Component vs. HDMI - TTLG Forums

gunsmoke on 27/4/2011 at 14:46

Ok, I got component cables with my 360. Thankfully, as I hear most of them came with simple composite cables, (God only knows why). Well, I have a chance to trade my component cables for an HDMI cable even swap. Does it matter? DOes it improve anything at all? Any help would be appreciated.

Phatose on 27/4/2011 at 15:14

Cable management is sure as hell a lot easier.

nicked on 27/4/2011 at 15:23

Component cables can only go up to 1080i so the picture gets upscaled. HDMI can do the full 1080p, so yeah it'll look better if you have a decent TV/monitor.

Sulphur on 27/4/2011 at 15:38

'course most stuff on the X360 is 720p, but HDMI's digital and component is analogue, so if you want the absolute best picture possible, HDMI it is. In practice, there's usually barely any visible difference in quality between the two at the same res, however.

Aja on 27/4/2011 at 16:09

Pretty sure component cables can do 1080p... My monitor has few inputs, so I've got the Xbox hooked up using VGA, and the PS3 using HDMI, and the PS3 is undoubtedly sharper. But a friend of mine who has the same screen uses component cables with his Xbox and it looks sharper than my VGA hookup. So I'm gonna join the chorus that says the difference is probably negligible.

EvaUnit02 on 27/4/2011 at 16:36

Quote Posted by Aja

Pretty sure component cables can do 1080p...

They most certainly can. It's just restricted on some devices due to legal red tape, involving licensing fees to some body or the like.

Reminds me of PS3's original gamepad which lacked rumble. At the time Sony were too cheap to buy the license from the patent holder, Immersion Corp.

lost_soul on 27/4/2011 at 17:30

It allows the goons in the entertainment industry to (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hdcp) sabotage your viewing experience at a later date if they wish, by forcing down video resolution if your TV isn't blessed by them. Sounds like a good way to get people to upgrade video equipment huh?

I'm just sad they haven't started making use of these features... Personally, I hope they do.

Matthew on 27/4/2011 at 17:32

lost_soul, you never fail to live up to my expectations :D

Sulphur on 27/4/2011 at 17:48

lost_soul, question: do you get off by thinking you're smarter than the rest of us because we don't know what you do? Does your smug sense of superiority hinder you from typing two posts in succession, because you're too busy cleaning up after ejaculating over the keyboard from the intense gratification it gives you to post your obnoxiously phrased tirades in some misguided effort to edify the likes of us?

Don't answer that; it's rhetorical. I'd rather you grew up, or failing that, fucked right off instead.

june gloom on 27/4/2011 at 17:49

Conversely, he always fails to live up to mine.