Are "component video" cables the same thing as "RCA cables"?

RCA cables denote the jack type and nothing more. Yes, you can use generic RCA cables for mono audio, stereo audio, composite video, and component video. There are "specialized" cables -- for example stereo cables with red and white connectors, video+audio cables with red and white connectors plus a yellow connector for composite video -- but the primary specialization of the cables is the coloring of the cable connector to make it easier to make the correct connections. I wouldn't use el cheapo cables and I wouldn't use top of the line audiophile and videophile cables. Middling cables will do just nicely. You might want to use some tape and a sharpie marker to label which cable connects to which component color (red, green, blue) just to make the cabling easier.

RCA Cables can be used to carry either COMPONENT (Red, Blue, Green plugs) or COMPOSITE video (Yellow, Red, White plugs). They are identical wires except in color of the plug. That is to say that a standard 3 plug RCA cable can be used for either.

No they are not. Component video cables separate into 3 inputs red, green, yellow this leads to an enhanced picture that can be transmiited and outputted to your monitor. In a nutshell, it's a crisper image you are suppose to be viewing. RCA cables come with two audio inputs (left, right channnels) and one video so it wouldn't work.

Read Jeff L's answer again. it is right on. Use quality cables but you don't have to go overboard and get $10/ft high end cables. Definitely do not use RCA audio cables (red/white) for video, especially HD. But you can certainly use separate video cables for each component (be sure to mark them with colored tape if they aren't coded already).

The cables are NOT the same, although they will work in each other's place. Video cable use a single solid core 75 ohm connection, audio cables use a two conductor wire for positive and negative. For optimal picture and sound quality use the correct cables..

SOMETIMES. For short cable lengths (e.g., 3 feet), you should be ok to substitue 3 decent RCA cables for an expensive 3 cable RGB Component Video cable set. Over longer cable lengths, picture quality can decline somewhat. Just make sure you get red-red, blue-blue, green-green connections right.

Don't confuse 1/4" Phone plugs with RCA jack type plugs. The component video cables (RCA Plugs) are color coded yellow for video, red and white for audio. You can find them at any store that sells electronics. These are the same type of cables used for years in the audio industry to attach a cd player, tuner, etc. to an amplifier or receiver. 1/4" inch phone plugs are used by higher end audio users such as bands to plug guitars into amps and dj's who use higher powered equipment and want a larger cable connector.

The cables are the same, but the ports are very different. RCA's have a yellow for video and a red and white for audio. The compent shares the exact same ports for audio, but split video into 3 pieces.

The cables are the same type (Companies rip you off by selling component cables as different cables), but the format is different. If your audio equipment is yellow/red/white, don't use it. BUT, If it has Component (Red/Green/Blue) and DIGITAL AUDIO IN, use those for higher quality