360 in 480p

[fushkkk]

Just curious if it is possible to do any better than 480p using the xbox? I just hooked mine up to an LCD for the first time, and it read it in 480p.

Just curious if anyone knows off the top of their head if you can do better.

Thanks!

[Balefire]

original x-box? It depends on the game. There is a little "HD" box on the back of each game case that lists what it can display at. A lot of them can't even do 480p I don't think. I remember that some can do 720p, but not very many at all.

[smokeh]

the 360 goes up to 720p, HD gaming is kind of the centerpiece of the 360 console ragin.

go mess around in your settings.

[Doc Wattson]

HD isn't the centerpiece of the 360, online is. The 360 can't even play HD movies. HD is the centerpiece of the PS3.

-Gary-

[smokeh]

it was the first console to have games native widescreen/720p.

And the 360 CAN play HD movies. They have an entire marketplace dedicated to the sale of HD movies/TV shows.

But i will grant you that online play is also a centerpiece.

A co-centerpiece.

[Doc Wattson]

How big is teh 360 center?

-Gary-

[smokeh]

How big is teh 360 center?

-Gary-

huh?

[Doc Wattson]

Joke on Centerpiece lingo you moron

-Gary-

[smokeh]

hmm?

[fushkkk]

the 360 goes up to 720p, HD gaming is kind of the centerpiece of the 360 console ragin.

go mess around in your settings.

I thought so - thanks for letting me know. I don't have an HDMI connection, i'm just using the stock cables, but I still should be able to get 720P.

Thanks Smokeh

[smokeh]

yeah, you can use the composite(component?) cables.

they are what I use, you're fine.

[Evil Ernie]

yeah, you can use the composite(component?) cables.

they are what I use, you're fine.

Yeah, stick to the RGB cables and you'll do well. If you want true HD, you'd have to purchase the HDMI cable for the 360. Although costly, your best bet would be Monster Cables.

And if you absolutely want to test your HD, do as Smokeh suggested: Download a movie off the Marketplace in HD and watch it. You'll be able to watch it for 24 hours, so you can test your settings and tweak what you need to.

[smokeh]

Yeah, stick to the RGB cables and you'll do well. If you want true HD, you'd have to purchase the HDMI cable for the 360. Although costly, your best bet would be Monster Cables.

And if you absolutely want to test your HD, do as Smokeh suggested: Download a movie off the Marketplace in HD and watch it. You'll be able to watch it for 24 hours, so you can test your settings and tweak what you need to.

um...

1. Component cables are what you want to use ragin, and they come with your system. They are the standard RCA jacks, but you have 5 plugs instead of 3. I think that's what EE was getting at, but basically a standard composite cable has 1 video signal, and 2 audio (left/right), whereas component cables basically have a Red/Green/Blue & 2 audio signal.

These come with the 360, so you'll be 100% fine with the cables that come with the system. Just make sure you plug all 5 into a component hookup on your TV.

2. Component cables AND HDMI are both true HD. They both deliver the same source etc, and both can display at 720p/1080i. Component can do 1080p too, but there are limitations apparently (reading a bit in the AVSforums on it). I have a 52" 720p HDTV, and run both my cable box and 360 over component cables, and my HTPC over HDMI. There is no comparable difference between the two.

If you have a super-high-end system, there are people who claim that you get a better signal from an HDMI connection, but there are others that claim the exact opposite. Basically, for 720p/1080i, there isn't a huge difference.

3. Let's all say it together now, MONSTER CABLES ARE HUGE RIP OFFS. They charge you $50-100 for cables that don't work as well as a simple coat hangar. (http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15412&postcount=28) Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever buy Monster Cables.

Monoprice.net (http://www.monoprice.net) is where all the audio/videophiles go for their cables. You can get a 6' HDMI cable for, like, 5 bucks. And it's high quality too.

Never ever ever ever ever ever buy Monster Cables.

4. It'll be pretty easy to test your HD, if you are on an HDTV and your games look low-rez, and like shit, you are probably not broadcasting correctly. I remember I went from an ancient TV to my new TV, and I had to mess around in settings. But it was VERY recognizable.

5. Sadly, the HD Movie selection in the 360 is pretty piss poor, and waaaaay too expensive for my tastes.

[Balefire]

the 360 goes up to 720p, HD gaming is kind of the centerpiece of the 360 console ragin.

go mess around in your settings.

No, the 360 goes up to 1080p. At least current hardware does.

And I'm not sure about about hatred for monster. Better made cables do make a difference. I don't think it is a difference that is worth the (admittedly exorbitant) monster prices though.

[smokeh]

No, the 360 goes up to 1080p. At least current hardware does.

And I'm not sure about about hatred for monster. Better made cables do make a difference. I don't think it is a difference that is worth the (admittedly exorbitant) monster prices though.

good point, i forgot the 360 could do 1080p, hence the HD-DVD addon etc. I think all of their games are 720p/1080i only though.

