Post by: twisted_oak on July 19, 2006, 09:42:00 AM
I am wondering. Has anyone switched from component to VGA and noticed a drastic enough difference? I have a xbox that can run 1080i, etc via component. Should I go through the trouble and the risk of flashing my box to use a VGA cable?
I will be displaying the signal on a DLP projector. It has component and VGA connectors. I just want to know if it is worth it if I am already displaying 480p,720p, and 1080i on component. The tutorials had screenshots of S-Video vs. VGA. This doesn't apply to my situation.
Thanks!
Post by: deadparrot on July 19, 2006, 10:38:00 AM
This post has been edited by deadparrot: Jul 19 2006, 05:38 PM
Post by: TheIrishLad on July 19, 2006, 10:25:00 AM
I'm buying a VGA cable from pimpmaul69 he can make it for 20$ shipped, with SOG and all that crap if your looking for a cheap cable.
If someone could make a BIOS supporting 720p and 1080i, or basically any higher resolutions, then the VGA way would be a lot more appealing to most. Or maybe incorporate code into an already made VGA Bios...that would work also. Somone suggested this but the person said he had no reason since most games don't support 720p....
Post by: DVADER on July 19, 2006, 12:20:00 PM
QUOTE(TheIrishLad @ Jul 19 2006, 12:32 PM) 
To my knowledge VGA can't support the higher resolutions, so you will be able to display 480p, and 640x480 nicely. 720p and 1080i are off the radar at the moment, but few games support those resolutions...and plain DVDs need to be scaled to those resolutions anyways.
I'm buying a VGA cable from pimpmaul69 he can make it for 20$ shipped, with SOG and all that crap if your looking for a cheap cable. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
If someone could make a BIOS supporting 720p and 1080i, or basically any higher resolutions, then the VGA way would be a lot more appealing to most. Or maybe incorporate code into an already made VGA Bios...that would work also. Somone suggested this but the person said he had no reason since most games don't support 720p.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
I run 720p on my vga setup. I can run 1080i also, I have no games that support it however. In his case though, component is the best bet.
Post by: twisted_oak on July 19, 2006, 12:23:00 PM
QUOTE(DVADER @ Jul 19 2006, 06:51 PM) 
I run 720p on my vga setup. I can run 1080i also, I have no games that support it however. In his case though, component is the best bet.
I am not really concerned with gaming. I am primarily using the xbox as a media center. I am wondering if anyone has noticed a drastic difference between component and VGA. Does VGA look tons better than component at 480p, 720p, or even 1080i?
Post by: DVADER on July 19, 2006, 12:45:00 PM
QUOTE(twisted_oak @ Jul 19 2006, 02:30 PM)
I am not really concerned with gaming. I am primarily using the xbox as a media center. I am wondering if anyone has noticed a drastic difference between component and VGA. Does VGA look tons better than component at 480p, 720p, or even 1080i?
VGA is the exact same quality as component.
Post by: twisted_oak on July 19, 2006, 12:55:00 PM
QUOTE(DVADER @ Jul 19 2006, 07:52 PM)
VGA is the exact same quality as component.
Thanks. That settles it.
Post by: The Zep Man on July 19, 2006, 01:47:00 PM
QUOTE(TheIrishLad @ Jul 19 2006, 06:32 PM)
To my knowledge VGA can't support the higher resolutions, so you will be able to display 480p, and 640x480 nicely. 720p and 1080i are off the radar at the moment, but few games support those resolutions...and plain DVDs need to be scaled to those resolutions anyways.
Post by: notonxbox on July 28, 2006, 12:24:00 PM
My xbox is hooked to my vga port on my projector - using the hd pack connected to a component to vga cable (using couplers). Have enabled the higher res using enigma and can see the difference between 480 and 720.
Am I getting true component quality? Will something like the x2vga be of any benefit to me?
Post by: deadparrot on July 28, 2006, 01:16:00 PM
Post by: notonxbox on July 28, 2006, 04:03:00 PM
Post by: ClintiePoo on July 30, 2006, 12:03:00 AM
Post by: flexbeat on August 21, 2006, 04:30:00 AM
im connecting my Box with a VGA-Box selfmade (LM 1881)!
In the drawing of JaredC01 u can see, that the component-output
exactly uses the same signals as the VGA-output.
So the quality in both modes is the same.
I'm using the Box with a DLP-Projector and the inD-Bios.
Is it possible that the inD-Bios only can handle the 480p Output?
Using a patched X2 5035 Bios my Projector shows 1080i and 720p in XBMC,
but it's extremly flickering. With the inD Bios the higher Resolutions aren't displayed!
Sorry for my bad english (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
Greets, flexbeat
Post by: Textbook on August 21, 2006, 06:19:00 AM
Post by: TheIrishLad on August 22, 2006, 09:38:00 PM
QUOTE(Textbook @ Aug 21 2006, 06:50 AM)
We need a 720p VGA Bios.
