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[miketaylor]

I have a new 360 premium with HDMI port.

I also have a new TV which has DVI-D and VGA inputs (No HDMI or Composite)

So, which is better to use an
HDMI -> DVI-D  or
Composite -> VGA?

Also, my moniter has no speakers, so can I use the composite sound while veiwing HDMI video with a DVI-D converter?

Hope this can be cleared up, I have a brand new 360 wainting to be played!!!

MiKe

[stepeters]

Hi,

if your tv has a VGA input, why not simply buy an xbox VGA cable?

you can get the M$ VGA cable for around £20 which apparently
comes with a 3.5mm adaptor to allow you to connect the red/white
audio cables to the corresponding pc audio input on the tv.

Ste

[miketaylor]

Yes thats what I plan to do unless, someone tells me that DVI-D is better than VGA.

Neither cost very much, the HDMI -> DVI-D cables cost about £5 and I hear that the cable that comes with the xbox can have its plastic stripped off so you can use the sound from it while using an HDMI cable too?

I am a reasonable bodger so wouldn't find it hard to hack a cable to bits if thats what needed...

I'm just woundering whoch is better, I assume HDMI -> DVI-D is better, but can't find anywhere that says that, or anything to deny it...

The moniter is: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130925

This post has been edited by miketaylor: Jan 24 2008, 03:09 PM

[SphtKr76]

Vga will serve you just fine, you will get the same resolution options that you wold with HDMI-DVI. Plus you won't have to hack your cable to get audio.

[brandogg]

If your monitor is 22" or less, I'd say go with VGA, since it'll just be easier. If it's 24" or above, I'd say buy a cheap HDMI-DVI-D cable (monoprice.com is your friend), and hack your existing A/V cable for the sound.

[twistedsymphony]

DVI-D = HDMI

they're the exact same thing except HDMI also has audio in the same cable

VGA != Component

those are two completely separate video types and I would NOT recommend converting them.

also HDMI is far and wide superior to VGA no matter what your screen size is.

if you've got it you should use it

pickup a HDMI to DVI-D converter cable from monoprice.com

it's not only your cheapest option, it's also the highest quality option.

[Shallow012]

^ - defiantly

On my 27" tv VGA looks  blurry compared to DVI. This comparison is made using a computer but I doubt the 360 is much different. Id buy a dvi y adapter but Id have to shut down my computer or xbox every time I wanted to play the other. I think the difference is as profound as the difference between composite and s-video.

[Bandit5317]

Yeah, I'd go with HDMI. The 360 VGA cables are notorious for appearing slightly blurry. It's kinda hard to explain, but even though VGA can put out the same resolutions, it just doesn't look quite right, no matter how high-quality the cables that you use are.

[iamabigdeal]

I have a similar problem/question except my TV only has a DVI-D port NO VGA ports. I purchased an XBOX VGA cable and a VGA to DVI-D adapter but only the sound is coming through, screen remains totally black. I have 2 questions for the board:

1. why is this not working?
2. If i try an HDMI to DVI-D cable for the picture how do I get sound? Someone mentioned stripping the end to connect the sound: would I essentially be connecting both the HDMI cable AND the XBOX 360 default plug simultaneously in order to get sound?

Any tips would be great as I've had my XBOX360 for almost a month and am still trying to get it working at a higher res then 480.
Thanks

[brandogg]

First, you can't go VGA to DVI-D, only VGA to DVI Analog, unless you use a ~$300 converter. That may be why you don't get picture, your monitor doesn't seem to accept DVI Analog, which is odd. Buy a cheap HDMI to DVI-D cable (monoprice.com, get the cheapest one you can find), and hack your stock A/V cable for the sound. Return your VGA cable, and the adapter if you can, so you don't waste your money on them.

[iamabigdeal]

Thanks for the information. I have finally received my HDMI to DVI D cable. The problem I now have is that when I hook it up and go to my XBOX360 dashboard to display setup (to choose 1080i), it doesn't detect the picture as being HD. If I plug my old component HD cable back in, it detects an HD connection and lets me choose the display (480 vs 1080, etc). I haven't hacked my stock plug for audio yet as I want to get the 1080i picture to work first (through the DVI D plug).  What am I doing wrong? Why is it not detecting an HD feed from the HDMI port (XBOX) to the DVI D port (TV)? I'm about to launch everything out the window.....

[brandogg]

What is your TV's native resolution? If it's anything less than 1920x1080 (1280x1080 might work, but that's a pretty rare resolution), then you can't really do 1080i. If your TV is 1366x768, or 1280x768, then you need to choose 720p, or 1360x768 if your TV accepts VGA resolutions. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, I'm just trying to throw some info out there.

[iamabigdeal]

I checked that out as well. The component HD is only 480, but according to the specs, the DVI port should be 1080i.

[brandogg]

Do you have to change the settings on the monitor itself?

[kimota2004]

Hey miketaylor, I'm getting that exact same monitor in a couple of days for my 360, but was only planning on using VGA too as I'm confused as to how to get audio out from a HDMI > DVI-D cable. Could you let us know what you think to the picture if you do decide to go down taht route, becasue if it's better than the VGA output I'm currently using then I'll make the switch.

Are there any instructions anywhere which give a detailed guide to hacking the cable to get audio from it?