Hey guys Im getting the VGA cable for my 360 because I don't have an HDMI xbox. I just have a few questions that maybe some of you will know the answer to.

I know over VGA the HD DVD add on can output in 1080p where as over component cables it can only go up to 1080i. My question about that is: how it is able to do that, because I thought movie studio's dont allow 1080p movie content over an analog signal. I mean if you can do that over VGA why don't they allow it over component, another analog signal. I just don't understand that.

Another question: I am going to have to use an M1 adapter chord to run to my projector because that is how my Projector accepts VGA or DVI. Now because I am connecting my VGA cable to my m1 cable then to my projector, will i lose any picture quality?

Last question: I have read many things about VGA and HDMI and the component cables. Some people say VGA and HDMI look the same and others say HDMI is better just because it is 100 percent digital. I have also read that VGA picture quality was washed out and blurry when it was first released for the 360 but may have been fixed in an update. So which is it? Will i get the same Picture quality over VGA as I would with HDMI?

Thanks for any info anybody can give me. I just wanna get the best picture out of what I have to work with.

Most everything depends on the display you are using. After exausting experimentation, I found my best results to be VGA in 1080p upscaling on my Mits HD1000U native 720p proj. Sounds crazy, but to my eyes, it yields better quality than the HDMI.

YMWV.. that is for sure!

:D

cool. Thanks, yeah I am just gonna have to wait to get my vga cable. I ordered the official 360 one for only 17 bucks. Component looks good but if something is gonna give me a better picture i would like to try it.

I know over VGA the HD DVD add on can output in 1080p where as over component cables it can only go up to 1080i. My question about that is: how it is able to do that, because I thought movie studio's dont allow 1080p movie content over an analog signal. I mean if you can do that over VGA why don't they allow it over component, another analog signal. I just don't understand that.


while drawing up the specs, on paper, VGA was still classified as a "pc connection" and wasnt included in the restrictions and limitations of analog signals, PC's run at high resolutions, so for the VGA specification they left any resolution restrictions alone (thankfully)


and dog manky is correct, YMMV, because of the vga board in your tv, not because of the 360 or the VGA specifications. a lot of TV's limit PC connections via VGA to low resolution (why?)

so when shopping, VGA was a priority for me (mainly for 1:1 pixel mapping with the 360)

1080p is allowed over component. However, not all TVs allow 1080p through the component input. My Sony 52xbr3 does allow 1080p over component.

Last question: I have read many things about VGA and HDMI and the component cables. Some people say VGA and HDMI look the same and others say HDMI is better just because it is 100 percent digital. I have also read that VGA picture quality was washed out and blurry when it was first released for the 360 but may have been fixed in an update. So which is it? Will i get the same Picture quality over VGA as I would with HDMI?


The spring update added the ability to select three settings for reference levels; that cleared up the washed-out VGA look with most displays. It also helps if your display lets you adjust colors on VGA.

Comparing VGA vs HDMI, even on the same display, is tricky; the two interfaces use different reference levels and are handled differently inside the display so display differences will usually overweigh interface difference. Most displays assume VGA is for PCs so they don't overscan the vga port--good--and sometimes only support the official (and waay-dated) VESA modes, topping out at XGA (1024 by 768) or SXGA (1280x1024), which is no-so-good, especually on 1080p displays.
HDMI inputs are assumed to be TV/video inputs and most displays default to overscanning them so you need to be sure to turn overscan off. Also, HDMI only supports the standard HDTV resolutions (480, 720, 1080) so if the display is not native at one of those three you'll get the onboard scaler involved; this may be good or bad but generally its not desirable. For non-1080p HD displays this means that unless you know your display has a very good scaler, you're best off feeding it native resolution (say, 1360x768) from the XBOX. Which means VGA.
Now, if your display is 720p-native or 1080p native *and* has a zero overscan mode you can choose, you should *technically* get a better picture via HDMI.
Just how much better is up for debate as its really all a matter of personal taste and display calibration.
Best suggestion?
Go with the best you have and don't look back; its all marginal anyway. :-)

Thanks for the help. The only option I have is VGA because I don't wanna buy another 360 just for HDMI. Im just gonna give it a try and hopefully it gives me a slight upgrade over component.

Thanks for the help. The only option I have is VGA because I don't wanna buy another 360 just for HDMI. Im just gonna give it a try and hopefully it gives me a slight upgrade over component.

It should.
Just make sure its the MS cable.
Other cables apparently offer...inconsistent...results. :-)

yeah I ordered the MS cable

Thanks for the help. The only option I have is VGA because I don't wanna buy another 360 just for HDMI. Im just gonna give it a try and hopefully it gives me a slight upgrade over component.

Who knows, it could be a huge improvement. On my TV VGA looks way, way better than component. I mean it's light years better.

Who knows, it could be a huge improvement. On my TV VGA looks way, way better than component. I mean it's light years better.


I hope that is the same results I get. I think component looks great but any way I can make it look better would be welcomed.

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ok...

Hey guys Im getting the VGA cable for my 360 because I don't have an HDMI xbox. I just have a few questions that maybe some of you will know the answer to.

I know over VGA the HD DVD add on can output in 1080p where as over component cables it can only go up to 1080i. My question about that is: how it is able to do that, because I thought movie studio's dont allow 1080p movie content over an analog signal. I mean if you can do that over VGA why don't they allow it over component, another analog signal. I just don't understand that.You can run 1080p over VGA because it is the computer industry Standard and is outside of the movie industries jurisdiction

Another question: I am going to have to use an M1 adapter chord to run to my projector because that is how my Projector accepts VGA or DVI. Now because I am connecting my VGA cable to my m1 cable then to my projector, will i lose any picture quality? no its just a cable that not unlike the VGA cable is probably sheilded

Last question: I have read many things about VGA and HDMI and the component cables. Some people say VGA and HDMI look the same and others say HDMI is better just because it is 100 percent digital. I have also read that VGA picture quality was washed out and blurry when it was first released for the 360 but may have been fixed in an update. So which is it? Will i get the same Picture quality over VGA as I would with HDMI? well its really the video processor in the tv that controls pq through HDMI and Component, because VGA is a strictly progressive it usually is not processed but sent directly to the screen. washedout picture has been fixed in an update. yes same picture quality

Thanks for any info anybody can give me. I just wanna get the best picture out of what I have to work with.

hope that helps

If you ever can switch to HDMI, you should. It combines the best attributes of component with the best attributes of VGA. The picture is bright, sharp, and full of detail.

On my LCD, VGA 1080p versus HDMI 1080p with HD-DVDs, there is some degredation. VGA has a loss of detail compared to HDMI. It's not crippling, barely noticeable, but it IS there.

If you ever can switch to HDMI, you should. It combines the best attributes of component with the best attributes of VGA. The picture is bright, sharp, and full of detail.

How does a digital standard combine the best attributes of two analog standards? :rolleyes:

This sounds like something a Best Buy salesman would say.:p