Let me first state how my basic use will be with the 360.. I wont be using it to play DVDs (upscaling, etc).. I may download content on xbox live and play back HD movies however.

My TV is a Samsung 61" 1080p slim DLP (not the LED one)..arriving in a day or so.. it does have a VGA port, among 3 HDMI's as well.

I know the elites now have HDMI, but I wont be upgrading to one of those, I really dont see the advantage, other than larger harddrives.

Before.. I saw the whole VGA vs Component debate.. and I could have sworn some were saying the VGA looked better than Component.. but I thought do to various reasons, this may no longer be true.. (I know the vga permits upscaling for DVDS, again, not a real concern for me).

Will these "downloaded" HD movies play back in 1080p (i do notice in the HD settings there is a 1080p).. I was under the impression the xbox could not output 1080p? Or is this only for movies downloaded? Will the VGA output the same resolution..?

I'm hoping to just stick with component, provided i get 1080p for movies (yeah games will still be 720p, no biggie)..

Anyone have any thoughts?

Here is the breakdown on the resolutions you can get through component...

Standard DVD's 480p only

HD-DVD's-------480p, 720p, or 1080i

Games---------480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (95% of games are 720p native, then upscaled by the console)

HD movies via XBL download are 720p native, can be upscaled to 1080i or 1080p.


I have probably the exact same TV your are getting, Samsung HL-S6187W. I have used Component, VGA and HDMI. Overall I prefer the HDMI for its superior DVD upscaling, but for gaming either the VGA or the Component both work very well. VGA offers a slightly crisper image, especially with text, but does have slightly subdued colors. I have not tried VGA since the new update that allows changing of the reference levels. Let me know if you have any other specific questions.....

VGA is superior to component.

HDMI>VGA>COMPONENT

Component 360 can only go up to 1080i. VGA and HDMI does 1080p. Your best bet is to go with a premium with the new hdmi port and select 1080p.

Let me first state how my basic use will be with the 360.. I wont be using it to play DVDs (upscaling, etc).. I may download content on xbox live and play back HD movies however.

My TV is a Samsung 61" 1080p slim DLP (not the LED one)..arriving in a day or so.. it does have a VGA port, among 3 HDMI's as well.

I know the elites now have HDMI, but I wont be upgrading to one of those, I really dont see the advantage, other than larger harddrives.

Before.. I saw the whole VGA vs Component debate.. and I could have sworn some were saying the VGA looked better than Component.. but I thought do to various reasons, this may no longer be true.. (I know the vga permits upscaling for DVDS, again, not a real concern for me).

Will these "downloaded" HD movies play back in 1080p (i do notice in the HD settings there is a 1080p).. I was under the impression the xbox could not output 1080p? Or is this only for movies downloaded? Will the VGA output the same resolution..?

I'm hoping to just stick with component, provided i get 1080p for movies (yeah games will still be 720p, no biggie)..

Anyone have any thoughts?

If your TV accepts 1080p over COMPONENT then you should have no problem. All you have to do is set your 360 to 1080p via a dashboard & your good to go.

Here is the breakdown on the resolutions you can get through component...

Standard DVD's 480p only

HD-DVD's-------480p, 720p, or 1080i

Games---------480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (95% of games are 720p native, then upscaled by the console)

HD movies via XBL download are 720p native, can be upscaled to 1080i or 1080p.


I have probably the exact same TV your are getting, Samsung HL-S6187W. I have used Component, VGA and HDMI. Overall I prefer the HDMI for its superior DVD upscaling, but for gaming either the VGA or the Component both work very well. VGA offers a slightly crisper image, especially with text, but does have slightly subdued colors. I have not tried VGA since the new update that allows changing of the reference levels. Let me know if you have any other specific questions.....


I think you have the LED version.. my tv is the Samsung HL-T6176S DLP 61".. i was torn b/w the two.. but (today) i went with the regular DLP type.. i couldnt really see a difference (with my eyes), and they gave me the free 360.. which i'm selling to a friend so we can finally play online.

Someone else had mentioned to me, the fact that since the tv does 1080p over component, then the component should do the 1080p on the 360 (though with the xbox its an "upscaled 1080p" for games).. I wont be doing dvds or hddvds via the 360, so this doesn't matter to me.

I'll probably save the $40 on the vga and stick with my component for now at least.

VGA is superior to component.

HDMI>VGA>COMPONENT

Component 360 can only go up to 1080i. VGA and HDMI does 1080p. Your best bet is to go with a premium with the new hdmi port and select 1080p.
Please either stop spouting mis-truths or at least clarify what your are talking about. Its posts like these that confuse the hell out of people. COmponent absolutely can output 1080p......

Here is the breakdown on the resolutions you can get through component...

