HDMI or Component

eoin2nc

This question may have been asked before but is there much of a difference in picture quality between HDMI and component? Ive just after getting a 42'' TV and I must say it looks fantastic compared to the 19'' monitor I had it on before

Kristok

none, technically hdmi could be better as its all digital but in practical terms you wont be able to tell the difference.

mathias

Good component cables should give you the same picture quality , thats true , but how do you know they are good ! Analog cables can be notoriously bad.

HDMI has no such quibbles , any HDMI cable will behave exactly the same , also HDMI carries sound as well , so it cuts down on cables going into the back of the TV , and because its digital , on short runs it is practically immune from interference.

If you have a choice HDMI should always come out on top. And these can be got for considerably less money than a quality component cable.

Wisesmurf

if you're in no hurry get the cable from dealextreme.com they're really cheap but it will take a 1-2 weeks to get to you.

eoin2nc

I'm using the component cable that came with the 360, it seems good enough quality?

PixelTrawler

I have used the vga, component and hdmi cables with my 360

Games:
No difference between component and hdmi
Colours are a bit washed out over VGA

DVDs
Seem to look better over HDMI then component, at least on my samsung.
Could be imagining it. Got Rome box set at christmas and it looks really good with the HDMI cable

You do lose the optical port is one snag if you switch to hdmi (unless ms have a cable with optical port - i dont know)

mathias

You do lose the optical port is one snag if you switch to hdmi (unless ms have a cable with optical port - i dont know)

Why ? Surely the HDMI on the 360 carries sound as well ? It should do , meaning there should be no reason to use the optical port as well.

eoin2nc

mathias wrote: »

Why ? Surely the HDMI on the 360 carries sound as well ? It should do , meaning there should be no reason to use the optical port as well.

But how do you get sound to a surrond sound amp?

Guy:Incognito

eoin2nc wrote: »

But how do you get sound to a surrond sound amp?

You can just leave the little break out box plugged in , use th eoptical from that and have the HDMI straight to the tv, thats what I do.

AlphaMale 3OO

is the hdmi cable the one with a switch for tv or hdtv? and also has six pins, red, yellow, white, blue, red and some other one? thats the cable I have and the picture on my 37" LCD is fan-fcuking-tastic.

MayoForSam

forbesii wrote: »

is the hdmi cable the one with a switch for tv or hdtv? and also has six pins, red, yellow, white, blue, red and some other one? thats the cable I have and the picture on my 37" LCD is fan-fcuking-tastic.

Nope, thats the component cable. As a previous poster said, HDMI goes direct from the 360 to your TV in a single cable, sound is carried separately.

zAbbo

There's very little difference between HDMI & Component for me, although the black levels look slightly better over HDMI.

Personally, I've only got one HDMI connection on my LG 26", which will be used for my Digital TV box for now.

xanthor

forbesii wrote: »

is the hdmi cable the one with a switch for tv or hdtv? .

The HDMI cable is the one with trapazoid(ish) shaped connectors at each end, and it only comes standard with the Elite so far.

ceejay

First, you won't get upscaled DVD playback over component - just VGA and HDMI.

Second, there's some kind of connector that comes with the Elite that gives you an optical out to send the audio to your A/V receiver, but I don't think that comes with the Pro consoles that have HDMI ports.

It seems to come down to HDMI being best, but it's not hugely different to component or VGA.

Ciarán.

Basq

Simply put..

VGA and HDMI outputs games at 1080p.
VGA upscales DVD's to 1080i, HDMI upscales DVD's to 1080p (no obvious difference to be honest!)

Now for the area i'm less knowledgeable on: (as far as I know) component is 720p for games, and 480p for DVD's (DVD's look crap on big TV).

monkeyfudge

ceejay wrote: »

Second, there's some kind of connector that comes with the Elite that gives you an optical out to send the audio to your A/V receiver, but I don't think that comes with the Pro consoles that have HDMI ports.

Anyone know anything about this type of connector? It certainly doesn't come with the Elite... I was pretty annoyed that I couldn't use my surround sound and HDMI connection at the same time... seemed like a pretty damn basic requirement. I've gone back to using VGA.

cherrio

To use HDMI and optical out at the same time without paying out another E50 (shame on you MS) just use this little hack. Works perfect for me.

xanthor

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Anyone know anything about this type of connector? It certainly doesn't come with the Elite...

