Composite-to-VGA (Xbox-to-monitor) help

[V]

(sorry, this is all a bit new, so if you can bear with me please)

 

I need a bit of help linking my old Xbox to a monitor.

 

Looking at buying this 19” TFT wide screen monitor (TFT TV’s seem to be loads more!) to use as a normal monitor as well as taking it round my mates house for an Xbox session as its easier than lugging a big TV around.

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=98788

 

• Pixel Pitch - 0.284mm x 0.284mm

• Brightness (typ.) - 350 cd/m2

• Contrast Ratio (typ.) - 500:1

• Max. Refresh Rate - 1440 X 900 @ 60Hz

• Viewing Angle (typ.) - 170°(H), 170°(V)

• Response Time (typ.) - 8ms

• Input Signal - VGA (Analog D-sub)

• VGA cable removability - Yes

• Speaker - 2.5W x 2 (optional) Power Adaptor (100V-240V) - External

• Power Consumption - 60W

• Dimensions (WxHxD mm) - 462 x 385 x 180

 

Problems.

 

I’ve got the old Xbox at the moment (probably get a 360 later in the year), but in the mean time:

 

1. I assume there isn’t a lead I can buy direct out the Xbox to the monitor connector and give a 1440 x 900 resolution (or any other resolution)? If so fantastic!!!

 

2. I’m assuming I need a Composite (phono)-to-VGA gizmo but I cant find one that has an output of 1440 x 900. Again I assume (too much assuming I think…) I need this to get the best picture from the monitor without distortion?

 

3. If there isn’t a gizmo that supports 1440 x 900 can I use the nearest ratio and adjust/stretch the picture via the monitor’s controls?

 

4. Do I have to look for a gizmo that is 60Hz?

 

5. I know the Xbox 360 has VGA out (extra lead?), but I don’t know if supports 1440 x 900 either.

 

6. I was thinking of a wide screen rather than a normal 19” solely for gaming as the Xbox 360 is in wide screen I believe and think this would give better periphery?

 

7. Would you recommend having DVi bearing in mind what I’m using it for and the extra cost to have a wide screen with this.

 

8. Any thing else???

 

Many thanks indeed.

Stephen

[chilli]

IIRC don't use composite - it's crap.

 

x-box as per most consoles should have an RGB style output that can drive a monitor / tv / projector etc. The x-box almost certainly won't match your native screen res of 1440 x 900 but providing the frequencies are correct, the screen will appear the correct size albeit at a lower resolution.

 

60Hz is your monitors max refresh rate at max resolution, it will be able to handle lower figures for both, 50hz included.

 

As per the PS2, you should be able to get a lead that goes from the console to a scart lead, the scart can carry 4 wire RGB. You may get one that goes straight to d-sub but more likely a scart to dsub lead will be required. Shop around you should be able to find something. It should then be as simple as plug it all together, select RGB on the monitor and away you go...

 

My home cinima projector set up does roughly the same thing, but goes from RGB scart to 4 wire coaxial instead, but if I used a scart to dsub, it would work just the same.

 

hope that helps a bit, good luck...

 

Edit: look here for x-box native resolutions http://www.avforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-259524.html

 

if the monitor has dvi get one of these http://www.play.com/play247.asp?pa=stts4&page=title&r=X360&title=741485

 

but if not (as I think is the case) get this sort of thing http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/9013.htm only cheap

[Digsy]

There's a bit of difference between The RGB+composite sync signal on a SCART cable and the RGB signal that a monitor uses, but you can get converters. Judging by the one halfway down this page http://www.threedoubleyou.com/otherconverters.htm they don't come cheap.

[chilli]

look here http://pinouts.ru/data/VGA15_pinout.shtml

 

vga can take composite sync, most monitors work fine like this, as does my projector - it takes scart RGB+h sync or comp sync - shouldn't be a big deal

 

hence the lead in the link above (the last one) has no 'converters' or electronics, just a wiring job!

[V]

Cheers guys... i think

 

Been looking too:

So until get a new Xbow 360 which supports 640 x 480, 848x480, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 720, 1280 x 768, 1280 x 1024, and 1360 x 768 witrh a direct lead i'll have to get one of these:

 

http://www.consolesandgadgets.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/26_143/products_id/1009?osCsid=f7d7e19af86da8ffa3a4f7299a1c8dca

 

which will connect form my Xbox box via SVHS (ie RGB) and have to put up with screen being squished???

