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View Full Version : 360 VGA vs component & PS2 component question

Steve Jackson
18-09-2006, 20:07
My 360 is currently connected to my HD set with the official component cable but after reading the AV Forums is seems that some people prefer the VGA cable with one person commenting "I originally used component and was quite pleased with the results. However when I purchased an official vga lead the difference is incredible. Much sharper and clearer with better colours". Does anyone else agree with this?

My TV has two component inputs, my original Xbox is in the other. Switching the 360 to VGA would allow me to get the £7.99 PS2 component cable from Game without needing a switcher box. Would I notice much of a difference over the current scart connection?
RobDickinson
18-09-2006, 20:08
VGA was worse but an update fixed it, its better & the DVD upscales on VGA too, though theres some back compatability issues with it still?
Steve Jackson
18-09-2006, 20:15
Cheers for the quick response (one minute!). Having the original Xbox hooked up still I'm not worried about backwards compatibility issues.
KRW
18-09-2006, 20:23
VGA was worse but an update fixed it, its better & the DVD upscales on VGA too, though theres some back compatability issues with it still?

What sort of an update and I would I need to perform something on my, as yet, unused xbox to use VGA?

Sorry to hijack :)
RobDickinson
18-09-2006, 20:49
Dashboard update, the major spring refresh I think it was, just plug it into the innerweb and it should update. Worth doing as it adds quite a bit of functionality & fixes. Doesnt take long, even take it round to a mates to do if you cant do it at home.
splobber
18-09-2006, 20:51
I found component to be superior. It's more vibrant and displays blacks better than VGA.
KRW
18-09-2006, 21:34
. Doesnt take long, even take it round to a mates to do if you cant do it at home.

:lol: I'm not that pathetic, give me a weekend or three and I'll get in online. You see if I don't! First, I have to find my ethernet port :D
DarthPearce
19-09-2006, 07:44
I got both cables on release day and tested them side by side. I found the VGA colours more washed out but the picture slightly sharper. In the end I opted to use the component connection.
Steve Jackson
19-09-2006, 07:55
I mention freeing up one of my component inputs so that I could then use it with my PS2 instead, but this wouldn't be the case would it? I'd need the red and white audios on the input for the sound via VGA, right?

EDIT: Doh! Just realised that my TV has a seperate audio for this.
KRW
19-09-2006, 08:10
I mention freeing up one of my component inputs so that I could then use it with my PS2 instead, but this wouldn't be the case would it? I'd need the red and white audios on the input for the sound via VGA, right?

Unless you feed the sound through something else?
Steve Jackson
19-09-2006, 08:22
Move along, nothing to see.
M@rtin
19-09-2006, 09:42
Just get the Farmer component switcher, about £10 from Play-Asia (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-1p3h.html) and works perfectly.

I've got the 360 VGA cable and I'd agree that it's slightly sharper but the colours are more muted. TBH the VGA picture is probably more natural, but it doesn't have the "zing" of the component. I might switch back as the sharpness isn't that noticeable.
Steve Jackson
19-09-2006, 10:42
Just get the Farmer component switcher, about £10 from Play-Asia (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-1p3h.html) and works perfectly.
I didn't want to mess about with a manual switcher unless absolutely necessary. I'm lazy enough now and moan when I have to get up to use the scart switcher for my other consoles. :) Also, I've heard that many people rave about VGA over component for my TV that I've had to try it and picked one up earlier.

I've got the 360 VGA cable and I'd agree that it's slightly sharper but the colours are more muted. TBH the VGA picture is probably more natural, but it doesn't have the "zing" of the component. I might switch back as the sharpness isn't that noticeable.
Got it hooked up and I haven't found the colours washed-out or 'muted' at all. Instead I'm seeing the best display I've had from this TV so far.

Now to try my PS2 component and see how much of an improvement I get with that...
Grandmaster
19-09-2006, 16:49
The 360 works internally in YUV so *in theory* the component output should give a better picture. Microsoft's own advice to people capturing HD video from the 360 is to use component.

In practise, neither one is "better" assuming a 1280x720 output. I would seriously doubt the human eye could tell the difference.

The crucial thing will be how your display works with these signals. Some displays are frankly terrible with the VGA cable. With others, the opposite is true. I use a Dell 2405FPW and VGA looks far, far better than component. However, plug it into another display and the reverse is true.

The one advantage VGA will always have is that you can scale it to the native resolution of your display (well, usually - there is no 1920x1200 setting for my monitor!). Native resolution cuts out the scaling your panel does and typically produces a much nicer picture.

The 360 is frankly brilliant at scaling its image - much better than your display ever will be.
Steve Jackson
19-09-2006, 17:43
In practise, neither one is "better" assuming a 1280x720 output. I would seriously doubt the human eye could tell the difference.
I'm now running the 360 at 1360x768 and I can tell the difference. As you have said, it seems that VGA is as poor for some as it is as good for others. It works for me so I'm happy.