I currently have an xbox without hdmi. I am thinking about selling it and buying the new model with hdmi. I have the hd-dvd player and a plasma television that has hdmi ports. When deciding whether to put out the cash for this upgrade, I have two questions:
1. I know that upconversion wasn't allowed over component lines, but do these newer versions upconvert over the hdmi? If so, do they upconvert to 1080i?
2. Will this improve the quality of my HD-DVDs?

Thanks.

One more thing - I don't really understand the process behind upconversion and I've never actually seen it. Does it really improve the picture that noticably?

With HDMI or VGA you can upconvert regular DVDs to 1080p.
You can only upconvert to 1080i with Component.
With Component you can only get up to 1080i with HD-DVD movies.

If your TV has VGA input, you can just buy the VGA cable to get 1080p for HD-DVD and Upconvert.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/xbox360/hdtv.htm

It doesn't matter whether you're connecting a new Xbox 360 Elite to a 10-foot projector via HDMI, or connecting an Xbox 360 Core unit to the VGA port on your dorm room's computer monitor. Either way, you can enjoy content in full, high-definition glory.

My TV only gets 1080i and doesn't have VGA.

My TV only gets 1080i and doesn't have VGA.

Then you don't need to get the HDMI 360.
You can get up to 1080i for HD-DVD on Component cables.
So you're set.

You can only upconvert to 1080i with Component.


I don't think this is true.

Upconverting does make the picture nicer, but I don't think it's going to be worth the upgrade cost.

HD-DVD won't look any better.

I don't think this is true.

Upconverting does make the picture nicer, but I don't think it's going to be worth the upgrade cost.

HD-DVD won't look any better.

Uh what's not true? Maybe I said it wrong. I meant to say with component the highest upconvert for regular dvd is 1080i.
It's right there on the URL i posted to xbox's website.

Look again.

Component 1080p 1080i 480p

I currently have an xbox without hdmi. I am thinking about selling it and buying the new model with hdmi. I have the hd-dvd player and a plasma television that has hdmi ports. When deciding whether to put out the cash for this upgrade, I have two questions:
1. I know that upconversion wasn't allowed over component lines, but do these newer versions upconvert over the hdmi? If so, do they upconvert to 1080i?
2. Will this improve the quality of my HD-DVDs?

Thanks.

1. The xbox 360 will only upconvert DVDs over VGA or HDMI. Yes to 1080i.

2. Not really but the picture to me looks more crisp over HDMI.

Just to clear a few things up. The component cables on a 360 can do up to 1080p, problem is they only allow it to go that high for games only. Video is limited by the hardware to 1080i for HD DVD and 480p for regular DVDs over component. VGA will will do 1080p for both games and video. HDMI is the way to go.

I personally think that just the fact of getting the newer hardware is worth the upgrade. You could sell the old one on ebay to help pay for the new box. Like I said my picture looked better to me, I also noticed a more full sound to my TV and your regular DVDs will be upconverted. With those older 360 it is not about if but when it will RROD. So it is really better to upgrade. I myself kept my old 360 after they refurbed it and sent it back to me. I have it for when my nephews come over so they aren't messing with mine. lol

1. The xbox 360 will only upconvert DVDs over VGA or HDMI. Yes to 1080i.

2. Not really but the picture to me looks more crisp over HDMI.

Just to clear a few things up. The component cables on a 360 can do up to 1080p, problem is they only allow it to go that high for games only. Video is limited by the hardware to 1080i for HD DVD and 480p for regular DVDs over component. VGA will will do 1080p for both games and video. HDMI is the way to go.

I personally think that just the fact of getting the newer hardware is worth the upgrade. You could sell the old one on ebay to help pay for the new box. Like I said my picture looked better to me, I also noticed a more full sound to my TV and your regular DVDs will be upconverted. With those older 360 it is not about if but when it will RROD. So it is really better to upgrade. I myself kept my old 360 after they refurbed it and sent it back to me. I have it for when my nephews come over so they aren't messing with mine. lol

That's actually what I'm trying to decide right now. I have an older pro without HDMI (but I have a VGA cable). With my current financial situation, I will probably be keeping my system and will put off buying sommething like an elite until after I graduate (and have a job). It would be nice to use a single slim HDMI cable as opposed to VGA + RCA audio to TV + Optical to reciever. However, I highly doubt I'm going to notice a huge change in performance by going to HDMI (it's more about convenience for me).

Also, I just want to note, I purchased my 360 a few months after launch. I have had exactly 0 problems with it. It's regularly thrown in a backpack and toted from place to place (it probably sees more travel time than many laptops). I'm not exactly sure that purchasing a new machine is going to increase my stability :). Perhaps it's the ample coating of beer and second hand smoke that it recieved last year when I was living in that house with 7 other guys that did it... I don't know... but my old box isn't having any problems. (PS - it's also very quiet).