I am going to hook up my xbox360 via HDMI cable this weekend, however I notice the HDMI sold by Microsoft for the console has an HDMI port for the video, then splits the sound off into audio cables. My question is if I just use an HDMI cable will I get sound also or does Microsoft do something to the port so that you "need" to use "their" cable?

I'm pretty sure it passes audio via HDMI.

Any HDMI cable is fine. You're thinking of the dongle that comes with MS's HDMI cable that plugs into the other cable port to allow audio through composite or optical.

I only use an HDMI cable (cheap one from monoprice). It passes sound and video just fine. If your system can accept HDMI audio then you don't need anything besides a standard HDMI cable.

You can output audio to both hdmi and optical at the same time if you have the audi dongle. The hdmi cord is standard. The option is for those who don't have a hdmi amp.

Thats why HDMI was created. It has the ability to pass uncompressed digital video and audio all in one cable.

Thats why HDMI was created. It has the ability to pass uncompressed digital video and audio all in one cable.

HDMI didn't start being able to transfer audio. I'm not 100% positive, but I believe HDMI 1.3 allows audio, but I have no idea if the 360 supports that or not.

No. HDMI carries both audio and video from day one. HDMI 1.3 allows advanced audio stream from HD DVD/BluRay. XBox 360 does not have a HDMI 1.3 port.

Like he said, carries both from day one... DVI didn't.

I know this has been probably addressed before...

I am going to use optical for sound, but I wanna know if I should just use HDMI or buy a VGA cable for a better Picture on my Samsung 1080i set(768 native resolution)

Thanks

Yeah any hdmi cable will work, I chose the overpriced M/S one so I could also run audio via the optical cable to my surround receiver, but you dont have to do that you can get a $6 hdmi cable from monoprice and get good sound through it from your Tv

HDMI is pure digital transmission. VGA is analog. You won't get any better PQ from analog connection than a digital connection unless there is something wrong with your TV.

HDMI is pure digital transmission. VGA is analog. You won't get any better PQ from analog connection than a digital connection unless there is something wrong with your TV.

Let me be Clear;)

I just meant
1) if I hook up with VGA will I benefit from being able to do 1:1 pixel mapping at 768 with perhaps some over/underscan on my 768 Native resolution set

vs

2) going HDMI and either running at 1080i or 720p output from the Xbox and letting the Sammy scale the input???

Thanks