1080p, HDMI vs VGA

[Quicksilva86]

I would like to take full advantage of 1080p movies with the new HD-DVD drive being released later this year. I would like to know if I can do this with a VGA cable or I would have to have a HDMI cable which is not currently available. I realise there has been alot of discussion about this lately with people clearly stating that 1080p will run fine through a VGA cable but is this totally true... Is VGA really without any disadvantages VS using HDMI?

[Rival24]

I would like to take full advantage of 1080p movies with the new HD-DVD drive being released later this year. I would like to know if I can do this with a VGA cable or I would have to have a HDMI cable which is not currently available. I realise there has been alot of discussion about this lately with people clearly stating that 1080p will run fine through a VGA cable but is this totally true... Is VGA really without any disadvantages VS using HDMI?
VGA is still analog where HDMI is completely digital thus theoretically giving you better image quality.

[The M.A.R.T.]

VGA is still analog where HDMI is completely digital thus theoretically giving you better image quality.

But the question is at what screen you are going to notice this.

How large does it have to be to notice the difference in sharpness

[Fanappy]

its all fairly theoretical at this stage and depends on the quality of the screen your using too unfortunatly there are more factors with HD than SD; depth of colours should be improved sharpness ect it should look crisper and sharper basically, but to point out 1080p hasnt been seen by the public all sonys stuff has been running on 720p

[Quicksilva86]

Hmmm.... Is the output on the xbox 360 a digital out or analog. In other words with the component cable, is it getting a digital signal and converting it to analog or visa versa. And if it is converting a digital signal into analog surely it would be easy (even if microsoft don't want to make an official one) for a third party to make HDMI (digital) cables for the xbox 360.

[kidkit]

Hmmm.... Is the output on the xbox 360 a digital out or analog. In other words with the component cable, is it getting a digital signal and converting it to analog or visa versa. And if it is converting a digital signal into analog surely it would be easy (even if microsoft don't want to make an official one) for a third party to make HDMI (digital) cables for the xbox 360.

From What I've read the 360s A/V port is Analog only, making an HDMI cable pretty much pointless because a conversion would have to take place.

Although there are a few posted articles suggesting that digital output is possible: http://xe360.com/article/Xbox_360_Accessories/3768.html

[Curry]

As far as my knowledge goes the generic A/V output is analog. It *may* very well be possible that they can internally switch the RAMDAC to pass on unconverted digital signals which can then be picked up by an HDMI cable.

I'm just speculating, but it's a technical possibility.

[Jasovanooo]

vga can go upto and beyond 1080p look at what high end monitors have been doing for years

[Curry]

Simple problem with VGA is that it's analog, and cable layout is not optimized for maximum screen quality (like component is).

Welcome to the forum btw :)

[Aift]

Hell...

I can care less, like most people, my HDTV isn't optimized for 1080p, 1080i is as high as it goes. And I appy playing SC:DA at 1080i!

[kidkit]

Aift, same... My TV looks best at 720p.

I'm running out of inputs though. Ideally I'd have everything HDMI into the tv with a single ToSlink cable back to my Amp for 5.1 sound. But that's still a pipe dream :)

[Curry]

Hell...

I can care less, like most people, my HDTV isn't optimized for 1080p, 1080i is as high as it goes. And I appy playing SC:DA at 1080i!
Many selfproclaimed experts also claim the difference between 1080i and 1080p is not visible for decent screens below 50" size or at more than 2 metres distance.

[Colby]

My pocket shed tears just getting a 720p TV. It will be a looooong time before I will be getting a 1080p TV anyway lol. So basically at this point it is 6 1/2 dozen or the other.

[steven ratty]

you dont get to pick if you want 1080p you have to have vga as there is hdmi cable for the 360 or 360 add on
as there is some law so you can't use the 360 hd leads.

the hd dvd uses USB to the 360 then if you want to match the 360 to the native res of your tv you need to use vga.
but it depands on your tv.
i use vga as games and dvd looks better and its the only way to upscale dvds as your can't with the 360 hd leads.
you get more options when you plug in the vga lead on the 360 for the res sizes.

[Quicksilva86]

Well I have now the simple problem of MY TV ONLY BEING ABLE TO ACCEPT 1080P VIA HDMI so I'm pretty screwed lol. 8)7

[Rival24]

Well I have now the simple problem of MY TV ONLY BEING ABLE TO ACCEPT 1080P VIA HDMI so I'm pretty screwed lol. 8)7

Same for me, but I only have a 720P TV anyway:)

[seneca]

My Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD accepts 1080p over component and so far so good with the new dash. What I want to know is how limited is the bandwidth of the HD-DVD add on since its USB?

[Rival24]

My Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD accepts 1080p over component and so far so good with the new dash. What I want to know is how limited is the bandwidth of the HD-DVD add on since its USB?

USB2's maximum speed is 480MBPS.

[steven ratty]

you will be ok for games but using component for 1080p might not be a option for films, i would look into this,
i know its ok for vga.
same as dvd now if you use componet dvd you dont upscale to 720 or 1080i this can only be done with vga.
im sure this is the same for hd dvd.

[seneca]

Im a newb... what do you mean by "might not be an option?"

[Quicksilva86]

I just bought the Xbox 360 VGA HD Cable to test out the 1080p on my Telly. Well first of all since my TV is a sony x2000 I was pwned with the 1080p not actually being supported over VGA which in the manual it said it does, although this wasn't a problem since I was expecting this and will return it tomorrow (just had to try for myself). Onto my point... Running through VGA I was shocked at the loss of Colour Depth, contrast and even sharpness in comparison to the HD component cables. Has anyone else noticed this?

[Rival24]

I just bought the Xbox 360 VGA HD Cable to test out the 1080p on my Telly. Well first of all since my TV is a sony x2000 I was pwned with the 1080p not actually being supported over VGA which in the manual it said it does, although this wasn't a problem since I was expecting this and will return it tomorrow (just had to try for myself). Onto my point... Running through VGA I was shocked at the loss of Colour Depth, contrast and even sharpness in comparison to the HD component cables. Has anyone else noticed this?

It's much sharper on my TV with VGA and I've heard multiple people confirm this. I recommended the VGA cable to Messiah (also here on the forums) and he didn't like them one bit, just like you which is pretty weird.

[Quicksilva86]

It's much sharper on my TV with VGA and I've heard multiple people confirm this. I recommended the VGA cable to Messiah (also here on the forums) and he didn't like them one bit, just like you which is pretty weird.

Interesting. May I ask what you are running your xbox 360 on. An HDTV or a PC Monitor?

[Rival24]

Interesting. May I ask what you are running your xbox 360 on. An HDTV or a PC Monitor?

HDTV (Samsung LE32M61B)

[Quicksilva86]

Yeah I have been reading around on the AVS forums and it's like half the people are claiming the picture is washed out in VGA and the other half are saying it's better than component. Perhaps this is something which shall remain unsolved O-)

[Lotus 111s]

I would have to back Rival up on the VGA thing, on my Panasonic TH42PX60 Plasma screen VGA outshines Component quite considerably. Having said that i have to set VGA to 1280*1024 to get it to fit the screen as my screen has a strange setup of 1024*768 native although the horizontal pixels are stretched. I must say though that i have also found alot of games suffer tearing on the VGA but not with Component anyone have any ideas why this is?

[Jasovanooo]

i find vga better here but i think its mainly to do with wich tv's work better with what signals etc