 

Cheers again

SV

 

PS. now finished lunch so wont be back until after 5.30 (should be on here in non-work hours) but I get the e-mails

[chilli]

SVHS is not RGB! Presume you mean s-video, again this is not RGB either!

 

can't see your link (blocked at work for some reason so can't comment).

 

I can't see any indication that your monitor takes s-video but I'd be sure the xbox outputs RGB as per a scart i.e. RGB + 1 sync wire. This can be presented to most monitors / tvs and projectors as is and they will work ok

 

so you just need a xbox to dsub vga connector lead and all should be good.

[Digsy]

Well it sounds like your projector uses RBG+c SCART to RGB+c coaxial just like my plasma does, which doesnt automatically suggest to me that you could splice the same signals without any modification into a VGA 15 pin connector, but fair enough - that XBox360 lead does suggest that a monitor can take the signal. I found this on the web too.

 

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3257

[Digsy]

Cheers guys... i think

 

Been looking too:

So until get a new Xbow 360 which supports 640 x 480, 848x480, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 720, 1280 x 768, 1280 x 1024, and 1360 x 768 witrh a direct lead i'll have to get one of these:

 

http://www.consolesandgadgets.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/26_143/products_id/1009?osCsid=f7d7e19af86da8ffa3a4f7299a1c8dca

 

which will connect form my Xbox box via SVHS (ie RGB) and have to put up with screen being squished???

 

Cheers again

SV

 

PS. now finished lunch so wont be back until after 5.30 (should be on here in non-work hours) but I get the e-mails

 

Steve, the doohickey only accepts composite or S-video inputs. Not RGB.

[chilli]

Well it sounds like your projector uses RBG+c SCART to RGB+c coaxial just like my plasma does, which doesnt automatically suggest to me that you could splice the same signals without any modification into a VGA 15 pin connector, but fair enough - that XBox360 lead does suggest that a monitor can take the signal. I found this on the web too.

 

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3257

 

It's just a sync signal at the end of the day, as per the pin out link I gave above, it can be used to carry different sync types, but, most modern electronics can cope with a range of sync modes c or h included - as you have discovered with your plasma.

 

the fact the lead exists kinda says it all really, can't see anywhere any warning that your monitor might not accept sync in this way so I don't really think it's an issue TBH

 

If, however the elctronics in the monitor in question can't deal with it then one of these http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35807&&source=14&doy=search might be the trick, but I'd get one after you are sure you need it, not before!

 

maybe the trick is just check the menu on the monitor (or thumb through its manual) to double check what input types in can take, if you are unlucky, you might need the box above.

 

Post up what you find and we can be sure of what you need.

[V]

Isn't S-Video is just RGB in a handy din plug? I'm pretty sure it is, or we are crossed terms with component RGB?

 

The XGA box accepts SVHS or Phono composite and VGA output which is what i want as these are standard leads from the Xbox & monitor, but only outputs 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768.

 

With a 'direct links' there is no way controlling the resolution output is there (or am missing the point?) Dont i need some way of controlling this?

 

Hence why the resolution options with the XGA boxes.

I assume 360 controls the res' when using the direct link cable, but i dont think this would work well using the original xbox.

 

For this much hassle, uncertainty and cost i might as well put the extra money towards a 360

 

Extract from Acer site:

Video Signal: Analog (D-sub)

Video Support Mode: VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA, NEC, Apple and VESA

Plug & Play: DDC1 & DDC2B

(didnt know what DDC is so i included it as well)

 

http://www.acer.co.uk/acereuro/page4.do?dau22.oid=14407&UserCtxParam=0&GroupCtxParam=0&dctx1=17&CountryISOCtxParam=UK&LanguageISOCtxParam=en&crc=3411416676

 

Cheers guys, appreciate your assistance

[V]

I forgot the ratio's.

 

Any idea how distored the image will look using 1280 x 768?

 

Dont give a toss about PC use (can squish it abit), just the gaming side again.

 

Also i dont know what the monitor itself can do to help things.

 

Thanks again.

[JamesG]

I guess whether it's squished depends on how that monitor handles 4:3 resolutions.

 

Any convertor box that converts composite, RGB or S-video into VGA is going to produce a pretty ropey picture (with the upside that it's easy to get working).

