Monitors for Xbox360

[jam101]

I've been contemplating buying a 360 for a while now (Forza 2 is making me crazy) and I've found HDTVs to be a little pricey. Also my room is pretty tiny meaning 20" would be plenty so i was wondering about using a PC monitor and the VGA cable. I found these two monitors online (I'm in Canada):

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools...
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools...

Would they be good for Xbox 360?
Thanks

[Digby]

What monitor do you have now? The 360 still looks ok using a VGA cable
on an older CRT screen (dual inputs help of course)

[jam101]

I have an Imac so it doesn't work as a monitor although it'd be perfect.

[Civpilot]

Digby said:

What monitor do you have now? The 360 still looks ok using a VGA cable
on an older CRT screen (dual inputs help of course)

To be honest I'm using a VGA cable on my 32" LCD and it looks better than the standard component cable. It's much sharper and richer in colour.

[Dellage]

I have wondered if the VGA would give a better picture. Wasn't sure though and until reading that I've not found anywhere that mentions it!

[Civpilot]

Well when running with a componant in 720p the TV actually has to "up-scale" the image slightly to fit the true resolution of the screen which is slightly higher.
However, with a VGA cable you select the resolution you want to use, hence Forza2 displays in my TV's native (higher than 720) HD resolution.
I know of a few others who agree that the picture is better with a VGA cable.

[mat1227]

I had a HannsG 19" jobbie for £110 that was excellent

[Digby]

I used mine via vga for a bit on a 22" CRT, then on a Sony 24" wide CRT, then i got a
good bang for buck 32" LCD tv.I also picked up a component cable to see for myself which
i prefered (vga or component).
I have to say, the VGA on the 32" gives a sharper picture although the colours seemed
more vibrant on compnent, but it took on a bit of a shimmering edge.The options
that came with one of the updates help the VGA richness quite a bit however.

End result, even before the extra options, VGA won me over so that is what i use.

[Mr E]

Using a 20" widescreen Phillips 200W monitor with a VGA cable. I'm pretty happy with the result to be honest.

[Dellage]

Might just pick up a VGA cable on lunch today then

[Civpilot]

Dellage said:

Might just pick up a VGA cable on lunch today then

Be sure to set the colours to "expanded" when you set up the resolution

[Dellage]

Cheers matey, will do. I take it that's a fairly self explanatory thing to do when I'm on the system section of the 360 Dashboard?

[Civpilot]

yup, In the first screen set up menu you get to choose the resolution (in place of 720p, 1080i you will have a huge list of available resolutions) the "expanded" option I think is in the next menu down. Easy to find.

[Dellage]

Excellent, thanks again CivPilot

Hopefully these aren't too dear then and I'll pick one up. Do these cables have seperate audio lead outputs? I have my 360 running through the Surround Sound at the mo and would like to keep it that way.

[Civpilot]

The cable has the normal 360 connection one end and the other end is split into a VGA connector and x2 (red & white) audio connections. RRP is £19.99

[Dellage]

Yep just been and had a look, found a non official one for £15.

Will wait until end of month before picking one up though, £15-20 is all petrol money for the SilEighty and with JAE coming up I need to keep that to one side

[Digby]

I never use the phono cables btw on my official VGA (heard some not so hot reports about non official ones), i use the optical output.If your amp has that option of course.

Edited by Digby on Thursday 5th July 19:24

[Dellage]

Yeah I would always go for the digital output and have doen in the past, unfortunately the amp for my current set up is a bit old school and doesn't have a digital input.

Serves its purpose for now though!