Retro console displaying in black and white?

Is your favourite retro console displaying in black and white on your modern TV?

This is a common issue that is reported to us when customers are reconnecting an old console to a newer TV, fortunately it can be fixed in most cases, learn how to connect it correctly for a colour picture!

This guide can work for various games consoles including Nintendo Snes, GameCube, N64 plus Sega Mastersystem, Megadrive, Dreamcast and more.

Once you get to grips with all the different connectors on the back of your TV you should be up and running in no time!

Typically the problem is caused by trying to connect the console to component ports, these are usually in the form of a green and blue female port next to the yellow white and red ports that you were looking for to connect your console to.

When the yellow white and red ports are next to a green and blue ports then typically it will not work, and you will probably get a black and white picture, this is due to component working differently to regular composite video in.

Different TV sets have different setups, some have a combination component / composite which will usually work ok but if you do run into problems then you might be able to get it to work correctly by connecting the yellow cable to the green port.

Ideally you will want to look and see if your TV has a separate set of yellow white and red composite ports away from the component ones, as these will be dedicated composite video in ports, most TVs do have both a component and a composite set of ports for you to use, but not all are labeled well on the TV.

So in summary when you are connecting your retro console to your TV do not simply reply on matching the cable colours as it may not work, ensure that you find the composite yellow, white and red ports.

Trial and error is OK and will cause no harm, so if in doubt try the ports, and remember that if all else fails you can try using the green port for your yellow connector as that will work in some cases.

If you have any questions about this port or if you need some help setting up your console please contact us and we will try to help.