I think he's refering to the Audio Break Out Dongle, if that IS what he's refering to then you *should* have gotten one.

monkeyfudge

xanthor wrote: »

I think he's refering to the Audio Break Out Dongle, if that IS what he's refering to then you *should* have gotten one.

Really? I'm pretty sure there was nothing else in the box.. I must check again then.

Arciphel

basquille wrote: »

Simply put..

VGA and HDMI outputs games at 1080p.
VGA upscales DVD's to 1080i, HDMI upscales DVD's to 1080p (no obvious difference to be honest!)

Now for the area i'm less knowledgeable on: (as far as I know) component is 720p for games, and 480p for DVD's (DVD's look crap on big TV).

Whoa whoa whoa this is wrong i think!

From engadget : http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/09/21/xbox-360-hd-dvd-playback-maximum-1080i-via-component-1080p-vga/

VGA:

* HD DVD - 1080p resolution and all others
* DVD - Upscaled as high as 1080p resolution and all others
* Games - 720p games upscaled to 1080p, also supports native-1080p games in the future

Component:

* HD DVD - 1080i resolution maximum, limited by AACS
* DVD - Upscaled to 480p maximum, limited by CSS
* Games - 720p games upscaled to 1080p, also supports native-1080p games in the future

Read this for a more in-depth comparison - http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/xbox-360-elite/fully-tested-the-xbox-360-elites-hdmi-video-is-the-best-255722.php

johnny_ultimate

From my experience, VGA and component are pretty much exactly the same for games - no real discernable difference, both provide 1080p output.

DVDs is where the difference lies. Over component, DVDs looked quite poor, although it did upscale to 576p. Over VGA, you get 1080i, which looks fantastic.

Unforunately, can't test the HDMI cable as have an older model Premium.

Basq

Arciphel wrote: »

Whoa whoa whoa this is wrong i think!

Eh? I was pretty much right except for failing to mention that Component (the area I said i was less knowledable in) upscales games to 1080p.That page backs up everything else I mentioned.

Though that Engadget article is a bit out-dated and I know the one thing I have read since (will try and dig out the page mentioning this) is that VGA only upscales standard DVD's to 1080i, whereas HDMI upscales standard DVD's to 1080p. VGA will NOT upscale DVD's to 1080p.

Even johnny_ultimate above me made note of this:

johnny_ultimate wrote:

Over VGA, you get 1080i, which looks fantastic.

eoin2nc

So VGA would be superior to component, I have 1080p TV and the HD-DVD player, until I get an elite with HDMI?

Basq

eoin2nc wrote: »

So VGA would be superior to component, I have 1080p TV and the HD-DVD player, until I get an elite with HDMI?

Yep.. for upscaling DVD's anyways.

By the way.. for anyone who thinks the HD-DVD automatically upscales DVD's - it doesn't unless you have the VGA or HDMI cables.

eoin2nc

basquille wrote: »

Yep.. for upscaling DVD's anyways.

By the way.. for anyone who thinks the HD-DVD automatically upscales DVD's - it doesn't unless you have the VGA or HDMI cables.

Does a DVD have to be in the HD-DVD drive to upscale?

Basq

eoin2nc wrote: »

Does a DVD have to be in the HD-DVD drive to upscale?

Nope, the XBOX's normal DVD drive will upscale to the same effect as the HD-DVD drive

eoin2nc

Just after testing it there and HD movies look better through component, 1080p or not. Ill stick to that over VGA until I get my elite

iii Stevo iii

I have a 32" 720p lcd and have to say the quality between vga and component is big on my tv. VGA is clearer and smoother with better colours at 720p. This is even noticable on the xbox dashboard! I bought the VGA cable for this reason, I thought it was commonly known that VGA is slightly superior?

thebman

My TV came with a crap component slot. Difference is noticable between component and VGA.

Scruff

Are the elites\new premium 360s any quieter than the pre-hdmi premium consoles? There is no way i'd watch a dvd on my 360 because of the noise, even with a 5.1 surround sound system! Using dvd connected via RGB scart instead though i'd imagine component would give a getter picture than scart.

HDMI > VGA > Component > RGB Scart > Composite Scart\Compisite Video.
yes?

Riskymove

There's alot of different views here (as usual!:D)

My basic question is:

Fact 1
I am about to get LCD TV, probably Bravia.

Fact 2
I have a launch Premium (so i assume cant use HDMI cable?).