The hatred for Monster comes from the fact that they are horrendously overpriced, and they are pushed on you at ever big-box retail store you go to. I've known some people who come out of a bestbuy with a new TV/DVD player, and are convinced that the only way their DVD player will work is with the $80 cables, when really $4 are the same thing.

Also, i'm pretty sure that monster cables give you absolutely no discernible increase in video/audio quality.

[saitn]

The hatred for Monster comes from the fact that they are horrendously overpriced, and they are pushed on you at ever big-box retail store you go to. I've known some people who come out of a bestbuy with a new TV/DVD player, and are convinced that the only way their DVD player will work is with the $80 cables, when really $4 are the same thing.

Also, i'm pretty sure that monster cables give you absolutely no discernible increase in video/audio quality.

Pretty sure I agree with you.. along with many others.

[Balefire]

they are pushed on you at ever big-box retail store you go to. I've known some people who come out of a bestbuy with a new TV/DVD player, and are convinced that the only way their DVD player will work is with the $80 cables, when really $4 are the same thing.


That's really just reason to hate Best Buy and the other retailers. I remember working at Micro Center (big-ass computer store) and a nice little old couple came him to ask some questions. They bought a new printer from Best Buy. It CAME with a USB cable, but the dude at best buy convinced them that they'd be idiots not to buy a $40 gold plated USB cable to use instead. Better prints or something. HA. That made me very angry.

Best Buy is hatred.



Oh, and cable quality does make a difference. It is mostly in the quality of the connectors. Connections are where signal usually degrades. High quality connections between cables and hardware does minimize the distortion and interference that is always present (but you might not really be able to see). Also, higher quality cables theoretically pick up interference less, but they also break less. As someone that uses many instrument cables, cheap cables get breaks in them, but I've never had an expensive cable get a break in it.

I'm not saying that buying $80 cables is the way to go. You can get high quality (even monster) cables much cheaper if you know where to look--and that isn't at Best Buy.

[smokeh]

That's really just reason to hate Best Buy and the other retailers. I remember working at Micro Center (big-ass computer store) and a nice little old couple came him to ask some questions. They bought a new printer from Best Buy. It CAME with a USB cable, but the dude at best buy convinced them that they'd be idiots not to buy a $40 gold plated USB cable to use instead. Better prints or something. HA. That made me very angry.

Best Buy is hatred.

yes, but the hatred should be shared. monster markets their cables as providing a better experience for their price point, when that is in fact, not true. For example:

Monster Cable - Ultra Series 600 8' HDMI A/V Cable (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8473412&st=monster+HDMI&type=product&id=1188558641855) $99.99

Monster is setting this price across all retailers, one hundred dollars for an 8' HDMI cable.

Take a look at a similar product from monoprice:

HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified CL2 Rated (In-Wall Installation) Cable (24AWG) w/ Net Jacket - 10ft (Gold Plated Connectors) (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024004&p_id=3662&seq=1&format=2) $12.99

I agree that the retailers are evil for pushing these products off on people, but Monster selling their products as they do, is just as evil.

[ferret]

DAMN THE MAN. DOWN WITH THE EVIL CABLE CORPORATION.

[weems]

lol smokeh, I know. It's DIGITAL PEOPLE! THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY.

I mean, you could argue that the Monster cables are "more durable" or some such, but to say they give you a "better experience" is essentially just a big fat lie.

Although this is really small time. If you want to see this stuff happening on a much grander scale, check out the high end audiophile market sector! HOLY SHIT! It's like there is an entire group of people who literally WANT to be ripped off.

"I'll take this 99.99% silver cable for eleventy billion dollars kthx. It sounds more alive."

Of course there is the opposite side of the spectrum... People who think that two sets of headphones that have the same frequency response range are of the same quality. AHHHHHH!

Edit:

Upon further research, it seems like you could compare the cables in stores like Best Buy to the popcorn and candy at the movie theater. That's where the profit is when they sell somebody that brand new 50" HDTV. The margins on most of their high tech products are pretty thin. It is made up for a million times over by the cables.

[fushkkk]

i was going to report back - I didn't realize it was as simple as changing the settings within the main dashboard of the xbox.

I used the cables that come with the machine, switched it to 1080P, and apparently that is the signal that my screen identifies it as. It looks very impressive. The resolution is extremely sharp, I'm having a hard time putting down Assassin's Creed. Yes, I know I beat it, but I"m playing it again - except this time it looks pretty awesome.

The only issue I have is that I notice some "lag" if you will at certain points in the game that never happened before. I've got a cooler on my xbox, and although I've been playing for extended sessions lately, it appears to be pretty reasonable in terms of temperature. I'll keep an eye on it and let you guys know if it's a huge problem, but I don't really see it as being too horrible just yet.

And:

HDMI cables don't work for me - I don't have the connection at the back of my xbox. Is there an adapter that I can get? And is it worth it? Smokeh obviously says no, and he's probably right.

[smokeh]

certain games (notably when i played viking: battle of asgard) lagged a bit. it can happen.

mass effect did too until i turned off an effect or two.

you are fine with the cables you have, don't worry about it.