TranceVibs FAQ on Audio Visual for the 360

Xbox360 HD/SD Video FAQ :

By TranceVib:

What sort of information is featured in this FAQ?

* Everything you wanted to know about High Definition

* How to purchase an HDTV for your Xbox360

* How to tell if an HDTV is right for you by reading the specs sheet

* How the Xbox360 works with HDTV’s

* How to connect your Xbox360 for HD gaming

* How the Xbox360 goes with SDTV’s

* How to get the most out of your Xbox360 on an SDTV

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Please Note:

I’d like to thank TranceVibs of the Xbox.com.au Forums who has graciously given his permission for us to provide this extensive Frequently Asked Questions & Answers segment on Audio & Visual so that you can get the best possible results from your Xbox 360 experience.

TranceVibs has been sharing his expertise with the Australian Forum members now for some time, and has recently become one of the Moderators of the ust Forums . . . He also works on another major Xbox Community site called …. If you have any particular questions not dealt with here, then you can visit the Australian Xbox Forums and see if the answer has been covered in the thread, or simply ask TranceVibs the question yourself from the forum.

He’s usually quite prompt with his replies, given he does this on a volunteer basis, just like many of the Xbox Community do.

Without the tireless efforts of those within the Xbox.com.au Community, many of our questions would go un-answered, or we’d have to spend many hours trawling the net to get them . . The Australian Community is expanding each month, and with dedicated individuals such as TranceVibs, it’s little wonder the community is growing.

Please follow the link at the bottom of this posting to the full and complete FAQ, or simply Jump straight to it now.

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Table of Contents

1. Everything you wanted to know about High Definition, or ‘HD’

1.1 What is High Definition, or ‘HD’? – •1.2 What’s the Difference between PAL and NTSC? – What is 50htz and 60htz? – •1.3 What are video modes?- •1.4 What do the ‘i’ and the ‘p’ mean after 480i, 480p and other video modes? – •1.5 What is 720p, 1080i and 1080p? – •1.6 What is this ED I keep hearing about? – •1.7 Wait, I thought 576p *was* HD? – •1.8 What is up converting and down converting (scaling)? – •1.9 What are screen aspect ratios? What does 16:9 and 4:3 mean?- •1.10 What do I need to view HD content?- •1.11 I saw comparison images/videos of a HD signal next to an SD signal on the internet and I couldn’t tell much difference between the two.

2. Choosing an HDTV for Xbox360
2.1 I want to buy an HDTV, what are my options? – •2.2 What am I looking for when I’m buying a HDTV? (aka, here are the specs of a TV I want, is it good?) – •2.3 What’s better, LCD, Plasma or CRT? – •2.4 I want a cheap TV that does HD! – •2.5 When I’m shopping, I see some TV’s listed as EDTV. What does that mean? – •2.6 – What about DLP? They come in really huge sizes and are cheap for their size! – •2.7 The TV I’m looking at supports 720p and 1080i, does that mean it’s HD? – •2.8 What’s the difference between HD Ready and HD Compatible? – •2.9 I’ve decided I want to use a PC monitor with a VGA cable for my Xbox 360. Here are the specs of the monitor, will it do? – •2.10 I already have a TV thanks, but I’d like to know if it’s HD/will run an HD signal – •2.11 Ok, I’ve read the differences between the HDTV technologies, read what I need to look for when I’m buying an HDTV and I know what they all do. Which HDTV technology should I go for; CRT, Plasma or LCD?
3. HD and the Xbox 360
3.1 How can I get HD out of my Xbox 360? – •3.2 Does the Core pack Xbox 360 come with a Component cable? – •3.3 Which video modes does the Xbox 360 support? – •3.4 Will all Xbox360 games support HD? – •3.5 I’ve setup HD on my new Xbox360, but the picture doesn’t look any sharper than my old Xbox, what gives? – •3.6 I’ve setup HD on my new Xbox360, I’ve got the switch over to HD on the cable, but the picture doesn’t look any sharper than my normal Xbox on my HD CRT TV! – • 3.7 Which resolution is better to use with the Xbox360, 720p or 1080i? – •3.8 Will using VGA cables on my LCD/Plasma TV make the image look any better? – Can I use a DVI/HDMI cable with my Xbox360? – •3.9 Can I use a DVI/HDMI cable with my Xbox360? – •3.10 – I’m running my Xbox360 in HD or through the VGA cable, but my game is asking me to change my video mode to 60htz and won’t run! How do I fix this? – •3.11 – I’m using a VGA cable, and I’m trying to play an original Xbox 1 game. The Xbox360 tells me that the video mode is not supported by my game, and to change the display settings. What can I do?
4. Xbox 360 and Standard Definition
•4.1 Which video modes can I use on my Xbox360 in SD? – •4.2 What will happen to my games if I play them on my SDTV? – •4.3 What sort of connections can I use on my SDTV? Which one is the best? – •4.4 Can I use the HD Component cable that comes with the premium Xbox360 on my non-HDTV that has standard component inputs? – •4.5 Is it better to use a 16:9 widescreen TV or a 4:3 standard TV? – •4.6 I bought a Component cable for my Xbox360 and it has a yellow plug too! What’s that for? – •4.7 What are the Red and White plugs for on my cable? – •4.8 I have an SDTV, can I buy a HD Set Top Box and turn it into an HDTV? – •4.9 Why are some of my games full screen, while some of them have big black borders? – •4.10 – My game doesn’t work properly! Maybe the disk is faulty? The graphics are choppy, or the game just won’t load/play…
5. DVD playback
5.1 How does the Xbox360 playback DVDs? – •5.2 Does the Xbox360 output DVDs at 720p/1080i? – •5.3 Why do my DVDs look stretched and ‘fat’/'thin’? – •5.4 Do I need to purchase a ‘DVD remote’ like with the old Xbox, to play DVDs?

6. The HD-DVD Player
6.1 What is HD-DVD? – •6.2 How do I get HD-DVD playback on my Xbox360? – •6.3 How does the HD-DVD player work? – •6.4 Will I be able to tell the difference? – •6.5 What will happen if I run my Xbox360 at 720p or below when the movies are 1080p?

7. Still Having Problems?
8. Glossary of Terms
9. Contact, Terms of Use and Shout Outs!

For the FULL FAQ’s, slip along to here and get your questions answered.

Filed under: Console gaming, Hardware News Tagged: | 360 FAQ's, 360 HD FAQ, faq 360 HD, FAQ AUdio Visual for 360, Frequently Asked Questions on 360, HD FAQ's on 360, Xbox360 FAQ's, Xbox360 HD