Howto get progressive scan on Nintendo Gamecube
Digital AV Out
To watch Gamecube games in progressive scan, you need to have a gamecube with digital out. Since 2004, Nintendo took the digital port off the gamecube. You can get your gamecube replaced with a model with the port directly from Nintendo.
Component Cable
Next you need the component cable. The cable is no longer available from Nintendo. You can get the cable directly from Nintendo, but they do tend to sell out quickly. There is a lot of people selling this cable on ebay for amazing profit, the retail from Nintendo is $29.95.
For all you out there who are thinking of making a cable yourself now that Nintendo has stopped, please read this. My page on the component cable and another on dismantling the gamecube.
Turn on Progressive Scan
Now with all the cables connected (note, that the component cable is only for video, you still need the analog cable for audio), turn on your gamecube and hold down the ‘B’ button while booting to turn on progressive scan mode.
. You will see a confirmation dialog (note that the composite video continues to work until you confirm that you wish to use progressive scan). 
. Click the ‘A’ button to confirm that you wish to use progressive scan mode. Not all games support progressive scan (why? why not, what possibly extra work could it be? It’s probably just a compile time option, what’s the point in not including it). The flagship games all seem to have it. Sonic 3d has it, and Metroid. My Progressive Scan Gamelist
Comparison of composite to progressive scan
Here is the difference in output from my projector (note, it’s pretty difficult to take good pics, it’s much better live than these pics can show :-( ). Composite |
 Progressive Scan/Component |
 Composite |
 Progressive Scan/Component |
So yes, a gamecube can do progressive scan, and yes the picture is much much much better. And no, the composite are not out of focus, that’s just what composite looks like on a 100” screen. Although, working out the holding down ‘B’ part could drive you nuts and make you do insane things.
June 23rd, 2006 at 04:40
There’s a really comprehensive list of games with 480p (as well as stuff like widescreen, DPLII, etc) at HDTV Arcade. It’s worth a bookmark if compatibility with progressive scan is important to you.
Also Nintendo don’t make the component leads anymore but you can get one for a slightly more reasonable price than eBay from Play-Asia. It’s Japanese but it’s official and works on the US Cube.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:25
It’s really annoying that these cables are around anymore… Play-Asia doesn’t stock em and on ebay they go for 60$+shipping. I care the most for clarity of picture, then size of display, hence why I’m using my gamecube on a 14″ beautiful flat CRT Symphonic from Walmart. I want to hook it up to my 32″ LCD but without these cables the picture is too washed out. Was pretty dissapointing, but someday hope to get these cables as everyone seems to say that it will work.
September 10th, 2007 at 19:59
I definitely think that it is work getting the component cables for the gamecube. I have a 46″ DLP and they made a huge difference, appearence and framerate. The cables are expensive, but really take advantage of some good games still around on gamecube. I ended up paying $45 shipped on ebay.
March 5th, 2008 at 17:18
I think with so many people getting lcd tv’s these days that some manufacturer could produce these cables and fill a market niche.
March 19th, 2008 at 06:27
Have a set of cable is anyone is interested??? Email me at strash44@yahoo.com
November 26th, 2008 at 01:37
I see these component cables selling on eBay and Amazon for around $80 now. That’s ridiculous. Sure, I would like the benefits of component video for Gamecube, but mostly I would like to be able to even play it on my HDTV! Right now, my Gamecube is plugged into my video capture card on the computer.
November 26th, 2008 at 05:17
It’s a bit ridiculous at this point, a wii is 249$ and you can get component cables for the wii for less than 20$, the wii plays all the gamecube games, so why bother anymore. The cables should be around 30$ eventually.
June 14th, 2009 at 22:41
I have a suspicion on why progressive scan doesn’t work everywhere. I suspect most games render out in progressive, like on Dreamcast, but unlike on PS2, where most games just render the currently visible field, paying with line flicker and an occasionnal jitter. However, if the game runs any picture post-processing (blur etc), which needs multiple frame buffers, it is likely to be done on one field only to conserve the scarse graphic buffer RAM and some fillrate, thus the final buffer to be output containing only one field, like usually on PS2, hence no progressive scan.