Question about using 360 with a monitor

[NYJets]

I am clueless when it comes to TV's, resolutions, HD and things like that.

When I get my 360 (hopefully this week ) I'll be playing it on a crappy 19 inch non-flatscreen TV. But I do have a monitor in my house that isn't being used. It's 17 inches, crt I think. It's nothing special, but would using that be the same, better, or worse than a TV as far as quality goes?

Also, if I used a monitor, what do you do about sound? Is it possible to have the video coming out of the monitor, and sound out of the TV? Or do you need seperate speakers? If so, how much do decent speakers that don't totally suck cost?

Thanks.

[DXZeke]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Using a monitor will be MUCH BETTER than using it on a standard non HDTV.
What display can your monitors do?

From poking around online and from checking on my own.

...Round about...
640 x 480 = 480p
800 x 600 = 480p
1024 x 768 = 720p
1280 x 1024 = 1080i

Pretty much any CRT will get you a 1024 x 768 display which to me, is more than fine for gaming. Stuff looks really good.

HDTVs and PC Monitors are esentially the same thing when it comes down to it. Both sport some amazing looking picture quality.

As for the sound.
On the VGA Adatper it has a slot that you plug your PC speakers into.
You can get PC speakers from anywhere like 39.99 - 159.99 depending on how crazy you want to go with them.

[NYJets]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Cool, thanks. I know it can do at least 1024 x 768, I think higher.

So all I need is the 360, monitor, and this right?
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/258837.asp

[fishepa]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Yep.

[DXZeke]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

For once I knew what I was talking about and didn't need to be corrected here. *laughs*

You're all set with the VGA Adatper.. and some PC speakers.
The VGA adapter comes with a connecter that will allow male/male connections on CRT and then just the regualr plug if you are going into an LCD. They also have a nice Y cable that will take the Red and White down too a single jack for you PC monitors.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

You can also get a VGA switch so you don't have to switch manually all the time. I'm going to do that because my monitor has a hard place for it's VGA slot.

[jpup]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

I bought the VGA cable, and used it a couple of times on my Samsung 21" Syncmaster 910T. I don't think it looks too much better than my Sony Wega 32" at 4:3 that isn't HD. It was a wasted 40 bucks for me. I looked better but not considerably better. I only tried Madden and Tiger, but i got nba 2k6 for Christmas, I think I will try it later today.

[Triton]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Monitors...even "old" monitors...can do HD resolutions fine. It will look much better than a composite connection through a non-HDTV. And yes, all you need is that cable. I believe 1260x768 (or something similar) is equivalent to 720p.

Question though...what connection would you be using for your TV? Composite, component, or S-video? I'm guessing either composite/S-video since this TV is non-HD, right? In that case go for the monitor.

[NYG_Meth]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Can you use ANY computer monitor? Also, what more do I need to get sound to play through my computer speakers?

[The GIGGAS]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Can you use ANY computer monitor? Also, what more do I need to get sound to play through my computer speakers?

Well, as long as it has a VGA slot.

I think you'd have to get an adapter, and plug it into your computer.

[NYG_Meth]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Well, as long as it has a VGA slot.

I think you'd have to get an adapter, and plug it into your computer.

What does a VGA slot look like?

[Triton]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Can you use ANY computer monitor? Also, what more do I need to get sound to play through my computer speakers?

You see the cable that runs from your monitor to the back of your PC? You need to be able to disconnect it from the monitor and then you will plug the HD VGA cable into the back of your monitor.

As far as playing sound thru your PC speakers, that's easy because the VGA kit comes with the adapter you need. You plug the red/white audio wires into the adapter, and then plug the adapter into your line-in port on the back of your sound card.

[fossen]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Will it cause problems to switch back and forth between Component (to the TV) and VGA (to the monitor)? Will the Xbox switch settings depending on cable?

I don't want the monitor as my primary ... but could be nice to have it as an option.

[bkrich83]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

Will it cause problems to switch back and forth between Component (to the TV) and VGA (to the monitor)? Will the Xbox switch settings depending on cable?

I don't want the monitor as my primary ... but could be nice to have it as an option.

The xbox remembers the settings by cable.

For example when the 360 is plugged in to my component it's set to 720p/Widescreen, when it's plugged in the to VGA port it's ad 1024x768/normal. It remembers whatever the setting was you saved by cable that's plugged in.

[warnerwlf98]

Re: Question about using 360 with a monitor

The xbox remembers the settings by cable.

For example when the 360 is plugged in to my component it's set to 720p/Widescreen, when it's plugged in the to VGA port it's ad 1024x768/normal. It remembers whatever the setting was you saved by cable that's plugged in.

I'm just curious if you tried plugging the VGA adapter into your VGA port on your HDTV and setting the resolution to the native resolution of your HDTV. Does it look any better at the HDTV's native resolution as compared to 720p or 1080i?

Thanks.