Standard DVD's 480p only

HD-DVD's-------480p, 720p, or 1080i

Games---------480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (95% of games are 720p native, then upscaled by the console)

HD movies via XBL download are 720p native, can be upscaled to 1080i or 1080p.


I have probably the exact same TV your are getting, Samsung HL-S6187W. I have used Component, VGA and HDMI. Overall I prefer the HDMI for its superior DVD upscaling, but for gaming either the VGA or the Component both work very well. VGA offers a slightly crisper image, especially with text, but does have slightly subdued colors. I have not tried VGA since the new update that allows changing of the reference levels. Let me know if you have any other specific questions.....


Sorry.. not to be off topic.. but.. what type of hdmi cable is most recommended from monoprice? I only need 6-8' in length.. i was thinking the 26 gauge would do (http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&style=) ?

Actually.. from what it appears.. only 28 gauge ones go that short.. in this case 10 foot.. this seems to be the best choice, not a bad price either:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=2504&seq=1&format=2&style=

Thanks

The highest is 1080i and then upscales to 1080p. The 360 cant do 1080p over component. Only vga and hdmi can do true 1080p as far as the 360 doing that. When picking 1080p with component. Its taking the 1080i and scaling it to 1080p. When you click info on the tv. Thats why it says 1080p.

Please either stop spouting mis-truths or at least clarify what your are talking about. Its posts like these that confuse the hell out of people. COmponent absolutely can output 1080p......

The highest is 1080i and then upscales to 1080p. The 360 cant do 1080p over component. Only vga and hdmi can do true 1080p as far as the 360 doing that. When picking 1080p with component. Its taking the 1080i and scaling it to 1080p. When you click info on the tv. Thats why it says 1080p.

It depends on the display. Some tv's can accept 1080p over component.

The highest is 1080i and then upscales to 1080p. The 360 cant do 1080p over component. Only vga and hdmi can do true 1080p as far as the 360 doing that. When picking 1080p with component. Its taking the 1080i and scaling it to 1080p. When you click info on the tv. Thats why it says 1080p.

You really have no idea what you are saying do you? All games and DVD's are upscaled to 1080p, the only things that are native 1080p are HD-DVD's and the 360 dashboard. Sorry to burst your HDMI/VGA bubble but component cables can carry a 1080p signal no problem. my TV will tell me what res it is recieving, not what res it is upscaling to, and when I set the 360 to 1080p with the component cables, it tells me 1080p/60. Likewise, when I set it to 1080i, it tells me 1080i/60.

I think thishttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/09/21/xbox-360-hd-dvd-playback-maximum-1080i-via-component-1080p-vga/ is still valid.

I think thishttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/09/21/xbox-360-hd-dvd-playback-maximum-1080i-via-component-1080p-vga/ is still valid.

Yes, it is. Like I said in my earlier post, HD-DVD's are limited to 1080i over component. It's not the cable itself, or the 360 that does that though, its part of the DVD forum rules, this same rule is why DVD's are limited to 480p over component. Games and other content can be run at 1080p though......

I think thishttp://www.engadgethd.com/2006/09/21/xbox-360-hd-dvd-playback-maximum-1080i-via-component-1080p-vga/ is still valid.To summarize that, if you buy the HD DVD accessory, you need VGA or HDMI to get 1080p output from HD DVD playback--it's limited to 1080i over component due to AACS rules (I believe that limit is there because there are no standard procedures for applying analog copy protection--Macrovision, AGC, etc--to a 1080p component signal). If you want upconversion of standard definition DVDs at all, you need VGA or HDMI, due to the CSS rules.

There are at least a couple of game titles which can render at 1080p--Virtua Tennis 3 is one of them. Most games are rendered at 720p max--few developers would waste the fill-rate on 1080p, when 720p looks great upscaled by the 360.

Two simple questions:
1- Does your set support 1080p over VGA? Component? Both?
2- Does your set offer zero-overscan mode for component or HDMI?
One reason the conventional wisdom prefers VGA is that VGA is never overscanned and Component and HDMI default to overscan. If you can play the 360 at 1080p with no overscan over component then odds are you'll be happiest that way. But without a zero-overscan mode VGA will be crisper.
YMMV.

Well the tv came today.. using component for everything for a few days.. I notice a bowing to the picture.. slight curvature on straight lines.. rather annoying.. again my tv is the 61" regular samsung (HL-T6176S )

Well the tv came today.. using component for everything for a few days.. I notice a bowing to the picture.. slight curvature on straight lines.. rather annoying.. again my tv is the 61" regular samsung (HL-T6176S )That's a kind of odd and disturbing problem to have with a DLP RPTV. Is there a thread for that model line in the HD RPTVs forum? You should check if anyone else has seen this.

