Good 'ol eBay & Amazon - 360 bits

[Darren S]

Having recently acquired the 360, I wanted the minimum of fuss to switch between the PC and the console with regards to my monitor and the audio decoder.

On a recommendation from a m8, he pointed me in the direction of one HDMI to DVI cable, which would connect the 360 to the Iiyama monitor (£2 - including delivery!) and then also a composite audio block from the 360. This would allow stereo RCA connections (the red and white connectors) to be connected to a stereo RCA cable to 3.5mm jack plug - which in turn would connect straight into the back of my audio decoder. The cost of this audio block? £4.15, again including delivery.

So for the grand total of £6.15, I now have the 360 connected to the 26" Iiyama in 1980x1080 and into the DTT3500 decoder for 5.1 surround sound. The PC is connected via VGA to the Iiyama (not as crisp as DVI, but a million times better than the 360 composite) together with the usual SPDIF optical connection to the decoder.

Two minutes work and for the price of a couple of pints. Bargain.

D.

 

[st3ve]

Don't you have any HDMI connections?

 

[The Ironist]

Yeah why not use HDMI?

 

[Sym0n]

Why not use a TV for the 360?

 

[Dweeb]

Yeah why not use a TV?

 

[Cup_Phil]

You don't have 5.1 surround sound if you're using the red and black composite audio - that's just stereo!

 

[Darren S]

Don't you have any HDMI connections?

Nope - just DVI and VGA on the monitor itself.

Yeah why not use HDMI?

As above.

Why not use a TV for the 360?

The 40" plasma we have is an old generation one - it doesn't have HDMI on it. And composite is out of the question - that looks utterly shite on any TV!

Yeah why not use a TV?

As above.

You don't have 5.1 surround sound if you're using the red and black composite audio - that's just stereo!

Technically, that's true - but the decoder uses hardware emulation (CMSS) to convert 2 channel audio into a 5.1 channel sound - similar to Dolby Surround Pro Logic.

D.

 

[wozzaa]

Component on the 360 isn't that bad to be honest at all. I used it for a while between that and VGA the difference isn't huge.

When I had it hooked up to the monitor at first I did it as VGA from the xbox to the monitor. Also used component which was actually better with the resolution issues I was getting from VGA. Picture quality didn't suffer much at all.

Sound optical into my onboard soundcard which can decode 5.1 audio and out through the speakers. I then upgraded to logitech Z5500's so optical straight into the decoder from the xbox.

 

[Darren S]

Component on the 360 isn't that bad to be honest at all. I used it for a while between that and VGA the difference isn't huge.

When I had it hooked up to the monitor at first I did it as VGA from the xbox to the monitor. Also used component which was actually better with the resolution issues I was getting from VGA. Picture quality didn't suffer much at all.

Sound optical into my onboard soundcard which can decode 5.1 audio and out through the speakers. I then upgraded to logitech Z5500's so optical straight into the decoder from the xbox.

If it's not that bad using VGA on the 360 m8, I might try that instead. I use the PC far more than the console, so I would prefer the PC to be connected via DVI instead, tbh.

D.

 

[wozzaa]

Honestly I can't say I noticed a huge difference between HDMI, VGA and Component. There are some minor differences, but on my monitor they all look very similar. I would only be able to see the differences if I could compare them in real time. And since I can only look at one output at a time, that's a bit difficult.

 

[The Ironist]

I used to use component for 360 and didn't think there was any problem with it. Think it did up to 1080i.

Now most HDMI. 40" Bravia with hdmi to STR DG820 then 360/PS3/Macbook/NMP plugged into that with HDMI. I got Macbook before they put sound on HDMI so have optical for sound. Everything running 1080p 5/7.1.

HDMI from here: http://www.thatcable.com/product.as...Male+Cable+-+Type+A+(Standard)+-+Version+1.3B

Awesome cable for the price.

 

[FiXX]

I used to use component for 360 and didn't think there was any problem with it. Think it did up to 1080i.

Now most HDMI. 40" Bravia with hdmi to STR DG820 then 360/PS3/Macbook/NMP plugged into that with HDMI. I got Macbook before they put sound on HDMI so have optical for sound. Everything running 1080p 5/7.1.

HDMI from here: http://www.thatcable.com/product.as...Male+Cable+-+Type+A+(Standard)+-+Version+1.3B

Awesome cable for the price.

it can do up to 1080p via component for anything but HD-DVD's

 

[Rich-D]

people seem to be mixing up composite and component

there is a vast difference in quality, composite is sh!te (single yellow plug), component is excellent (red, green & blue plugs)

only earlier XBox's come with a component cable, later XBox's didn't have one, it was composite only, cost cutting

 

[Darren S]

people seem to be mixing up composite and component

there is a vast difference in quality, composite is sh!te (single yellow plug), component is excellent (red, green & blue plugs)

only earlier XBox's come with a component cable, later XBox's didn't have one, it was composite only, cost cutting

Me included!

D.

 

[The Ironist]

Me included!

D.

Me too...

 

[Rich-D]

Me included!

