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dante2010
09-26-2005, 07:06 PM
Hi,

I've just purchased a 2005FPW and want to hook up my Xbox to it.

I can't seem to figure out how to enable 480p or 720p tho. I've set it to widescreen in the video options, but that's really the only setting I can see in that area.

I've got it hooked up to the 2005FPW via the advanced AV pack and the S-Video connection.

I'm pretty dumb on all this as I've only been using the Xbox on a regular old tv up till now.

Can someone give me some pointers as to the best way to hook my Xbox up to the monitor? Right now it doesn't look all that hot unless I play it in 1:1 mode, which is way too small to really be playable.
Kevin Lowe
09-26-2005, 07:23 PM
Buy component cables. S-Video can only carry 480i.

Does the 2005 have component inputs?
Tiny
09-26-2005, 07:25 PM
You have it connect with the Advanced AV pack AND the S-video? How did you do that and why?

480i is the best S-video can do.

You need the HD pack + component-to-VGA box, or a VGA cable since the 2005FPW doesn't accept component (it does support composite and VGA and DVI).

There are a few out there, this one is pretty good though:
http://www.vdigi.com/ (go for the enhanced version)

http://hardware.teamxbox.com/articles/xbox/934/VDigi-Electronics-Enhanced-VDZ3-Review/p1/
dante2010
09-26-2005, 08:39 PM
I'm unclear on what all these resolutions mean. 480i, 480p, 720p.. Can you direct me to a good FAQ explaining which is which and what connections support which resolutions?

I read the review of the VD-Z3 and I am interested in getting one. In the review it said that having the HD pack wasn't needed if you bought the VD-Z3.. but you said that you need the HD pack + the component to VGA box. I'm a bit confused there. Wouldn't want to buy something that I don't need. ;)
Elios
09-26-2005, 08:45 PM
I'm unclear on what all these resolutions mean. 480i, 480p, 720p.. Can you direct me to a good FAQ explaining which is which and what connections support which resolutions?

I read the review of the VD-Z3 and I am interested in getting one. In the review it said that having the HD pack wasn't needed if you bought the VD-Z3.. but you said that you need the HD pack + the component to VGA box. I'm a bit confused there. Wouldn't want to buy something that I don't need. ;)

480i = something x 480 interlased
480p = something x 480 progresive
720p = something x 720 progresive
dante2010
09-26-2005, 08:52 PM
So the native resolution of my monitor is 1680x1050. I take it that doesn't translate to any of the modes offered by consoles?

Will I be able to play games at 720p (which I'm assuming is widescreen?) on my Dell 2005FPW? That is of course and have them look goood.
SCSI-Terminator
09-26-2005, 08:53 PM
WTF... did google go down or something... this isn't hard.

1080p 1,920x1,080 progressive

1080i 1,920x1,080 interlaced

720p 1,280x720 progressive

Wide-screen 480p (DVD, EDTV) 852x480 progressive

Regular TV (480i) usualy 640x480 interlaced

oh and sometimes progressive is refered to as de-interlaced (usualy when talking about computer monitors)
Tiny
09-26-2005, 08:57 PM
Calm down Scuzzy. If people didn't ask questions then this forum would all but dry up.

dante2010....take a look in the 2005fpw thread in the Displays forum and ask there....they know a lot about what you are trying to do.

Sorry about the confusion about the VGA box...in general you have to have the HD pack and a vga box...but the VDigi one is the exception.

Also, you won't be playing widescreen unless the game supports it or if the game doesn't support it...you will have to stretch it.
dante2010
09-26-2005, 08:59 PM
Thanks for your help Tiny. I'll check out the 2005FPW thread.
Tiny
09-26-2005, 09:04 PM
Here is a link:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=830031&highlight=2005FPW+Xbox

But you could also search the entire Displays forum.
SCSI-Terminator
09-26-2005, 09:07 PM
Calm down Scuzzy. If people didn't ask questions then this forum would all but dry up.

