Video help with my old XBox

Pumpy Tudors · 04-08-2006, 03:50 PM

As I've mentioned in a couple of other threads, I bought the official Microsoft VGA cable for my XBox 360. I've become so spoiled by the picture quality on this 19" monitor that it's hard to go back to my old XBox and 13" TV. Now, I understand that the 360 is a more powerful machine and the graphics are going to be better no matter what, but what are my options for improving picture quality from my old XBox? I'm just using the standard composite cable, so I know that that's bringing the quality down. I could maybe get a bigger television with component inputs for about $200, but is there really that big of a quality difference? Ideally, I'd like a way to connect my XBox to this 19" monitor, but it appears that I'd have to order something like the X2VGA (www.x2vga.com) from overseas, and they're out of stock for a couple of weeks anyway. I'm a little too impatient, and if there's a way that I can get a more comfortable XBox gaming experience sooner, I'm all for it.

Basically, my spending limit is about $200, so HDTV is definitely not an option. The simplest thing would just be to get a bigger TV and not worry about anything else, but I don't really want to bother with another TV and keep using this composite output. It seems pointless. Can I do modes like 480p or 720p on a television that's not going to cost me a whole bunch of money? I've tried to research this, but I'm still not sure about it all.

Thanks.

Pumpy Tudors · 04-08-2006, 04:02 PM

Dola

Through some further research, I see that 720p is an HD mode, so that's out. So is it worth it to try to get 480p on a bigger screen over the composite video that I'm using on the 13" now?

gstelmack · 04-08-2006, 06:21 PM

Depends on your goals. I had my Xbox hooked up to a 27" TV using SVideo and had really good quality, but of course it looked MUCH better on the 34" HDTV with component cables. TV size is going to be one issue for you, and SVideo is a huge step up from composite (with component another big step up).

You can get some decent LCD-TVs for not too much money that you can hook that Xbox up to and get much better quality if you can use SVideo or component.

Pumpy Tudors · 04-08-2006, 06:25 PM

Well, I don't have a lot of space for a gaming TV, so I'm probably topping out at 20". Best Buy has one for $89 that has component inputs. I just came back from Best Buy after looking at the display model, and the picture looks pretty good. I'm going to check out the prices on LCD's and see what my options are.

Pumpy Tudors · 04-09-2006, 03:44 PM

Well, my lack of knowledge has bitten me on the ass. I just returned from Wal-Mart with a TV, and it had component inputs, but it apparently doesn't support 480p. Now I have to decide whether to keep it (at least it's got a bigger screen than my old TV, plus the component inputs). I thought the component inputs pretty much meant that it would support 480p, but now I see that it's not the case. Doh!

SackAttack · 04-09-2006, 03:51 PM

Pumpy - I did the same thing with a TV I bought a few years ago. It's a Sony Wega, and I love it to death, but the model that came out six months later had progressive scan, while this one doesn't.

As far as your monitor thing, if you pick up a quality VGA box, you can convert your composite signal for use on the monitor, but I don't know if it will actually improve the picture any.

Pumpy Tudors · 04-09-2006, 03:59 PM

SackAttack, the only problem with VGA box is that I'd have to wait to get something shipped to me, and I was clearly too impatient for that since I went out and bought a TV.

The entire purpose of this exercise is to be able to play my original XBox games in 480p or better. An X2VGA box would bump me up to 720p at least. The right TV set will get me to 480p, but apparently, I bought the wrong TV.

I'm probably going to bring this TV back to Wal-Mart (I hope they don't give me a big fuss), and then I'll have to make another decision. I saw a couple of TV's that said they were "SDTV", but I don't know if that's 480p either. This is driving me nuts. I've gone 4 years without "needing" to upgrade my XBox display, and now I'm suddenly changing my tune. Maybe I just need a good slap.

SackAttack · 04-09-2006, 04:08 PM

SDTV is, if I'm not mistaken, standard definition TV.

In short, it's what you already bought, but it's a moniker meant to confuse people into thinking they're getting some kind of a high-definition set (SDTV, HDTV, you can see where folks would get confused).

Pumpy Tudors · 04-09-2006, 04:09 PM

Ah, now I get it. I finally found the slap in the face I needed. I see that SDTV is just the digital version of the resolution that I've been using. I would need EDTV (enhanced definition television), and I think that's going to be out of my price range. The TV goes back to Wal-Mart in a while, and I guess I'm back to either my 13" TV or just moving the XBox to one of the larger TV's that we already have in the house. The component cable I bought is just gonna be a waste, but it was only $15.

I think I actually saw a couple of LCD TV's under $300, but they were 15". It would be nice to play on an LCD, but a 15" screen ain't that much bigger than the 13" I've been using, so I think that's out, too.

Well, at least I got some learnin' out of the deal.

stevew · 04-09-2006, 10:50 PM

Might want to check to see if they have one of those adapter type things at Comp USA if it's convenient to you. Also I think i saw some HDTV monitor type TV's at wal mart in the 300 dollar range. Of course not LCD.

Pumpy Tudors · 04-14-2006, 09:59 PM

Here is the final update of my situation. I ended up returning the television to Wal-Mart since we didn't need another TV in the house. I came home, immediately checked eBay, and found an X2VGA box. I ended up clicking the "Buy It Now" link on Sunday, and it arrived at my house today. I connected it to my XBox, started up MVP 06, and played in 720p on my 19" VGA monitor. It's lovely, considering that I was on a 13" TV before.

So my problem is solved, and while I wait for 2K Sports to iron out the technical issue with MLB 2K6 for the 360, I'll gladly try to take my UNO Privateers to glory with MVP 06 on my XBox.

