HD components question.

CleBrownsfan · 03-10-2009, 03:07 PM

I feel really outdated when I ask these type of questions but I just want some clarification. I just bought a PS3 yesterday and when I got home I realized my TV doesn't have a HDMI output. So I was just playing last night with the PS3 component cable it came with. I went to Best Buy and today and I was talking to someone who was trying to exlpain HD to me. Well, I nodded like I understood but was completely lost. My question is this: I bought a HD component cable for the PS3. Will this be clearer than the cable my PS3 came with? From what I think I got out from the Best Buy conversation is the PS3 cable is standard definition and with the HD component it will show as 720P. Is this correct?

~thanks in advance for any input

gstelmack · 03-10-2009, 03:11 PM

"Component" is different than "Composite". If your PS3 came with a "Component" cable (separate Red, Green, Blue wires), then return the one Best Buy sold you as they stole your money. There is not enough difference to really matter between component cables despite what Monster Cable will tell you. If your PS3 came with "Composite" (generally a single RCA jack, often yellow) or even S-Video (funky round connector with several pins in it), that will limit you to standard definition / 480i.

HDMI is digital and won't necessarily affect the picture that much, although it's generally preferred as you won't have signal loss between the two.

lordscarlet · 03-10-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstelmack

"Component" is different than "Composite". If your PS3 came with a "Component" cable (separate Red, Green, Blue wires), then return the one Best Buy sold you as they stole your money. There is not enough difference to really matter between component cables despite what Monster Cable will tell you. If your PS3 came with "Composite" (generally a single RCA jack, often yellow) or even S-Video (funky round connector with several pins in it), that will limit you to standard definition / 480i.

HDMI is digital and won't necessarily affect the picture that much, although it's generally preferred as you won't have signal loss between the two.

HDMI also includes the audio, which may or may not be helpful to you.

Mizzou B-ball fan · 03-10-2009, 03:19 PM

The PS3 is still packaged with a Composite cable (red, white, yellow) and will only output at 480i. The salesman was correct that you need at least a component cable (red, green, blue with red and white for audio) to put out HD. I know a component cable will put out 1080i and 720p. Someone far smarter than me can tell you if it will also do 1080p.

If you have a HDMI input on your TV or receiver, definitely use HDMI instead of the component cable. You can go to monoprice.com and get some very low priced HDMI cables that will do the job just fine.

Logan · 03-10-2009, 03:20 PM

And shouldn't your TV be needing HDMI *input* (the output would come from your cable box, PS3, etc)? Just double check and make sure you don't have that.

SackAttack · 03-10-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CleBrownsfan

I feel really outdated when I ask these type of questions but I just want some clarification. I just bought a PS3 yesterday and when I got home I realized my TV doesn't have a HDMI output. So I was just playing last night with the PS3 component cable it came with. I went to Best Buy and today and I was talking to someone who was trying to exlpain HD to me. Well, I nodded like I understood but was completely lost. My question is this: I bought a HD component cable for the PS3. Will this be clearer than the cable my PS3 came with? From what I think I got out from the Best Buy conversation is the PS3 cable is standard definition and with the HD component it will show as 720P. Is this correct?

~thanks in advance for any input

This is a PS3 composite cable. This is what your PS3 should have come with. Any output with that cable will be 480i, which is to say, 480 lines of resolution, with interlacing (half the picture drawn every 1/30 of a second, odd numbered lines followed by even numbered lines).

This is a component cable. With a PS3, you're looking at 480p, 720p, and 1080i as additional output choices. 720p indicates 720 lines of resolution, while the p stands for 'progressive scan' - all 720 lines are drawn during each passthrough the TV makes. gstelmack is absolutely correct in that there isn't much difference between component cables.

The one above should be the official component cable. Component is the only way to get HD if you can't do HDMI. One thing to consider - the blu-ray format includes a form of copy-protection known as HDCP, or 'Hi-definition content protection.' That doesn't mean much at the moment, but it gives the Blu-ray Disc Consortium (or whatever hi-falutin' name they use for themselves) the ability to throttle resolution on blu-ray discs down to 480p if an approved connection (HDMI) isn't in use. It's an anti-piracy measure designed to prevent folks from being able to grab the 1080p stream from the disc while it's playing.

That's probably still a couple of years from happening, but it might be worth considering an upgrade to an HD set that does include HDMI inputs at some point in the near'ish future.

