360 VGA 'colours washed' Solution

[sj33]

Got my VGA cable today, official JPN one. Read reports before that the colours look washed compared to the Component cable, and sure enough, in both the default 640x480 and 1360x768 (my screens native resolution), it looked washed.

However, setting the output to 1280x720 solved this completely.
I can only assume the internal 360 scaler isn;t very good, though VGA at least.
So if any of you are having problems with the VGA colours looking washed on your LCD TV, set the output to 1280x720 and leave the scaling to your TV.

[HaHaUK]

How much better does it look than component?

[Cuber001]

i will try this. I don't have a problem with the colours though through 1360 x 768 though. Sure there not as coulourful as Component, but by no means does it look dull or washed out. But i will try and get back to you.

EDIT:

OK. I really can't see much, but the orange on the Xbox Live screen seems to be brighter aned more alive. So yes, i would say it did help a little. Great to have some really smart people on here! Thanks!

[sj33]

If it works fine for you, cool... if it ain't broke, don't fix it

VGA is noticably sharper than Component to my eyes... but disappointingly, the 360 VGA output doesn't even come close to the jawdroppinly good Dreamcast VGA output. It's probably not worth bothering with if you think Component looks good already.

[Cuber001]

just tried Gotham, and yes the colours do seem more alive. However i have a border about an inch long to the right hand side of the tv oh well.

[sj33]

Yeah same here. Fiddling with the TV to try and fix it =/

In 1360x768, everything seems to have a slight blur, defeating the point of the 1360x768 upscaling. The 360 must really have a **** scaler for VGA.

VGA is clearer and all, but I'm very much disappointed. I was hoping for a true VGA mode comparable to the Dreamcast.

[Cuber001]

yep. If you find a solution to get rid of that border, please tell! The colours are better. And its not as dark as component is (sometimes in Gotham its hard to see your car!)

But i could not live with that border there.

But also, as i said, its not that bad through 1360 x 768 though. Only slight difference. But a difference non the less!

[sj33]

The problem, as far as I can see, is not that it's particularly washed, as the colours are as bright as ever. The problem is that the entire screen is pretty bright, not to look wierd, but to mean you now notice every visual artifact in the level, such as the bitmap backgrounds in RR6. The nighttime levels are pretty much very visible now.

It's probably how it's actually 'supposed' to look. I reckon we're just not used to something looking as correct as this.

I don't really want to go back to using Component because the image itself is definately clearer =/

[bignige]

If you have a Samsung, go to the pc setting and auto adjustment will centre your image.

[Flompy]

Does 1280x768 solve the problem too?

[sj33]

Not for me. I find that every resolution looks washed execpt for 1280x720. Given that the 360 is not doing any scaling whatsoever at 1280x720 (because that's the native output resolution of the machine), it makes sense to say the scaler is the cause of the washed image.

The scaler does not give a washed image over Component when scaling to 480p, 575p or 1080i, so it must be the scaler just being crap at VGA.

[sj33]

I'm getting used to the VGA output of the 360 (at 1280x720, no internal scaling). I genuinely do think that this is how it's supposed to look, and Component is probably a little too vibrant.

[themanwithapc]

It's a shame that some of the audio/video aspects of the 360 are so disappointing, considering how much MS was pimping this as a 'central entertainment hub'.

I'll probably pick up a VGA cable, ven if it only gives a marhinal improvement over the current component connections. Just out of curiousity, does the VGA get rid of those 'shadows' in the dashboard and PGR3 Jake?

[sj33]

Just out of curiousity, does the VGA get rid of those 'shadows' in the dashboard and PGR3 Jake?

Yep. Everything is crystal now, it's like having my PC hooked up.
You get used to the difference in colour vibrancy compared to Component.

[themanwithapc]

Yep. Everything is crystal now, it's like having my PC hooked up.
You get used to the difference in colour vibrancy compared to Component.

Lovely. I can't stand those shadows, everytime I think there's something wrong with my telly........