VGA vs Component

[mvp828]

Hey I just bought this TV for college at BB.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7661933&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat95100050006&id=1134701298432

And was wondering what would be the best cords to hook-up my 360. Now currently I only have the red, yellow, and white cords as I had a core system that was upgraded to a premium by microsoft. I was just wondering what everybody thought I should use before I go to GS and buy the cords tomorrow.

I am sure that I should use the VGA cords, however I thought I should double check with my fellow CAGs.

Hit me with your input.

Thanks.

[darkrage]

mmm, VGA supports upconversion on DVDs I think. Only real difference AFAIK.

[Kaijufan]

I have both (I've used Component on a 51" HD TV at 1080i and VGA on my 19" LCD at 1280 x 1024), and for me I noticed that the component had more vibrant colors, but everything looked sharper with VGA.

[epobirs]

Since it cannot do a real 720p it likely won't make much difference. You'll be running your Xbox 360 games in 480p.

The thing to do is check reviews to see if the component or VGA input is implemented badly. This happens, making the picture wildly inferior on one input type when it should be nearly identical. A lot of TVs with component in that failed to show any noticeable improvement over S-Video had this to blame.

If you plan to use the screen as a PC monitor as well, you should get a USB KVM switch to allow easy sharing of the screen along with the keyboard and mouse. There is limited use for the keyboard and mouse on the 360 right now but that could change.

[Pratt75]

On my lcd tv vga looked sharper but component is definately more colorful. Theres definately a trade off from my experience and I ended up choosing component. No matter how much I adjusted the color with vga I was never happy with it and always tweaking the setting for every game I played. So I said F it and have been using component ever since, much less of a hassle for me.

[Bazz]

I think VGA may be better for that tv , but truth I think it's about the same I say save your money and just use the Component Cables.

[stnkygrngo]

they are the SAME!!!! the only difference is that VGA sends the H and V sync signal, component does not. H and V are for Horizontal and Vertical Sync. Instead of your tv constantly syncing to green (which they ususally do) the output does it for it. the 360 does this and results in a smoother picture. they always look better on a small tv too. if you have vga, use it.

[Skylander7]

I have both as well, running on a 46" Samsung DLP. I kind of prefer VGA over component. As I use my 360 now for DVD's more than gaming, there is a noticeable difference for movie playback. However, as everyone says, the colors aren't as vibrant. It's a tradeoff, as the picture is sharper.

I'd say do this. Get the original Star Wars Trilogy or a Pixar movie. They have calibration tools on the DVD. Run through the calibration options to notice the differences on the TV. It'll help in the selection. If you're using the 360 for movie playback, I'd definitely at least give VGA a shot. It's one of those personal preference and each TV's performance kind of things.

If you lived in the south, I'd say go to Rhino video games, as they have the VGA cables on clearances for $24.50 (thus making the choice a little cheaper).

[RegalSin2020]

by Component do you mean RGB?

It's more about the monitor and it's support for component. You could have a Component RGB cable with a VGA converter it will play in RGB color.

RGB is allways better then anything else. You should also look into how color is coverted for VGA. Even the N64 has RBG support that was never installed.

[PenguinMaster]

I'd get VGA, your TVs native resolution is 1024x768 and the VGA cable will allow you to select that. It's better that the 360 does the scaling instead of the TV.

[ashram]

i tried both...wish the vga cable would do 800x600 instead of 640x480...
considering i was running component through a vga transcoder to my tv (an old rca mm36100, no progressive scan through component) it looks the same... granted, 848x640 wide looks good (after screwing around in the service menu)

i say hit eb and get the cables used for $10 (that's what i just paid for my used vga cable) and return the one you don't like.

[guyver2077]

vga for me isnt as sharp or colorful as component

i have a 37 in lcd

[mvp828]

i tried both...wish the vga cable would do 800x600 instead of 640x480...
considering i was running component through a vga transcoder to my tv (an old rca mm36100, no progressive scan through component) it looks the same... granted, 848x640 wide looks good (after screwing around in the service menu)

i say hit eb and get the cables used for $10 (that's what i just paid for my used vga cable) and return the one you don't like.

So far it seems like that is what I am leaning to. I think I may just get both when I go to GS tomorrow. So far the vote is 20-20. So unless it gets a big landslide tonight I will probably end up getting both used. I know the guy working at Best Buy said that if I were to use the VGA it would be able to use the native resolution at 1024 x 768. However, the the component would run it at lower res. It's kind of weird, because the resolution listed is high def, but the tv is listed as ED.

I know when I asked the guy he said it was actually just shy of HD and since it wasn't 100% they must list it at ED. But, I'm not complaining, $225 for a tv and product replacement doesn't bother me. Anything is better than the old piece of crap I've been playing on. Plus, I can use it in my dorm.

Thanks for the inputs so far and any more would be appreciated.

[Tha Xecutioner]

Component cables all the way

[PenguinMaster]

I know when I asked the guy he said it was actually just shy of HD and since it wasn't 100% they must list it at ED.

Like you said it's just shy of HD, which means the 360 may upscale the 480p (ED) signal to 1024x768 instead of taking the 720p (HD) signal. If that's the case it would've been much better to get a 1280x1024 screen.

[mtxbass1]

by Component do you mean RGB?

It's more about the monitor and it's support for component. You could have a Component RGB cable with a VGA converter it will play in RGB color.

RGB is allways better then anything else. You should also look into how color is coverted for VGA. Even the N64 has RBG support that was never installed.

You are an idiot.

[CYRiX]

which every one is cheaper, doesn't matter cuz the difference won't be noticeable on that tv.

[Maximo1324]

I have a 42" DLP Samsung and recently changed to VGA and i wouldnt play without it. The pic is cleared it nice. I dont know what people are talking about the colors not looking good. mine look awsome. I vote VGA here.