Question
What is best way to connect 360 to TV?

johnny_ultimate

iii Stevo iii wrote: »

I have a 32" 720p lcd and have to say the quality between vga and component is big on my tv. VGA is clearer and smoother with better colours at 720p. This is even noticable on the xbox dashboard! I bought the VGA cable for this reason, I thought it was commonly known that VGA is slightly superior?

Heh yeah the Dashboard does look better on VGA to my eyes. Hated going back to SD as the whole start up screen always looked horribly dreary after HD. More noticable difference than with games I found!

Riskymove wrote: »

There's alot of different views here (as usual!:D)

My basic question is:

Fact 1
I am about to get LCD TV, probably Bravia.

Fact 2
I have a launch Premium (so i assume cant use HDMI cable?).

Question
What is best way to connect 360 to TV?

VGA will be your best bet. Just make sure the TV has a VGA / RGB connection!

Riskymove

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

VGA will be your best bet. Just make sure the TV has a VGA / RGB connection!

My issue here is that I also intend hooking up my PC to the TV so that would use the VGA connection. I dont think many TVs would have two VGA slots. Can PC be connected to a TV some other way?

It seems a complete waste to just have the Xbox on a scart to a HD TV though:mad:! I am gonna have to think about this!!

Burning Eclipse

iii Stevo iii wrote: »

I have a 32" 720p lcd and have to say the quality between vga and component is big on my tv. VGA is clearer and smoother with better colours at 720p. This is even noticable on the xbox dashboard! I bought the VGA cable for this reason, I thought it was commonly known that VGA is slightly superior?

Glad someone else mentioned this. Perhaps it is just my tv, but I use VGA and the improvement over Component is enormous at 720p! Not to mention DVDs. Vastly sharper image but ever so slightly poorer in terms of colour depth!

Comparing Component and HDMI should be like comparing RF and RGB Scart!

johnny_ultimate

Riskymove wrote: »

My issue here is that I also intend hooking up my PC to the TV so that would use the VGA connection. I dont think many TVs would have two VGA slots. Can PC be connected to a TV some other way?

It seems a complete waste to just have the Xbox on a scart to a HD TV though:mad:! I am gonna have to think about this!!

Yeah seems unlikely it would have two VGA slots.
Don't settle for SCART though. Use component if you can - it is fine for games, just not so good for DVDs. If you have a PC it might upscale your DVDs anyway? I have no idea if that will be the case or not though.

Riskymove

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Yeah seems unlikely it would have two VGA slots.
Don't settle for SCART though. Use component if you can - it is fine for games, just not so good for DVDs. If you have a PC it might upscale your DVDs anyway? I have no idea if that will be the case or not though.

I have a PS3 which I can connect using HDMI which I plan to use for Blu-Ray and DVD, thought the PC is also an option there.

Is it worth it solely for HD to trade in for elite?

Is it straightforward to connect elite to hdmi slot?

johnny_ultimate

Riskymove wrote: »

I have a PS3 which I can connect using HDMI which I plan to use for Blu-Ray and DVD, thought the PC is also an option there.

Is it worth it solely for HD to trade in for elite?

Is it straightforward to connect elite to hdmi slot?

Oh well if you have a PS3 then you Xbox is hardly going to be used as a DVD player (upscaling far better on PS3 I understand) then you should be fine on component. It won't be quite as good as VGA or HDMI, but the difference won't really matter if you aren't fussy.

And I wouldn't say the upgrade is worth it anyway. Seems like too much money just for a better connection, unless you want the big HDD too.

Riskymove

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Oh well if you have a PS3 then you Xbox is hardly going to be used as a DVD player (upscaling far better on PS3 I understand) then you should be fine on component. It won't be quite as good as VGA or HDMI, but the difference won't really matter if you aren't fussy.

And I wouldn't say the upgrade is worth it anyway. Seems like too much money just for a better connection, unless you want the big HDD too.

Thats very helpful thanks

so PC connected on VGA

Xbox on component

PS on HDMI

sorted......can't wait

SantryRed

I've used both and to be honest there isn't much of a difference in the two cables.

I do think the sound is a bit better on though.

ceejay

Just on the washed-out colour over VGA, one of the recent dashboard updates included a new option in your display settings that allows you to change the colour settings, and it makes a difference. I can't remember the exact option, but if you go digging in the System blade and the Display settings when the VGA cable is connected you should find it. I think there's three settings, and if I remember correctly "Extended" was the option that looked best for me.

Ciarán.