Quickie question re: 360s w/ HDMI

Shaneus · Post by **Shaneus** » 17 May 2009 12:33 pm

What's the cheapest way to get me one? Not really fussed how to go about it (whether its with tradebait or second-hand or whatever) but I need something to go with my brand-spanker TV and the VGA just doesn't cut it at 1080p.

westical · Post by **westical** » 17 May 2009 01:20 pm

I imagine shoplifting is probably the cheapest way.

Blotto · Post by **Blotto** » 17 May 2009 01:35 pm

Nath did a test on his 1080p 52' Samsung Plasma and there was very little difference PQ wise between HDMI and VGA unless you are sitting right up close to the TV... (HDMI was tiny bit less fuzzy right up close)

I wouldnt waste the money...

Shaneus · Post by **Shaneus** » 17 May 2009 02:03 pm

I just noticed some very slight (noticable, but not hugely) shadowing on some writing through the VGA, and figured it would be fixed if I got a HDMI. But if it's not really that massive a difference, then I'll probably give it a miss.

Cheers

mech · Post by **mech** » 17 May 2009 03:47 pm

The difference between VGA and HDMI with my 360 and TV was amazing.

Shaneus · Post by **Shaneus** » 17 May 2009 04:39 pm

Was that with everything or just stuff in 1080p? The main reason I want to get one (as sad as it sounds) is for watching HD-DVD stuff.

Keeping in mind that I'll be able to offload my current 360 for around $200 (with cables, controller, 20gb HDD. That's reasonable, yeah?) then it'll realistically only cost me around $50, which is kinda justifiable.

Don't know if I can handle having a plain white disc tray though

Blotto · Post by **Blotto** » 18 May 2009 09:38 am

mech wrote:The difference between VGA and HDMI with my 360 and TV was amazing.

what TV is it mech?

GreyWizzard · Post by **GreyWizzard** » 18 May 2009 11:26 am

Big difference between VGA and HDMI, the dash is enough to show it. Text is so much clearer it isn't funny.

I've got an LCD Samsung Series 6. I assume mech has a SONY of some sort.

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 12:42 pm

Only the best for me, 46" Bravia X series.

Shane: Well the 360 dash is 720p, so 720p as well.

Just hope you have better luck than me - my new 360 is LOUDER than my launch one. Ridicularse, but par for the course with the 360. You should be okay though, think I was just unlucky.

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 12:44 pm

Also, re: HD-DVD, I just realized the other day it's worth trying my HD-DVD drive on OS X. Apparently the OS recognizes it automatically, just need an HD-DVD player. Be much nicer to watch movies because the Mac Mini is completely silent...

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 12:52 pm

Forget that.. holy shit, you can't play back HD-DVDs OR blu-rays under OS X!??! how do people claim this is the premier OS?!

Shaneus · Post by **Shaneus** » 18 May 2009 03:20 pm

What pack did you end up getting, mech?

And to repeat (to all): where is the cheapest place to grab one of these suckers?

Blotto · Post by **Blotto** » 18 May 2009 03:44 pm

you havent told us do you want just an Arcade pack for the console or do you want a whole new Pro Pack?

edit: sorry, you kinda did when you said you were offloading your current one (hard drive and all)

as Mech said, keep checking http://www.ecogamer.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You'll find JB and Game ususally do the best deals...

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 03:44 pm

I just got a regular arcade pack JUST BEFORE the price drop hit.

Check ecogamer.com for deals.

And you will NEED an official HDMI kit if you're planning on using optical or analog out (and not HDMI for audio), because Microsoft are cunts and if you want to not have your console rebooting every time you change channels on your TV or turn your TV on or off, then you can't use a hacked VGA cable.

Shaneus · Post by **Shaneus** » 18 May 2009 04:30 pm

Blotto wrote:you havent told us do you want just an Arcade pack for the console or do you want a whole new Pro Pack?

edit: sorry, you kinda did when you said you were offloading your current one (hard drive and all)

as Mech said, keep checking http://www.ecogamer.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You'll find JB and Game ususally do the best deals...

Just want the Arcade pack for the console... the old 20gb will be sold with the console so my mate can load *some* stuff on there if he wants. He's not a big gamer but there's some retro stuff on XBLA he's keen on and that should be plenty.

Mech: So you can't do that cable hack to get optical and HDMI, you need to use the official cable? Arse. Might scour eBay and prey they're not bootlegged ones that do the same thing.

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 04:51 pm

I just got a secondhand cable off eBay and then sold the HDMI cable that came with it. As long as the cable you get doesn't have a video adapter hanging off it I think you'll be fine. Microsoft made Xbox 1 have some similar quirks - take out the video connector and the bloody thing would reboot. What I think happens is the HDMI twigs that it's been disconnected and so the 360 switches video to the VGA output, which causes a restart.

unfnknblvbl · Post by **unfnknblvbl** » 18 May 2009 05:39 pm

mech wrote:Forget that.. holy shit, you can't play back HD-DVDs OR blu-rays under OS X!??! how do people claim this is the premier OS?!

Because Saint Steve said that Blu-ray is a world of hurt, or words to that effect.

Are you sure VLC on OSX won't play it?

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 05:42 pm

Trawling the web leads me to believe nothing will play it...

General Chaos · Post by **General Chaos** » 18 May 2009 06:06 pm

Shouldn't have got an LCD

Question Shaneus: Do you have a 1st or 3rd party VGA lead?

Shaneus · Post by **Shaneus** » 18 May 2009 06:37 pm

General Chaos wrote:Shouldn't have got an LCD

Paid a grand for it new, 1080p 42" (that Aldi one)

Question Shaneus: Do you have a 1st or 3rd party VGA lead?

3rd. I've heard the official one does give better quality, but there's no point in me shelling out $50 for something that *might* make a drastic difference, when I can (effectively) pay roughly the same amount which is guaranteed to.

DjBigK · Post by **DjBigK** » 18 May 2009 06:43 pm

I'm going to be component'ing it up on a 58" full HD set

Might see if I can get my hands on a VGA cable to see if that increases the quality much, otherwise I'll stick with component. No way I can be bothered to get a new 360 when I don't really play it that much.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » 18 May 2009 07:35 pm

I just tested mine again, switching between VGA (official cable) and HDMI and I honestly cannot tell the difference from more than 30cm away from the TV (50" 1080p plasma). With HDMI the image appears more stable and doesnt have a shimmer around the text like it does on VGA...but I would REALLY need to be looking specifically for it up close to notice.

If you were already buying a new 360 and didnt have an official VGA cable, it would be sensible to go HDMI, but I wouldnt go out of your way to upgrade just for that because you may be disappointed.

Its quite likely however that different brand TVs and LCD v Plasma handle the various inputs slightly better or worse than others.

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 08:28 pm

Shane: the official one has image problems too, 1080p just requires too much bandwidth.

DjBigK - I couldn't notice any difference between component and VGA on my 360.

That said, I've got an official VGA cable for sale (CHEAP) if anyone wants it

DjBigK · Post by **DjBigK** » 18 May 2009 09:28 pm

How muchos Mech?

mech · Post by **mech** » 18 May 2009 10:03 pm

$20+postage?