SackAttack · 03-10-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Someone far smarter than me can tell you if it will also do 1080p.

It can, if the TV will accept 1080p resolution via component video. Whether the PS3 will do 1080p over component is a more complicated question because of the whole HDCP thing.

Logan · 03-10-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

The PS3 is still packaged with a Composite cable (red, white, yellow) and will only output at 480i. The salesman was correct that you need at least a component cable (red, green, blue with red and white for audio) to put out HD.

Seriously? That's pretty weak if you ask me. 360 comes with both (think they're actually joined together) I'm sure it's not a huge expense to grab a component cable but it's a pain in the ass to need to.

Of course, if it comes with an HDMI cable instead, excuse this post

.

CleBrownsfan · 03-10-2009, 03:29 PM

thanks guys...I knew I could get a answer I could understand here

DanGarion · 03-10-2009, 03:30 PM

I actually think HDCP does not affect Component because that is analog, HDCP only affects the digital side of things (HDMI, DVI...). If I remember correctly.

gstelmack · 03-10-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanGarion

I actually think HDCP does not affect Component because that is analog, HDCP only affects the digital side of things (HDMI, DVI...). If I remember correctly.

Yup.

SackAttack · 03-10-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

Seriously? That's pretty weak if you ask me. 360 comes with both (think they're actually joined together) I'm sure it's not a huge expense to grab a component cable but it's a pain in the ass to need to.

Only if you buy the pro or the elite models. Arcade is also composite only.

Quote:

Of course, if it comes with an HDMI cable instead, excuse this post

.

Doesn't include one of those either. Only console that does is the Elite 360.

DanGarion · 03-10-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Yup.

No whether or not some ass of a company would prohibit resolutions out of component on their own end has yet to be determined though...

stevew · 03-10-2009, 03:36 PM

If you have an older rear projection HD set you may have a DVI input. In that case a hdmi to dvi cord would be best. With separate sound run.

DanGarion · 03-10-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Only if you buy the pro or the elite models. Arcade is also composite only.

Doesn't include one of those either. Only console that does is the Elite 360.

When I opened my PS3 box on Sunday I was surprised to see that these companies are still not providing all the cables needed for the optimum connection of their devices... You would think they would have got their head out of their asses by now about this stuff... I mean even my company provides component and/or HDMI cables free of charge for customers when we are connecting their cable TV services...

DanGarion · 03-10-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevew

If you have an older rear projection HD set you may have a DVI input. In that case a hdmi to dvi cord would be best. With separate sound run.

Or course that depends on if it's DVI-A DVI-V, DVI-I... .

SackAttack · 03-10-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanGarion

When I opened my PS3 box on Sunday I was surprised to see that these companies are still not providing all the cables needed for the optimum connection of their devices... You would think they would have got their head out of their asses by now about this stuff... I mean even my company provides component and/or HDMI cables free of charge for customers when we are connecting their cable TV services...

Key phrase in bold.

Left to their own devices, consumers can and will screw up even the simplest of tasks with relation to video games. I know people who are otherwise intelligent who plug their system in with component video (they got that much right!) and without even checking which resolution the system is outputting at, start raving about HD.

Had a friend do that with the 360 component cables, and yeah, he WAS getting an improved picture - 480p instead of 480i. I went in and made a little change for him, and his jaw dropped.

Adding the cables is only half the battle. You're still not going to get that optimum picture until people get better educated on how it works.

DanGarion · 03-10-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Key phrase in bold.

Left to their own devices, consumers can and will screw up even the simplest of tasks with relation to video games. I know people who are otherwise intelligent who plug their system in with component video (they got that much right!) and without even checking which resolution the system is outputting at, start raving about HD.

Had a friend do that with the 360 component cables, and yeah, he WAS getting an improved picture - 480p instead of 480i. I went in and made a little change for him, and his jaw dropped.

Adding the cables is only half the battle. You're still not going to get that optimum picture until people get better educated on how it works.

Oh yeah I agree with you 100%, but you can't teach stupid people new tricks. Most people are too ignorant to read anything so they can hook up stuff correctly.

SackAttack · 03-10-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanGarion

Oh yeah I agree with you 100%, but you can't teach stupid people new tricks. Most people are too ignorant to read anything so they can hook up stuff correctly.

And that's why, largely, they don't include the better cables in the box.