LOL tech FAIL

component is HD though Darren, gives a very good picture, no noticable difference to HDMI

 

[Darren S]

LOL tech FAIL

component is HD though Darren, gives a very good picture, no noticable difference to HDMI

Mine was m8 - truly shocking using the standard 360 component cable. Granted, it's probably the TV where the issue lies, but when connected to HDMI, the difference was like night and day.

D.

 

[Rhino172]

hang on a minute here....Darren has bought a games console?!? WTF? times are changing!

 

[Brand86]

Sorry...just saw this thread!!!

Darren this is brilliant news! Get me added on your list mate!

Brando M83

What games will you go for?

I can almost guarantee you that you will love it, although you should obviously invest in a massive HD TV to maximise the experience as for consoles, may be news for you, you should sit more than 10" away, and there isn't even a keyboard to speak of!

 

[Darren S]

hang on a minute here....Darren has bought a games console?!? WTF? times are changing!

Sorry...just saw this thread!!!

Darren this is brilliant news! Get me added on your list mate!

Brando M83

What games will you go for?

I can almost guarantee you that you will love it, although you should obviously invest in a massive HD TV to maximise the experience as for consoles, may be news for you, you should sit more than 10" away, and there isn't even a keyboard to speak of!

Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Hang on a minute!

I picked up a 360 Elite for a bargain price and like Hell will it ever be put online for obvious reasons! I will categorically state (and please quote this to me in the future) that the 360 will in no way ever replace my PC as the gaming platform of choice. It's nice to have a blat on Forza 3 as well as PES (even though I'm shite at it). But the PC for me is where it's at - especially as I like FPSs. And lets face it, we don't need yet another post and thread as to which input device is superior......

D.

 

[Rich-D]

Mine was m8 - truly shocking using the standard 360 component cable. Granted, it's probably the TV where the issue lies, but when connected to HDMI, the difference was like night and day.

by component, you mean the 3 plugs, red/green/blue and you went into the setup menu and changed it to output in HD?

you should get superb picture quality via component :S


or was it composite?

 

[iain187]

there is the one that is red/yellow/white that often goes into a scart adapter? i guess that is composite

im not sure what component is :S

 

[Rich-D]

there is the one that is red/yellow/white that often goes into a scart adapter? i guess that is composite

im not sure what component is :S

the red & white are sound, only the yellow is for picture, but yes that is composite, a blend of all 3 in low quality standard definition

component is separate red, green & blue plugs, which is massively better and can output in HD

 

[iain187]

i see, i take it your tele has to have a special set of inputs then

 

[Brand86]

Darren...I give you 3 months until you are playing every night!

 

[Darren S]

by component, you mean the 3 plugs, red/green/blue and you went into the setup menu and changed it to output in HD?

you should get superb picture quality via component :S


or was it composite?

No m8 - definitely component with the red, green and blue - straight into the rear of the TV (no adapter blocks or anything). That said, I didn't change any settings on the 360 setup menu itself, so it could well be that. Anyways, HDMI is much neater.

Darren...I give you 3 months until you are playing every night!

Well, I've had it well over a month now and nothing's changed. It's like comparing a 5-course meal to a bag of chips. Sure, and instant hit of grease and lard is nice every now and then, but I know what I'd prefer to have more often.

D.

 

[Brand86]

Darren, don't lie to yourself..it makes it worse!

 

[Clart]

I roll with VGA and optical 5.1. Its the only way tbh.

 

[Darren S]

Arse.

HDMI to VGA cable doesn't work - doesn't put a signal through.

Oh well. The 360Bookend is unplugged for now and the PC is back in DVI where it belongs. I might swap it back if I get the urge for a bit more Forza....

D.

 

[wozzaa]

VGA to HDMI won't work.

HDMI digital, VGA analogue.

You need to get the xbox VGA output cable.

 

[Darren S]

VGA to HDMI won't work.

HDMI digital, VGA analogue.

You need to get the xbox VGA output cable.

Check!

D.

 

[Rich-D]

i see, i take it your tele has to have a special set of inputs then

yes

 

[Rich-D]

No m8 - definitely component with the red, green and blue - straight into the rear of the TV (no adapter blocks or anything). That said, I didn't change any settings on the 360 setup menu itself, so it could well be that. Anyways, HDMI is much neater.

no wonder, it defaults to super low SD resolution, you need to go into the setup and change it

my mate had his like this for ~ 2 years, epic FAIL

 

[Darren S]

no wonder, it defaults to super low SD resolution, you need to go into the setup and change it

my mate had his like this for ~ 2 years, epic FAIL

So I take it that the 360 doesn't auto-detect the change in settings? Just asking as I've got a 360 VGA output cable, but my monitor doesn't pick it up. However when last used, the 360 was set to use HDMI. I take it that I'll have to reconnect it to the little TV that has HDMI support, switch it back to analogue and then set it up with the 360 VGA output cable on the 26" monitor, for it to work?

As for you m8 above, that was similar to my nephew. He's got a pretty beefy i7 PC with 26" monitor, etc - but installs and plays games on their default settings. I've seen many a game run at 1280x1024 (or worse - 1024x768!) as he was unfamiliar with the resolution options. I keep telling him to switch it to 1920x1200 too!

D.