xbox component cable, with optical out?

[Nagrub]

Hey there, I've recently been looking to upgrade my cable for my xbox, from an advanced scart with optical out, to a component cable. I'm using a 42" panasonic plasma, and I heard that it was worth getting a component cable to experience a better quality image. I went out to get one today from my local game shop but found that it does'nt have a optical out! So this means that I have to choose between a good picture or 5.1. This makes me angry! Is there anywhere that makes a component cable with an optical out? It strikes me as strange as I would think most people who would upgrade to a component cable would have 5.1?
anyway, thanks for the help.

[Hitcher]

This is the one I've got - http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?cat...ducts_id=1742&

Definitely has optical out.

You do realise that you wont get progressive scan from your Xbox unless it's either an NTSC model or chipped so you can change the video mode to NTSC don't you?

Normal component (ie non progressive scan) will be pretty much the same as RGB.

[Nagrub]

hmmm... okay. So, yeah i'm running a pal xbox on a pal tv etc.. I confess that I don't know much about any of this at all really. So, is it not worth getting this cable at all? Will it not improve my picture? So then, modchipping? How much will this set me back, seeing as I dont trust myself to install it myself. Damn, And i thought this was going to be easy.

[007]

?35 to get it chipped. You need it chipped if you want Progressive Scan. And dude, it's amazing. The difference, especially on a Tv like yours, is unreal. You have to get it done.

[Nagrub]

If I modded my xbox, got a chip so I could do NTSC and therefore progressive scan, does that mean my current pal games wont benefit at all from it?
Will I even be able to play pal games on my sbox when its set to NTSC to enable the better picture?

[Hitcher]

All you change is the video mode to NTSC (which in turn changes the dashboard options to allow 480p) not the actual region of the Xbox.

Almost all PAL Xbox will run in 480p this way.

[Nagrub]

so, my current games will all look smoother and stuff? with a better image quality. What about the whole xbox live thing? Do i need to stitch beck to .... un-progressive scan mode before i sign on? I head that i need to change to pal before i sing on or goodbye xbox live... forever.

[wod]

yes if your xbox is pal region, turning the chip off and using progressive scan on xbox you'll only get 480p.

[Nagrub]

so, is it all worth it? the image quality is much, much better? Will games that I buy now or in the future, say halo 2 and fable, will they take advantage of the better image quality and stuff, or will i have tp change to pal mode in the dash to run these games, so they'l look the same as if i didnt mod the xbox?

[wod]

yes its worth it, if your talking about getting ntsc games then yes they look great in progressive scan mode. the pic will be much better then what you get now.

[Hitcher]

Once you've changed the video mode to NTSC that's it, no need to change back for Live, because the Xbox is still a PAL region one.

If a PAL game doesn't support 480p it'll still run in 480i so there's now worries there.

Mine PAL Xbox has had the video mode set to NTSC for about a year now and there's very few PAL games that don't support 480p.

[Nagrub]

wow, thats cool. I head something about the modchip unlocking a new section in the menu? where you select the new resolution. As I said before, I confess total ignorance here, I dont really know anything. What is 480p?(the progressive scan, nice looking picture?) and what is 480 i? To play american games I would have to set the xbox to ntsc mode, with the physical switch, yeah? and thats only when live is a bit dangerous?
thanks for the help you guys are giving me here by the way, its really handy. thanks for not flaming my noobyness also.

[Hitcher]

480p = 480 lines per scan = progressive scan
480i = 240 lines per scan = interlaced

To play American games you'd need the switch on (NO LIVE) or there is an app that'll change the EEPROM to NTSC but it's not recommened to use often as you can screw up your Xbox.
Safer just to leave it as a PAL machine with NTSC video mode.

[Darwock]

You contradicted yourself there Hitcher... I'm confused.

When you say it's dangerous to 'change the EEPROM to NTSC' I assume you mean change it to American region, because then you say it's safe to leave it set to NTSC.

[Hitcher]

Sorry for the confusion, but there's a big difference between changing the region (EEPROM) and changing the video mode.
The NTSC video mode will happily sit on a PAL Xbox without having to touch the EEPROM.

The app (Enigmah Videomode Switch) for changing video modes has just PAL or NTSC selections and that's it.

The app (Config Magic Final) for region changing has lots of others options and entering something wrong can mess up the EEPROM.