Yes....
Can someone clear up to me what modes 1,3 and 2,3 are? I have looked and tryed to figure it out, but I still can't get what they are...
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on August 23, 2006, 07:32:00 AM
The original 1+3 'VGA' mode was flawed, in the fact that it was limited to 480p, because the XBOX did not recognize this as a hi-def cable. So, now we simply use mode 2+3, because this mode is Component, and therefore allows higher resolutions. (720p/1080i)
The modes are enabled by grounding certain 'Mode' pins on the XBOX AVIP connector.
Example:
1+3 - Mode Pin 1 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
2+3 - Mode Pin 2 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
EDIT: And, about the thread topic, VGA is a MILLION times better than Component. Especially on a CRT monitor. (Although it looks great on an LCD monitor too!)
This post has been edited by FrostyTheSnowman: Aug 23 2006, 02:38 PM
Post by: The Zep Man on August 23, 2006, 09:10:00 AM
QUOTE(FrostyTheSnowman @ Aug 23 2006, 03:03 PM)
Mode 1+3 is 'VGA' mode for older VGA BIOSes. Mode 2+3 is Component mode, and is the mode used by current VGA BIOSes.
The original 1+3 'VGA' mode was flawed, in the fact that it was limited to 480p,
QUOTE
because the XBOX did not recognize this as a hi-def cable. So, now we simply use mode 2+3, because this mode is Component, and therefore allows higher resolutions. (720p/1080i)
The modes are enabled by grounding certain 'Mode' pins on the XBOX AVIP connector.
Example:
1+3 - Mode Pin 1 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
2+3 - Mode Pin 2 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
EDIT: And, about the thread topic, VGA is a MILLION times better than Component. Especially on a CRT monitor. (Although it looks great on an LCD monitor too!)
It depends on what kind of device you use. If it is a LCD/TFT screen with component and VGA inputs, don't even bother with VGA. Both component and VGA need to wrap their sync signals inside the video signal, so you can't get any extra quality in that area.The modes are enabled by grounding certain 'Mode' pins on the XBOX AVIP connector.
Example:
1+3 - Mode Pin 1 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
2+3 - Mode Pin 2 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
EDIT: And, about the thread topic, VGA is a MILLION times better than Component. Especially on a CRT monitor. (Although it looks great on an LCD monitor too!)
At the other hand, if you have a monitor with only a VGA input (or which has only one component input which already is in use), then it is worth looking at the right software/a transcoder.
By the way, the only way VGA can theoretically be better is when it is done by software (natively by the Xbox) and not by using a transcoder. Transcoders change a signal from one type to another, which doesn't add any quality. In the worst case, the quality might even get worse.
Post by: TheIrishLad on August 23, 2006, 09:28:00 AM
QUOTE(FrostyTheSnowman @ Aug 23 2006, 08:03 AM)
Mode 1+3 is 'VGA' mode for older VGA BIOSes. Mode 2+3 is Component mode, and is the mode used by current VGA BIOSes.
The original 1+3 'VGA' mode was flawed, in the fact that it was limited to 480p, because the XBOX did not recognize this as a hi-def cable. So, now we simply use mode 2+3, because this mode is Component, and therefore allows higher resolutions. (720p/1080i)
The modes are enabled by grounding certain 'Mode' pins on the XBOX AVIP connector.
Example:
1+3 - Mode Pin 1 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
2+3 - Mode Pin 2 goes to ground, Mode Pin 3 goes to ground
EDIT: And, about the thread topic, VGA is a MILLION times better than Component. Especially on a CRT monitor. (Although it looks great on an LCD monitor too!)
Thanks for clearing that up mate!
Post by: FrostyTheSnowman on August 23, 2006, 11:22:00 AM
QUOTE(The Zep Man @ Aug 23 2006, 09:17 AM)
By the way, the only way VGA can theoretically be better is when it is done by software (natively by the Xbox) and not by using a transcoder. Transcoders change a signal from one type to another, which doesn't add any quality. In the worst case, the quality might even get worse.
Yes, but i'm not talking about transcoders. Transcoders don't compare in quality to an NKPatcher v10-vga10 softmod with a homemade VGA cable. Transcoders DO infact lower the quality, due to changing the signal on-the-fly, whereas softmods modify the internal encoder registers and force the XBOX to output a VGA signal natively.
Ask anyone who has both a transcoder and a homemade vga cable, and they will tell you that a VGA BIOS (Softmod or Modchip) with a homemade VGA cable will provide a clearer picture than a transcoder any day.
EDIT: Although I DO admit that the 'MILLION times better' comment was somewhat of an exageration, even if VGA is infact better than a Component Transcoder.
This post has been edited by FrostyTheSnowman: Aug 23 2006, 06:24 PM