MizzouRah · 04-14-2006, 10:19 PM

I have a 15" LCD TV and the ps2 looks terrible hooked up with component cables - it's not an HD LCD TV though. Using those same cables and hooking it up to my 27" Sony Wega TV though looks 100x better.

SackAttack · 04-14-2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I have a 15" LCD TV and the ps2 looks terrible hooked up with component cables - it's not an HD LCD TV though. Using those same cables and hooking it up to my 27" Sony Wega TV though looks 100x better.

In my experience, the PS2 nearly always looks terrible hooked up with component.

It's why I bought S-Video instead when I bought my Monster cables at work three or four years ago.

MizzouRah · 04-15-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

In my experience, the PS2 nearly always looks terrible hooked up with component.

It's why I bought S-Video instead when I bought my Monster cables at work three or four years ago.

It looks great on my Wega TV, but not much better than s-video.

04-08-2006, 04:02 PM	#2
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Dola Through some further research, I see that 720p is an HD mode, so that's out. So is it worth it to try to get 480p on a bigger screen over the composite video that I'm using on the 13" now? __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor. Last edited by Pumpy Tudors : 04-08-2006 at 04:37 PM.

04-08-2006, 06:21 PM	#3
gstelmack Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cary, NC	Depends on your goals. I had my Xbox hooked up to a 27" TV using SVideo and had really good quality, but of course it looked MUCH better on the 34" HDTV with component cables. TV size is going to be one issue for you, and SVideo is a huge step up from composite (with component another big step up). You can get some decent LCD-TVs for not too much money that you can hook that Xbox up to and get much better quality if you can use SVideo or component. __________________ -- Greg -- Author of various FOF utilities Last edited by gstelmack : 04-08-2006 at 06:21 PM.

04-08-2006, 06:25 PM	#4
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Well, I don't have a lot of space for a gaming TV, so I'm probably topping out at 20". Best Buy has one for $89 that has component inputs. I just came back from Best Buy after looking at the display model, and the picture looks pretty good. I'm going to check out the prices on LCD's and see what my options are. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

04-09-2006, 03:44 PM	#5
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Well, my lack of knowledge has bitten me on the ass. I just returned from Wal-Mart with a TV, and it had component inputs, but it apparently doesn't support 480p. Now I have to decide whether to keep it (at least it's got a bigger screen than my old TV, plus the component inputs). I thought the component inputs pretty much meant that it would support 480p, but now I see that it's not the case. Doh! __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

04-09-2006, 03:59 PM	#7
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	SackAttack, the only problem with VGA box is that I'd have to wait to get something shipped to me, and I was clearly too impatient for that since I went out and bought a TV. The entire purpose of this exercise is to be able to play my original XBox games in 480p or better. An X2VGA box would bump me up to 720p at least. The right TV set will get me to 480p, but apparently, I bought the wrong TV. I'm probably going to bring this TV back to Wal-Mart (I hope they don't give me a big fuss), and then I'll have to make another decision. I saw a couple of TV's that said they were "SDTV", but I don't know if that's 480p either. This is driving me nuts. I've gone 4 years without "needing" to upgrade my XBox display, and now I'm suddenly changing my tune. Maybe I just need a good slap. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

04-09-2006, 03:51 PM	#6
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Pumpy - I did the same thing with a TV I bought a few years ago. It's a Sony Wega, and I love it to death, but the model that came out six months later had progressive scan, while this one doesn't. As far as your monitor thing, if you pick up a quality VGA box, you can convert your composite signal for use on the monitor, but I don't know if it will actually improve the picture any.

04-09-2006, 04:08 PM	#8
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	SDTV is, if I'm not mistaken, standard definition TV. In short, it's what you already bought, but it's a moniker meant to confuse people into thinking they're getting some kind of a high-definition set (SDTV, HDTV, you can see where folks would get confused).

04-09-2006, 04:09 PM	#9
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Ah, now I get it. I finally found the slap in the face I needed. I see that SDTV is just the digital version of the resolution that I've been using. I would need EDTV (enhanced definition television), and I think that's going to be out of my price range. The TV goes back to Wal-Mart in a while, and I guess I'm back to either my 13" TV or just moving the XBox to one of the larger TV's that we already have in the house. The component cable I bought is just gonna be a waste, but it was only $15. I think I actually saw a couple of LCD TV's under $300, but they were 15". It would be nice to play on an LCD, but a 15" screen ain't that much bigger than the 13" I've been using, so I think that's out, too. Well, at least I got some learnin' out of the deal. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

04-09-2006, 10:50 PM	#10
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	Might want to check to see if they have one of those adapter type things at Comp USA if it's convenient to you. Also I think i saw some HDTV monitor type TV's at wal mart in the 300 dollar range. Of course not LCD.

04-14-2006, 09:59 PM	#11
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Here is the final update of my situation. I ended up returning the television to Wal-Mart since we didn't need another TV in the house. I came home, immediately checked eBay, and found an X2VGA box. I ended up clicking the "Buy It Now" link on Sunday, and it arrived at my house today. I connected it to my XBox, started up MVP 06, and played in 720p on my 19" VGA monitor. It's lovely, considering that I was on a 13" TV before. So my problem is solved, and while I wait for 2K Sports to iron out the technical issue with MLB 2K6 for the 360, I'll gladly try to take my UNO Privateers to glory with MVP 06 on my XBox. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

04-14-2006, 10:19 PM	#12
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Troy, Mo	I have a 15" LCD TV and the ps2 looks terrible hooked up with component cables - it's not an HD LCD TV though. Using those same cables and hooking it up to my 27" Sony Wega TV though looks 100x better.

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