360 VGA 'colours washed' Solution

[sj33]

As for overscan; it makes sense that "DTV" uses overscan, as video content should have some.

With that in mind, I also think my TV is getting confused in DTV mode... sometimes it detects the overscan and tries to make it fit (resulting in boarders), sometimes it doesn't (resulting in overscan).

I suspect your right about all of it andrewfree. It's just annoying it works best in PC mode when I prefer the sharpness gained in DTV mode.

[sj33]

I'm satisfied now, lol. Gone back to using VGA, 1280x720 (the LG seems to have a decent scaler anyway), DTV mode, picture centered (very slight boardering). Looks gorgeous, if not Dreamcast VGA quality, it everything seems much less rough and dark than through Component.
The slight boardering on the sides does not annoy me, overscanning does, so I don't mind the boardering.

I reckon the VGA cable is worth it for people like us who are a little more picky about their video signal, just do be prepared to put in some time playing with the settings.

The slightly 'washed' colours through 1360x768 seems to be because the LG forces everything into PC mode when using any resolution that's not HDTV standard. I suppose this is no bad thing depending on who you ask (since I gather from andrewfree that PC mode has a larger colourspace?), but it does mean I find 1280x720 in DTV mode to be the mode of choice here for LG owners (and maybe owners of other screens, give it a go).

[GODZOOKI]

Tried that resolution and it helps alot. Cheers fella.

[Shimmyhill]

Can someone post a pic of the 'shadowing' i have looked but i cant see any on my screen and i am a picky so and so. This is over component.

[Mr Fujisawa]

im not sure what this 'shaddowing' is, but i think its waht im getting through componenent.

basically, i get a 2nd outline of objects, normally to the right of them, and its normalyl bright. its even worse when using the cheap farmer component splitter. i first noticed this effect on xbox 1, using 720p games (tony hawks id get it, and also on xbmc) my tv is a sharp aquos btw

anyway, vga mode looks ****ing the nutts. the colours arent as 'rich' as comonent, but ffs comonent looks TOO saturated with colour, and the 'shadowing' is also too noticible. tvs do lots of stuff to the signal in component, and ur porbably just thinking more colour = better, even when its probably not. just make sure brightness and contrast are adjusted in vga mode and ull be fine.

vga = win

[sj33]

I agree now, the VGA does rock. You get used to the difference in colour between VGA and Component and you don't look back. As I said earlier, the 1360x768 scaling mode looks like arse for me, but 1280x720 is gorgeous.

[Concept]

Can someone post a pic of the 'shadowing' i have looked but i cant see any on my screen and i am a picky so and so. This is over component.

It's exactly what Mr. Fujisawa said (though only notable on text). I could take a photograph, though the resolution and quality wouldn't show it well (if at all). 1080i oddly almost solves it, but then because my LG has trouble downscaling this resolution on the 360, I get weird blue/white flickers over black backgrounds.

Ultimately, for some people the 360 requires you to compromise, no matter which video mode you may be using.

[IanR]

The problem can be somewhat reduced by messing with the Phase in Service Menu->Screen Settings.

How do you get to the service menu?

[Concept]

I've put my 360 away until I can get a stable, clear connection - even with the improvements in shadowing.

I'm overly fussy but it's a constant irritation, and wasn't the HDTV 'era' supposed to be about crystal clear visuals?

Not a great start to that particular area.

Hopefully the Joytech hi-def cable or VGA cable will become available soon - I find it baffling that the accessories for the console are harder to come by than the console itself considering its production problems.

[HaHaUK]

I've put my 360 away until I can get a stable, clear connection - even with the improvements in shadowing.

I'm overly fussy but it's a constant irritation, and wasn't the HDTV 'era' supposed to be about crystal clear visuals?

Not a great start to that particular area.

Hopefully the Joytech hi-def cable or VGA cable will become available soon - I find it baffling that the accessories for the console are harder to come by than the console itself considering its production problems.

Is the shadowing that bad that you have to put the 360 away!!

There might be something wrong with your set, as I dont get any shadowing on the 360 using the same TV as you.

Does it happen with other consoles using component or only the 360?

[Concept]

Other consoles are okay - I'm just not a fan of component and I won't use the PS2, Xbox or GC with my set because I find upscaling SD content on them highlights their hidden flaws much more than a normal television otherwise does.

I came into HDTV knowing it was all about the next generation but that didn't surprise me. In truth, is it justifible in putting the 360 away? Probably not.

Having HUDs visibly overlayed is a constant irritation though. Remember the minor stuttering in Half-Life 2 which sliced into the immersion?

It's a different context, but a similar thing is happening with the 360 - a kind of variant of the uncanny valley effect.

The closer you come to perfection (and believe me, Microsoft have come close with it on the 360 hardware/dashboard/Live-wise) the more the small flaws stand out.

The image bleeding is simply a distraction to immersion at the minute - though no doubt the situation will improve as more third-parties make cables and VGA cables become more abundant (better designed hopefully too).

I don't want to think about sending the television back - because in PC mode it's fine and I'm not going through the hassle I did with the Samsung and trying to obtain another tv.

So yes, in short me = fussy.

[sj33]

I've said this before, but go dig out your Dreamcast and a VGA cable. The Dreamcast is still SD, even with the VGA box, yet still looks like a thing of beauty.

Just shows how awesome old consoles could look if they bothered to release a decent hookup for the thing.
Component is a tech intended for use on DVD Players, since DVD's are encoded in YUV - Component sends this direct without the need to go through YUV-RGB conversion.
VGA has always been the superior connection as far as gaming goes, the fact that it's been so ignored is a great shame.

Of course, assuming we can assume HDMI/DVI on the PS3, then we should be good from the go with PS3.

[Concept]

Yeah, I'm not worried by any stretch long term (I have used my DC on the LG through my VGA box and it looks great, but the current system is prone to the reset issue despite fiddling about with its innards so I haven't set it up permanently).

When VGA 360 cables are in stock I'll pick one up (I have one on order from Play when they had them in stock, but it's not actually been sent out). I'd imagine PS3 connectivity options will be more varied out of the box if Sony don't scramble to the launch line as Microsoft had to (or were determined to).

[NeilMcRae]

VGA and component both work perfectly on my plasma. If you are having issues with it then I'd guess its down to your TV. The annoying thing with VGA though is that the Xbox emulation rarely supports it!

Neil.

[sj33]

Yeah they disable support for 50Hz XBox games through VGA. A shame, I did hope they'd allow it to output 50Hz games as-is, since many LCD TV's (like mine) do support 50Hz through VGA.

That said, isn't 60Hz far more common on the XBox than 50Hz-only? The only game I've tried that didn't work was Halo.