That is a common problem with Samsung DLPs unfortunately, I picked up a Mitsu DLP because whenever I looked at demos in stores all the Samsungs had it (and it is written about in the owners threads here).

Most be newer Samsungs then because I don't see any bowing on my HLP.

I noticed/heard about it with the last model lineup, not sure if it was before that and I doubt they all have it because I think few would buy them then.

My HLS that I bought last December doesn't have it, its an all around great piece of hardware, IMHO:)

I am in a slight dilemma...

I own a premium xbox 360 and it is hooked up to my Toshiba 37hl67 lcd hdtv. It is connected via component cables. I would like to utilize the xbox's upscaling of dvd's feature but this isn't possible with components. Unfortunately my tv's vga port isn't compatible with widescreen resolutions or any resolution greater than 1024 x 768. So if I'm correct, through component my dvd's won't be as good of quality, and through vga my games won't be as good of quality. Is there any other option to upscale dvd's without losing game quality w/o getting the elite?

I am in a slight dilemma...

I own a premium xbox 360 and it is hooked up to my Toshiba 37hl67 lcd hdtv. It is connected via component cables. I would like to utilize the xbox's upscaling of dvd's feature but this isn't possible with components. Unfortunately my tv's vga port isn't compatible with widescreen resolutions or any resolution greater than 1024 x 768. So if I'm correct, through component my dvd's won't be as good of quality, and through vga my games won't be as good of quality. Is there any other option to upscale dvd's without losing game quality w/o getting the elite?

If your set really does only offer 1024*768 over VGA, then its not going to be worth switching cables. You will just have to live with 480p DVD's (which your TV will upscale to its native 1366*768 res anyways). The only option I see is upgrade to an HDMI 360 or leave it as is. It can't really be that bad can it?

If your set really does only offer 1024*768 over VGA, then its not going to be worth switching cables. You will just have to live with 480p DVD's (which your TV will upscale to its native 1366*768 res anyways). The only option I see is upgrade to an HDMI 360 or leave it as is. It can't really be that bad can it?


No it's not bad but it would be nice to use the upscaling feature. I guess my only options are to get an upscaling dvd player, upgrade to an hd-dvd player that also upscales dvd's, or hope that microsoft releases an upgrade package that allows us to buy parts to add hdmi to older premiums.

That is a common problem with Samsung DLPs unfortunately, I picked up a Mitsu DLP because whenever I looked at demos in stores all the Samsungs had it (and it is written about in the owners threads here).

Picture is great though, despite the bowing, bowing only noticeable, mainly in menus or when indicators with long lines come near the bottom of the screen..

I'll probably still try swapping tvs till i get one that doesn't bow, as i'm picky.

lol

(the xbox 360 games look incredible.. jaw dropping.. sweetness :)

Curious on something.. On my 360.. I set my mode to 1080p.. in the dashboard.. hitting info on the tv results in it saying 1900x1200 @60hz (as expected).. Now for the somewhat odd part.. I run a game that is rated on the box as 1080i (Elder Scrolls Oblivion).. I check info on the screen, the resultion/rate is still the same.. Or would it be the same, just because its 1080 in general?

Whatever the Xbox is displaying gets scaled to the resolution that you've set.

Whatever the Xbox is displaying gets scaled to the resolution that you've set.


Would the picture quality get better if i chose the matching 1080i instead of 1080p then?

Curious on something.. i noticed with the component cables and my xbox 360.. that if i'm in the dashboard.. and i look closely.. the letters in the dashboard are not super sharp.. kinda fuzzy..

Is this the same with the VGA cable? If the VGA makes things perfectly sharp, like a PC.. I'm thinking I may just go VGA afterall.

Whether or not VGA is sharper than component depends upon how each is implemented in your television. It has a general potential to look sharper--I believe that a deeper color range can be acheived with RGBHV as opposed to YPrPb (VGA is analog RGBHV wrapped with some discrete control signals).

There are other considerations--many televisions have built-in overscan for composite, S-video, component and (sometimes) HDMI inputs. Overscan is an amount of the visible picture on either side which isn't shown for historical technical reasons related to characteristics of ancient CRT tubes. If it's there, you won't get a one-to-one mapping of pixels in the image to pixels on your screen through those inputs. Televisions with VGA or DVI-A connections often assume that those inputs will be used with a computer graphics card and display of signals on those inputs is done without overscan.

Computer monitors and graphics cards use a wider range of video signal values from black to white than television. The VGA and DVI-A connections on televisions which expect them to be connected to computers also expect the computer grayscale signal range; if a signal assuming television grayscale is used with them the picture will appear "washed out". The most recent Xbox 360 Dashboard update added a display setting for Black Levels--if you chose to use the VGA or analog DVI connection on your television, you may need to set this to "Expanded" (the default value is "Standard" and for some reason they added an "Intermediate" range as well).