Running an xbox on a monitor

[Pavey]

Is there a way of running an Xbox via vga?

Cheers

[tom-nook]

Hey Nick,

You can use a component-vga transcoder like either of these:

http://www.x2vga.com/

http://www.vdigi.com/index.php?option=content&task=blogsection&id=4&Itemid=27

You can use them with a variety of other consoles too if you also want to hook up a Cube, Wii etc. The X2VGA2 is pretty new so supports everything up to & including a 1080p signal.

I used to have an earlier version of the X2VGA (the X2VGA+) which is designed to be used solely with the Xbox. It's fitted with an Xbox av connector so doesn't need a seperate component lead. Picture quality is pretty good on a crt monitor (not quite up to the DC's lofty heights though) but as you'd probably expect results can be a bit hit & miss on a tft monitor.

bignige had a VD-Z3 up for sale recently....not sure if it's been sold now though...

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=71270&highlight=vdigi

Cheers,
Mark

edit: iirc neither support 480i signals (I think the X2VGA has something called Easyview that creates a jittery image that allows you to see the Xbox dash if it's not set to 480p). Rules out PAL GC & most PS2 stuff.

[EvilBoris]

the Vdigi works a treat, infact I think the one being sold actually belonged to me. Ideal for xbox as everything (well almost) is 480p

[oli_lar]

I take it it works for all regions of consoles?

[lostn]

I've found connecting it to a TV capture card via S-Video produces better quality than any VGA box. This isn't just for xbox, but for all consoles that don't output a true VGA signal. Converted signals are just crap, even if it's Component.

[briareos_kerensky]

Yes, but it requires the PC on all the time.

[tom-nook]

I've found connecting it to a TV capture card via S-Video produces better quality than any VGA box. This isn't just for xbox, but for all consoles that don't output a true VGA signal. Converted signals are just crap, even if it's Component.

That's a fair point with most of the cheaper vga boxes (they're 'scan doublers' rather than transcoders) but personally I'd go for a decent transcoder every time. The image quality on a decent crt monitor is imo much better than via s-vhs.

Xbox games that run in 720p (not much admittedly) look really nice. 480p looks pretty good too but one of the drawbacks (as with component on an hdtv) is that it removes a lot of the image blurriness/ smoothing & jaggies are much more noticeable as a result.

[tom-nook]

I take it it works for all regions of consoles?

As long as they're capable of displaying a progressive image (& the games you're playing include 480p support) then yes.

The PAL Xbox has it's prog scan support disabled as standard so in it's native form wouldn't work. However, with a chipped or soft modded PAL Xbox this can be enabled by using an app called Enigmah Video Switch Mode iirc.

[lostn]

Yes, but it requires the PC on all the time.

But that means you can multitask with it also... So you could be downloading something in the background while you play. Or you could have a Gamefaqs window in the background making it very easy to follow in your game. The quality is far better for your money than a vga box.

[EvilBoris]

I've found connecting it to a TV capture card via S-Video produces better quality than any VGA box. This isn't just for xbox, but for all consoles that don't output a true VGA signal. Converted signals are just crap, even if it's Component.

Eeew don't say that, VGA and component are virtually the same signal and the quality of image you get from a console outputting at true 480p to VGA signal is far in excess of a measley s-video signal.

You choose RGB over s-video on a Tv so why would you choose S-video over RGB on a PC monitor?

Component GET!

[lostn]

In theory, yes. But you just need to look at the results for all VGA boxes under $150. They are rubbish. Regardless of console (except DC which does true VGA).

On a standard def TV, the resolution is a lot lower and the games were designed for that. Even composite on your TV will look better than VGA box on PC.

EDIT: I should note though, that for progressive games, the results are much better than interlaced.