 

The xbox actually provides both component and VGA outputs from its AV connector, although these are only available if you have a modchip or an NTSC model. I've used both outputs and they are pretty good. Very few monitors have component inputs, but for VGA, you might want to try this:

http://www.x2vga.com/

 

As I'm a cheap-skate, I made a VGA box myself from a schematic I found on the web (uses a chip to extract the sync signal) that provides a nice 640x480 picture into my monitor. Sadly it only support sync-on-green monitors though

[Digsy]

S-Video uses two signals: Luminance (brightness) and Chromiance (colour) broadcast on two separate wires. Composite superimposes them both onto each other. The Luminance signal in S-Video is actually just a black and white composite signal.

 

RGB broadcasts all three colours on pyhsically separate wires, but unless you are syncing on one of the colours home video RGB usually also requires the composite signal for synchronisation.

 

Proper component is a different signal format all together and isn't compatible with any of the above.

 

The number of rows and vertical lines in a PAL TV picture is way lower than an LDC monitor's native res so as said above any video-generated signal is going to look ropey unless the screen does some upscaling on the signal.

[chilli]

Isn't S-Video is just RGB in a handy din plug?

 

NO! RGB uses one wire for each of the colours, hence the name, s-video combines 3 colours on 2 wires as a saving in bandwidth (hence not quite as good, but still quite good!

 

The XGA box accepts SVHS or Phono composite and VGA output which is what i want as these are standard leads from the Xbox & monitor, but only outputs 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768.

 

There is no SVHS! Only S-Video!

 

With a 'direct links' there is no way controlling the resolution output is there (or am missing the point?) Dont i need some way of controlling this?

 

No, the x-box won't match the native screen res anyway. It's an analog signal, so long as the timing is withing range the image will be drawn. i.e. 640x480 can be rendered on a 1600x1200 screen etc...

 

RGB that comes out of your x-box, and rgb that goes into the monitor are essentially the same - the ONLY difference being the way the sync is done. For this there are numerous options and it really depends how clever your monitor is, being LCD flat it's quite modern and should cope - I'll take a look at the specs when I get a second.

 

FYI http://www.syncblaster.com/gtmfytv.htm

 

you can read all about it

[chilli]

here is another 'cable only' connector for the 360 FYI:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/XBOX-360-VGA-HDTV-CABLE-LEAD-NEW-UK-Seller_W0QQitemZ8250636612QQcategoryZ112846QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

since your LCD is purely a monitor only. i.e. not designed with any other connectivity in mind, it does look like it is not so versatile when it comes to sync options such that you would need one of these http://www.xbreporter.com/xbox_vga_adapter.php but since so many people sell the thing above it does make me wonder.

 

You could just pm the ebay seller and ask what they have to do the job, simple

[chilli]

ok, last post as it's dinner time now and it smells good yumyum

 

if you read the reviews for this product on ebuyer you might get a clue

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=15019111260&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=98788

 

like:

 

Received this monitor today and very happy so far. No dead pixels, easy to set up and great picture quality, well built and looks quite sexy. I'm using the screen primarily for PC use, but having hooked up my Xbox 360 to the screen I am suitably impressed. Was worried about the 16:10 aspect ratio and hadn't realised that with the VGA cable the 360 outputs 16:9 and 16:10 (1280x768), so no problems there then.

 

Played a bit of Half Life 2, Far Cry, COD 2, PGR3 and Halo 2 and the illusion of immersion is excellent, much better than my old 17" CRT. Was holding back on getting an LCD due to ghosting in games, glad I upgraded now because I can not detect any ghosting on the screen at all.

 

One slight criticism might be the lack of positioning options. You get tilt, but no height adjustment or screen rotation, and the stand might be a little low in some situations - but for this price there have to be some compromises and this is a small one.

 

All in all, a great buy - especially at this price!

1 of 1 people found this review useful

[V]

Right!

Firstly thanks again guys, especially Chilli

Secondaly you can call me thick bastard

Thirdly i'll do some reading

Fouthly it sounds like i'm off to buy a 360 and a wide screen

 

PS. i hope your dinner was nice.

PPS. SVHS had been erased from my memory! (in this instance)

[V]

Right.

 

I bought the wide screen and ratio is, as expected, all over the place.

 

Screens not bad, no complaints, especially for that price. Not a fan of any flat screens/TV, but they've got their uses hence i bought this one. Still think the pictures crap compared with CRT, but any way........

 

I now need a new graphics card that supports 1440x900.

Any suggestions?

 

I dont do PC games btw.

 

Thanks again

Stephen