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OG Xbox Forums => Hardware Forums => Xbox Audio/Video Technical => Topic started by: spillage on February 18, 2004, 01:16:00 PM

Title: Confused About Vga Xbox
Post by: spillage on February 18, 2004, 01:16:00 PM
Put simply and quickly.

Make a VGA cable. Follow Gerzands tut. More info in L33's tut.

Get a VGA bios from the usual places. You need one to force the XBOX to produce RGB at 31KHz I.e. progressive instead of Component.

You need a monitor that can support 720p or 1024 x 768 minimum ideal else you will only get 640 x 480p on an 800 x 600 SVGA monitor.

X2VGA is only for XBOX as far as I am aware.
Title: Confused About Vga Xbox
Post by: brain21 on February 19, 2004, 12:27:00 PM
I could be wrong, but here is what I understand...

If you simply make a VGA cable and change the bios or whatever you will merely be displaying a TV signal on the VGA monitor.  On a monitor's high resolution this might not look so great.

What you WANT to do is use the VGA monitor as a High-Def monitor, so you get a MUCH better picture.

There are 2 ways to do this RIGHT (if you get a TV to VGA converter, all it is is a crappy line doubler - you won't get the great picture).

1) get the X2VGA adapter.  It will display TRUE High Def on your VGA monitor
2) Get the VD-Z3 adapter.  It will also display TRUE High-def on your VGA monitor.

There are pros and cons.

X2VGA $65
Pros: You can still view the Dashboard, even though it is running at 480i instead of p.  You just get half the dash at a time on your screen and have to scroll around, but you get it, and get it in color.

Cons: works for XBOX only

VD-Z3 $50
Pros: Can be used with ANY game console, even a Progressive Scan DVD player if you wish!

It's cheaper

Cons: it has a special mode that allows you to view the dashboard at 480i.  However the con is that with this is that I think it is blurry and not so great looking.

Now heres the thing.  The cons of both of these devices don't really matter.  There is a hack posted in this forum (sticky post) that shows you how to change a single hex character to get not only the Dashboard in 480p mode, but it will also get the DVD player to display in 480p mode.

This means that with this hack, and EITHER device, you can get the Dashboard and the  DVD player to display nicely on your VGA monitor!

That being said, the VD-Z3 seems like the better bet for you.

However, if you do not want to hack you dashboard file (a back up copy of it) w/ a hex editor, then you are better off with the X2VGA.  Read the stick post on the hack for Progressive scan mode for the dash and see if you are comfortable doing something like that, and then decide.

Brain21
Title: Confused About Vga Xbox
Post by: Foe-hammer on February 19, 2004, 01:45:00 PM
QUOTE (manasol @ Feb 19 2004, 09:33 PM)
EDIT: I am so confused now that I read the Gerzan thread. I have one more question (sorry if I come off as a nuisance) adding to the ones I wrote above.

I still need the vga bios to convert the signal even if I have SOG monitor?

Since you have a synce on green monitor, you really don't need to mess with Gerzan's tut (which is a very good tutorial, i might add).  Just buy yourself a ms hd pack (no soldering in the AVIP is needed), a 3 or 5 bnc to vga monitor cable, and 3 bnc to rca adapter plugs (buy these at radio shack).  If you get all this hooked up and working, you should get an all green picture from your xbox.  This is because the vga bios are not installed on your xbox.  Once you have the vga bios installed, you'll be able to play games in full vga color; that is the purpose of the vga bios.  The only problem is, not all games work with the vga bios, some reset themselves and turn back to green.
Title: Confused About Vga Xbox
Post by: manasol on February 20, 2004, 12:07:00 AM
Thanks A bunch guys.

You solved the problem of SOG guys. LOL

Thanks alot I appreciate the replies.