genesis and Mega Drive generate their picture internally. Each color channel, red, green, and blue, is carried on a separate wire alongside a sync signal, so no information is lost to encoding and decoding the way it is with composite or RF. This is why RGB consistently produces the sharpest, most accurate image the console is capable of.

Sync considerations

The console outputs composite sync (csync) on the DIN connector. Most SCART displays and many scalers accept csync directly. If your display only takes separate horizontal and vertical sync, or expects sync-on-luma, you may need a small sync stripper circuit. A poorly matched sync can cause a rolling, vertically unstable, or completely black picture even when the colors are otherwise present.

Best hardware for RGB

The Model 1 generally delivers the cleanest RGB, with later VA revisions varying in quality. The Model 2 is also capable but tends to have slightly noisier output. Pairing RGB with a quality CRT via SCART, or feeding a digital scaler, yields a reference-grade picture.