Post by: Xbox-Scene on December 06, 2006, 10:27:00 PM
| FrostyTheSnowman released a new build of his VGA BIOS Patcher(info) with support for the Evox M8plus bios. This tool will add full support for HD resolutions over VGA. From readme/nfo: Quote
Official Site: n/a, by FrostyTheSnowman Download: here (for Evox M8+ only) (for other bioses, get VGA BIOS Patcher v0.7) News-Source/Full Readme: xbins.org |
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on December 06, 2006, 09:46:00 PM
There is also a full tutorial on the usage of this patch included in the readme.
Special thanks goes out to HandledOut for all his beta testing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)
This post has been edited by FrostyTheSnowman: Dec 7 2006, 05:48 AM
Post by: -Spud- on December 06, 2006, 11:04:00 PM
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on December 06, 2006, 11:43:00 PM
Although, the X2VGA is a great option for people who do not have the ability to create a VGA cable, and the X2VGA also does not suffer from things like the 'green tint' problem, so the X2VGA is still a good option.
Post by: signum on December 07, 2006, 02:44:00 AM
Post by: Martinchris23 on December 07, 2006, 03:18:00 AM
Post by: Trebaruna on December 07, 2006, 03:58:00 AM
Frosty, thanks for your work on the patcher! Im going to put my xbox next to my monitor now and tweak it till it works!
PS: when you say cable other than VGA you mean the cable ID has to be set to 101 for the patch to work, right?
This post has been edited by Trebaruna: Dec 7 2006, 11:58 AM
Post by: quall on December 07, 2006, 04:30:00 AM
I might just use these bios. The only thing holding me back is that I cannot do a dual bios setup. So, has anyone tried using these with something like Phoenix Bios Loader?
Also, my vga box displays too much green when converting component. I am just wonder, are colors a lot more accurate when using these bios, compared to a vga box? I realize that there is an issue with the video buffer not being reset, but I think that is separate to what my problem is.
This post has been edited by quall: Dec 7 2006, 12:33 PM
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on December 07, 2006, 06:35:00 AM
QUOTE(Trebaruna @ Dec 7 2006, 04:58 AM) 
PS: when you say cable other than VGA you mean the cable ID has to be set to 101 for the patch to work, right?
As far as cable IDs go, your cable needs to be set to 2+3 mode for my VGA patch to work. (HDTV)
Also, be sure that your HD settings are turned on in the Microsoft Dashboard. (480p, 720p, 1080i)
QUOTE(quall @ Dec 7 2006, 05:30 AM)
I might just use these bios. The only thing holding me back is that I cannot do a dual bios setup. So, has anyone tried using these with something like Phoenix Bios Loader?
Also, my vga box displays too much green when converting component. I am just wonder, are colors a lot more accurate when using these bios, compared to a vga box? I realize that there is an issue with the video buffer not being reset, but I think that is separate to what my problem is.
Also, my vga box displays too much green when converting component. I am just wonder, are colors a lot more accurate when using these bios, compared to a vga box? I realize that there is an issue with the video buffer not being reset, but I think that is separate to what my problem is.
Yes, the colors and resolution are basically 'perfect' as far as I am concerned. 'Native' VGA on the XBOX is just gorgeous.
And yes, you can use my patcher with a BFM BIOS. All you have to do is check the 'Convert to BFM' option in XBtool to create a BFM BIOS. I've tried the X2 4981 BIOS with VGA Patcher v0.7 (My multi-bios VGA patcher) and it works perfectly.
This particular patcher is for the Evox M8+ BIOS only, and AFAIK, EVtool does not have the ability to create a BFM BIOS. But as long as you follow the tutorial in the VGA Patcher v0.7 readme (And add in 'Convert to BFM' in the last step) you can happily use my patcher with a BFM BIOS.
You can find the link to my 'VGA Patcher v0.7' thread in my signature, and the most current downloads are found on the last page of the thread.
Post by: quall on December 07, 2006, 11:59:00 AM
Post by: alexh on December 07, 2006, 01:14:00 PM
Do you have any serious info on the Video Encoders used in the XBOX?
I've been thinking about creating a program to try to enable single field (non-interlaced) SD TV modes effectively 240p.
Most emulators would benefit greatly from such a mode and I am sure it would be possible with the full tech info and a bit of time.
This low-level control of the video encoder isnt available in the XDK and I have been looking for the HRM for the encoders for quite some time.
Post by: edwinmcdunlap on December 07, 2006, 02:17:00 PM
You can only play Xbox Live on a retail BIOS, therefore, no Live with a VGA BIOS.
That's why I bought an X2VGA2
Post by: -Spud- on December 07, 2006, 07:44:00 PM
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on December 07, 2006, 10:20:00 PM
QUOTE(alexh @ Dec 7 2006, 02:14 PM)
Tech Question to Frosty:
Do you have any serious info on the Video Encoders used in the XBOX?
I've been thinking about creating a program to try to enable single field (non-interlaced) SD TV modes effectively 240p.
Most emulators would benefit greatly from such a mode and I am sure it would be possible with the full tech info and a bit of time.
This low-level control of the video encoder isnt available in the XDK and I have been looking for the HRM for the encoders for quite some time.
Unfortunately, I do not have a 'thorough' enough knowledge of the encoder registers used in the XBOX to do anything more than Sync and Color changes. (Sync and Color registers are all that need to be tweaked for the encoder to output the VGA standard. The actual GPU registers need to be patched too, but that is fairly easy.)
But, both the Conexant CX25871 and Focus FS454 encoders are actually quite common, and their datasheets are readily available online, so by carefully examining them you could more than likely do this. One thing that will make the whole process easier for you is the fact that the BIOS kernel itself contains the entire register table for both encoders, so it's simply just a matter of using a hex editor to change the registers.
NOTE: There is also the Xcalibur encoder too, but that encoder is completely undocumented because Microsoft developed it internally. So far, all attempts have failed to figure out what the registers do, which is why we do not have a VGA BIOS for these encoders, so developing a 'single-field' BIOS would be very difficult for this encoder.
Post by: alexh on December 08, 2006, 04:30:00 AM
Currently emulators have to double the number of lines they draw (which takes CPU power) and when displayed you get a combination of interlacing artifacts / blurring depending on which level of flicker filter you have.
With single field rendering you would have no flicker with filter off and no blurring.
Also frees up more CPU power, more memory (as you only need a field buffer and not a frame buffer) and allows things like VSYNC to prevent tearing.
Because you cannot enable single field modes from the XDK people have not tried to do them.
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on April 02, 2007, 12:02:00 PM
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on April 02, 2007, 10:03:00 PM