True. But Elios's "something x ...." kinda got to me. Was like the blind leading the blind there.
Tiny
09-26-2005, 09:09 PM
lol, me too a little bit. :D
Elios
09-27-2005, 12:07 AM
True. But Elios's "something x ...." kinda got to me. Was like the blind leading the blind there.

coudnt remember that part off hand and didnt want to give some thing that was wrong
:p
MeTaSpARKs
09-27-2005, 12:48 AM
http://www.x2vga.com/

Buy and don't look back. ITS AWESOME!
nullvector
09-27-2005, 09:44 AM
http://www.x2vga.com/

Buy and don't look back. ITS AWESOME!

Exactly. I bought one of these about a year ago, and its the best way to connect to a Monitor or Projector.

Hooking it up to an HD projector is just amazing.
dante2010
09-28-2005, 11:55 PM
Is it that much better (the X2VGA one) then the Vdigi one? I like the sound of the Vdigi as it will let me hook up all 3 consoles, instead of just the Xbox.
Tiny
09-29-2005, 12:10 AM
Is it that much better (the X2VGA one) then the Vdigi one? I like the sound of the Vdigi as it will let me hook up all 3 consoles, instead of just the Xbox.

If you ever want to hook up the Xbox360 with the X2VGA.....you won't be able to. As the X2 uses the standard Xbox connection, where as the VDigi uses component connections. So the VDigi is more unverisal then the X2. If you want to hook up the Xbox and that is it...then the X2 is a good choice.
Ub3rn00b
03-04-2007, 06:40 PM
I spent like 150 bux on different boxes and converters because I didn't want to dish out 60 or 70 bux for an X2VGA. hehe...
Anyway, just last night, someone at a LAN sold me their X2VGA+ for 10 bux and I can vouch that it's the best way to hook your xbox to a computer monitor. Looks twice as good as any of the other methods I have tried.
Erasmus354
03-04-2007, 09:43 PM
If you ever want to hook up the Xbox360 with the X2VGA.....you won't be able to. As the X2 uses the standard Xbox connection, where as the VDigi uses component connections. So the VDigi is more unverisal then the X2. If you want to hook up the Xbox and that is it...then the X2 is a good choice.

You can just buy a VGA cable for the 360, no need to bother with converters.
Maximus825
03-04-2007, 10:34 PM
You can just buy a VGA cable for the 360, no need to bother with converters.

Yeah, I think everyone here is just confusing the poor guy...

Dante: Go to your favorite game store and ask the the Xbox 360 VGA cable. I think it's around $30-$40 or so. Follow the instructions that come with it for set up.
neeyo
03-04-2007, 11:32 PM
The original post said "Xbox" yet everyone is replying "Xbox 360" so maybe you'd better clarify - do you have an original Xbox or 360?
Diablo2K
03-05-2007, 02:08 AM
Original Xbox = X2VGA
Xbox 360 = VGA cable

With the Xbox the problem is even with the VGA converter it won't look that good on any type of LCD monitor unless your at its native resolution. Xbox only has a few games which will do more than 480p. It will look the best on a good TV or a CRT monitor.

The Xbox 360 can support a wide selection of resolutions, so it will look good on a LCD monitor as it will support the native resolution.
Ub3rn00b
03-05-2007, 06:18 PM
Well.....my LCD monitor's native is 1280x1024 which I believe is the equivelant of 720p or thereabouts. Anyway...I can say that Doom 3, Halo2, Painkiller and a few other games look pretty nice using the X2VGA+. I just picked up Call of Duty 2 on the XBOX today and it doesn' t look all that great. I'll still play it 'n all...but just doesn't look that great which really is expected on the XBOX trying to play something as intense as COD 2. They really dumbed down the graphics on the XBOX version. XBOX 360 and PC versions look great. Same with Call of Duty 3. 360 version looks great while the XBOX version looks even worse than Call of Duty 2 did.