Ignorant people will convince themselves of anything they want to, and if they convince themselves that the PS3 is HD with what's in the box, tech support never gets a call about it, and they don't have to spend 30 minutes walking people through 'this is how you do it.'

People who DO know what's what, even a little bit, will go and get the cables. Yes, it's extra effort and extra expense, but when you're spending $400 or $500 on the system to begin with, $10-25 (assuming monoprice HDMI or 'official' PS3 component) is really a drop in the bucket by comparison, so most people will deal with it, even if they complain about it.

Meanwhile, tech support still isn't getting flooded with 'how do I HD?' questions, and Sony's bottom line is improved, even if only very marginally.

Would it be better for the consumer if the cables were in the box? Yup.

Is it probably less of a headache for Sony to do it this way? Also yup.

Logan · 03-10-2009, 05:23 PM

I wonder if there are people who see the "supposed HD" and don't see it as being impressive enough to warrant purchasing the system.

lordscarlet · 03-10-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

I wonder if there are people who see the "supposed HD" and don't see it as being impressive enough to warrant purchasing the system.

I have definitely known people like this.

DanGarion · 03-10-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

I wonder if there are people who see the "supposed HD" and don't see it as being impressive enough to warrant purchasing the system.

I bet you 25% of this board is like that and probably over 50% of the general public...

SackAttack · 03-10-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

I wonder if there are people who see the "supposed HD" and don't see it as being impressive enough to warrant purchasing the system.

Yes, but that's probably compounded by the price. When your system is $400 or $500, that's already a significant resistance-to-entry for the more casual members of your prospective market.

There's only so much Sony can do. There will be people who think buying the system is enough to get HD, even with an ancient TV. There will be people who think the TV is good enough, even without the proper cables because of how much they're already spending.

Would it be a good idea to include those better cables? Absolutely, but that still only addresses part of the market, and still leaves them in the position of being the most expensive system because of a benefit that an ignorant segment of the market has no clue how to reap.

03-10-2009, 03:11 PM	#2
gstelmack Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cary, NC	"Component" is different than "Composite". If your PS3 came with a "Component" cable (separate Red, Green, Blue wires), then return the one Best Buy sold you as they stole your money. There is not enough difference to really matter between component cables despite what Monster Cable will tell you. If your PS3 came with "Composite" (generally a single RCA jack, often yellow) or even S-Video (funky round connector with several pins in it), that will limit you to standard definition / 480i. HDMI is digital and won't necessarily affect the picture that much, although it's generally preferred as you won't have signal loss between the two. __________________ -- Greg -- Author of various FOF utilities

03-10-2009, 03:29 PM	#9
CleBrownsfan Pro Rookie Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: C-Town	thanks guys...I knew I could get a answer I could understand here __________________ *XBox Gamertag:* Pronk32 FOOL-X - Cleveland Naps FOOL - Cleveland Cyclones SLOP - Cuyahoga Spiders

03-10-2009, 03:30 PM	#10
DanGarion Coordinator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Great Northwest	I actually think HDCP does not affect Component because that is analog, HDCP only affects the digital side of things (HDMI, DVI...). If I remember correctly. __________________ Los Angeles Dodgers Check out the FOFC Groups on Facebook! and Reddit! DON'T REPORT ME BRO!

03-10-2009, 03:19 PM	#4
Mizzou B-ball fan General Manager Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kansas City, MO	The PS3 is still packaged with a Composite cable (red, white, yellow) and will only output at 480i. The salesman was correct that you need at least a component cable (red, green, blue with red and white for audio) to put out HD. I know a component cable will put out 1080i and 720p. Someone far smarter than me can tell you if it will also do 1080p. If you have a HDMI input on your TV or receiver, definitely use HDMI instead of the component cable. You can go to monoprice.com and get some very low priced HDMI cables that will do the job just fine.

03-10-2009, 03:20 PM	#5
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	And shouldn't your TV be needing HDMI input (the output would come from your cable box, PS3, etc)? Just double check and make sure you don't have that.

03-10-2009, 03:36 PM	#14
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	If you have an older rear projection HD set you may have a DVI input. In that case a hdmi to dvi cord would be best. With separate sound run.

03-10-2009, 05:23 PM	#20
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	I wonder if there are people who see the "supposed HD" and don't see it as being impressive enough to warrant purchasing the system.

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